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The 2025 NFL Draft is almost here, and questions abound.
Everyone assumes that the Tennessee Titans will select Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick, and the general consensus now seems to be that the QB-needy Cleveland Browns (Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter) and New York Giants (Penn State DE Abdul Carter) both will resist the temptation to overdraft Colorado QB Shadeur Sanders (Deion's kid).
But do the Patriots, picking fourth overall, go for a much-needed offensive tackle (LSU's Will Campbell)? Or could they be tempted by Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty?
Could Sanders fall to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9? Or to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21?
And will the Browns and/or Giants try to trade back into the first round to pick a different QB?
Around here, the big questions surround the three local prospects who expect to hear their names called sometime over the draft's seven rounds. Leading to Thursday night's first round, we'll be putting Boston College's two Norwell-raised offensive linemen -- tackle Ozzy Trapilo (BC High) and center Drew Kendall (Noble and Greenough School in Dedham) -- and Michigan running back Kalel Mullings (Milton Academy) in the spotlight as we examine their draft prospects.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 226
Age: 22 (turns 23 in October)
40-yard dash time: No official time
Local connection: Raised in West Roxbury, attended Milton Academy
High school highlights: He was a four-year starter for the Mustangs, although his junior season was cut short by a shoulder injury. ... As a senior in 2019 he was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Football Player of the Year after starring on offense (509 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns; 33 receptions for 358 yards, 5 TDs) while leading Milton Academy (8-1) to the NEPSAC Mike Silipo Bowl. ... Also played basketball and track (and the saxophone).
College highlights: Mullings spent five seasons at Michigan, playing mostly linebacker from 2020-22 before switching to running back. ... He rushed 36 times for 222 yards in 2023 as the Wolverines won the national championship. ... This past season he led the team in rushing (948 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, 12 TDs).
-- The Athletic's Dane Brugler grades him as the draft's No. 23 running back prospect, writing: "Although he is a bigger back with only average suddenness, he runs with balanced feet and shifts his weight seamlessly in his cuts. Overall, Mullings doesn't offer any difference-making qualities, but he follows his blocks and grinds yards. His experience on special teams will help separate him on an NFL depth chart. How quickly he gains the trust of his NFL coaches as a blocker and pass catcher will determine his early playing time."
-- Lance Zierlein of the NFL Network writes: "Mullings is a big back and inside runner who plays the game with a healthy level of disdain for the defense, using bend, balance and leg drive to move piles and break tackles. He runs with average vision and feel for the blocking scheme and lacks open-field elusiveness. ... Mullings can handle some protection duties and should be an immediate option on special teams. He offers Day 3 value as a downhill back for teams looking to add size and toughness to their room."
Brugler has Mullings as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. ... Zierlein considers him a sixth- or seventh-round pick. ... ESPN's Matt Miller, in his seven-round mock draft, projects him to go in the seventh round, No. 256 overall to the Chargers, who are coached by his former Michigan boss, Jim Harbaugh. ... NFL.com's Chad Reuter does not have Mullings being selected in his seven-round mock draft.
Mullings was the last player to dent the armor of eventual national campion Ohio State last fall, rushing 32 times for 116 yards in a 13-10 upset win in Columbus in the traditional regular-season finale. The loss cost the Buckeyes a spot in the Big 10 championship game, but they rebounded to win four straight playoff games by double digits.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Michigan's Kalel Mullings NFL Draft analysis, mock draft
Continue reading...
Everyone assumes that the Tennessee Titans will select Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick, and the general consensus now seems to be that the QB-needy Cleveland Browns (Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter) and New York Giants (Penn State DE Abdul Carter) both will resist the temptation to overdraft Colorado QB Shadeur Sanders (Deion's kid).
But do the Patriots, picking fourth overall, go for a much-needed offensive tackle (LSU's Will Campbell)? Or could they be tempted by Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty?
Could Sanders fall to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9? Or to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21?
And will the Browns and/or Giants try to trade back into the first round to pick a different QB?
Around here, the big questions surround the three local prospects who expect to hear their names called sometime over the draft's seven rounds. Leading to Thursday night's first round, we'll be putting Boston College's two Norwell-raised offensive linemen -- tackle Ozzy Trapilo (BC High) and center Drew Kendall (Noble and Greenough School in Dedham) -- and Michigan running back Kalel Mullings (Milton Academy) in the spotlight as we examine their draft prospects.
RB Kalel Mullings
Height: 6-1
Weight: 226
Age: 22 (turns 23 in October)
40-yard dash time: No official time
Local connection: Raised in West Roxbury, attended Milton Academy
High school highlights: He was a four-year starter for the Mustangs, although his junior season was cut short by a shoulder injury. ... As a senior in 2019 he was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Football Player of the Year after starring on offense (509 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns; 33 receptions for 358 yards, 5 TDs) while leading Milton Academy (8-1) to the NEPSAC Mike Silipo Bowl. ... Also played basketball and track (and the saxophone).
College highlights: Mullings spent five seasons at Michigan, playing mostly linebacker from 2020-22 before switching to running back. ... He rushed 36 times for 222 yards in 2023 as the Wolverines won the national championship. ... This past season he led the team in rushing (948 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, 12 TDs).
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Kalel Mullings
-- The Athletic's Dane Brugler grades him as the draft's No. 23 running back prospect, writing: "Although he is a bigger back with only average suddenness, he runs with balanced feet and shifts his weight seamlessly in his cuts. Overall, Mullings doesn't offer any difference-making qualities, but he follows his blocks and grinds yards. His experience on special teams will help separate him on an NFL depth chart. How quickly he gains the trust of his NFL coaches as a blocker and pass catcher will determine his early playing time."
-- Lance Zierlein of the NFL Network writes: "Mullings is a big back and inside runner who plays the game with a healthy level of disdain for the defense, using bend, balance and leg drive to move piles and break tackles. He runs with average vision and feel for the blocking scheme and lacks open-field elusiveness. ... Mullings can handle some protection duties and should be an immediate option on special teams. He offers Day 3 value as a downhill back for teams looking to add size and toughness to their room."
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Where Kalel Mullings is predicted to go in the NFL Draft
Brugler has Mullings as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. ... Zierlein considers him a sixth- or seventh-round pick. ... ESPN's Matt Miller, in his seven-round mock draft, projects him to go in the seventh round, No. 256 overall to the Chargers, who are coached by his former Michigan boss, Jim Harbaugh. ... NFL.com's Chad Reuter does not have Mullings being selected in his seven-round mock draft.
Did you know?
Mullings was the last player to dent the armor of eventual national campion Ohio State last fall, rushing 32 times for 116 yards in a 13-10 upset win in Columbus in the traditional regular-season finale. The loss cost the Buckeyes a spot in the Big 10 championship game, but they rebounded to win four straight playoff games by double digits.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Michigan's Kalel Mullings NFL Draft analysis, mock draft
Continue reading...
