It’s safe to say the Wisconsin Badgers know a thing or two about scouting reports for the 2022 NFL Draft. With more than a handful of players likely to hear their names called, LB Leo Chenal has risen up boards among the fastest of any player at any position. Here are their full scouting reports ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wisconsin 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Chenal had a terrific 2021 season and an even better offseason workout session. He headlines the group from Wisconsin that also has multiple cornerbacks turning heads. Jake Ferguson is a solid mid-tier tight end for teams in need.
Caesar Williams, CB
Positives: Nice-sized cornerback who is best facing the action. Quick flipping his hips in transition off the line, tracks the pass in the air, and battles to break up throws. Mixes it up with opponents throughout the route, does not back down to a challenge, and out-positions receivers downfield to keep them from the pass. Hard hitter who possesses a solid burst to the play out of his plant and aggressively defends the run.
Negatives: Rarely gets his head back around in man coverage and constantly face guards opponents. Deep speed is a major concern.
Analysis: Williams is a nice-sized defensive back coming off a solid senior season. Best facing the action, he offers possibilities in a zone system and may even get consideration at safety.
Danny Davis, WR
Positives: Physically talented wideout who is smooth releasing off the line, sells routes, and nicely adjusts to errant throws. Finds the soft spot in the defense, extends his hands, and snatches the ball away from his frame. Gives effort blocking.
Negatives: Tends to round off routes. Plays to one speed and lacks deep burst. Inconsistent and marginally productive throughout his Wisconsin career.
Analysis: Davis possesses the athletic testing numbers to play on Sundays and has flashed ability. However, he needs to elevate every aspect of his game and, more than anything else, produce on a weekly basis to have a career in the NFL.
Faion Hicks, CB
Positives: Smooth, fluid cornerback who is quick pedaling in reverse, flips his hips in transition, and possesses a closing burst as well as a nice move to the throw. Plays faster than his 40 time, has enough speed to recover downfield, and stays with receivers on crossing patterns. Works well with safeties to bracket opponents over the middle of the field. Fires upfield and gives effort defending run plays and screen passes.
Negatives: Lacks next-level size and gets overmatched by bigger receivers. Drag-down tackler. Slow getting his head around to locate the pass and does a lot of face guarding.
Analysis: There are a variety of opinions on Hicks inside scouting circles, yet on film, he’s a smaller corner who can only play in a system where he faces the action.
Jack Sanborn, LB
Positives: Hard-working, relentless linebacker who breaks down well and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Quick flipping his hips in transition when dropping into coverage, swift getting out to the flanks, and wraps up tackling. Flies around the action, stacks well against the run, and sells out on the blitz. Remains disciplined with coverage assignments and quickly diagnoses the action.
Negatives: Shows a lot of stiffness in his game. Possesses an average closing burst and minimal pursuit speed.
Analysis: Sanborn was a solid college linebacker who really does not project well to the next level. He lacks the size you’d want in a pass-rushing linebacker and the speed to be able to play in pursuit. Sanborn comes with a special-teams mentality and could catch on as a backup inside linebacker.
Jake Ferguson, TE
Positives: Talented three-down tight end who was consistently productive throughout his college career. Starts with terrific knee bend as a blocker, fires off the snap, and plays with leverage. Solid route runner who quickly gets in and out of pass routes, adjusts to errant throws, and extends his hands to make receptions away from his frame.
Uses the sidelines well, gets vertical, and contorts to make the difficult catch. Gets down to scoop up low throws. Uses his hands to separate from defenders, fights hard to come free, and possesses soft as well as strong hands. Tracks the pass in the air, nicely makes the over-the-shoulder reception, and possesses outstanding eye/hand coordination. Plays big-boy football and takes a pounding yet holds onto the throw.
Negatives: Must improve his blocking strength and rarely finishes off opponents. Lacks elite tight-end speed.
Analysis: Ferguson made an impact at Wisconsin the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman and was consistently productive his entire career. He’s not an elite tight end, but he’s a reliable player who will have a long career at the next level once he improves his playing strength.
For more information on Jake Ferguson, visit his full scouting report
Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin TE | NFL Draft Scouting Report
John Chenal, FB
Positives: Underrated lead fullback with nice size and a solid game. Displays outstanding blocking vision, sees the blitz, and is explosive at the point. Squares into defenders and works to get a pad on opponents. Holds his ground and shows strength as a run blocker. Outstanding vision carrying the ball. Solid short-yardage runner who falls forward when tackled.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and lacks a burst. Caught just 8 passes at Wisconsin.
Analysis: Chenal is a throwback lead blocker who is also effective as a short-yardage ball carrier.
