D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports for 2021 NFL Draft

Scouting reports for 2021 NFL Draft prospects from D2, D3, and NAIA from Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider. To view overall and positional rankings, visit and bookmark Pauline’s Draft Board. Please note that the links below will open in a new tab.

Teams covered in this 2021 D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Report:

Adams State, Alcorn State, Arkansas Monticello, Brown, Central Connecticut State, Central Missouri, Charleston – Page 1
Concordia, Delta State, Fayetteville State, Ferris State, Florida A&M, Fort Valley State, Grand View, & Harding – Page 2
Henderson State, Lenoir-Rhyne, Lindenwood, Marian, Marist, Missouri Western, Norfolk State, & North Carolina A&T – Page 3
North Carolina Central, North Central, Notre Dame College, Penn, Princeton, Saginaw Valley State, & South Dakota Mines – Page 4
Southwestern Assemblies of God, Texas A&M Commerce, Texas A&M Kingsville, Tiffin, Truman State, Valdosta State, Wisconsin-Whitewater, & Yale – Page 5

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Adams State

Tariq Bitson NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver

Positives: Well-built receiver who is best running underneath routes. Uses his hands to separate from defenders, adjusts to the errant throw, and effectively makes the reception in stride. Displays focus as well as concentration and possesses good eye/hand coordination. Keeps his eyes on the ball, stays with the action, and mentally defeats opponents to find ways to separate.

Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Consistent hands catcher who nicely times receptions and gives effort after the catch. Gives effort blocking downfield.

Negatives: Not quick releasing off the line of scrimmage. Plays to one speed and shows no burst in his game. Displays limited quickness in and out of routes.

Analysis: Bitson possesses a solid build and reliable hands yet lacks next-level physical skills. He could find his way onto a timing offense that does not ask him to run vertically.

Alani Pututau NFL Draft Scouting Report | EDGE

Positives: Undersized college defensive end with the physical skills to play linebacker at the next level. Fires off the snap with a quick first step out of a three-point stance, plays with proper pad level, and easily moves about the field. Plays with balance, body control and agility, and collapses down the line defending the run. Plays heads-up football, quickly locates the ball handler, and flows well to the action. Gets a lot of momentum going up the field, immediately alters his angle of attack, and pursues laterally with speed. Rarely off his feet, possesses a closing burst, and has a nasty attitude.

Negatives: Lacks size and bulk and gets out-positioned from the action at the small-school level. Best making plays up the field and isn’t smooth or fluid pedaling in reverse and dropping into space. Over-aged and will be 26 years old this season. 

Analysis: Pututau is a hard-working, explosive pass rusher with size limitations. His ability to get upfield and do the little things makes him attractive in a 3-4 system where he’s brought onto the field on passing downs.

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Alcorn State

Qwynnterrio Cole NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety

Positives: Aggressive small school safety who is best playing downhill. Physical, takes good angles to the action, and aggressively attacks ball handlers. Explosive, quick getting to the action, and displays a straight-line burst of speed. Remains disciplined with assignments and keeps the action in front of him. Effectively times pass defenses and outmuscles opponents to defend the throw and come away with the interception. Strong open-field tackler who drives his shoulders through ball handlers and brings them down at the point of attack.

Negatives: Possesses more of a short burst rather than true recovery speed. Stiff pedaling in reverse. Shows hesitation in his game.

Analysis: Cole possesses next-level size and skill, and he offers real possibilities as a strong safety in the NFL.

Juwan Taylor NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety

Positives: Underrated safety with average measurables but a solid game. Quick-footed moving in any direction, breaks down well, and possesses a closing burst. Instinctive, correctly diagnoses plays, and takes proper angles to the action. Quick getting to the sidelines making plays on the ball handler or pass catcher. Keeps the action in front of him, tracks the pass in the air, and has a nice move to the throw. Works hard defending the run and wraps up tackling.

Negatives: Possesses average size and play speed. Not a stout tackler. Late transitioning off the line of scrimmage when placed over the slot wideout.

Analysis: Taylor is a solid football player who gets the most from his ability, but he lacks great physical skills. While he comes with limited physical upside, his instincts and discipline give Taylor a chance to make a roster as a ninth defensive back.

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Arkansas Monticello

DeAndre Washington NFL Draft Scouting Report | Tight End

Positives: Swift move tight end who shows the ability to get downfield and make plays. Occasionally lines up in the slot, fluidly releases off the line of scrimmage, and displays a burst of speed. Possesses excellent length, extends his hands, and works to make the reception away from his frame. Fires off the snap into blocks, plays with terrific fundamentals, and gets leverage on opponents. Stays square as a blocker and effectively uses his hands.

