Miami football has three top 100 for 2022 NFL Draft from CBS Sports
The Miami football program placed left tackle Zion Nelson, tight end Will Mallory and safety Bubba Bolden in the top 100 players eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft by CBS Sports. Nelson is 18th, Mallory is 26th and Bolden 61st. That would exceed the two players drafted from the Miami football program in the top 100 in 2021.
Hurricanes defensive end Jaelan Phillips was the 18th overall pick by the Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft and Greg Rousseau was selected 30th by the Buffalo Bills. The next picks from Miami in 2021 were tight end Brevin Jordan to the Houston Texans with the 147th overall pick and DE Quincy Roche 216th overall to Pittsburgh.
The rankings from Josh Edwards of CBS Sports were somewhat surprising. Mallory should have a breakout season in 2021 with the departure of Jordan, but it would be surprising for him to be ranked 26th on the big board. Mallory will be the primary target for Miami at TE with 2021 signee Elijah Arroyo.
In three seasons, Mallory has 43 receptions for 659 yards and seven touchdowns. Jordan, who signed with Mallory in 2018, had 105 receptions for 1,358 and 13 TDs during his collegiate career. Some combination of Mallory and Arroyo and potentially the wide receivers will make up for the lost productions of Jordan.
Nelson is the second-ranked OT on the
big board and by CBS Sports. Nick Broeker of Ole Miss is the top-ranked OT by CBS Sports. Evan Neal of Alabama is the top-ranked OT on the consensus rankings but is the 77th ranked player by CBS Sports. It’s extremely early and a lot will fluctuate over the next year.
Bolden is the third-ranked safety on the 2022 board. In two seasons with Miami, Bolden has 85 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, four pass breakups and five forced fumbles. With a good season in 2021, Bolden has a chance to move up the 2022 NFL Draft board.
Miami has not had three players selected in the top 60 of the NFL Draft since three Hurricanes were drafted in the top 50 in 2015 and five went in the top 80. Ereck Flowers was selected seventh by the Giants, Philip Dorsett 29th by Indianapolis and Denzel Perryman 48th by the San Diego Chargers.
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Clive Walford was drafted 68th by the Oakland Raiders and Duke Johnson 77th by the Cleveland Browns. Having players selected high in the NFL Draft will help the Miami football program. The Hurricanes need to continue to rebuild the talent on their roster so have greater success in recruiting and on the field.