The Kentucky Wildcats are set to send more than a few prospects into the NFL via the 2022 NFL Draft if their scouting reports are any indicator. Wan’Dale Robinson headlines the group as the speedster should be a hot commodity in today’s NFL. Darian Kinnard tipped the scales at the Senior Bowl, and Yusuf Corker is rising up draft boards.
Kentucky 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Here are the full scouting reports from Kentucky with eyes toward the 2022 NFL Draft.
Dare Rosenthal, OT
Positives: LSU transfer who has shown consistent progress in his game. Blocks with good lean, bends his knees, and stays square. Explosive at the point, gets movement run blocking, and anchors in pass protection. Keeps his feet moving, slides laterally, and moves well about the field. Fluid to the second level, smooth pulling across the line of scrimmage, and shows a lot of ability on the move. Seals defenders from the action and adjusts to pick up blitzes and stunts.
Negatives: Must improve his vision blocking in motion. Inconsistent with his fundamentals, late with his hands, and lacks balance sliding off the edge.
Analysis: Rosenthal is a talented offensive lineman with huge upside, but he needs to work on his game. He must consistently block with proper fundamentals, get stronger, and add bulk to his frame. Rosenthal has the tools to start at left tackle in the NFL, though he is a long way from being ready to step into a lineup.
Want more information on Rosenthal? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky OT | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Darian Kinnard, OL
Positives: Large, powerful offensive lineman who can be used at tackle or guard. Patient, quickly sets up off the snap, and shows strength at the point. Anchors in pass protection, gets movement run blocking, and is large enough to completely engulf opponents from the action. Nasty, stays with the action, and works to finish off opponents. Sets with a wide base, stays square, and easily seals defenders from plays.
Negatives: Must improve his blocking balance and do a better job bending his knees. Lumbers around the field and is ineffective on the second level. Must make better use of angles.
Analysis: Kinnard is a large, tough lineman who plays big, strong football. He has athletic and agility limitations but is a perfect fit for a power gap offense.
Want more information on Kinnard? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky OT | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Josh Ali, WR
Positives: Sure-handed receiver who impacts the game as a return specialist. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target, extends his hands, and makes the reception away from his frame. Reliable, looks passes into his hands, and is effective after the catch. Terrific punt returner with the ability to bring it back the distance.
Negatives: Plays to one speed. Receiving yardage each season was underwhelming. Not a red-zone threat.
Analysis: Ali possesses solid size and good quickness and could fill a role as a fifth receiver/punt returner.
Josh Paschal, DE
Positives: Explosive college defensive lineman who flashes pass-rushing ability. Plays with proper pad level and gets leverage on opponents. Quick off the snap, slices between blocks to penetrate the line of scrimmage, and effectively uses his hands. Quick, explosive, and possesses a closing burst. Fast up the field, bends off the edge, and immediately alters his angle of attack. Displays a closing burst to the ball. Sudden and flashes on the scene. Gives effort defending the run.
Negatives: Lacks bulk and is easily turned from the action or out-positioned by opponents. Comes with average size and does not have a lot of growth potential.
Analysis: Paschal was out of position at defensive end in Kentucky’s three-man line last season and moves towards April as one of the more underrated defensive prospects in the draft. He offers possibilities as a situational pass rusher who can come out of a three-point stance in a four-man line or stand over tackle. Paschal may not be a three-down defender, but he has the tools to make a final roster.
Want more information on Paschal? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Josh Paschal, Kentucky DE | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Justin Rigg, TE
Positives: Lineman-sized tight end who is a marginal threat catching the ball. Sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, bends his knees, and stays square. Remains disciplined with assignments, works blocks, and gets the most from his ability. Consistent hands catcher who carries defenders for extra yardage after the reception.
Negatives: Shows average quickness in his game and very limited speed. Struggles to finish blocks.
Analysis: Rigg was a high-effort player who did a good job at Kentucky the past three years. However, he comes with marginal athleticism and upside for the next level.
Luke Fortner, C
Positives: Versatile offensive lineman who can line up at guard or center. Bends his knees, consistently gets leverage on opponents, and stays square. Quickly gets his hands into defenders, is effective with the shotgun snap, and displays outstanding blocking vision. Keeps his feet moving, fires out to the second level, and turns linebackers from the action. Keeps his head on a swivel and shows great awareness. Moves well about the field and displays the ability to pull across the line of scrimmage and block in motion.
Negatives: Lacks overall strength and gets overmatched by defensive tackles. Struggles to finish blocks.
Analysis: Fortner is a tough, intelligent lineman who had a solid season at guard in 2020 and played well at center this past year. Possessing solid size and growth potential, Fortner is an underrated prospect who could be starting by his second season in the league.
Want more information on Fortner? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Luke Fortner, Kentucky C | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Marquan McCall, DT
Positives: Massive interior lineman who takes up a lot of room in the middle of the line, holds his ground against double-team blocks, and is impossible to move off the point. Bull rushes blockers off the ball, shows the ability to redirect to ball handlers, and brings opponents down at the point of attack.
Negatives: Struggled with an ankle injury last season and had a disappointing campaign. Showed a fraction of the explosion and quickness previously displayed. Not consistent using his hands.
Analysis: Off his junior film, McCall looked like a legitimate nose-tackle prospect worthy of a Day 3 pick. His play slipped last season, in large part due to the ankle injury. McCall still must improve the details of his position and work year-round to keep himself in proper condition.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR
Positives: Explosive receiver who shows exceptional skill after the catch. Possesses tremendous quickness in his game as well as a burst of speed. Instinctive and has great field vision. Extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame, immediately turns it upfield, and consistently creates yardage after the catch.
Possesses outstanding footwork, makes defenders miss when the ball is in his hands, and handles the football like a creative running back. Keeps the play in bounds, does not go down without a fight, and plays big football despite his size. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target, uses his frame to protect the pass, and adjusts to errant throws.
Runs sharp routes, uses the sidelines well, and tracks the ball in the air. Gets vertical and shows great eye/hand coordination.
Negatives: Really doesn’t play to his timed speed. Easily brought down at the point of attack. Lack of height is a limiting factor.
Analysis: Robinson is a legitimate playmaking receiver with return possibilities. He’s not a wideout for every team due to his size. But a creative offensive coordinator who drafts Robinson will line him up in the slot, ask him to run reverses, and make use of his quickness and ability to create yardage.
Want more information on Robinson? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky WR | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Yusuf Corker, S
Positives: Smart, physical safety with average size and speed. Instinctive, quick to diagnose, and immediately picks up and stays with coverage assignments. Fires up the field to defend the run, wraps up tackling, and brings opponents down at the point. Effectively times pass defenses and shows a burst to the ball out of his plant.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and isn’t fast out to the sidelines. Does a lot of face guarding in man-coverage situations.
Analysis: Corker was a productive three-year starter at Kentucky, but he has athletic limitations. Best up the field as a strong safety or in a zone system, he offers possibilities as a fourth safety/special-teams player.
Want more information on Corker? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Yusuf Corker, Kentucky S | NFL Draft Scouting Report