USC wide receiver Drake London declares for NFL Draft

Drake London is one of the more intriguing prospects in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. The junior out of USC officially announced his intentions via Twitter earlier this month.

The young wide receiver is undoubtedly talented. Despite playing only eight games this year, London led his team in every receiving statistic, reeling in 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. The next closest receiver on the team had 54 catches for 602 yards through 12 games.

The intrigue doesn’t necessarily stem from London’s abilities but from his draft stock. London’s season came to an early end when he suffered a fractured ankle in late October. He underwent surgery but, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller, there was no ligament damage in the ankle, leaving the door open for a potential return in time for pre-draft testing.

At the time of his injury, London was widely considered a top wide receiver in college football. Before he missed any time, he led the NCAA in receiving yards, contested catches (19), and missed tackles (22) and was the highest-graded receiver according to Pro Football Focus.

While London is still widely considered to be a first-round pick based on the abilities he’s already displayed, it remains to be seen how his injury and recovery will affect his draft stock after testing.