With the 2022 NFL Draft quickly approaching, it’s time to plant my flag on some of my favorite prospects I’ve watched this cycle. If you’ve followed me for a while now then you are well aware of the Hollywood Dante gimmick.
Well, now he’s got his own team. Basically, this is a collection of my favorite players in the 2022 draft class. Just a couple of them rank as the top player on my board in their given position group. I’ve tried to keep it to smaller schools and less known prospects in the past, but that is becoming harder and harder every cycle. More and more people are getting into this business to hype up small school prospects.
This is about showcasing some players I think I’m higher on than the consensus — with a few exceptions — and giving me an excuse to brag later when they perform well. It’s also an opportunity for me to get clowned when some of these players don’t turn out as I hoped.
Go big or go home right?
Quarterback:
Carson Strong, Nevada
I’ll be frank, I left this category empty for pretty much the entire season. Once several of the quarterbacks I actually liked went back to school, and I started watching this class, I knew I was in trouble. However, I’ve forced myself to pick one player from every position, so Carson Strong it is.
Strong is my QB1 in this class thanks to his arm strength, accuracy, and command of the offense at the line of scrimmage. I don’t particularly love him though as he’s pretty limited as an athlete, and there are injury concerns with his knees.
Instead of talking more about Strong, I’ll throw out some 2023 names I like already because I’m sick of this class. Will Levis, Grayson McCall, and Jake Haener are all legitimate sleepers for next season. C.J. Stroud is incredibly good, and I’m excited to see what Bryce Young does with his second season as a starter.
Round Grade: 2nd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None
Running Back:
Tyler Badie, Missouri
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) January 29, 2022
Badie is the first member of the team who made the cut the past two summers. Yea, I’ve been on Badie for quite a while now. The undersized Tigers’ running back caught my radar in 2020 due to his pass-catching prowess and ability to create big plays.
Badie was mostly a third-down back before 2021 when he took on the bulk of the rushing load. He went for 1,604 yards last season and 16 touchdowns on the ground and added 330 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver.
I see Badie as a valuable third-down back in the NFL with the ability to convert big plays at a high rate. Something close to what Nyheim Hines does for the Colts makes a lot of sense for him.
Round Grade: 4th
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: 2021 NFL Draft Summer Team, 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Honorable Mention: Hassan Haskins, Michigan
Fullback/H-Back/Tight End:
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Maryland
Did I add this position to the team as an excuse to talk about Okonkwo? Who knows. In any event, I LOVED Okonkwo’s film. He’s a nimble, versatile, and explosive player, who fits the current mold of NFL offenses perfectly.
He’s mostly an effort blocker, but there is clear room for growth in that area. His projection to H-back and fullback should take some of the pressure off too. He’s an exceptional athlete, that I think a lot of teams will be in on him late on Day Two and early on Day Three.
Athletic and field-stretching ability are at a premium amongst NFL pass catchers, and Okonkwo’s 4.52 forty-yard dash — the fastest among tight ends at the combine — and his 35 vertical jump definitely check the box.
Round Grade: 4th
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None
Wide Receiver:
Alec Pierce, Cincinnati
I was surprised how much I liked Pierce’s film from this past season. I had him pegged as a slow and non-explosive outside receiver who relied on jump balls. I’ve made a vow to stop falling for those players too early in the draft based off some recent misses in that category.
To be fair, Pierce does win in those situations a ton, but he’s also a polished route runner with smooth change of direction skills, allowing him to separate at all three levels of the field consistently. His athletic testing was also impressive, backing up my assertion he’s more than meets the eye. He ran a 4.41-second forty-yard dash, jumped 40 inches in the vertical, and jumped 10 feet nine inches in the broad.
Pierce projects well as a strong WR2 who lives on the outside and wins on the vertical plane.
Round Grade: 2nd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None
Slot Receiver:
Bo Melton, Rutgers
Spent my morning watching Rutgers WR Bo Melton, and I’m throughly impressed. Here Melton makes a nice track and adjustment for the catch. pic.twitter.com/gOL8lUq0zJ
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) January 12, 2022
Melton is the second returning member of the Summer All-Hollywood Team. I got a chance to see Melton live this season when Rutgers played Temple in week one, and I was quite impressed. His speed, shiftiness, and physical demeanor all held up on live viewing.
His film showed some legitimate upside as a route runner and deep threat too. Rutgers’ quarterback play majorly held him back throughout his career. His combine testing — he ran a 4.34 forty — and performance at the Senior Bowl only solidified my position on him as someone who will be better in the NFL than they were in college.
Melton projects as a starting slot receiver who can provide some punt and kick return versatility.
Round Grade: 4th
Past All-Hollywood Team Selection: 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Tight End:
Trey McBride, Colorado State
Turns out the Summer All Hollywood Team is running a lot of 12 personnel because I love Colorado State TE Trey McBride’s film.
