Hello one and all and welcome to yet another Logan Blackman Show blog post! Now, I know it's been a fat minute since the last post we made, but this has taken a lot of time and effort to make sure everything is exactly how I want it.
In reality, there's no real reason I should've spent so much time on this, as this list will inevitably be irrelevant about halfway through the college football season. Hell, it may become irrelevant after week two, who really knows? Not me, I'll tell you that much.
All in all, this is just something fun to do. Again, I'm aware this thing won't be anywhere close to how things look come April 27th of next year, but it's just fun. I enjoyed writing, and I sure hope you enjoy reading it.
So, without any further delay, I give you the Draft "Expert's" insanely early 2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings! Enjoy!
NOTE: I'm terribly sorry if I forgot to mention your favorite players, please don't hate me.
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Pictured: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia; Bryce Young, QB, Alabama; Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
1. Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
As of right now, this should be the norm, seeing Alabama's Will Anderson as the top player in the '23 NFL Draft. Now, of course this is subject to change, but for now, no one really compares to Anderson when it comes to being the top player in the draft. Just for some context, if Will Anderson was able to come out for the '22 NFL Draft, he would've undoubtedly been the number one overall pick. As a true sophomore, Anderson went off, totaling an astonishing 17.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss, leading the nation in both categories, while also registering nine quarterback hurries (79 pressures) and two pass breakups. By all accounts, Anderson was the best edge rusher in college football last season yet, he only finished fifth in the Heisman race. Just for comparison, Aidan Hutchinson, who finished second in the Heisman race and was drafted second overall by the Lions, had 16 less tackles for loss and three and a half less sacks. Now, I'm not saying Hutchinson was not deserving of the accolades he got, but I feel Anderson was somewhat disrespected this past season. Anderson is a dominant edge rusher, and could work well either as an outside linebacker or a 4-3 d-end. Anderson's speed and 'Will power' makes him a very imposing threat on the outside. All Anderson wants to do is get after the quarterback, and given how his college career has gone up until this point, he'll be damned if he doesn't. Though quarterbacks rule the draft, Anderson is just too good to pass up for a team with the number one overall pick. As of right now, Anderson is the best player in the draft.
2. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
As I said when wrapping up the Anderson reasoning, quarterbacks rule the NFL Draft. More than any other position, teams will move heaven and earth to get the quarterback they desire, and when the quarterback class is good, the draft is even better. Unlike this past draft, where we had one quarterback drafted in the first two rounds, we should see two quarterbacks drafted within the first three picks, it's just a matter of which one goes first. This much anticipated battle for number one will more than likely be between Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's CJ Stroud, and depending on who you ask, you'll probably hear a bunch of different opinions about who is the best. Now, if you've listened to the Logan Blackman Show long enough, you'd know how much I like Alabama's Bryce Young. Right after he de-committed from USC and committed to Alabama, we made the statement that, when he'd be named the starter, he would be Nick Saban's most talented quarterback at Alabama, and so far, I feel vindicated by that, as he became the first quarterback ever to win the Heisman at Alabama, which is pretty crazy to think about given the history of Alabama football. To me, though he's not as big as CJ Stroud, the thing that really separates him from the OSU quarterback is his insanely quick release. It didn't matter what angle he was throwing from or how ever many defenders were in his face, more often then not, Young was getting the ball out. Short, intermediate, deep, whatever, Bryce Young can make every throw on the field. Another thing that I feel gives Young the edge is his athletic ability. Let's just say, hypothetically, Young was playing for someone like Lincoln Riley, he would've been putting up the same rushing numbers than Kyler Murray was when he won the Heisman. Do not look at Bryce Young's rushing numbers and think he can't move, dude can fly (NOTE: I understand Jalen Hurts totaled 1,976 rushing yards at Bama, but he had a lot more designed runs and wasn't the passer Young was in his time at Bama). Yes, I understand he totaled zero yards on 81 carries last season, but when you have an o-line like Bama's with the weapons he had on the outside, you don't necessarily need to force the issue and run the ball, especially when you can sling the rock like Young can. An insanely poised and 'under control' quarterback, I think Young's combination of arm speed/arm talent and athletic ability make him a really intriguing prospect at the next level. I don't care if he's barely 6'0" tall, Young can ball, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if we saw him go back-to-back with another Heisman Trophy.
3. CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Like I said before, depending on who you ask, CJ Stroud may be the number one quarterback in the draft, but to me, right now, I give the edge to Bryce Young. Now, this is kind of crazy to me, because I'm old enough to remember when people were calling for CJ Stroud to get benched after the first three games of the season. I remember dedicating a whole episode of the Logan Blackman Show defending Stroud against a dude who dedicated his whole Twitter account to bashing the first year starter. In games against Minnesota, Oregon, and Tulsa, yes, Stroud did have his ups and downs, but one thing I took away from those games was that he got better as the game(s) progressed. I mean, his first two starts in college football were against a conference opponent, on the road, on national television, and against a top 15 team in Oregon, not necessarily the easiest of opponents to figure out. After sitting out Ohio State's game against Akron due to an injury, Stroud came back with a vengeance, throwing 14 touchdowns over the next three games with no interceptions. Now, I'm aware those were against Rutgers, Maryland, and Indiana, but it was definitely a sign of things to come. In Ohio State's last four games of the season, against Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan, and Utah, all top 20 teams at the time, Stroud threw 19 touchdowns and just one interception, while also throwing for 573 yards and completing 80.4% of his passes in the Rose Bowl against Utah, without Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who were picked 10th and 11th in the '22 NFL Draft, respectfully. Without them, Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 347 of those 573 yards, absolutely crazy. I think it's clear to see CJ Stroud is an absolute beast at the quarterback position, it's just a shame it took people this long to kind of realize it. From calls for him to be benched to calls for him to be taken with the number one overall pick, it's crazy to see how far Stroud has come in the eyes of the fans/haters. At 6'3" 215 lbs., Stroud is much bigger than the Bama quarterback we mentioned before. If he keeps building on this momentum he's got going for him, there's no doubt in my mind he can be QB1 for the '23 NFL Draft. Stroud has a very good arm and can throw receivers open, which is very important to being a high level quarterback. His touch and accuracy kept improving as the season went on and I expect that to continue into next season. His talent is limitless, and with Jaxon Smith-Njigba back with him for this upcoming season, I expect sparks to fly again for the Buckeyes offense.
4. Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
What's the first word/thing you think of when you hear people speaking about the Georgia Bulldogs football team? I would be willing to bet that most of you out there thought of their defense, and rightfully so. Last season, we may have been witness to the great defense in college football history. A defense that, pretty much, single handily won Georgia their first National Championship since 1980. Just for reference, during the '22 NFL Draft, Georgia had eight defenders drafted, with five going in the first round with three of those first round picks being starters along the defensive line in the form of Travon Walker (1), Jordan Davis (13), and Devonte Wyatt (28). Last season, Georgia ranked first in points allowed (9.5) and top three in passing yards per game (172.2), rushing yards per game (81.7), and total yards per game (253.9). The crazy part about Georgia, though they lost eight starters to the NFL, they still have some elite players waiting in the wings, with none being more talented than defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Though he wasn't a main starter in Georgia' 3-4 defensive front, Carter was still a force to be reckoned with. At 6'3" 310 lbs., Carter is one of the most explosive athletes on the defensive line in all of college football. He may have only totaled 37 tackles and three sacks last season, but his aforementioned explosiveness should see him taken with one of the top picks in the draft. A natural 3-tech, Carter would be perfect for a team with either a big bodied nose guard in a 4-3 or as a d-end in a 3-4. Again, though he only totaled three sacks last season, Carter will still be one of the most disruptive interior pass rushers in the country. His explosiveness and power make him a match-up nightmare and it could be so much of a factor that he could be the first overall pick in the draft. Carter has the tools to be an elite player at the next level and should continue that line of really good Georgia defensive linemen.
5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, right now, is the clear number one option for receivers for the upcoming '23 NFL Draft. Now, I'll always make sure to say this, that is obviously subject to change as many things can happen that could change a players draft stock over the course of a season. I would also like to say that me saying that Smith-Njigba is, at this point, 'clear' does not mean I dislike the other receivers or anything, I just think Jaxon Smith-Njigba is so good that he should be looked at in such a light, regardless of how good the likes of Kayshon Boutte and Jordan Addison are. In his first full season at Ohio State, Smith-Njigba registered an astonishing 1,606 yards on 95 catches with nine touchdowns, with an insane performance coming in the Rose Bowl against Utah where he totaled 347 yards on 15 catches with three touchdowns. Now, this should come as a surprise to no one, but those 347 yards are a new NCAA record, with those 15 receptions tying his personal record, which he got against Nebraska a few weeks earlier. Besides the numbers he put up and records he broke last season, I think something that will really help Smith-Njigba's draft stock will be his ability to play both on the inside, as a slot, or on the outside. Now, this is projection at this point, as all but eight of his catches last season came from the slot, so we really don't know how he'll do as an outside receiver. But if he takes it like a duck to water, like I am expecting, he will further cement himself as the draft's number one receiver. Though he may not be the fastest receiver in college football, he rarely drops a pass and can definitely make you miss once the ball is in his hands. And for what he lacks in blazing speed, he makes up for in elite route runner ability, with ability to lose defenders with a few sharp cuts. Now, what will be interesting to watch is that he doesn't have two other top wide outs to take some of the pressure off of him, with Garrett Wilson (10) and Chris Olave (11) getting taken in the '22 NFL Draft. Though he'll have more pressure on him, team's couldn't ignore him last season, so it's not like opposing team's weren't properly game planning for the inside guy. Together, CJ Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba should put up monster numbers this season, and who knows, we may see them both get taken with top five selections come April.
6. Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
There should be no denying it, Bryan Bresee is one of the most talented players in this entire draft, and if it weren't for a torn ACL he suffered in September, he may be even higher than number six on this list. The hype surrounding Bresee hasn't been a short lived occurrence, dude was the number three rated high school prospect in 2020, according to ESPN, having offers from Bama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and a whole host of other schools, before closing Clemson. That talent has flashed on numerous occasions while at Clemson, being one of the best run defenders in college football, at a university that produces run defenders like friggin crazy. Bresee is next in line at Clemson, following the likes of Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, two players who were drafted in the top 17 in the '19 NFL Draft, with both players getting their fifth year options picked up by the teams they were drafted by. Bresee can get past opposing offensive linemen with ease. His explosiveness allows him to blow up linemen and make big plays in the backfield, both in the run and pass game. Though he's only five and a half sacks in his Clemson career, mostly due to the aforementioned torn ACL, Bresee really disrupts opposing quarterbacks, and his work rate and effort allows him to chase after even the fastest of quarterbacks and running backs. Now, Bresee being in the top six is all protection, again, his stats aren't all there, yet, due to his torn ACL. But like Aidan Hutchinson the season before, who had a leg injury himself, Bresee's athletic ability makes him a fun player to watch this upcoming season, and according to Clemson coaches, Bresee has been one of the more dominant players for Clemson this summer. I know that's what they're supposed to say, but it's still something. I'm excited to see what Bresee does coming off his injury.
7. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Affectionately known as 'Baby Gronk,' Mayer is the clear number one tight end in the upcoming draft. At 6'4" 251 lbs., though he may not be as big as the legendary Rob Gronkowski, Mayer possesses a similar skillset to the recently retired tight end that should make coaches and scouts alike really excited to draft him. A truly complete tight end, Mayer is a match-up nightmare for anybody on the defensive side of the ball. His speed and ball awareness make it almost impossible for linebackers to guard and his natural size muscles off even the strongest of safeties. This past season at Notre Dame, 'Baby Gronk' led the Fighting Irish in receptions (71) and touchdowns (7, joint with Kevin Austin Jr.) while also ranking second on the team in receiving yards (840), just 48 yards behind the aforementioned Kevin Austin Jr. (888). Though he may not have led the team in receiving yards last season, those 71 receptions and 840 yards are new single season Notre Dame records for a tight end, surpassing Tyler Eifert for both records. All that being said, he's more than just a receiving tight end. When blocking, Mayer can over power smaller defenders with ease, helping pave the way for back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons for Kyren Williams. With Tyler Buchner likely taking over at quarterback this season, having a big bodied receiving tight end that can get dirty in the run game should greatly benefit him, especially since Buchner finished second on the team in rushing yards last season (336). Having the nickname of 'Baby Gronk' could crush a lot of people, but I feel like Mayer is more than up to the challenge. With Kevin Austin Jr. and Kyren Williams gone, Mayer is the clear number one option for the Fighting Irish's offense this upcoming season. I would expect Mayer to break all of his previously set records this upcoming season. Should be really fun to watch.
8. Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
To me, the top two corners in this draft, former LSU Tiger and current Alabama Elephant Eli Ricks, and current Georgia Bulldog, Kelee Ringo, are two very good corners. But like the quarterbacks before, there has to be a winner, and to me, that winner is Alabama's Eli Ricks. To me, Eli Ricks is everything you're looking for in a cornerback in today's NFL. At 6'2" 190 lbs., Ricks possesses elite size, ball skills, and swag to be a top dawg at the next level. While at LSU, Ricks was seen as one of the guys 'up next' at the cornerback position in college football, partnering with future third overall pick Derek Stingley Jr. That being said, like Stingley, Ricks battled some injuries after a successful freshman season at LSU, where he was named a third team All-American and second team All-SEC. This past season, Ricks played a total of just six games, missing the final seven games of the season due to a shoulder injury. After a second straight sub-par season for LSU, Ricks announced his transfer to Alabama, where he is expected to walk right in and help improve the Crimson Tide's secondary, a unit that ranked in the middle of the road for passing yards allowed last season. For normal schools that's alright, but for Bama that's damn near unacceptable. Not to mention they gave up 23 touchdowns through the air, which was joint with other power houses such as Northern Illinois and North Texas. Like we said before, Ricks has been looked at as one of the top corners since his freshman year, and should be the first corner off the board in the '23 NFL Draft. Though things can change, Ricks has all the skills necessary to pay the bills at the next level. Going up against Ja'Marr Chase every day at practice should prepare him for what's to come in the NFL. Let's just hope Ricks can stay healthy this season because if he can, he's the best cornerback in the country.
9. Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
When you're building the prototypical defensive end, you'd want someone like Clemson's Myles Murphy. At 6'5" 275 lbs., Murphy has the size to fit in perfectly in a team's 4-3 defensive front. Dominant against the run, as most Clemson defenders are, Murphy was apart of a unit that ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns allowed and yards per attempt, with Murphy being huge in regards to breaking down the outside of a teams offensive line, given his size and power. That being said, he's not just tough along the edge, but with Bryan Bresee missing a lot of last season, Murphy was afforded the freedom to kick inside, as his speed would make him a match-up nightmare of opposing interior offensive linemen. Now, with the aforementioned Bresee coming back fully healthy this season, one should expect Murphy to see a lot more one-on-one action, while also keeping him on the outside to get after the quarterback. On the top of the opposing quarterback, though he's a tough sob in the run game, people are still wanting to see some more from the former five star recruit in the pass game. This past season, Murphy registered seven sacks and a forced fumble, while totaling 37 tackles (21 solo). Murphy is a very exciting and very complete football player who has all the tools necessary to be a real threat along the outside. I think his dominance in the run game and his positional versatility, to go along with an even more improved pass rushing game, Murphy should be seen as one of the top edge rushers entering the upcoming season. With his talent, he should be no problem putting it all together this season for Clemson, who hopefully a much improved team than the one we saw last year.
10. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
When thinking of the top running backs in the '23 NFL Draft, the first name you should think of is Texas' Bijan Robinson. Though there are some other good backs in the draft, i.e. Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs, former TCU legend Zach Evans, Auburn's Tank Bigsby, UCLA's Zach Charbonnet, all good prospects, but none that really compare to Robinson. A combination of size and speed, at 6'0" 214 lbs., Robinson has the ability to break defenders arm tackles while also possessing nice break away speed, posting a run of 15+ yards in every game apart from two, while rushing for over 120 yards in five straight games, with a career high 216 yards against TCU. Back to arm tackles, Robinson had a 40.5% forced missed tackle rate last season, which ranked above '22 NFL Draftees Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks, 41) and Dameon Pierce (Texans, 107). Now, for what he dominates in the run game he'll need to improve on in the passing game, because in today's NFL, you can't really be a one dimensional back. Yes, I am aware Derrick Henry exists, but even Henry dwarfs a not so small Robinson, he can afford to be that. Now, I am aware this is a two way street, as the Longhorns need to utilize him more in the passing game, as his elusiveness and breakaway speed would make him perfect for the passing game. Targeted 31 times, Robinson registered three drops last season, which is extremely picky on my part, so I'll apologize, but there's just so much to like with Robinson that there has to be something there to improve on, as he's not a 'perfect' prospect, no one is. I think with Quinn Ewers coming in Robinson's usage will only go up, as will his improvement in the pass game, both catching and running. The thing is though, where will he go in the draft? He has all the talent to be a top 15 pick but with how the NFL views running backs now in the draft will he fall to the 20s? Maybe 30s? Who knows. Regardless, Robinson should be seen as one of the top players in the upcoming draft, and I'm excited to see how he does this upcoming season.
11. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
Out of the top three receivers in this draft, Boutte is easily the one that has the most question marks. Where Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jordan Addison ranked in the top five in nation in receiving yards, Boutte only registered 509 yards with nine touchdowns, though those touchdowns being equal to Smith-Njigba, and were top in the nation at the time of his injury. Now, the reason behind his lack of yards goes down, again, mostly, to him suffering a leg injury after week six. So, if six games is anything to go off of, people should expect Boutte to have a very nice season in '22. Like, in those six games, Boutte had three games with two or more touchdowns, with three coming in week one in a tough/surprising loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Though the sample size is low, the excitement surrounding Boutte going into this season is really high. Following in the footsteps of Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase, Boutte seems to be next in line for the next great LSU wide receiver. His speed in the open field and his ability to lose defenders makes him very fun to watch. For Boutte's sake though, let's just hope he can stay healthy while also hoping that Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels can rediscover his consistency throwing the ball. If everything works out this season, Boutte shouldn't fall outside of the top 10 in the '23 NFL Draft.
12. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
At this point, the hype surrounding Georgia's Kelee Ringo has never been higher. At 6'2" 205 lbs. corner, Ringo has the potential to be truly special. The thing with Ringo right now, is that the last thing any of us remember him doing was sealing the National Championship for Georgia over Alabama, picking off Heisman winner Bryce Young and taking it back 79 yards to the house, helping Georgia get their first National Championship since 1980. That's what you really strive to do as an athlete going into the draft, leave people with a good taste in their mouth. Make sure the last thing you do is a positive one. I'll give you an example of it going in the opposite direction. Back in the '20 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons took a corner from Clemson by the name of AJ Terrell. Now, everyone out there should've known that Terrell was a baller, as he had the tools to go along with a successful career at Clemson. The thing was, when he was drafted, the last game he played he was torched by the duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, so the hype around Terrell at the time of the pick was not the highest, because the last thing people remembered was him getting killed on national television. Now, as time has shown, that game was a complete anomaly, as AJ Terrell has turned into one of the best corners in the NFL, being named second team All-Pro this past season. Was all that needed? No, not really, but I just want you to understand that that is important. Now, obviously Ringo is going to play more games after that, but it's not the worst thing to end your season on. Like we stated before, at 6'2" 205 lbs., Ringo is one of the bigger corner backs in the upcoming draft, weight wise anyways. He uses his size to his advantage as he rarely backs down from a challenge in the open field, registering the second most solo tackles out of the Georgia secondary last season with 26, with Lewis Cine (Vikings, 32) leading the way with 43, which led the team. Not only is he a willing tackler, but he's nice against the pass too, which is what you should expect from a corner but I digress. Ringo's natural length and speed make him a hard beat over the top, registering two interceptions and eight pass breakups last season. Though he's got the natural tools, he'll need to 'improve' on his consistency, but with how he's built and how tough of a character he is, I have no doubt he'll be one of the top guys in the draft in '23.
13. Jordan Addison, WR, USC
I think Jordan Addison should have a fantastic season for the USC Trojans this season. After accepting a big money NIL deal, Addison left Pittsburgh and transferred to the soon to be Big Ten school. Though Addison will never play in the Big Ten, one should expect him to put up some big time numbers with his new quarterback, Caleb Williams, in Lincoln Riley's high flying offense. I guess having a USC transfer throwing him the ball wasn't the same as having an actual USC quarterback throwing him the football. Regardless of what school he plays for, Addison is a beast. With now Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett having an insane year last year, breaking all sorts of ACC and Pitt records, Addison was the main benefactor to Pickett's success, posting 1,593 yards with 17 touchdowns, both top five for receivers nationally, with his 17 touchdowns placing him above everyone, apart from Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns, who also had 17 touchdowns. Now, like the other top receivers in this class, Addison isn't necessarily the most physically imposing wide out, standing at just 6'0" and weighing 170 lbs., but he makes for in electrifying plays. This past season at Pitt, Addison averaged more than 20 yards per reception three times this past season, four if you round up in 19.5 yards receiving against Georgia Tech. A receiver with great speed/burst and natural pass catching ability, Addison won't have to wait too long to hear his name called. I fully expect Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison to make for an insane pass catching duo this upcoming season, as USC returns to being one of the top dawgs in college football once again.
14. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Ah, Mr. Mayonnaise himself. Now, if we were basing this analysis over his weird coffee mixture, Levis wouldn't even be mentioned. By that, I don't just mean the top 25, he wouldn't even be listed as one of the top 10-15 quarterbacks in the draft, it's that bad. Like, mayonnaise in coffee? How does one even come up with that combination, and even further more, who would even try it? Well, I may for a challenge at some point, but for someone who doesn't really like coffee or mayonnaise, it doesn't sound the most appealing. All that being said, apart from that, Levis has the potential to be a nice quarterback at the next level. In regards to physical tools, Levis may possess the most out of the top quarterbacks in the class. At 6'3" 232 lbs., Levis' size mixed with his running ability makes him a really tough read for opposing defenses. Before transferring to Kentucky, Levis was utilized as Penn State's 'running quarterback,' used to spare current starter Sean Clifford when he'd, inevitably, turn into Sean Clifford. At Penn State, Levis attempted just 102 passes over two years, while totaling 132 carries, with 473 yards and six touchdowns. Though he wasn't used all that often, Levis showed promise, using that promise to transfer to Kentucky, who themselves are a very talented team running the ball with running back Chris Rodriguez. This past season, you could see Levis' lack of experience throwing the ball as his accuracy was kind of all over the place, while also throwing quite a bit of interceptions, 13, as opposed to 24 touchdowns (24 through the air, nine on the ground). Now, though this will be his second year as Kentucky's starter, this could be a testing one, as his two leading receivers from a season ago, Wan'Dale Robinson and Josh Ali, are both gone, with his leading returning receiver being Izayah Cummings, who caught only 14 passes last season. Like we said before, there's no doubting Levis' natural ability. Dude has a very strong arm and is a big and strong athlete with the ball in his hands, with deceiving leaping ability that saw him jump over a couple of defenders last season. If he can reign in the mistakes in the passing game, Levis has the potential to be a top 10 pick in the draft. Athletically, he is one of the best in the draft, making his potential a very intriguing thing when it comes to the draft. Should be fun to see Kentucky's one-two quarterback running back duo back for another season.
15. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
After playing guard throughout his Ohio State career, Paris Johnson Jr. will be making the shift from right guard over to left tackle, in hopes of keeping opposing defenses off of quarterback CJ Stroud. Now, though it's a different position on the opposite side of the offensive line, I don't think Johnson should have any issues adjusting to the change, especially since that's where he played in high school. A former five star recruit, Johnson stands at 6'6" and weighs in at 315 lbs., making him a very large guard as it is. While at guard last season, Johnson was, arguably, the Buckeyes best offensive lineman, allowing just one sack and four quarterback pressures in 440 pass blocking snaps. His ability in the pass game should help make the transition smoother over to tackle. Something that I also think will help Johnson, to some degree, is the fact that all the really scary edge rushers from the Big Ten are gone. The likes of Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Boye Mafe, Arnold Ebiketie, Brandon Smith, George Karlaftis, and Leo Chenal are gone, with all of them getting taken at some point in the '22 NFL Draft. I don't know about you, but when you switching positions, I think not having the 'top top' guys in the conference anymore makes life a little bit easier. Regardless, Johnson is a very talented offensive linemen and could see himself taken in the top 10 if he plays like everyone is expecting him to. Though TreVeyon Henderson is a talented back, I think most people expect Ohio State to be a pass first unit, especially with Stroud and Smith-Njigba, so Johnson should be expecting a lot of reps pass blocking this upcoming season. I'm excited to see what Johnson does this season for the Buckeyes.
16. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
When I was a kid, I never thought I'd see the day when a Northwestern offensive tackle would get taken in the first round. Like, when I think of Northwestern, I think of a solid defensive unit, I rarely ever think of any big time offensive players when I think of the Northwestern Wildcats football team. Like, the last offensive player to be selected in the first round from Northwestern came in '83, when the Broncos took offensive tackle Chris Hinton fourth overall. But then, all of that changed when the Chargers took Rashawn Slater with the 13th overall pick in the '21 NFL Draft. Though he sat out the season before the Draft, many people believed he would be a fantastic player right when he stepped into the league, and that's exactly who he was, making the Pro Bowl while also being named second team All-Pro. Do we really have a chance to see that happen again? I think we do, in the form of Peter Skoronski. Now, Skoronski and Slater are very similar when it comes to them as pure prospects. Both are coming, or did come, into the NFL with that label of 'guard tackle hybrid,' as both stand at 6'4." The difference between them comes in weight, where Slater came in at 315, Skoronski currently weighs sub-300 lbs., coming in at 294 lbs. That being said, though some, like Phil Steele, list Skoronski as a guard, I think he should be able to come in right away and start at tackle at the next level. Before coming to Northwestern, Skoronski came in as a five star recruit, turning down offers from Michigan and Notre Dame, among others. A three sport athlete in high school, Skoronski shows off his athletic prowess along the offensive line, being Northwestern's highest ever graded offensive lineman at Northwestern, higher than the aforementioned Rashawn Slater. Logging in over 1,300 snaps at left tackle, Skoronski has had to go up against the likes of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, giving up four sacks along the way. Again, some people may believe Skoronski should move inside to guard in the NFL, but again, his athleticism should bode well for him sticking at tackle. Skoronski possesses great feet, bend, and consistency that should see him be Northwestern's second top 15 pick in two years.
17. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
I don't think this gets talked about all that often, but South Carolina is a school that doesn't get talked about all too often when it comes to putting defensive backs in the NFL. Like, with Stephon Gilmore and Jaycee Horn both getting selected in the top 10, with the former being named the NFL's defensive player of the year in 2019, South Carolina has produced some nice talent in the secondary, even though Horn will need to prove himself this season after a rookie year that was hurt by a fractured foot. Now, the next corner in that could possibly be a top 10 pick is Cam Smith. Much like the other two corners mentioned, though he may not be as big, Smith has all the physical tools you're looking for in a corner. At 6'1" 187 lbs., Smith may have the best ball skills out of any corner in this draft, as his technique is something that truly stands out. This past season at South Carolina, Smith totaled three interceptions with 11 pass breakups, while also totaling 41 tackles (31 solo). Not to mention he has a forced fumble on his resume too, and though it was recovered by Vanderbilt in the end, still a very nice play on the ball. Like we said before, with his aforementioned ball skills, Smith rarely gets beaten over the top, or even 'Mossed,' as he high points in the ball very well and keeps his eyes on the quarterback/ball, allowing him to get away with some penalties every now and again. Much like Jaycee Horn in '21, I think there's a chance Smith climbs up draft boards as we get closer to the draft. Before the draft process that year, not a lot of people were saying Horn over Patrick Surtain II, and yet, the SC product went a pick before to Carolina, I think that's a possible scenario here. Smith can lock down a side of the field, and could be able to lock up a high draft pick come April.
18. Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
It's really hard not to like Georgia defenders, isn't it? I think a common theme with pretty much all of them is that they are very tough and are very fast, just overall insane athletes, at least that's what you get when you look at someone like Nolan Smith. Just as an example, as a high schooler, Nolan Smith ran a 4.51 in the 40, got a 4.15 in the shuttle, and damn near had a 40" vert, jumping 39.6." And that's all as a high schooler, imagine what he's like now. Well, what Smith is right now is one of the quickest edge rushers in college football. Possessed with an extremely fast first step, for what he lacks in 'elite' size, he makes up for with his first step and speed, which allows him not to get bullied by opposing offensive tackles. At 6'3" 235 lbs., Smith needs that speed and burst to be a real threat in getting after the quarterback. Though he only registered three and a half sacks, to go along with three forced fumbles and one interception, Smith was used, as many Georgia players are, as a rotational piece, not really being used as the main focal point of, arguably, the greatest college defense of all time. Though his burst allows him to get into the backfield and get after the quarterback, Smith possesses very nice 'east-west' speed, which allows him to chase down opposing backs when they're running along the outside. With 55 total tackles (31 solo), Smith is not afraid to get dirty when it comes to the run game. He's tough and fast, making him hard to game plan for, whether it be the pass or the run. I'm really excited to see what Nolan Smith does this upcoming season, especially now that he, along with the aforementioned Jalen Carter, will be the main focal points along Georgia's defensive front. Should make for an exciting season.
19. Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
Andre Carter will become a fan favorite when the '23 NFL Draft comes around. A zero star recruit, according to 24/7 Sports, Carter was a scrawny 6'4" 200 lbs. wide receiver coming out of high school, so I don't really think there were a lot of people tabbing him as a possible first round draft pick, especially as an edge rusher, yet, here we are. Now at 6'7" 260 lbs., Carter is one of the most feared edge rushers in all of college football, finishing second in the nation with 15.5 sacks a season ago to go along with 41 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and one interception. Compared to the other top edge rushers in this class, Carter's length and work ethic really sets him apart. Like we said before, dude was a zero star wide receiver before enrolling at West Point, and now we're actually talking about him becoming Army's first first round draft pick since 1947, when Glenn Davis (2) and Tex Coulter (7) were drafted by the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Cardinals, respectfully. Not only that, but by just getting drafted, Carter could become the Black Knights first draft pick since 2008, when Caleb Campbell was also drafted by the Lions, just at pick 218, not second overall. It's clear Carter has this work ethic in place before he went to Army, now I feel it's been amplified. A true leader, Carter should be one of the top edge rushers taken in the '23 NFL Draft. His athleticism, work rate, and overall consistency make him a very intriguing prospect to watch this upcoming season.
20. Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
This just seems to be a pretty common theme with edge rushers in this draft class, at least the top ones, but Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey is a very talented athlete coming off the edge. At 6'5" 260 lbs., Foskey has played the majority of his time at Notre Dame as an outside linebacker in Notre Dame's 3-4 defense, but given his size and athleticism, I don't really think he'd have an issue putting his hand down in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end at the next level. I guess I shouldn't say he's spent most of his time as an outside linebacker, as Foskey operates in Notre Dame's 'vyper' role, which sees him switch back and forth between the two positions, just given the match-up. Regardless of where he lines up, Foskey causes problems for the opposing offenses, with getting after the quarterback being his specialty. This past season, Foskey totaled 52 tackles (38 solo), nine and a half tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles, with those 11 sacks being the most by a Notre Dame player since 2012, though it was less than Stephon Tuitt's 12. Like we said before, Foskey is one of the better athletes coming off the edge, the only real 'issue,' I guess, is that he may not be as refined as some of the other top edge rushers in this class. That being said, I think if he does hone in his technique, he may be shooting up draft boards, and could possibly wind up being a top 10 pick when it's all said and done. The week one match-up between Ohio State should be an extremely fun one to watch, especially since there are so many players in that game who could be taken with high draft picks. Let's see if new starting tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will be able to keep Foskey off of the potential number one overall pick, CJ Stroud. Should be an insanely fun and interesting game to watch.
Quarterbacks
Bryce Young, Alabama
CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Will Levis, Kentucky
Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)
Anthony Richardson, Florida
Tanner McKee, Stanford
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Jaren Hall, BYU
Phil Jurkovec, Boston College
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Others
Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
Devin Leary, NC State
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
Cameron Ward, Washington State
Running Backs
Bijan Robinson, Texas
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Zach Evans, Ole Miss
Devon Achne, Texas A&M
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Eric Gray, Oklahoma
Others
Blake Corum, Michigan
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
Travis Dye, USC
Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota
Kendall Milton, Georgia
Wide Receivers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Jordan Addison, USC
Tyler Harrell, Alabama
Quentin Johnston, TCU
Josh Downs, North Carolina
Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Zay Flowers, Boston College
Others
Jalen Cropper, Maryland
Dontay Demus Jr., Maryland
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Parker Washington, Penn State
Tight Ends
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Arik Gilbert, Georgia
Sam LaPorta, Iowa
Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Will Mallory, Miami (FL)
Jahleel Billingsley, Texas
Cameron Latu, Alabama
Jaheim Bell, South Carolina
Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford
Erick All, Michigan
Offensive Tackles
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
Blake Freeland, BYU
Zion Nelson, Miami (FL)
Broderick Jones, Georgia
Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
Ryan Hayes, Michigan
Robert Scott Jr., Florida State
Interior Offensive Linemen
Layden Robinson, Texas A&M (G)
Andrew Vorhees, USC (G)
Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame (C/G)
Cooper Beebe, Kansas State (G)
Christian Mahogany, Boston College (G)
Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia (C)
Javion Cohen, Alabama (G)
O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida (G)
John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota (C)
Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan (C)
Interior Defensive Linemen
Jalen Carter, Georgia
Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Siaki Ika, Baylor
Jaquelin Roy, LSU
Gervon Dexter, Florida
Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
Tyler Davis, Clemson
Calijah Kancey, Pitt
Byron Young, Alabama
Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
EDGE Rushers
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (DE)
Myles Murphy, Clemson (DE)
Nolan Smith, Georgia (OLB)
Andre Carter II, Army (OLB/DE)
Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame (OLB/DE)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (DE)
BJ Ojulari, LSU (OLB)
Zach Harrison, Ohio State (DE)
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington (OLB)
Will McDonald IV, Iowa State (DE)
Linebackers
Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Noah Sewell, Oregon
Jack Campbell, Iowa
Henry To'oto'o, Alabama
Justin Flowe, Oregon
Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Ventrell Miller, Florida
Corner Backs
Eli Ricks, Alabama
Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Cam Smith, South Carolina
Garrett Williams, Syracuse
Clark Phillips III, Utah
Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Tony Grimes, North Carolina
Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford
Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Safeties
Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Brian Branch, Alabama
Jordan Battle, Alabama
Malachi Moore, Alabama (N)
J.L. Skinner, Boise State
Rashad Torrence Jr., Florida
Akeem Dent, Florida State
Tykee Smith, Georgia
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