@YouTheReader thank you for reading Week to Week Notes! I had this song on my MP3 Player. Fun fact: This was Alex Rodriguez’ walk-up song for a bit of the mid-’00s.
This song is so nostalgic that Jay-Z is bragging about owning a Blackberry phone. The early Blackberry’s were blue?
One of the most underrated sighs of all time happens right before Jay-Z delivers his 2nd verse. He opens this verse by explaining how the music industry works. Here is a direct quote: “For me, I’ve always been that way. I was an artist, I was the executive producer on my first album, so I’ve always had to manage both. I couldn’t get a record deal. It wasn’t by choice — I couldn’t get a record deal, so I had to figure it out.”
Jay-Z grew up in the Marcy housing projects in Brooklyn and now to this day could sell out the Madison Square Garden. In ‘03, Jay-Z held a concert—billed as a “retirement party” at MSG, where all proceeds went to charity. The retirement was more so a 3-year gap between his releasing albums. At this point, Jay-Z was clearly at the top of the rap game, which is why he alludes he’ll be back like Michael Jordan when he famously wore the number 45 in his return to the Bulls following Jordan’s stint in minor league baseball.
I always thought this song was very cool because how it was two separate songs mixed into one. I was about 10 years old when this came out and had previously never really listened to much rap. I’m sure for some who may have only listened to rap prior, this may have been an introduction to alternative music. To this day, I love this song because you get the perfect combination of braggadocio of success from Jay-Z with the vulnerabilities that come along with success from Linkin Park. Great tune, one of my favorites as a kid.
Youtube Rabbithole
Jay-Z’s Tribute to Chester Bennington - Numb / Encore - 4:44 Tour 2017
NFL Draft Round 1 Notes
Started somberly with Virginia alum, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, paying tribute to Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis Jr., as their parents were presented NFL jerseys on draft night. Brittney Spencer did a nice rendition of the National Anthem. Remind me to one day use a Dante Hall GIF. The Mahomes and Kelce intro was unnecessary, they could have at least started the clock while they did shrimp. Bryce Young, 1 for 1. Texans taking Stroud, my final mock had him going to Houston at 12 - half a win. Texans trade all the way up for Will Anderson Jr., that’s (technically 3 for 3 with players and teams). 4 picks and 4 correct teams after the Colts go Anthony Richardson. Don’t worry I won’t keep doing this because the rest of the draft my mock got slaughtered!
The Seahawks with Witherspoon and Woolen is Booming. The Cardinals trading back up to protect Murray found their own Paris. Al Davis - not related if you’re wondering - is rolling over in his own grave that his Raiders didn’t take Jalen Carter, I guess Tyree Wilson will have to do. The Falcons going with Bijan is going to be hilarious when they don’t know how to use him like Pitts. The Eagles moved up 1 spot for Jalen Carter.
Da Bears and Titans drafted some big offensive uglies in Wright and Skoronski. Bit surprising to see Gibbs go at 12, but call me old fashioned I like seeing RBs going in Round 1 even if it makes little sense fiscally speaking. The Packers taking Lukas Van Ness is on brand. Patriots and Steelers swap picks to screw over the Jets, what else is new. Kyle Sitckles was great at the podium - Will McDonald IV jumped over an SUV - does your draft pick have a gif of him doing so on Week to Week Notes?
Emmanuel Forbes reminds me a bit of Sauce. The Patriots took the 3rd CB, gross. Dan Campbell and Jack Campbell - are we sure that isn’t nepotism? Calijah Kancey to the Bucs hurt, wanted him when the Jets were on the clock, but what the hell do I know? Seattle goes with the first CB and WRs taken, setting trends in JSN. Chargers bolted to take Johnston, Ravens picked Flowers, and the Vikings add Addison - all to catch passes.
