Michigan State fans are going to get multiple chances per year to watch wide receiver Jalen Nailor after the junior was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Nailor was selected No. 191 overall, and he joins a loaded wide receiver room that already features stars Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. As the Vikings are a divisional opponent for the Detroit Lions, local MSU fans will get to see Nailor in a Minnesota uniform at least twice per year.
One of quarterback Payton Thorne's favorite targets this past season, Nailor was the second-leading receiver for the Spartans in 2021, tallying 37 receptions for 695 yards and six touchdowns. The redshirt junior's 18.8 yards per reception led the team.
What makes Nailor's numbers even more impressive is the fact that he only played in eight and a half games for Michigan State. After getting off to an excellent start to his season, Nailor was injured against rival Michigan, missing the second half of the game against the Wolverines and the next four games for the Spartans.
Despite this, Nailor was still an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the conference's media.
The redshirt junior returned for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl however, and reminded everyone how dynamic he can be by grabbing eight catches for 108 yards against Pittsburgh.
Nailor compiled 86 receptions for 1,454 yards and 12 touchdowns over his career with the Spartans, averaging 16.9 yards per catch. His ability to take the top off an opponent's defense earned Nailor the nickname of "Speedy" with MSU.
Now, alongside Minnesota's Jefferson and Thielen, Nailor will help form one of the most dangerous wide receiver corps in the National Football League.
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