2022 NFL Draft: 10 lesser-known defensive prospects to follow

Part one of our under-the-radar prospects project for the 2022 NFL Draft focused on offensive players. So here’s part two: A look at the defensive guys.

Based on feedback gathered from NFL sources, here are 10 lesser-known defensive draft prospects worth keeping an eye on this season (listed alphabetically).

Like the first part of the project, we stayed away from non-Power 5 players who already are well-known on a national level, which is why you won’t see guys like Cincinnati defensive end Myjai Sanders or Bearcats cornerback Ahmad Gardner on the list.

Florida A&M safety Markquese Bell

The buzz: Florida A&M didn’t play last season, but Bell’s 2019 tape was stellar enough that he’s viewed by at least some in the NFL scouting world as a potential Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick. He finished 2019 with 61 tackles, five interceptions and nine pass breakups. Bell (6 feet 3, 205 pounds), a former national top-200 prospect and four-star recruit from New Jersey, began his college career at Maryland. 

Coastal Carolina defensive end Jeffrey Gunter

The buzz: It’s been an interesting past few years for Gunter (6-4, 260). He started his college career at Coastal, transferred to NC State in 2019, then returned to Coastal in 2020 and now is one of two Chanticleers seniors very much on the NFL radar (the other is tight end Isaiah Likely). Gunter’s 2020 stats included 58 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and an FBS-best six forced fumbles. National Football Scouting, one of the two scouting services used by NFL teams, has Gunter with a Day 2 preseason draft grade.

Houston defensive lineman Logan Hall

The buzz: In his first season as a starter, Hall emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in the American Athletic Conference. While his 2020 numbers don’t jump off the page (23 tackles, one sack), the current feedback on Hall (6-6, 260) is in the mid-Day 3 range.

Appalachian State cornerback Shaun Jolly

The buzz: There wasn’t a more-talked-about corner on a national level in 2019 than LSU’s Derek Stingley. But there was a cornerback whose Pro Football Focus grade for 2019 was tied with Stingley for first nationally — Jolly. It was the first of what’s been back-to-back first-team All-Sun Belt seasons for Jolly. In 2019, Jolly (5-9, 175) tied for seventh nationally with five interceptions and tied for first nationally with two pick-sixes.

Houston cornerback/return specialist Marcus Jones

The buzz: The biggest issue for Jones will be his size; NFL scouts have him at just 5-7 and 180 pounds (Houston lists him at 5-8, 185). He’s a standout for the Cougars on both defense and special teams. Jones, who began his college career at Troy, was a first-team All-American as a return man last season, when he led the nation at 19.8 yards per punt return. Jones also was selected by Pro Football Focus as a fourth-team All-American defensive back.

UConn defensive lineman Travis Jones

The buzz: UConn has had two Day 2 draft picks since 2017; Jones could be the next one. UConn didn’t play last season, but Jones (6-4, 330) had a combined 95 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2018 and ’19. National Football Scouting has him with a Day 2 preseason draft grade. 

Sam Houston State cornerback Zyon McCollum

The buzz: One of the top players for the defending FCS national champs, McCollum has great size (official measurements of 6-2 and about 200 pounds) and quality production (10 career interceptions and 46 career pass deflections). McCollum was selected as a second-team All-American last season and is a two-time All-Southland Conference honoree.

Bowie State defensive lineman Josh Pryor

The buzz: We had to give the Division II guys some love, right? Pryor is one of the best at that level. During Bowie State’s most recent season in 2019, Pryor (6-4, 280) had 70 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. The two NFL scouting services have him with a priority free agent grade entering the season. If drafted, he would become the first NFL draft pick in Bowie State history. Bowie State is in Bowie, Md., in the Baltimore suburbs.

Miami (Ohio) safety Sterling Weatherford

The buzz: In addition to being a mechanical engineering major, Weatherford is also one of the best (and biggest, at 6-4, 220) non-Power Five safeties in the country. He had 98 tackles and 11 pass deflections in 2019, then added 18 tackles and four pass deflections during the RedHawks’ three games last season. Current grades have him as a mid-to-late Day 3 prospect.

Missouri Western cornerback Sam Webb

The buzz: Pryor isn’t the only D2 player on this list. Webb (6-2, 195) is in position to maybe be picked in the first four or five rounds. During Missouri Western’s last full season in 2019, Webb had three interceptions and 12 pass breakups. National Football Scouting has him with a preseason grade in the fifth-round range. Missouri Western is in St. Joseph, Mo., in northwest Missouri along the border with Kansas.

(Top photo of Gunter: Courtesy of Coastal Carolina Athletics)