Rams Draft Central

Bruss was a finalist for the 2016 Joe Thomas Award, given to the top high school offensive lineman in Wisconsin. He started six games (three at right tackle, three as a blocking tight end) as a redshirt freshman in 2018. Bruss switched positions during 2019 (12 starts at right tackle, one at right guard) and in 2020 (one at right tackle, five at right guard), when he was named third-team All-Big Ten. He was a second-team all-league selection in 2021, starting nine games at right tackle. Bruss missed three games due to neck and shoulder injuries during the season and opted out the team's bowl game to get healthy for the NFL draft. -- by Chad Reuter

Durant led Lamar High School to a South Carolina state title as the team's starting quarterback and free safety his senior year. He attended Palmetto Prep Academy before moving on to South Carolina State. Durant did not play in 2017 but started 10 games the following season (38 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups). He came into his own as a junior, garnering second-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors after compiling a team-high three interceptions and 12 pass breakups (also posting 35 stops, four for loss). The school did not play in the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns but scheduled four non-conference games in the spring of 2021. Durant started all four contests (eight tackles, one for loss), receiving second-team Associated Press FCS All-American recognition by tying for first in the FCS with 2.2 passes defensed per game, including his four interceptions, which tied for third nationally. The accolades piled up in 2021, as he was named a first-team AP FCS All-American and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year after leading SCSU with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 12 starts (plus 38 tackles, two for loss with one sack). Past SCSU MEAC Defensive Players of the Year include NFL linebackers Darius Leonard and Joe Thomas and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. -- by Chad Reuter

Williams was the Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year in Missouri at St. John Vianney High School before arriving in South Bend for the 2019 season. He played in four games that year (4-26-6.5 rushing; 1-3-3.0 receiving) and shed 15 pounds after the season to gain quickness. The process worked, as he was voted second-team All-ACC, ranked ninth in the FBS with 1,125 rushing yards and tied for 10th with 13 rushing touchdowns (211 carries, 5.3 per; 35-313-8.9, one TD receiving). He was a finalist for the 2021 Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player) in his final year with the Irish, rushing for 1,002 yards and 14 scores (204 carries, 4.9 per) and catching 42 passes for 359 yards (8.5 per) and three touchdowns in 12 starts. Williams opted out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. His father, Larry, played linebacker at Northern Illinois and his uncle, James Gregory, won a national title at Alabama as a defensive lineman. -- by Chad Reuter

Lake followed in the footsteps of his father, Carnell, to UCLA after a nice career at California's famed Mater Dei High School. Carnell Lake was a Pro Bowl defensive back who made the league's All-1990s team. Quentin took off his redshirt to play in the final nine games of 2017 as a reserve (eight tackles) but then earned a starting safety job the following year (67 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups). His junior season was cut short due to a wrist injury, missing all but four games with three starts (18 tackles). Lake returned to start five games in 2020, tying for the team lead with four pass breakups while recording 33 tackles and intercepting one pass. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in his final year with the Bruins, tying for the team lead with three interceptions and leading the squad with six pass breakups (also making 54 tackles, two for loss in 11 starts). -- by Chad Reuter

Kendrick came to Clemson as a top-five receiver prospect nationally and top 30 overall recruit. The South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior played quarterback his final two years at South Pointe High School, which won four straight state titles while Kendrick was there. He lined up as a reserve receiver in 15 games as a true freshman (15-210-14.0 receiving; 5-36-7.2 rushing) while the team won a national title before moving to cornerback the following spring. His play as a rookie at the position was so good that ACC coaches named him second-team all-conference (44 tackles, three for loss, two interceptions, one returned for a score, five pass breakups). Kendrick was a first-team all-league selection as a junior, leading the Tigers with six pass breakups in nine games (also 17 tackles, one interception, eight starts). However, he missed three games that season for various reasons, including disciplinary. He was dismissed from Clemson in February 2021 for what was termed repeated violations of team rules. He was arrested in March 2021 for unlawful gun and marijuana possession (charges were later expunged after a pre-trial intervention program). Kendrick transferred to Georgia, where he garnered second-team All-SEC honors (41 tackles, two for loss, three pass breakups) and led the national champions with four interceptions in 15 starts. He was named the Orange Bowl Defensive MVP after intercepting two passes to help the Bulldogs win their semifinal matchup with Michigan. -- by Chad Reuter

Hardy spent the first year of his collegiate career at the College of the Siskiyous (66 tackles, nine sacks) before transferring to Montana State. He played in 11 games as a reserve in 2018 (five tackles) before starting four of 15 games for the Bobcats the following season (18 tackles, 5.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks). The school did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns but had an excellent 2021 campaign, led by Hardy and All-American Troy Andersen. Hardy was a first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection, ranked second in the FCS with 24.5 tackles for loss and tied for second nationally with 16.5 sacks among his 77 total stops. He also broke up three passes and forced two fumbles in 15 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Russ is the son of Craig Yeast, who was the SEC's all-time leader with 208 receptions when he left Kentucky to play nine seasons of professional football in three leagues. The younger Yeast made his own name as a four-star recruit and state Player of the Year as an all-around offensive weapon at Center Grove High School in Indiana. Louisville signed him to play defensive back and he started seven games at corner as a true freshman in 2017 (23 tackles, two pass breakups). Yeast was a reserve in 2018 (eight tackles) before moving to a starting role at safety the following year (61 tackles, one interception, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles). He started 11 games for the second straight year in 2020 (45 tackles, three pass breakups) and then transferred to Kansas State for his final year of eligibility. Yeast led the Wildcats with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 13 starts last season, garnering first-team All-Big 12 honors for his play. -- by Chad Reuter

Arcuri (pronounced are-CURE-ee) did not see the field his first two years in East Lansing, first redshirting in 2016 and then missing the entire next season due to injury. The second-team All-Ohio pick as a senior at Olentangy Liberty High School was healthy enough to play in all 13 games of the 2018 campaign as a reserve and on special teams. Arcuri was one of several Spartans linemen missing action with injury in 2019 but managed to start five of seven games played at left tackle. He stayed on the field to start all seven games of 2020 at left tackle, however, and all 13 games in 2021 (eight at right tackle, five at left tackle). -- by Chad Reuter