Here’s when Boise State players could be taken in the NFL Draft this weekend
At least one Boise State football player has been picked in the NFL Draft every year since 2010, when cornerback Kyle Wilson was taken in the first round by the New York Jets.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir was picked in the fifth round by the Bills last year to keep the run going. In 2021, tight end John Bates went to the Commanders and former cornerback Avery Williams was picked by the Falcons. He has since moved to running back.
A handful of former Boise State players have a chance to hear their names called in this year’s draft, which kicks off with the first round tonight at 6 Mountain time. It continues with the second and third rounds on Friday and rounds four through seven on Saturday.
Here’s a look at which former Broncos are the most likely to get drafted this weekend.
S JL Skinner — At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, Skinner’s size and athleticism have NFL scouts excited. He proved that he isn’t afraid to deliver bone-jarring hits in 2021, and he showed what he can do when the ball is in the air with a team-high four interceptions last season. Skinner was a first-team All-Mountain West pick last season, and he was named the National Team’s practice player of the week at the Senior Bowl in February.
His path to the draft has been anything but smooth, though. He missed the Senior Bowl game because of a death in the family, and missed both the NFL Scouting Combine and Boise State’s Pro Day because of a torn pectoral muscle.
Despite the setbacks, Skinner is expected to be the first Boise State player to come off the board this weekend, according to most experts.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay ranked him No. 8 among safeties in this year’s class, and he’s been projected to be chosen anywhere from the late second to early fifth rounds in mock drafts.
Skinner said earlier this month that he visited the Bears and has at least had a Zoom call with almost every team in the NFL.
Projection: Late third or early fourth round.
DT Scott Matlock — Skinner came into the draft process as a known commodity, but not Matlock. He was seen by many as a likely undrafted free agent — until Boise State’s Pro Day in March.
Matlock (6-4, 296) posted a personal-best 29 reps on the bench press, which would have tied for No. 3 among defensive tackles at the NFL Scouting Combine. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds, which would have tied for No. 2 at the Combine.
Matlock’s draft stock has shot up. He said he’s met with the Patriots, Bengals, Jets and Jaguars, and McShay ranked the Homedale native No. 10 among defensive tackles.
Matlock was picked in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Chargers in NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter’s final mock draft.
Projection: Fifth or sixth round.
OL John Ojukwu — If Ojukwu is drafted, he could join a long list of former Boise State left tackles who have played in the NFL. That club includes Ezra Cleveland, Nate Potter, Ryan Clady, Daryn Colledge, Charles Leno and Rees Odhiambo.
Ojukwu (6-6, 309) started 32 straight games at left tackle for Boise State, starting in 2020. He was a three-time All-Mountain West pick, and he made the first-team cut the past two seasons.
The Boise native showed off his agility at the NFL Scouting Combine when he ran the shuttle drill in 4.52 seconds, which ranked No. 2 among offensive lineman. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 5.24 seconds and posted 26 reps on the bench press.
Ojukwu said he’s met with the Bengals, Jets, Cardinals and Titans since the predraft event in Indianapolis.
Projection: Seventh round/priority free agent.
Several other Broncos will have a shot at making an NFL roster this year, but they’ll likely have to do it as undrafted free agents: S Tyreque Jones, CB Caleb Biggers, Edge George Tarlas, DT Divine Obichere, LB Ezekiel Noa and CB Tyric LeBeauf.
Former Boise State and Arizona State safety DeAndre Pierce, who joined the Broncos at Pro Day, is not eligible for the draft, but he is eligible to sign with teams as a free agent.
