If you’re already eyeing the 2021 NFL draft, you surely know about Penei Sewell and Zach Wilson and perhaps Jay Tufele, too, a trio of Utahns who are being widely talked about as first-round prospects.
But those three aren’t the only players with local ties who could hear their names called. Earlier this week, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. released a list of his top 10 prospects at each position, and six more players appeared on the list.
To be clear, Kiper’s list wasn’t a group of his top 157 players overall (he ranked 16 positions but just seven long snappers), but the best at each position. There will surely be positions that see more than 10 players get chosen and ones that see fewer than 10.
Nevertheless, in addition to Sewell (Desert Hills High, Oregon), Wilson (Corner Canyon High, BYU) and Tufele (Bingham High, USC), Kiper also listed Utah offensive lineman Nick Ford, former Bountiful High fullback Houston Heimuli (Stanford), Weber State fullback Clay Moss (Jordan High), Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd and BYU offensive linemen Brady Christensen (Bountiful High) and James Empey (American Fork High).
Kiper ranked Sewell as the top offensive tackle prospect, Wilson as the third-best quarterback and Tufele as the third-best defensive tackle. He has Ford as the fifth-best center (Ford has played multiple spots on the offensive line) with Empey ninth, Heimuli as the seventh-best fullback with Moss right behind him at eight, Lloyd as the seventh-best inside linebacker and Christensen as the ninth-best offensive tackle.
In addition to those rankings, Kiper also included a list of his top 25 prospects overall with some detailed comments about each, and Sewell and Wilson cracked that ranking. Sewell is Kiper’s No. 2 prospect overall, while Wilson is No. 14.
“He’s the clear top offensive tackle in this class and dominated as Justin Herbert’s blindside protector last season, winning the Outland Trophy as college football’s best lineman,” Kiper wrote of Sewell, who opted out of this season. “In a class with outstanding quarterback and wide receiver talent, Sewell won’t be the sexiest pick, but he’ll be an instant starter and upgrade for the team that picks him.”
Of Wilson, Kiper wrote, “I’ve moved him slightly ahead of Trey Lance and Mac Jones. It’s going to be close throughout the pre-draft process, but I’m giving Wilson the edge right now. ... He has a great arm and shows anticipation on throws. He’s the complete package. Wilson, a true junior, could still return to BYU for another season, but I think he’s a first-rounder if he enters the draft.”
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is Kiper’s — and many other draft observers’ — No. 1 overall prospect.