Stanford offensive tackle Walker Little declares for 2021 NFL Draft

Stanford Cardinal offensive tackle Walker Little announced via the program's official website that he is beginning preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft and skipping a final college season. 

"I returned to Stanford for my senior year to finish my degree and play one more season with my teammates," Little explained. "This fall, I will indeed graduate, but with so much uncertainty regarding the football season, the time is right to opt out of the 2020-21 season and prepare for the NFL Draft."

As noted by Jacob Infante of USA Today, Little was a first-round candidate for the 2020 NFL Draft before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in last year's campaign opener against the Northwestern Wildcats on Aug. 31. The tackle earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors for 2018 and was expected to be a candidate for the 2020 Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman.

Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso and Josh Edwards of CBS Sports all have Little as a first-round pick in their updated mock drafts. As of Sept. 9, Walter Football projected Little will be a top-seven selection. Charlie Campbell of Walter Football wrote: 

"In pass protection, Little is tough to beat for edge rushers. He has good length and strength, and is able to bend at the knee. Little sets up well to take on rushers, and once he gets a hold of defenders, they are in trouble. His length and strength allow him to sustain blocks to the whistle, and he is very difficult for rushers to shed. His long arms and strong upper body also give him an edge in recoverability, so even when he is slightly out of position, he can compensate by getting enough of the rushers to give his quarterback time to throw."

Campbell added: 

"Little is a plus run blocker for a left tackle. He is a fighter who has some nastiness to him. He definitely is not a finesse left tackle who shies away from getting violent with defenders. Little can get into the chest of defensive linemen and get a push on them at times. At other times, he uses his length to turn and manipulate defenders to keep them out of the play. In the ground game, Little could stand to improve his ability to stay on his feet. Too often, he stumbles and falls to a knee at the second level or trying to push a defender."

The Pac-12 postponed football and other fall sports due to the coronavirus pandemic on Aug. 11.