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You'll read "way too early" in headlines for NFL Draft articles this time of year, but I adamantly oppose that phrase -- it is never too early to start dusting up on next year's prospects. 

And after reading this piece, you'll be far ahead of your friends on the finest small-school sleeper prospects for the 2022 draft. Don't shy away from letting them know of your new-found expertise. 

Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa 

Penning is that dude at the FCS level, the head honcho of which everyone in the scouting community is aware. At 6-foot-7 and listed at 340 pounds, Penning is built like he's been in the NFL for a few seasons, and he has 25 games of legitimate collegiate experience to his name to begin the 2021 season. 

His first test of the year came against Iowa State's Will McDonald who had 10.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss a season ago. Penning more than held his own, driving McDonald into the turf on a few occasions. There's something in the Gatorade in Cedar Falls, Iowa because Penning's teammate, Spencer Brown, went in the third round of the 2020 draft after a dazzling pro day workout last spring. Penning is the next FCS blocker to hear his name called on Day 2. 

Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne

You'll need one hell of a premium streaming subscription to get Lenoir-Rhyne on your television, unless you live in North Carolina, but Young absolutely is one prospect to keep tabs on during the season. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Young is a touchdown waiting to happen when he's on the field. 

Since the start of 2018, he has 12 touchdowns on 46 receptions. Would I like to see the catch total increase? Sure. But he's built like a sculpture and his explosiveness pops on the film I've seen. After never hearing of Lenoir-Rhyne, the Bears are in line for two players to be be drafted -- relatively early -- in three years. 

Jeffrey Gunter, EDGE, Coastal Carolina

Tarron Jackson was the pass-rushing headliner from the super-fun Chanticleers a season ago, and rightfully so. He led the team in sacks. Hunter quietly loaded the stat sheet too, with 6.5 quarterback takedowns, 12.5 tackles for loss, and a ridiculous six forced fumbles. 

Gunter has the goods physically. Big-time. He's listed at 6-4 and 270 pounds yet often aligns in a two-point stance as an outside linebacker. He drops in coverage as comfortably as he pins his ears back to disrupt the passer, a stellar indicator of how the coaching staff feels about his athletic gifts at his size. 

Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama

For my money, Tolbert is the best Group of 5 prospect. Doesn't matter the position. After posting 64-1,085-8 in 2020, just about everyone -- including myself -- thought he was a goner. But he decided college was too fun to pass on his senior year, so Tolbert returned to Mobile, Alabama and began his final season for the Jaguars with a five-grab, 168-yard outing in a convincing win over Southern Mississippi. 

At 6-3 and 190 pounds, Tolbert is a sleek wideout with deceptive long speed who can hit homeruns on simple vertical routes or knife his way through traffic thanks to outstanding vision, surprising quicks, and plus contact balance. He's in for an enormous year and should land somewhere within the top 100 selections in April. And you can lock him into the Senior Bowl. 

Jequez Ezzard, WR/KR, Sam Houston

You know I can't stop, won't stop featuring wide receivers. Why? Because outside of like four NFL teams, your team could probably use another good one, right?

Ezzard's 2020 film was spectacular. I seriously thought he was going to score a touchdown -- or at least hit a big gain-- on every play. He averaged a stupid 22.7 yards per reception with nine scores, and he took two returns to the house at more than 17 yards per punt return. 

What I like too about Ezzard, he isn't some ultra-tiny explosion-based receiver/return who doesn't have an NFL body. He's listed at 5-10 and 195 pounds. Plus, I have a thing for wideouts with return specialities. It translates after the catch on offense.