Every year during the NFL Draft process, there are late risers. Certain players catch fire during “draft season,” as they are able to show off their traits during events like the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine and pro days.
One of the biggest risers in the lead-up to the 2022 NFL Combine was Boye Mafe. The Minnesota edge rusher has rocketed up mock draft rankings and big boards in recent weeks thanks to a strong performance at the Senior Bowl.
Mafe’s name won’t be familiar to everyone. He’s not regarded in the same light as projected early first-round picks like Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, George Karlaftis and David Ojabo. But could he end up being a first-round pick? It’s possible if he can continue to build on his positive momentum at the combine.
Here’s what to know about the uber-athletic Mafe as he looks to make a name for himself at the NFL level.
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Who is Boye Mafe?
Boye Mafe is a defensive lineman who played four years at Minnesota. The 6-4, 265 edge rusher improved in each of his seasons under coach P.J. Fleck and played in 31 career games.
Below are Mafe’s stats over four years with the Golden Gophers. His 15 total sacks rank as the ninth-most in school history.
Boye Mafe stats
| Year | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | Forced fumbles |
| 2018 | 6 | 12 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 27 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 2 |
| 2021 | 12 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Total | 31 | 87 | 19 | 15 | 3 |
Mafe made the All-Big Ten second team in 2021 and made it clear that he had an NFL future. However, it wasn’t until after the 2021 college season that his draft stock really began to rise. That came thanks to a strong performance at the 2022 Senior Bowl.
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How Boye Mafe’s Senior Bowl improved his draft stock
Mafe was one of the best players at the 2022 Senior Bowl. The biggest of the annual college football all-star games is packed with the top senior prospects from around the country, but Mafe stood out during the week of practice and during the game, easily generating pressure against opposing offensive linemen.
How did Mafe perform so well at the Senior Bowl? It suited his strengths as a pass rusher, and he was comfortable with the way the coaches were using him.
“They allowed me to play my style of football,” Mafe told Justin Melo of The Draft Network. “They didn’t hold me back by placing too many rules on me. They let us get out there and get after it. For me, that gave me the confidence to go out there and put my best foot forward.”
What is Mafe’s preferred style of play? He likes to play fast.
“I’m all about my speed,” he said. “I use speed a lot.”
Mafe uses that speed “as an asset.” It allows him to get opposing linemen off-balance quickly — which, in turn, allows him to get into the backfield.
“I don’t let them dictate what I do,” Mafe said of opposing linemen. “I take control of the rep. I use my speed as an asset in that department. I use speed to get the offensive lineman on his heels. It gets him kicking and moving further back than he initially planned for. I can turn the corner or hit him with a chop. Defeating the outside arm is my go-to move.”
Certainly, Mafe showed what he meant at the Senior Bowl. He was named the National Team Player of the Game after notching two sacks, three tackles for a loss and forcing a fumble. He generated a lot of pressure and showcased versatility by playing from a three-point stance, something he didn’t do much in college.
Mafe’s performance certainly helped set his draft stock ablaze. Now, it’s just a matter of figuring out whether he will go on Day 1 or Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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2022 NFL mock draft: When will Boye Mafe be selected?
Entering the combine, Mafe is considered a fringe first-round pick. He is considered by most to be a second-round value but he has been mocked in the first round by some notable draft analysts.
That includes ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Kiper has the Chiefs spending the 30th overall selection on Mafe while Jeremiah has the Packers taking Mafe with the 28th overall pick.
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer has Mafe going late in the second round of his mock draft. He noted that Mafe has “tremendous athleticism and explosiveness” and rose considerably after the Senior Bowl.
Perhaps Mafe will rise even further with a great combine performance. For now though, it looks like he is a second-round prospect that could sneak into the end of the first round.
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Boye Mafe combine results
Since Mafe is a speed-based player, he should be fun to watch at the combine. He could post some fast times in the 40-yard dash and could put up good jumping numbers thanks to his explosiveness.
Below is a look at Mafe’s results from the athletic testing drills at the 2022 NFL Combine. Mafe is scheduled to work out at the NFL Combine on Saturday night with the defensive linemen.
| Drill | Result |
| 40-yard dash | — |
| Bench press | — |
| 20-yard shuttle | — |
| Three-cone | — |
| Vertical jump | — |
| Broad jump | — |
Boye Mafe highlights
Mafe’s explosive, athletic ability was frequently on display during his time at Minnesota. Here’s a look at some of his top highlights, courtesy of the Big Ten Network.
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