2022 Mock PLL College Draft

The PLL College Draft is almost here, which means it’s time to predict where all the top PLL prospects land. Will Arden Cohen go at #3 overall to the Redwoods? How many goalies will get drafted this year? Will we see any draft day trades like in last year’s draft? I try and predict the answers to these questions ahead of Tuesday’s 2022 PLL College Draft.

To familiarize yourself with the top PLL prospects, be sure to check out Steve Gaglierdi’s 2022 PLL College Draft preview or the latest episode of the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast.

Now, let’s get started…

Mock PLL College Draft – Round 1

Chris Gray at #1 and Matt Moore at #2 is pretty cut and dry. They are, in my opinion, the top two players in this draft. Redwoods’ decision to pass on Arden Cohen at #3 and draft Nakeie Montgomery instead is where my mock gets a bit more interesting (we’ll get to that shortly). As for Logan Wisnauskas, I think the Maryland attackman should be more in the conversation to go in the top four picks of round one than the bottom four and, in my mock, the Archers grab the Tewaaraton hopeful.

Despite Cohen still being available by the time Atlas pick at #5, Ben Rubeor sticks to his plan and drafts his former Loyola Blakefield pole and versatile Towson defender Koby Smith. Andy Towers is overjoyed that either Koby Smith or Cohen falls to the Chaos and he drafts the lockdown Notre Dame defender to replace Johnny Surdick, who will miss the entire 2022 season due to military commitments.

The Whipsnakes will have options at #7 regardless of who is available, but are overjoyed that the Chaos don’t grab Roman Puglise. Coach Jim Stagnitta takes the Maryland short-stick defensive middie to pair with returning 2020 SSDM of the year Ty Warner. While Chaos miss out on Puglise, the domino effect benefits them once again and they land Maryland midfielder and #1 pick in the 2021 NLL Draft Jonathan Donville at #8.

Nakeie Montgomery’s landing spot is the most intriguing. The news that Matt Landis may be able to play this season (even if in a select few games) was enough for me to believe that Coach Nat St. Laurent targets the offensive side of the ball instead of drafting another Notre Dame defender. While you could argue Logan Wisnauskas is the better prospect, the Redwoods abundance at lefty attack, Montgomery’s versatility as a midfielder and Redwoods struggles in transition made him the most sensible pick.

In my initial mock, I had the Redwoods taking Cohen at #3 and it resulted in Montgomery falling out of the first round. Archers could draft Montgomery at #4, but I didn’t think they’d pass on acquiring Logan Wisnauskas. Whipsnakes were another possible landing spot with the assumption that Atlas still draft Koby Smith and Chaos add Puglise at #6. Yet, I felt Donville fit the Whipsnakes’ offensive scheme better than Montgomery and had Chaos taking Gibson Smith at #8 to fill their need at pole. As a result, the Chrome miraculously add Montgomery with the #9 pick. This is a very real scenario—I just don’t think it’s the likeliest scenario at this point.

Mock PLL College Draft – Round 2

Most of my other second round picks involve teams addressing their needs. Chrome draft High Point attackman Asher Nolting to fill their need on the left side, which opened up after they traded Justin Guterding to the Whipsnakes last summer. Nolting has shown he can be just as effective with both hands, but could even provide some depth at midfield if the Chrome opt to play Heacock in that lefty spot. Cannons draft another Syracuse grad in Brett Kennedy, whose versatility gives them options at LSM and close defense. Atlas adds pro-ready midfielder Jack Hannah, who’s honestly good enough to be considered in the first round and Coach Rubeor is overjoyed to draft another top-rated midfielder in Syracuse’s Brendan Curry two picks later.

With the Waterdogs first pick in the draft, they grab the Terps’ two-way middie Bubba Fairman, much to the chagrin of Whipsnakes and Chaos. Whipsnakes decide to add some depth at defender by drafting Gibson Smith, while the Chaos add Cornell SSDM Harrison Bardwell.

Arguably, the biggest steal of the second round is Brendan Nichtern at #14. While Nichtern is projected as a first-round talent, his potential military commitments make him a less attractive pick, much to the pleasure of Coach Chris Bates and the Archers, who draft the Army attackman at pick #12.

Mock PLL College Draft – Round 3

The Chrome address another need by adding Loyola’s Ryan McNulty—arguably the draft’s best LSM prospect behind Koby Smith. Coach Chris Bates adds another Princeton grad and some depth at defense in George Baughan. Redwoods do in fact draft a Notre Dame grad in the form of off-ball threat Wheaton Jackaboice. Two more SSDMs go off the board when the Whipsnakes draft Maryland D-mid Jake Higgins and Cannons draft Irish SSDM Ryan Hallenbeck. Atlas add more weapons on offense, including Jeff Teat’s former Cornell teammate John Piatelli and Bryant attackman Marc O’Rourke. While Waterdogs miss out on drafting one of the top poles in the draft, they are elated to land Maryland attackman Keegan Khan at #23.

Mock PLL College Draft – Round 4

The fourth round is a combination of need-based adds and best player available picks. Chrome keep the John Galloway ties alive by drafting Jacksonville defender Colin Hinton. Archers fill their needs at goalie and faceoff by drafting the best netminder available in Owen McElroy and Syracuse faceoff man Jakob Phaup. Waterdogs add some faceoff depth as well, selecting another Buckeye in Justin Inacio to pair with Jake Withers.

The teams that opt for the “best player available” strategy are the Whipsnakes, Redwoods and Chaos.  The Whips add Hopkins standout Connor DeSimone and Rutgers defender Brad Apgar, the Redwoods add another do-it-all middie in Richmond’s Ryan Lanchbury and Chaos make Ohio State lefty Jackson Reid the “Mr. Irrelevant” of the draft.

On the Bubble: Brendan Krebs, Brett Dobson, Chris Brown, Colin Kirst, Kevin Lindley, Jack Kelly, Mike Adler, Sean Lulley, Zac Tucci

There are several other players who could very easily hear their names called on Tuesday, most notably goaltenders that I left off of my mock. You could make a case for Brett Dobson or Brendan Krebs getting drafted in place of Owen McElroy and both could still get drafted by Waterdogs or Chrome if not picked by the Archers.

I personally think that drafting a goalie with one of their four draft picks makes less sense for Chrome. though They already have their presumed starter in Sean Sconone and a capable backup in Nick Washuta on their roster. Furthermore, they have other needs they need to address in the draft. I do think that they will add another goalie ahead of training camp with the top waiver spot or “33rd” pick in the draft. Even if two of the aforementioned Owen McElroy, Brett Dobson or Brendan Krebs are drafted, they’ll have their pick of the remaining netminder, Mike Adler or Colin Kirst. I could see all five of these goalies get invited to PLL camp and earn a roster spot.

Yet, the PLL College Draft has been historically unkind to goalies, with Tim Troutner and Matt DeLuca being the only two college goalies to get drafted in the past three years. This year could be different with a stronger class, recent retirements and no entry draft, but I personally expect only one goalie to be drafted this year and the rest to be scooped up on the waiver wire immediately after.

Status Unknown (Players rumored to return for another NCAA season and/or not eligible for draft): Brian Tevlin, Cam Wyers, Chris Fake, Connor Maher, Marcus Hudgins, Mitch Bartolo