Josh Seltzner, OL
Positives: Hard-working, small-area blocker with outstanding size. Sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, bends his knees, and stays square. Explodes into blocks, turns defenders off the line, and gets movement run blocking. Stays square and seals opponents from the action. Displays outstanding vision and always looks for someone to hit.
Negatives: Not quick pulling across the line of scrimmage and struggles blocking in motion. Lacks footwork in space.
Analysis: Seltzner is a wide-bodied blocker who is best suited for a power gap scheme. He lacks top upside yet could find himself as a backup on Sundays.
Kendric Pryor, WR
Positives: Athletic receiver who quickly releases off the line into pass routes, explodes out of breaks, and stays low on exit. Extends his hands, snatches the ball away from his frame, and displays strong hands. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target, tracks deep passes in the air, and possesses outstanding eye/hand coordination. Displays a burst and plays faster than his 40 time.
Negatives: Small and gets easily disrupted throughout his routes by jams and physicality. Unnecessarily lets the pass get inside him, which leads to drops. Rounds off routes. Marginally productive and was never a big part of the Wisconsin passing game.
Analysis: Pryor possesses the physical skills to be a fifth receiver at the next level and has flashed that type of ability. Yet, he never elevated his game or was very productive. He could catch the eye of a coach this summer, and at the very least, Pryor is worth considering for the practice squad with the hopes of future development.
Leo Chenal, LB
Positives: Explosive up-the-field linebacker coming off a career campaign. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and rarely gets knocked off his feet. Fluid dropping off the line into coverage, gets depth on pass drops, and possesses a closing burst. Forceful on the blitz and sells out to make plays. Moves well laterally and works to get out into space to make the tackle. Possesses solid instincts and quickly recognizes and diagnoses plays.
Negatives: Gets washed from the action by opposing linemen. Does not stand out making plays in pursuit.
Analysis: Chenal displayed consistent progress on the football field at Wisconsin and turned in a tremendous junior campaign. He’s a terrific run stuffer who is forceful on the blitz, but he has size and scheme limitations.
For more information on Leo Chenal, visit his full scouting report
Leo Chenal, Wisconsin LB | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Logan Bruss, OT
Positives: Strong run-blocking right tackle who will get consideration at guard. Stays square, sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, and blocks with good knee bend. Works his hands throughout the action, knocks pass rushers from their angles of attack, and handles one-on-one assignments. Keeps his head on a swivel, works well with linemates, and displays outstanding blocking vision. Jolts defenders with explosive hand punch and gets movement run blocking. Outstanding position blocker who seals defenders from the action.
Negatives: Labors out to the second level and is ineffective blocking in motion. Not light on his feet. Does not make good use of angles. Must improve his skill in pass protection. Got hammered by Aidan Hutchinson during the Michigan game.
Analysis: Bruss is a terrific small-area run blocker who moves opponents from the line and seals defenders from the action. He’s more of a power gap lineman who, at the very least, could be a backup right tackle or guard on Sundays.
Matt Henningsen, OL
Positives: Athletic and hard-working interior lineman with possibilities as a two gap end. Plays with terrific pad level, keeps his feet moving and rarely off his feet. Immediately locates the ball, consistently gets leverage on opponents and works his hands throughout the action. Quickly locates the ball, resilient and keeps coming.
Negatives: Late off the snap and does not display an explosive first step. Shows a lot of stiffness in his game. Easily knocked from his angle of attack, gets pushed around in the middle of the field or out positioned from plays.
Analysis: Henningsen is a tough and hard-working lineman who played well during Shrine Bowl practices and performed brilliantly during his pro-day workout. He has an upside but is rough around the edges and a long ways from being NFL ready.
Noah Burks, LB
Positives: Instinctive linebacker who plays smart, tough football, quickly locates the ball handler, and works to get involved. Flows to the action laterally, fires up the field, and drives his shoulders through ball handlers. Sells out to make the tackle.
Negatives: Stiff pedaling in reverse and does not get depth on pass drops. Slow changing direction and possesses an average burst in his game. Marginal athlete.
Analysis: Burks was a solid college linebacker who made plays with his head and hustle but lacks the athleticism for Sunday football.
Scott Nelson, DB
Positives: Tough and instinctive try-hard safety who is efficient, quickly reads and diagnoses plays, and takes proper angles to the action. Tracks the pass in the air, gets a beat on the throw, and shows a closing burst to the pass. Ferocious defending the run and flies around the field. Squares and wraps up tackling.
Negatives: Despite a great pro-day workout, does not play with lateral speed and cannot get to the spot quickly enough in coverage. Does not show great range. Displays stiffness in his game.
Analysis: Nelson is a high-effort defender who makes plays with his head and hustle rather than athleticism. He’s a traditional strong safety or a fit in a zone system, and Nelson comes with a special-teams mentality.