Only three Michigan State Spartans attended the 2022 NFL Combine. The rest will use the 2022 Michigan State Pro Day as a chance to potentially boost their NFL Draft stock. When is the Michigan State Pro Day, and who should you keep an eye out for?
When is the Michigan State Pro Day in 2022?
- Date: Wednesday, March 16
- Time: 10 AM ET
The Michigan State 2022 Pro Day takes place on Wednesday, March 16, at 10 AM ET. There’s a chance the Spartans’ Combine participants rest on their numbers from the event in Indianapolis. But the pro day provides them — as well as other prospects — one more chance to put up great testing scores.
Top Michigan State NFL Draft prospects working out at pro day
Only three Michigan State draft prospects were represented at the 2022 NFL Combine. But in actuality, the Spartans have almost a dozen prospects currently in the incoming rookie crop. It’s likely that the three from the Combine are the only ones drafted, but a few players have the opportunity to change that at the 2022 Michigan State Pro Day.
Kenneth Walker III, RB
Widely regarded as one of the top running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft, Kenneth Walker III confirmed that reputation at the NFL Combine. Weighing in at 5’9″, 211 pounds, Walker ran a 4.38 40-yard dash with a 34-inch vertical and a 122-inch broad jump. Walker left agility drills and bench reps on the table, but he has little to gain by doing those drills at his pro day. His Combine performance was more than enough to maximize his stock.
Jalen Nailor, WR
One of the more underrated receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jalen Nailor turned heads at the NFL Combine. His explosiveness numbers were elite. The Spartan alum jumped 38 inches and also had a 128-inch broad jump. Interestingly enough, his speed was where he disappointed slightly. Documented as having 4.39 speed, Nailor instead ran a 4.5 at a faster-than-usual Combine. He could look to improve that number at his pro day.
Connor Heyward, FB/TE
Teams that need fullbacks will be in the market for Connor Heyward’s services. Neither fullback at the NFL Combine tested particularly well, but Heyward was the better of the two. The younger brother of Steelers star Cam Heyward ran a 4.72 at 5’11”, 233 pounds, and also logged a 32.5-inch vertical. The younger Heyward, beyond his athleticism, is a tenacious blocker and able receiver. A good bench reps number would solidify his standing.
Jacub Panasiuk, EDGE
Jacub Panasiuk could be a deep sleeper in the 2022 NFL Draft EDGE class. Panasiuk was one of the more productive edge rushers in college football last year, both in sack production and pressure generation. Overall, he amassed 7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 11 games. Panasiuk is listed at 6’4″, 255 pounds, but he seems to lack elite athleticism on tape. If he tests better than expected at the pro day, it could reinvigorate his stock.
AJ Arcuri, OT
AJ Arcuri is most likely a priority free agent when April rolls around. But a good testing performance at the 2022 Michigan State Pro Day could change things. Arcuri, who started 25 collegiate games moving between left and right tackle, has already been hard at work this offseason. He was a standout at the Hula Bowl and put up intriguing measurements — standing at 6’7″, 307 pounds, with 34 1/4″ arms. He’s a name to watch.
Other prospects to watch at 2022 Michigan State Pro Day
Additional prospects to keep an eye on at Michigan State’s 2022 Pro Day include interior offensive linemen Matt Allen and Kevin Jarvis, offensive tackle Luke Campbell, and edge rushers Drew Beesley and Drew Jordan. Other past Spartans 2022 NFL Draft prospects like Jayden Reed, Ronald Williams, and Xavier Henderson all opted to return to school in 2023.