This contested catch is nuts: pic.twitter.com/ygMNxP0fPV
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) July 1, 2021
I’ve been on the McBride train for what feels like ages, but in reality, it has only been about two years. The big-bodied, and shockingly productive tight end first hit my radar in the summer of 2020.
He made absurd catch after absurd catch and even had some pancakes in the running game. McBride is my TE1 in this class, but he’s not quite the showstopper other TE1s have been in recent years.
However, his resume projects well to a versatile role where he can help teams mask their run and pass tendencies with him lining up in-line. Stats don’t factor into my grading, but McBride’s are absurd. He finished 2021 with 90 catches for 1,121 yards. That is obnoxiously good for a tight end.
Round Grade: 2nd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selection: 2021 NFL Draft Summer Team, 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Offensive Tackle:
Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
I forgot how fun it is watching Daniel Faalele (Minny, OT). Watch him just delete this rusher with one punch.
He opted out of 2020, but I’m excited to see back on the field this season. #BlueChipSummer pic.twitter.com/6zxRoSPrPG
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) July 7, 2021
Look. Fatletes make me happy, and there is no better example of that than Faalele. He’s six-foot-eight inches, 384 pounds, has 35-inch arms, and has 11-inch hands. Every single thing about this man is gigantic.
What makes him my personal favorite tackle in the class though is how hilariously funny his tape is. He has technical flaws, but the number of reps where he just one punches a defender into the dirt is awesome.
Faalele projects as a starting tackle in an offense that runs a lot of gap power concepts and short pass sets. His career and draft placement will be super interesting to watch because I think some teams will love him and others won’t even have him on their board.
Round Grade: 3rd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: 2021 NFL Draft Summer Team, 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Offensive Center:
Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa, OC) is one of my favorite IOL watches so far. He’s agile and smooth as a pass blocker with some power in the run game too. He moved from the DL to the OL in 2018 but has come along nicely. pic.twitter.com/KDB2yTQARv
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) June 13, 2020
Finding Linderbaum prior to the 2020 season and falling in love with his game is one of the reasons I like doing this list every year. Linderbaum has gone from a relatively unknown defensive tackle recruit to what some people — myself included — are calling the best center they’ve ever scouted.
His movement skills, footwork, and ability to match rushers in pass protection are unparalleled. His anchor and overall technique has improved each season since he took over the starting center job meaning there is no reason to believe that trend won’t continue.
He projects best as a day-one starting center in a heavy inside or wide zone scheme with legitimate upside to be an All-Pro selection.
Round Grade: 1st
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: 2021 NFL Draft Summer Team, 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Offensive Guard:
Cole Strange, Chattanooga
Got some eyes on Cole Strange (LG, #69) after his standout performance during the @seniorbowl last week. His tape backs up his strong week in Mobile.
He does a nice job sealing this rushing lane for a big play. pic.twitter.com/rBlh5cZQuY
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) February 10, 2022
Strange wasn’t a player I had really heard of until the Senior Bowl. Small school film is almost impossible to find this year for people who aren’t plugged in, and that goes for Chattanooga. However, Stange’s Senior Bowl performance was so good, I had to track it down.
When I did, I found a powerful, experienced, versatile, and ascending player who played his best game of the season against an SEC opponent — Kentucky — with legitimate NFL players upfront.
Strange is probably a starting center in year two with guard versatility, who can be a reliable starter for years to come.
Round Grade: 3rd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None
Nose Tackle:
Travis Jones, UConn
Wanted to dive into some more 2022 IDL guys, and I remembered UConn’s Travis Jones (#57) being someone on the @seniorbowl radar, and he’s pretty good.
First play from scrimmage, he stacks and makes the tackle. pic.twitter.com/5bUJKLUPLT
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) November 1, 2021
Jones was a player I was slightly early on, but not quite as early as some of the other players on this list. I stumbled onto Jones early in the 2021 season and fell in love with his game after watching him dominate the Clemson Tigers upfront.
He was insanely powerful, technically sound against the run, and was clearly developing a solid enough pass rush skillset to translate to the NFL. Jones then when on to win Senior Bowl week in the eyes of many people in attendance and tested exceptionally well at the combine. He finished with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.65 out of 10.00, and he ran a 4.92 forty-yard dash.
Jones may start as a two-down player, but there is a pass rush ceiling hiding under the surface that I think will intrigue teams.
Jones Round Grade: 3rd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None
Defensive Tackle:
Matt Henningsen, Wisconsin
If you haven’t noticed yet, there is a slight BIG-10 bias on this list. The reason for that is a practical one. It was my designated conference for the BCS Scouting Department, meaning I went deeper on those players’ reports.