Negatives: Lacks playing balance, double-catches passes, and loses his focus. Slow to react and does a lot of thinking on the field. Doesn’t show good wherewithal or timing on pass receptions.

Analysis: Washington is an athletic prospect with outstanding size and speed, and he’s a practice-squad prospect who must develop his game and turn from athlete into football player.

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Brown

EJ Perry NFL Draft Scouting Report | Quarterback

Positives: Mobile, agile quarterback who is highly graded in the scouting community. Effectively commands and controls the offense, remains poised under the rush, and keeps his eyes downfield looking for open wideouts. Easily gets outside the pocket, eludes the rush, and makes the throw on the move. Legitimate threat picking up yardage with his legs.

Negatives: Stares down the primary target and forces the ball to covered receivers. Possesses an average arm.

Analysis: Perry was considered a potential late-round pick by scouts over the summer, yet his play never justified the grade. He’s an undersized quarterback with an average arm whose greatest asset is his mobility. Perry could be a backup for a team that uses wildcat formations, but I struggle to see him ever making an active roster.

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Central Connecticut State

Tyshaun James NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver

Positives: Nice-sized receiver with soft, quick hands. Runs well for a big man and nicely makes the reception at full speed. Consistent hands catcher who snatches the ball away from his frame. Tracks the pass in the air, displays eye/hand coordination, and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Displays good focus as well as concentration.

Effectively times his receptions and lays out for the difficult catch. Makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception or the tough catch in a crowd, takes a pounding, and holds onto the throw.

Negatives: Not quick, lacks burst, and plays to one speed. Poor route runner and shows limited quickness in and out of breaks.

Analysis: James possesses the size and pass-catching skill to make an NFL roster as a fifth receiver if he brushes off the details of his position.

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Central Missouri

Zach Davidson NFL Draft Scouting Report | Tight End

Positives: Outstanding small school tight end prospect with the ability to play at the next level. Fluid releasing off the line of scrimmage, tracks the pass in the air, and displays focus as well as concentration. Times his receptions, gets vertical in a crowd, and extends to snatch the ball from the air. Displays good route discipline and eye/hand coordination and makes the difficult catch in contorted positions. Possesses soft hands and works to pick up yardage after the catch. Stays square as a blocker, gets leverage at the point of attack, and blocks with strength.

Negatives: Lacks a second gear and doesn’t stretch the seam. Has a thin build and must physically fill out.

Analysis: Davidson was a terrific small school tight end who is reliable as both a pass catcher and a blocker. He lacks elite athleticism but comes with the size, growth potential, and upside to develop into a second tight end in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft | D2, D3, and NAIA Scouting Reports: Charleston

Kenny Randall NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive Tackle

Positives: Nice-sized defensive tackle with an underrated game. Fires off the snap, keeps his feet moving, and plays with power. Bullrushes opponents off the line, collapses the pocket, and breaks through double and triple-team blocks to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Takes up a lot of room in the middle of the field and is impossible to move off the point. Plays with a nasty attitude and stays with the action.

Negatives: Not a leverage defender and does not consistently play with proper pad level. Must learn to use his hands better. More of a gap occupier than a playmaker.

Analysis: Randall was an overwhelming force at the small-school level and possesses the size and power to line up at nose tackle in the NFL. And while he has the body type and skills to play on Sundays, Randall must significantly improve his use of leverage and learn to play with proper pad level to make it out of camp this summer.

Mike Strachan NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver

Positives: Large, game-controlling receiver with outstanding size. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, uses his hands to separate from opponents, and knows where he is on the field. Plays with great body control, displays a sense of timing on receptions, and uses his large frame to shield away opponents.

Makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception with ease, contorts to come away with the catch, and displays outstanding eye/hand coordination. Possesses soft hands, competes to come away with the reception, and exposes himself to the big hit. Keeps the play in bounds after the catch and gives effort to pick up yardage.

Negatives: Displays a limited burst in his game and possesses no deep speed. Will occasionally clasp the ball against his frame to secure the pass.

Analysis: Strachan was a productive receiver at the small-school level and comes with an NFL frame as well as pass-catching hands. His towering length and size will make him a good red zone target, but Strachan also comes with growth potential and could be a developmental move tight end. In a worst-case scenario, Strachan is a practice-squad prospect who is probably a year or two away from being NFL-ready.

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