It’s championship week in college football, and that means we’ll have some of the most competitive games of the season to watch. We’ve identified over 200 college prospects to keep an eye on ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, all of whom might be potential fits with the Kansas City Chiefs. I’ll be releasing my thoughts on many of the prospects in random groups of four on Saturdays throughout the college football season.
Our fourteenth group of prospects includes a do-it-all running back, the FBS receiving yards leader, a defensive lineman with length and an underclassman who has been one of the best pass rushers in college football this season.
Baylor RB Trestan Ebner
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Ebner has quietly been one of the best running backs in college football this season and it’s because of his versatility. Listed at 5-11 and 215 pounds, he has the ideal size of an NFL running back. The Henderson, Texas native has that extra gear that teams are looking for and that Kansas City is currently lacking at the position.
He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, showcasing elusiveness and toughness. He’s also a huge mismatch in the passing game when matched up against linebackers. Watch out when he gets an opportunity to return kicks on special teams. The fifth-year senior has over 1,300 career return yards between kicks and punts and four returned for touchdowns.
After this season, it feels like the Chiefs are lacking a true multifaceted weapon at the running back position. Ebner is the type of player who can come in and make an immediate impact on special teams, but also work into the running back rotation as he gets better at blitz pickups and blocking.
WATCH: Big 12 Championship – Baylor at Oklahoma State, Saturday, Dec. 4 at 11:00 a.m. CT – Live stream on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
Utah State WR Deven Thompkins
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Thompkins is having quite the season for the Aggies this year. The receiver is listed at just 5-8 and 155 pounds, but his performance on the field far exceeds his size. The senior finished the season with an FBS-leading 1,543 receiving yards, which is also good for the most in a single season in Utah State history. He’s one of just 32 players with nine or more receiving touchdowns on the season.
Sure, he has been a bit of a one-year wonder under the new coaching staff for the Aggies. The odds in the NFL are stacked against him given his size, but he has one of the best contested-catch rates in all of college football. He’s a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, recognizing the best receiver in college football. His speed and deep route-running ability flash against the best talent he faces. NFL teams need not overthink this one.
The Chiefs drafted RB Darwin Thompson out of Utah State back in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. With a need at the receiver position in next season, they’re sure to have eyes on Thompkins as the 2022 NFL draft approaches.
WATCH: Mountain West Championship – Utah State at San Diego State, Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2:00 p.m. CT – Live stream on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
Houston DL Logan Hall
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Hall is a long, strong and quick defensive lineman playing for the Cougars. The 6-6 and 275-pounder plays up and down the defensive line for Houston, but his quickness makes him a big mismatch playing 3-tech on the interior. Beyond his natural size and athleticism, he’s a high-effort player who makes a lot of plays in pursuit.
2021 has been a bit of a breakout season for Hall, he has 43 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks in 11 games played. The swim move is his go-to when getting after the quarterback, but he also has the sheer power to walk defenders back into the lap of the quarterback.
Recently, the Chiefs have gone after a lot of defensive linemen with the flexibility to play both inside and outside. Hall could be a nice chess piece to add in the middle rounds to the current group of defensive linemen that the team currently has.
WATCH: AAC Championship Game – Houston at Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 4 at 3:00 p.m. CT – Live stream on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
Michigan LB David Ojabo
AP Photo/Morry Gash
Ojabo was born in Nigeria, raised in Scotland and only first started playing football as a junior in high school. He appeared in just five games with Michigan in 2020, but he cemented his role as a starter in 2021, recording 33 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three passes defended, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery on the season so far.
The 6-5 and 250-pound linebacker is still a very raw player, but he flashes some elite traits (burst, bend, hand-fighting, etc). Most will see him as a better fit at 3-4 outside linebacker, but I feel his skill set is scheme diverse. He wins in the trenches in the run game, even at his current weight and playing in a two-point stance.
While Ojabo’s running mate Aidan Hutchinson is on a collision course for a top 10 draft pick, the underclassman is likely to be a mid-to-low range first-round draft pick should he declare. That could be within striking distance for Kansas City in the draft this season.
WATCH: Big 10 Championship – Michigan at Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m. CT – Live stream on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).