It was a banner week for the top wide receiver prospects for the 2022 draft class. We’re starting to see a crystallization of who will land in the first round next April. And it’s not just the Ohio State pass catchers. There’s a new Alabama wideout who is quickly becoming a sought after playmaker.
On the structure front for WR Stock Watch, it’s essentially pointless to provide specific rankings of the wideouts prospects each week because everything is so fluid during the season from a scouting perspective. Instead, I’ll simply include “stock up,” “stock steady,” or “stock down” after a receiver’s name based on how well he played in the most recent contest.
Garrett Wilson, Ohio State: Stock Up
Best catch
In the first quarter, Wilson demonstrated just how bouncy he is on a fade in the end zone. He not only got open with a nasty inside juke and exploded upward. Wilson got his feet down as he was being hit in the back corner.
He also got open on a deep comeback in the second quarter with the cornerback about five yards away from him. Ohio State’s springy wideout made five receptions for 84 yards with two scores, the second showcased his pure speed on a vertical route to the back pylon in which he blew past the cornerback. Wilson is trending toward being a first-round lock.
Chris Olave, Ohio State: Stock Up
Best catch
Olave’s second touchdown came on a fourth down in the third quarter, and it was a tremendous demonstration of Olave’s immaculate ball skills. Just watch.
Olave had seven grabs for 120 yards with two touchdowns in the drubbing of Maryland. His other score was a completely wide open post route in the first half. As usual, he worked underneath well, particularly in the first half, mostly due to his precise route-running skills. After a little lull earlier in the season, Olave has caught fire of late. He’s tracking toward the first round again.
Treylon Burks, Arkansas: Stock Down, Slightly
Best catch
Burks is one of college football‘s premier rebounders. A cornerback gets ”Moss’d” by him every single week. And he provided another highlight down the sideline in the third quarter against Ole Miss. Full extension.
Right after the high-point snag, Burks did the exact same thing and was marked down inside the five yard line. All 6-foot-3 of Burks stretched to make the ridiculous grab. K.J. Jefferson found him over the middle on an in-breaking route early, and his 20-yard touchdown was blocked perfectly on the perimeter but provided a clear demonstration of how deceptively fast Burks is when he’s in top gear. He finished with 136 yards on seven catches with the score in the one-point loss to Ole Miss.
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Drake London, USC: Stock Up
Best catch
Ok, so not exactly a difficult grab, but London made hurdling a defender look far too easy on his touchdown against Utah. Check it.
Another day, another 100-plus yard for the monstrous wideout. He went off for 162 yards on 16 grabs in the loss to Utah, and he was effective in a variety of ways. Classic comebacks from the perimeter, screens when his YAC skills were highlighted, and of course deep shots down the sideline. London nearly made a spectacular snag falling out of bounds which required him to contort his body back to the ball in the third quarter but was ruled out of bounds.
He’s been a pillar of productivity this season for the Trojans.
Jahan Dotson, Penn State: Stock Up
Best catch
Dotson was held in check in Iowa’s win over the Nittany Lions. His most impressive grab was this first down snag in which he climbed the ladder to move the chains in the first quarter.
Two of Dotson’s vertical routes ended in an interception for Iowa, but they weren’t necessarily his fault. Iowa did a tremendous job limiting the field-stretching burner in this game. He finished with eight receptions for just 48 yards in the defeat.
John Metchie, Alabama: Stock Steady
Best catch
Late in the first quarter, Metchie went in motion then continued up the sideline and was found by Bryce Young just before the defensive back delivered a huge hit. Metchie accelerated up the field, cut against the grain to finish the splash play.
Metchie had seven catches for 88 yards in the loss to A&M, and most of his production came underneath beyond the long ball in the opening stanza.
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M: Stock Up
Best catch
The acceleration Smith displayed out of his break on the corner route touchdown to give A&M the 38-31 lead was outstanding. Got open, easily.
Smith had six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in Texas A&M’s epic win over the Alabama Fighting Nick Sabans Saturday night. His first touchdown was an easy, schemed open score over the middle from in closs. Smith also showcased his toughness in a battle through contact on a slant in the second quarter.
Jameson Williams, Alabama: Stock Up
Best catch
In the third quarter, Williams put his leaping skills and the strength of his hands on display when elevated for a high throw from Young and held onto the football after getting hit on his side by a defender.
Later in the third, he got a few steps on the outside corner on a go route for a touchdown. He was super-slippery on a screen in the fourth quarter and flashed some power. His burst and vision were noticeable on a late dig route too. The two-point conversion to tie the game at 31 was a nasty diving grab in the front corner of the end zone. Williams got open with ease all evening, and frankly, has a play style reminiscent of Jerry Jeudy. He’s skinny, ultra-fluid, and scintillatingly fast down the field.
Jalen Nailor, Michigan State: Stock Up
Best catch
Nailor’s second touchdown of his three-score explosion against Rutgers came after he got a nice outside release and an even better adjustment to the football over his shoulder. After catching the ball he stopped, cut against the grain and hit the gas to outrun the rest of the Rutgers defense.
Nailor’s first touchdown was a busted coverage. No one was close to him down the field. 60-plus yards. Nailor amassed 221 yards on five snags with three scores. They each were long balls of at least 60 yards. His last 60-plus yard touchdown was a creative route in which he jogged at half speed before flipping the switch down the field to generate separation for his quarterback.
He’s quietly become one of college football’s most dynamic downfield threats.
