Tag: Drake London

USC WR Drake London is dominating the Pac-12

USC’s Drake London is pacing the Pac-12 in just about every receiving category so far this season

The 2022 NFL draft class is sure to be loaded with plenty of big-time playmakers, and USC’s Drake London can make a strong case as the best of the bunch.

London’s massive frame and wingspan give him something few pass-catchers can boast, and he’s put them to good use so far this season, leading the Pac-12 in just about every conceivable receiving category (via Pro Football Focus).

With his impressive combination of size and athleticism, London should be a first-round pick once next April rolls around, and one of the first receivers off the board.

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Mock draft watch: Lions 3-round mock bolsters major weak points on the roster

Draft Wire released the latest 2022 3-round mock draft and addressed many of the weak areas surrounding the Detroit Lions

With an 0-4 start for the season for the Detroit Lions, some are holding out hope for some relevance this season, but some have their sights on next year’s draft.

The 2021 roster was already labeled as one of the league’s weaker rosters, and it seems like it is getting much worse each week. It seems like a key player is landing on either injured reserve or missing games, causing an already decrepitated roster to almost hit rock bottom.

Every week it is relatively easy to see where the major wrinkles sit with the Lions, and this week Luke Easterling tackles those areas in his latest Draft Wire 3-round mock draft.

1st round (2nd overall):  Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

1st round (26th overall): Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

2nd round (33rd overall): Drake London, WR, USC

3rd round (66th overall): Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

Another year, another Oregon Duck in the 1st round for the Lions, but this time on the defensive side. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen much from Thibodeaux due to an ankle injury in the season opener, but some believe he doesn’t have much more to prove in the college ranks. However, as an elite pass rusher with a special blend of athleticism, he is someone the Lions desperately need on defense to turn around this ship.

Many believe Jared Goff is not the answer at quarterback, but this year’s crop of college quarterbacks has not lived up to expectations. One of those disappointments being Sam Howell from North Carolina, who was touted as a potential No. 1 overall pick. He has been repeatedly mocked to the Lions with their first pick through the year, but some of the luster has worn off. What he lacks in overall arm strength he makes up for through his accuracy. Many have compared Howell to Baker Mayfield, and the offensive line the Lions are building could work but may take time.

It is not outrageous to say the Lions have one of the worst receiving corps in the league. In the last draft, people were begging for Brad Holmes to take a wide receiver, and he eventually did by taking Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round. But here comes another USC wideout to the Lions. London currently leads the FBS with 670 receiving yards and as an early contender for the Biletnikoff Award for college’s most outstanding receiver. In addition, former USC quarterback Carson Palmer hailed London as the next Megatron due to his big, physical talent. Now I’m not sure about that, but those are big shoes to fill if that were the case.

Currently, the Lions’ cornerback corps is a little muddied right now. Jeff Okudah suffered an Achilles injury that may alter his career in the future. Also, the depth behind him in Amani Oruwariye and Ifeatu Melifonwu is not giving any warm fuzzies. However, McCreary is the type of corner that will fit well in the Lions defensive scheme with strong instincts and smooth transitions due to his strong athleticism. This year is the first time he has been a full-time starter, but so far, he is stepping up and could provide a potential strong presence in a much-needed Lions secondary.

Drake London dominates as USC blows out Washington State

USC wide receiver Drake London had a career day as the Trojans ran away from Washington State

There may be a quarterback change taking place at USC, but no matter who ends up throwing the ball, Drake London continues to prove what he can do whenever it comes his way.

London went off in Saturday’s 45-14 blowout win over Washington State, hauling in 13 passes for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

A massive target with impressive length and leaping ability, London will have plenty of NFL teams clamoring for his services in next year’s draft, assuming he makes the early jump to the pros.

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Chiefs land top Pac-12 WR in Draft Wire’s latest first-round projection

The #Chiefs snag a new wide receiver in the first round of @TheDraftWire’s latest 2022 mock draft projections.

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College football season is underway and that means we’ll be getting plenty of new mock draft projections from our friends over at Draft Wire.

Luke Easterling’s latest mock draft has the Chiefs picking at No. 31, which will be a disappointment to many. However, the prospect that Brett Veach manages to land will have fans quite excited. They select USC WR Drake London, giving the Chiefs a new style for their offense.

Here’s what Easterling had to say about London and his fit with the Chiefs:

“The Chiefs wisely rebuilt their offensive line after a dismal performance in their Super Bowl LV blowout loss, but after losing Sammy Watkins in free agency, Patrick Mahomes needs a receiver with size and physicality to pair with Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman.

Listed at 6-5, 210 pounds, London is exactly the kind of pass-catcher this dynamic offense needs to play at its full potential. Giving Mahomes improved protection and adding a tower of a receiver like London would be ideal.”

London is already off to a hot start this season, recording 13 catches for 144 yards against San Jose State in the first game of the year. An area of his game that he’s seemingly improved upon this season is his route running, creating plenty of separation with savvy footwork. He already had the size and length to box defenders out and be a jump-ball receiver, but adding just a bit of finesse to his game, he has the potential to be much more in the NFL.

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Three Notre Dame players make Bruce Feldman’s annual freaks list

Look out for these players who are physically gifted.

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One of the major attractions of football at any level are the players who possess incredible physical gifts. Not every football player has them, so the players that do stand out.

To that end, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has an annual tradition of making a list of players like this known that he calls freaks.

On this year’s list, which is available only to Athletic subscribers, three Notre Dame players appear:

3. Kyle Hamilton – Feldman cites the safety’s GPS speed of 21 miles per hour, his 41-foot, 7-inch vertical and his broad jump of 10-8.

45. Isaiah Foskey – Feldman likes the defensive end’s length and speed along with his GPS speed of 20.8 and his times of 1.58 seconds in the 10-yard split and 4.65 in the 40.

75. Chris Tyree – Feldman points out the running back’s 22.3 GPS speed, his 40.9 vertical jump and his time of 4.31 in the 40.

Here are the opposing players on the list that the Irish are scheduled to face in 2021:

7. George Karlaftis, defensive end, Purdue
20. Myjai Sanders, defensive end, Cincinnati
22. Leo Chenal, inside linebacker, Wisconsin
24. Kevin Harris, defensive end, Georgia Tech
46. Alec Pierce, receiver, Cincinnati
48. Tycen Anderson, safety, Toledo
56. Desmond Ridder, quarterback, Cincinnati
60. Drake London, receiver, USC
63. Matt Henningsen, defensive end, Wisconsin
87. Andy Vujnovich, punter, Wisconsin
93. Braxton Burmeister, quarterback, Virginia Tech

 

Watch: USC’s Drake London shreds UCLA defenders on 65-yard TD pass

Drake London dismantled UCLA Bruin after UCLA Bruin en route to the end zone for USC

USC’s Drake London is only a sophomore. Don’t tell that to UCLA’s defensive unit, which was run through and over in the second quarter Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

Check this out as Kedon Slovis finds who would not be denied the end zone.

How about blasting through seven would-be tackles?

The play went for 65 yards and halved USC’s deficit to 14-7 after the PAT.