MWC Scouting Reports for 2021 NFL Draft

Scouting reports for 2021 NFL Draft prospects from the Mountain West Conference (MWC) from Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network’s Chief NFL Draft Analyst and 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 MWC Scouting Report:

Air Force Falcons, Boise State Broncos, Colorado State Rams, & Fresno State Bulldogs – Page 1
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, Nevada Wolf Pack & New Mexico Lobos – Page 2
San Diego State Aztecs, San Jose State Spartans & UNLV Rebels – Page 3

2021 NFL Draft | MWC Scouting Reports: Air Force Falcons

Nolan Laufenberg NFL Draft Scouting Report | Guard

Positives: Three-year starter who spent his career at guard. Strong, small-area blocker who attacks assignments. Sets with a wide base, fires off the snap and always looks for someone to hit. Stays square, works his hands throughout the action, and keeps his head on a swivel. Works well with linemates.

Negatives: Minimally effective at the second level. Really doesn’t bend his knees or sink his butt.

Analysis: Laufenberg possesses good size as well as strength and has growth potential. He’s not a mobile blocker but is a good fit for a power gap offense.

Parker Ferguson NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line

Positives: Three-year starter who was used at both guard positions as well as offensive tackle. Quick, mobile lineman who shows ability in motion. Explosive, fires off the snap, and stays square. Patient, stays with assignments, and blocks with good lean.

Sets with a wide base, bends his knees, and anchors in pass protection. Keeps his head on a swivel, always looks for someone to hit, and redirects blocking in motion, displaying the ability to hit a moving target. Plays with a nasty attitude.

Negatives: Bends at the waist. Possesses average size and strength and struggles finishing blocks.

Analysis: Ferguson is a mobile zone blocker who is light on his feet and shows ability in motion. He needs to improve his strength but comes with an upside.

2021 NFL Draft | MWC Scouting Reports: Boise State Broncos

Avery Williams NFL Draft Scouting Report | Cornerback

Positives: Four-year starter who also made a major impact as a return specialist. An undersized cornerback with large amounts of agility and athleticism. Quick pedaling in reverse, fluid transitioning with opponents, and loses nothing turning to run downfield.

Stays with coverage assignments, shows good recognition, and possesses a terrific burst to the ball out of his plant. Feisty and battles opponents. Terrific special teams player who is an explosive return specialist and has blocked kicks in the past.

Negatives: Short and outmatched by taller receivers. Must improve his playing balance.

Analysis: Williams was a solid cornerback and a game-impacting special teamer at Boise State. He projects as a dime back at the next level, but his real worth is as a return specialist and on coverage units.

Jalen Walker NFL Draft Scouting Report | Cornerback

Positives: Two-year starter who recorded 53 tackles and broke up 10 passes as a junior. Physical corner with nice length and an underrated game. Engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, mixes it up throughout routes, and works to get his head back around to locate the pass.

Effectively reads and diagnoses the action, displays a burst to the ball out of his plant, and stays with coverage assignments. Quick and fluid pedaling in reverse, gives effort defending the run, and fires upfield, wrapping up at the point of attack.

Negatives: Possesses a thin build and isn’t a stout defender. Possesses more of a short burst than recovery speed.

Analysis: Walker is an underrated cornerback with solid ball skills as well as growth potential. He has enough ability and physical skill to develop into a dime back at the next level.

For information on Boise State tight end John Bates, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.

2021 NFL Draft | MWC Scouting Reports: Colorado State Rams

Ellison Hubbard NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive Line

Positives: Three-year starter who recorded a career-best 5.5 sacks as a junior. Quick, fluid defensive lineman with average size and growth potential. Fires off the snap and displays good movement skills with the ability to get outside the box in pursuit of the action. Plays with leverage, works his hands throughout the action, and plays through the whistle.

Negatives: Lacks size and bulk. Gets engulfed at the point and struggles to get off blocks. Not a great pass rusher and just an average run defender.

Analysis: Hubbard was a solid college defensive lineman who does not project all that well to the NFL. His quickness and movement skills could help him find a spot as a 3-technique tackle.

Keith Williams NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Tackle

Positives: Junior college transfer who broke into the starting lineup last season. Nice-sized offensive tackle with a large upside. Works to bend his knees, stays square, and handles opponents at the point of attack. Keeps his feet moving, works his hands, and quickly sets up off the snap. Moves relatively well and is fluid out to the second level. Makes good use of blocking angles in pass protection and stays square.

Negatives: Lacks balance and gets twisted. Limited in his exposure to major college competition.

Analysis: Williams is a nice-sized prospect who looks the part and often played to it in 2020. He must polish his game, and though he’s unlikely to be drafted, Williams is worth stashing on a practice squad this fall.

Logan Stewart NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety

Positives: Former walk-on who started the past two years at Colorado State. Hard-working safety with average size and play speed. Physical, always looking to get a pad on the opponent and drives his shoulders through tackles. Quick up the field defending the run and plays with a vicious style.

Negatives: Inefficient and overpursues the action. Late arriving to the scene in coverage.

Analysis: Stewart is a hard-working defender with average size and less-than-desirable play speed. He lacks great upside but plays with a special teams’ mentality, which will help him.

Manny Jones NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive End

Positives: Three-year starter who recorded a personal best 8 tackles for loss and 5 sacks as a junior. Resilient defensive end who gets the most from his ability. Breaks down well, plays with leverage, and stays with the action. Fires off the snap, displays a closing burst, and fights with his hands. Shows a variety of moves working to get off blocks.

Negatives: Lacks bulk and gets easily controlled at the point of attack by a single blocker. Easily disrupted or knocked from his angle of attack by the initial hit.

Analysis: Jones was moderately productive for Colorado State but comes with size deficiencies. If he’s able to add bulk and strength to his frame while keeping his speed, he can make a roster as an eighth defensive lineman.

Warren Jackson NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver

Positives: Started 10 games in 2019, recording a career-best 77 receptions for 1,119 yards. Opted out of the 2020 season. Tall, sure-handed receiver with limited quickness and speed. Tough, comes across the middle of the field and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Reliable, looks the pass into his hands, and displays strong hands with the ability to pull the ball from the air.

Gets up in a crowd, displays terrific focus, and comes away with difficult receptions. Takes a big hit but holds onto the throw. Adjusts to the errant pass and makes the catch in stride. Works hard to come away with the catch.

Negatives: Not a sharp route runner. Slow turning upfield after the catch and takes a while to get it going. Plays to one speed and shows no real burst in his game.

Analysis: Jackson had a terrific campaign in 2019 and was an unstoppable force. He’s a possession receiver who must improve his route running and get stronger to have a career in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft | Fresno State Bulldogs

Syrus Tuitele NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Tackle

Positives: Three-year starting right tackle for Fresno State. Large, powerful blocker who is best in a small area. Fires off the snap, shows explosiveness at the point, and has the size to block down on opponents. Strong, turns defenders off the line and opens up running lanes. Patient in pass protection, stays square, and blocks with a wide base. Keeps his feet moving, effectively uses his hands, and remains disciplined with assignments.

Negatives: Lacks footwork off the edge. Not light on his feet or effective in motion. Does not sink his butt at the line of scrimmage and must do a better job bending his knees.

Analysis: Tuitele was a solid tackle in college and projects to the strong side in the NFL. He has athletic and movement limitations but could be a backup in a power gap offense.

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