The Utah State Aggies had an excellent season, winning the Mountain West and finishing the season ranked No. 24 in the nation. They also defeated the Oregon State Beavers in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. However, despite all that success, there are not a lot of well-known prospects from the Aggies heading towards the 2022 NFL Draft. Here are the scouting reports for Utah State players you should keep an eye on during draft weekend.
Utah State 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
The Utah State scouting reports include a potential deep tight end sleeper as well as some late-round defensive prospects.
Carson Terrell, TE
Positives: Solid pass-catching tight end with average size and speed. Comes across the middle of the field, extends his hands, and snatches the ball away from his frame. Possesses solid eye/hand coordination. Fluid moving about the field, displays good blocking vision, and is explosive at the point.
Negatives: Possesses average strength and rarely finishes blocks. Only occasionally used as an in-line blocker. Not much more than an intermediate pass-catching target.
Analysis: Terrell flashed ability and has nice length and hands, but he shows only marginal speed and upside.
Demytrick Ali’ifua, OL
Positives: Wide-bodied blocker who plays with solid fundamentals. Sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, bends his knees, and gets leverage on opponents. Explosive at the point, stays square, and is strong. Anchors in pass protection, works his hands, and plays with a nasty attitude.
Negatives: Improved his pad level last season, but previously had a tendency to get upright in his stance. Heavy-footed and cannot slide in space. Looks like he’s stuck in cement at times and struggles to adjust.
Analysis: Ali’ifua is a power-gap lineman with experience at both center and guard. His game has shown consistent progress over the past two seasons, and he could be an inexpensive backup if he keeps himself in proper condition.
Justin Rice, LB
Positives: Well-traveled linebacker with great instincts and mental aptitude. Patient, quickly diagnoses plays, and remains disciplined. Recognizes the action before it unfolds, flies around the field, and sacrifices his body to make the stop. Crashes upfield giving effort defending the run but also makes plays in space. Shows a burst to the action and plays faster than his 40 time.
Negatives: Easily disrupted from the action by blocks. Lack of long speed is an issue. Doesn’t have classic size.
Analysis: From Fresno State to Arkansas State and finally Utah State, Rice was a terrific linebacker everywhere he played. He possesses next-level intangibles, but the lack of size and speed limits him.
Nick Heninger, DE
Positives: Undersized college defensive end with an explosive style. Fires off the snap with a quick first step, plays with terrific pad level, and gets a lot of momentum going up the field. Has opponents playing back on their heels, easily changes direction, and bends off the edge or flattens from the backside to pursue plays. Relentless and goes hard.
Negatives: Lacks size, bulk, and is easily handled at the point. Rarely asked to make plays in reverse.
Analysis: Heninger was a terrific pass rusher for Utah State but has linebacker size and may even be too small to stand over tackle in a 3-4 system. He must learn a new position and show skill making plays in space to have any future at the next level.
Savon Scarver, WR
Positives: Marginally productive receiver whose greatest value is returning kicks. Possesses a nice build, adjusts to the errant throw, and makes the reception in stride. Uses his hands to separate from opponents, extends, and snatches the ball away from his frame. Displays soft hands. Game-impacting return specialist who has opponents kicking away from him to ensure he won’t touch the ball.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and cannot run to the long throw. Caught just 6 passes last season after hauling in 5 the prior year.
Analysis: Scarver is a solid athlete who flashed ability as a receiver and was a nationally-recognized kick returner. He’s a long shot to make it on Sundays, but if he shows ability as a return specialist in camp this summer, he could be a surprise undrafted free agent.
Shaq Bond, S
Positives: Hard-working and instinctive safety with limited physical skills for the next level. Displays good recognition, fluid flipping his hips in transition, and quickly bursts to the ball out of his plant. Effective facing the action, tracks the pass in the air, and works hard to get involved. Fires up the field and sells out stopping the run.
Negatives: Gets caught up in blocks or easily taken from the action. Not a stout safety and ball handlers run through his arms to pick up yardage off contact.
Analysis: Bond was a consistent safety for Utah State and comes with solid ball skills. The lack of speed is an issue, though Bond offers possibilities in a zone system. He must play well on special teams this summer.