During this holiday season, it’s time to take stock of the estimated value of certain prospects for the 2023 draft. Not all of them have declared themselves and still have the possibility of returning to college, the registration deadline being set for January 16. Overview of the forces present with, for certain positions, the preferential role in parentheses. The top 10s related to defensive positions will be published this Friday.
QUARTERBACKS
1. Bryce Young (Alabama)
2. CJ Stroud (Ohio State)
3. Will Levis (Kentucky)
4. Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)
5. Anthony Richardson (Florida)
6. Tanner McKee (Stanford)
7. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA)
8. Jaren Hall (BYU)
9. Will Rogers (Mississippi State)
10. Max Duggan (TCU)
Other players mentioned: Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Jake Haener (Fresno State), Clayton Tune (Houston).
A hierarchy is gradually forming within the top 5, and the question today is whether a franchise will attempt a first round on Hendon Hooker or Anthony Richardson. Behind, the announcement of the transfer (and return to college) of Sam Hartman opens up more prospects of being drafted for certain prospects.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Bijan Robinson (Texas)
2. Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)
3. Zach Charbonnet (UCLA)
4. Blake Corum (Michigan)
5. Sean Tucker (Syracuse)
6. Chase Brown (Illinois)
7. Devon Achane (Texas A&M)
8. Tank Bigsby (Auburn)
9. Mohammad Ibrahim (Minnesota)
10. Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State)
Other players mentioned: Israel Abanikanda (Pittsburgh), Zach Evans (Ole Miss), DeWayne McBride (UAB).
Let it be said: there will be something for everyone. Between the robust profiles (Charbonnet, Tucker, Bigsby) and smaller (Corum, Brown, Vaughn), the class of running backs should not lack curiosity and teams motivated to draw one between the second and the fourth round. Steals could also be legion this year.
Canadian Chase Brown caused a stir in Illinois’ offensive backfield in 2022.
RECIPIENTS
1. Jordan Addison (USC)
2. Jaxson Smith-Njigba (Ohio State)
3. Quentin Johnston (TCU)
4. Kayshon Boutte (LSU)
5. Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee)
6. Rashee Rice (EMS)
7. Josh Downs (North Carolina)
8. AT Perry (Wake Forest)
9. Zay Flowers (Boston College)
10. Xavier Hutchinson (Iowa State)
Other players mentioned: Nathaniel Dell (Houston), Zakhari Franklin (UTSA), Charlie Jones (Purdue), Marvin Mims (Oklahoma).
A time announced on the return to LSU, Kayshon Boutte surprised everyone by going back on his words and signing up for the 2023 draft. His past season showed the very good and the much less good of his game, but he is sure to remain a potential first-rounder, as do the three men ahead of him in this ranking. Here again, the depth is commendable but the intrinsic quality leaves something to be desired, given the previous cuvées.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)
2. Dalton Kincaid (Utah)
3. Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State)
4. Darnell Washington (Georgia)
5. Sam LaPorta (Iowa)
6. Luke Musgrave (Oregon State)
7. Brenton Strange (Penn State)
8. Josh Whyle (Cincinnati)
9. Ben Sims (Baylor)
10. Cade Stover (Ohio State)
Other players mentioned: Payne Durham (Purdue), Zach Kuntz (Old Dominion), Hunter Luepke (North Dakota State).
The puzzles are not lacking in this position. Mayer and Kincaid stand out in view of their 2022 fiscal year, but Tucker Kraft’s astonishing mobility remains a curiosity, albeit in the college second division. Coming from South Dakota State, like Dallas Goedert, the Jackrabbits tight end will undoubtedly have a big role to play in the next FCS final that his program will play against North Dakota State. Behind, Luke Musgrave seduced but played very little, and Darnell Washington was a constant questioner in Georgia, on and off the field, despite his size as a basketball player.
Michigan’s offensive line will be scrutinized during the playoffs, especially center Olusegun Oluwatimi.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)
2. Paris Johnson (Ohio State)
3. Broderick Jones (Georgia)
4.Anton Harrison (Oklahoma)
5. Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
6. Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse)
7. Blake Freeland (BYU)
8. Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland)
9. Carter Warren (Pittsburgh)
10. Cody Mauch (North Dakota State)
Other players mentioned: Ryan Hayes (Michigan), Dawand Jones (Ohio State).
Successor to Rashawn Slater at Northwestern, Peter Skoronski has more experience on the pro pass than his main competitors on the post of tackle. But Johnson and Jones are exceptional athletes who have demonstrated continuous progress and above all a habit of major events with their respective teams. Speaking of pro pass, some recent releases from Jaelyn Duncan have been worrying for the upper echelon, but the level seems quite homogeneous between fourth and eighth place in this top 10.
GUARDS / CENTERS
1. O’Cyrus Torrence (G, Florida)
2. Jon Michael Schmitz (C, Minnesota)
3. Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State)
4. Zak Zinter (G, Michigan)
5. Andrew Vorhees (G, USC)
6. Sedrick Van Pran (C, Georgia)
7. Luke Wypler (C, Ohio State)
8. Olusegun Oluwatimi (C, Michigan)
9. Steve Avila (C, TCU)
10. Henry Bainivalu (G, Washington)
Other players mentioned: Caleb Chandler (Louisville), Emil Ekyior (Alabama), Layden Robinson (Texas A&M).
Extremely complete, O’Cyrus Torrence has everything of a Zion Johnson or a Kenyon Green in this class, and his adaptation to Florida’s more demanding program has reassured many observers. Jon Michael Schmitz has been a true regulator of Minnesota’s ground game in recent years. Behind, the level seems quite tight and the centers Van Pran, Wypler, Oluwatimi and Avila in particular have an interesting card to play, all participating in the playoffs of the first university division.
