2022 NFL Draft Player Profiles: South Dakota St QB Chris Oladokun – Steelers Depot

From now till the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as doable, inspecting their strengths, weaknesses, and what they will convey to an NFL franchise. These gamers may very well be potential high 10 picks, all the way in which all the way down to Day 3 choices and precedence undrafted free brokers. Right now, I’ll be profiling South Dakota State QB Chris Oladokun.

#6 Chris Oladokun/QB North Dakota State – 6012, 212 lbs.

NFLPA Bowl

Measurements

*All numbers from Professional Day

The Good

— Constant, correct passer
— Exhibits capacity to combine up velocities on throws, capable of put zip and spin the ball on a line however exhibits contact and placement as effectively
— Able to making full-field progressions and studying your complete subject
— Cell, retains performs alive together with his legs, prefers to maintain eyes downfield however capable of take off and sometimes make defenders miss in open subject, lacks nice pace however a menace to scramble
— Productive and appeared to choose up new methods and offenses rapidly because of bouncing from faculty to varsity
— Efficient on third down and situational soccer, confirmed capacity to win on the highway towards higher-ranked opponents
— Carries out run-fakes effectively from shotgun
— Capable of throw on run and exhibits accuracy when rolling to both facet
— Serviceable arm energy (55-60 yards) and downfield accuracy
— Clear launch and total throwing mechanics

The Unhealthy

— Under common dimension and has a lankier body
— Shotgun/pistol-based offense in class, regarded uncomfortable working below middle in all-star video games, must get away from middle faster and acquire extra depth and failed to hold out fakes as successfully as he did within the gun
— Bails on clear pockets too usually and scrambles when he doesn’t need to
— Will attempt to do an excessive amount of and drive performs, resulting in adverse outcomes and errors
— Benefitted from highly-effective run sport, offense faltered with out it
— Loses composure below stress and extra inclined to creating errors
— Arduous hassle staying in a single place and performed at three totally different schools (additionally performed at two excessive faculties)
— Didn’t play towards top-end FBS competitors

Bio

— Started profession at South Florida, spent 2017-2018 there earlier than transferring to Samford for 2019 and 2020 seasons, spent 2021 with South Dakota State
— Threw 45 passes for USF throughout two seasons with three TD passes
— Threw 19 TDs at Samford, spent 2019 as starter for many of the 12 months, largely used as a backup in 2020
— 2021 with SDSU: 25 TDs, 7 INTs and rushed for 2 TDs, led group to FCS semifinals earlier than loss to Montana State
— Three-star recruit from Tampa, Florida, selected USF over Bowling Inexperienced, Iowa State, Toledo and others (seven affords)
— Threw for 1390 yards with 15 TDs and three INTs as senior in highschool, transferred faculties after junior 12 months

Tape Breakdown

Chris Oladokun is definitely a well-traveled prospect, attending a pair of excessive faculties and three schools through the years. He by no means discovered nice stability however discovered a house with the Jackrabbits in 2021, main them to an 11-win season and deep playoff run.

Oladokun has a great arm however does an excellent job various his throws. When he wants zip, he has zip. When he wants contact, he has contact. Exhibiting each right here, Oladokun controls the ball effectively and is aware of when so as to add and take off warmth on his passes.

He’s additionally a great athlete able to retaining the play alive both by scrambling or retaining his eyes downfield and discovering an outlet.

Although he performed towards smaller faculties, SDSU did beat some high quality FCS groups and upset Colorado State on the highway to start out the 2021 season, profitable in convincing style.

As for negatives, like many faculty quarterbacks, he should get comfy below middle. The NFL is a shotgun-based league however you continue to have to have the ability to perform below middle or else your offense will probably be too restricted, because the Steelers have confirmed the final two seasons. Watched his snaps on the NFLPA Bowl and you may see how sluggish and unnatural he was making an attempt to get away from middle. He didn’t play effectively within the sport, throwing an unpleasant INT rolling to his left.

His pocket presence additionally wants work and he too usually leaves clear pockets early, rolling out and slicing down half of the sector to work with. Oladokun is cell and may throw on the run (you’ll see within the first clip he nonetheless completes the move) however he doesn’t all the time must attempt to use his legs when he’s not in hassle.

He additionally benefitted from an elite, run-first offense that dominated video games and made life simple on the quarterback. SDSU rushed for over 3000 yards this season and their high two backs, together with draftable runner Pierre Sturdy, averaged 7.0+ yards per carry. The truth is, the college ran for extra TDs (33) than they handed for (31). In that win over CSU, South Dakota ran for over 240 yards and greater than seven yards per carry, profitable the sport on the bottom, not by the air. He gained’t get that type of luxurious within the NFL.

Conclusion

Total, Oladokun is a good quarterback prospect with a mix of bodily and psychological instruments. His path to the NFL has been bumpy however he’s discovered a strategy to succeed by tough circumstances. Oladokun lacks elite instruments to turn into a starter however exhibits staying-power within the league together with his total sport and mobility. Compares to Washington’s Taylor Heinicke, a scrappy, pretty cell and small schooler himself.

Projection: Precedence Undrafted Free Agent

Depot Draft Scale: 6.0 – Precedence Undrafted Free Agent

Video games Watched: at Colorado State (2021), vs North Dakota State (2021), vs Villanova (FCS Playoffs), vs UC Davis (FCS Playoffs), vs Montana State (FCS Playoffs), NFLPA Bowl