Cotton Bowl 2021: Top 4 2022 NFL draft prospects to watch

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Sep 18, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers running back Tim Baldwin Jr. (20) dives for distance while tackled by Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Darrian Beavers (0) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

Darrian Beavers is a linebacker you want on your roster. He’s a lunchpail, hard hat player. Beavers, a UConn transfer, has been one of the most productive linebackers in the American over the last two seasons.

Beavers is the type of linebacker that helps build rosters. Though he does not project to be a Ray Lewis or James Harrison level-type at the next level, Lewis played with Jamie Sharper, and Harrison played with Levon Kirkland.

Neither Sharper nor Kirkland were perirenal all-pro players, but they were well-respected players who lasted in the NFL for a long time. Beavers projects as that type of player.

Beavers is moving up many draft boards and is drawing comparisons to Zaven Collins, who the Arizona Cardinals drafted.

Of Beavers’ many attributes on the field, his best quality is the personal ownership he took over his own development. Beavers is as self-made as they come. The All-AAC second-team linebacker invested in the Cincinnati program, and it shows.

Pro scouts are drawn to Beavers’ versatility as a linebacker. He can play inside in a 3-4 base and outside on passing downs. Beavers does a great job shedding blockers and processing information quickly.

Beavers can mirror running backs coming out of the backfield and drop into zone coverage when needed.

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