What experts are saying about the 5 Razorbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft

John Ridgeway, at Arkansas for 2021 season

Position: DT
Grade: 62 (below average)
40 YD: 5.3
Vertical: NA

The Bloomington, Illinois native competed for the Razorbacks in his senior season after playing for Illinois State from 2017-2021.

Ridgeway recorded 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and 39 total tackles in his lone season at Arkansas.

His best game of the season, arguably came vs Texas, when he had 3 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and a sack.

An scout for an AFC team anonymously commented to NFL.com about Ridgeway’s prospects in the NFL

“Yeah, I didn’t like the Georgia tape, but for guys who look the way he does, you just bet on the physical more than the tape.”

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein gave his analysis of Ridgeway and described him as a project that could go somewhere on Day 3 of the NFL draft (i.e. rounds 4-6).

“College nose tackle with the size and length for consideration along the interior or as an odd front defensive end,” Zierlein wrote. “Ridgeway is more wrestler than gap-eater when taking on blocks as a nose. He’s likely to be coveted by traits-based evaluators eager to develop the physical ingredients into a more polished product. While most of his experience has come at nose tackle, the sum of his parts might make more sense as a 3-4 defensive end, where his long arms and natural power would become more beneficial as an edge-setter. Regardless of position, he won’t offer much help as a pass rusher, so rotational lineman with upside is likely to become his tag as a Day 3 prospect.”

NFL.com gives him a below average grade an categorized him as a “good backup with the potential to develop into a starter.”