Henningsen is the product of that process. His tape is incredibly fun because he’s just phenomenal at knocking offensive lineman on their butts. He bullied Notre Dame’s tackles for four quarters, and showed some good flashes in other games too.
Henningsen projects best as a rotational power rusher, who can play all over the line and provide good run defense. He’s not a flashy player, but he’s super solid in a lot of areas.
Henningsen Round Grade: 4th
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None
EDGE:
Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Finished writing up Aidan Hutchinson (Mich, ED) yesterday, and he’s quite impressive. Really good power in his lower body and his hands. pic.twitter.com/6vaXli1jtj
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) December 21, 2021
Okay, I know this looks bad but hear me out first. Hutchinson has been on the All-Hollywood team since the 2021 NFL Draft Summer team. I’ve been on him for a minute now, so I think it’s fair if include him.
Hutchinson’s athletic ability, power, and natural size always popped on film whether he was playing traditional EDGE or as an IDL, like he did earlier in his career. His breakout 2021 season was truly rewarding for someone who was just a tad early on him.
With all of that said, the hype has gotten away from me. I love Hutchinson. He’s legitimately one of my favorite players in this class, but him going number one or number two overall is a little too high in my book.
Hutchinson Round Grade: 1st
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: 2021 NFL Draft Summer Team, 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Honorable Mention: Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Linebacker:
Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
Leo Chenal’s film against Army is some of the funniest (in a good way) film I’ve watched this cycle. He shot the A-gap like this and blew up at least 6-8 plays before they even started.
He’s pushing for a top-50 grade from me. pic.twitter.com/xyWTCyVJDr
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) January 5, 2022
Ah yes, another player from the BIG-10. Look, I’m sorry I’ve just spent so much time with these prospects it’s hard not to love them. Chenal was someone who made the team this summer, and his 2021 season showed even more improvement to his game.
He’s a smart, hard hitting, and impactful linebacker prospect with the size and insticnts to win on first and second down. There are some question marks with his coverage ability, but his ability to blitz should keep him on the field enough in those situations.
Chenal tested really well at the combine, which only helps his projection as a pass defender. I think he can start at linebacker in year one and make an immediate impact for a defense.
Chenal Round Grade: 2nd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: 2022 NFL Draft Summer Team
Honorable Mention: Terrell Bernard, Baylor
Cornerback:
Kaiir Elam, Florida
I’m really surprised where some people have Florida CB Kaiir Elam ranked, he’s freaking good.
Prototype size, two years of quality film, and tested super well. He’ll be fringe top-20 in the class for me. pic.twitter.com/3kuFJuNfJJ
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) March 13, 2022
Cornerback was difficult for me, and if I’m being honest, my personal love for Elam’s game isn’t quite as strong as some of the other players on this list, but it’s strong enough. I’ve always known about Elam, but I do think he’s getting underrated in this deep 2022 cornerback class.
He’s got the speed, frame, and physical mentality every NFL team wants in a press man cornerback. He’s showed good change of direction skills — especially for his size — and ball skills too.
Elam could be a late first round pick just based off talent, but regardless, I think he’s an impactful starter for a long time.
Elam Round Grade: 2nd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selection: None
Strong Safety:
Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee State
Reed Blackenship (Middle Tennessee, SAF) is one of my favorite small school watches so far. He’s got range on the backend and good ball skills. pic.twitter.com/VlpO9Id27P
— Dante Collinelli (@DanteCollinelli) August 23, 2020
Blankenship has been in college football for what feels like forever. He’s been a Draft Twitter darling for years now, and he’s a returning member of the All-Hollywood team, so it feels right to give him his due here.
Blankenship projects well to a defense that runs a lot of two-high shells and allows him to drop into the box as a robber or primary run defender. He’s a solid tackler, with great pursuit range at the second level, and ball skills on the backend.
He probably projects best as a versatile third safety, who is a valuable special teams player. I’ve never seen someone cover as much grass as he does during a given game, and that effort tends to get rewarded in the NFL.
Round Grade: 5th
Past All-Hollywood Team Selection: 2021 NFL Draft Summer Team
Free Safety:
Nick Cross, Maryland
After a brief detour from the BIG-10, we’re back. Cross was one of the last players I watched for the 2022 class, and I’m so glad I squeezed him in. He was wildly productive for the Terps this past season, and his film shows a ton of upside.
His natural speed and range should make consistent turnover threat on the backend, and he’s get the skills to win in man coverage too. He just needs to get consistent with his processing ability.
His natural tools should rank near the top of the safety class, it might just take him a year or two to get fully up to speed with NFL concepts. I’d be willing to bet on his development in a safety class that is strong at the top, but not what I would consider overly deep.
Round Grade: 3rd
Past All-Hollywood Team Selections: None