2021 NFL Draft guide: 636 prospects ranked, 415 scouting reports from Dane Brugler — 'The Beast' is here
This is everything you need to know about the NFL Draft, from Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields to Noah Hannon and Jake Verity.
theathletic.com
This is a premium link, so I'll only share a few tidbits. Right now, the only former Cyclone with a draft grade is RB Kene Nwangwu, who has a 6/7 round projection. Nwangwu is the 16th-ranked running back on their list. The Athletic's draft guru had him at a 4.31 40 time.
16. KENE NWANGWU | Iowa State 6001 | 210 lbs. | rSR. Frisco, Texas (Heritage) 2/9/1998 (age 23.22) #3
STRENGTHS: Explosive athlete…above-average speed with impressive track background…quick gather-and-cut skills and can mash the turbo button at any moment…has quick eyes to find a crease…able to press backside before shifting gears to burst frontside…highly productive kick returner, averaging 26.8 yards per return in college with one touchdown (92/2,470/1)…the coaching staff doesn’t hide its respect for him (head coach Matt Campbell: “He’s unselfish, wants what’s best [28] for the team and is willing to stand up for what’s right, both on and off the field”)…fumbled only once on 242 total touches…4.0 GPA student in high school and 3.76 GPA in college.
WEAKNESSES: Small body of work on offense with only three games in his career with double-digit carries (10, 11, 11)…eager to show off his speed, but needs to improve his patience and allow blocks to develop…plays in overdrive and his game lacks tempo…has a hint of stiffness in his hips, which will hinder his ability to sink or redirect…unproven pass catcher — saw 10 catchable targets in college, which resulted in seven catches and three drops…suffered a torn right Achilles, which required surgery (February 2017) and affected him for over a calendar year; also missed time with a shoulder injury (September 2019).
SUMMARY: A part-time player at Iowa State, Nwangwu was the primary kick returner and backup running back in offensive coordinator Tom Manning’s scheme. He spent his Cyclones career in the shadows of David Montgomery and Breece Hall and battled an Achilles injury, but he made the most of his touches as a senior, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with four touchdowns. Nwangwu must improve his discipline as a running back, but he displays breakaway speed to start fast and finish faster with the ball in his hands. He holds the school record with a 26.85 kickoff return average (on 92 returns) and ranks No. 3 all-time in Big 12 history with 2,470 kick-return yards. Overall, Nwangwu must develop his patience, block recognition and receiving skills to warrant a spot on offense, but his home run speed and return skills could be his ticket to sticking on an NFL roster. GRADE: 6th-7th Round
In the draft guide, Dylan Soehner (#22 TE) and JaQuan Bailey (#38) are predicted to be priority free agents. Lawrence White barely cracked the list at safety, where he's ranked #53.