The Giants didn’t have to give up the bank to select Deonte Banks, good pick. The Bills added Kincaid to Josh Allen’s canvas. The analysts wanted Michael Mayer to the Cowboys so bad, it ended up Mazi. Jags are protecting Sunshine with Anton Harrison. Myles Murphy was the first defensive lineman the Bengals have selected in the 1st round since ‘01. NO misses Brees so bad they drafted Bresee. The Eagles are just drafting the Georgia Bulldogs’ defense, combining Nolan Smith with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nakobe Dean. Felix Anudike-Uzomah gets to stay in Kansas.
Joey Porter Jr is Joey Porter, the former Pittsburgh Steeler’s son. JPJ was named 1st team All-Big Ten by coaches and AP. He earned the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. At 6’2” he has great size for a corner and he obviously already has NFL genes in him.
If it feels like every year Notre Dame has a stud TE entering the draft, that is because they are basically Tight End University. Mark Bavaro, Anthony Fasano, Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson, Tyler Eifert, Troy Niklas, and Cole Kmet, are some of the notable names. Michael Mayer had at least one reception in all 36 games of his collegiate career. That consistency helped make Mayer the school's all-time leader in catches by a TE in an inconsistent offense. Mayer’s 809 receiving yards in ‘22 represented over 30% of Notre Dame’s 2,692 team passing yards.
O’Cyrus Torrence was the first Gator offensive guard to be named a Consensus All-American. Torrence played for LSU before Florida, where he was a part of 2 Joe Moore Award Semifinalist offensive line units. My thought process here is to kick Alijah Vera-Tucker to Left Tackle, where he was effective for a bit in ‘22.
Cam Smith as a starter in ‘21 and ‘22 showed 1st Round NFL talent. He had 6 career interceptions at South Carolina, 4 of which occurred in his final 2 years at SC. In ‘21 he had 9 pass breakups with a 36.5 QB rating when targeted and in ‘22 6 pass breakups with a 71.3 QB rating when targeted. One of his best game tapes is when he went up against Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, the nation’s fastest WR, and only allowed 65 receiving yards on the day. Despite being tall for a CB, he is twitchy enough as a defender to play both the nickel and outside. (Source: South Carolina)
Adetomiwa Adebawore in ‘22 was selected third-team All-Big Ten by the media. He registered 31 pressures and 27 run stops (third-most among B1G edge rushers), per PFF this past year. He played on the edge in college but will likely be moved inside to an interior role in the NFL. Adebawore was voted best defensive lineman at the ‘23 Senior Bowl. (Source: Northwestern)
Cody Mauch was nicknamed “Toothless and Ruthless” for his play at the Senior Bowl. He does not in fact have his two front teeth, but when you’re in the football trenches like he is, who cares? During his time as Bison, Mauch played a bit of guard and both of the tackle positions. He was AP All-America 2nd Team in ‘21. When he 1st walked on to North Dakota State, he was a 220 lbs. TE before he eventually bulked up to a 300+ lbs. offensive tackle without losing much speed. He was the captain of his team during his junior & senior seasons and he only gave up 2 sacks throughout his 5-year college career. Although he comes from a small school, his size, hair, and smile should make him stand out in the NFL.
Steve Avila was TCU's 1st consensus All-American since WR Josh Doctson in ‘15. Avila was named team captain as he led the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff National Championship this past season. He anchored an offensive line that paved the way for one of the nation's most prolific attacks and started all 15 games at left guard. He did not allow a sack for the 2nd straight season and led all TCU players on offense with 1,044 snaps played. He also has some experience at the center position. (Source: TCU)
Kelee Ringo in ‘22 was named 2nd Team All-SEC by Coaches and AP. He has been compared to the likes of a young Patrick Peterson. Ringo at 6’1” runs like the wind with a 4.36 40-time. He red-shirted his freshman season so only played 2 years at Georgia where he had 4 career INTs and 19 career pass deflections. (Source: Georgia)
Josh Downs finished his career with 2,483 yards receiving, the 4th-highest total in UNC history. He had 22 career touchdown receptions, 2nd most in school history. Downs is one of three players in UNC history with over 200 career receptions, finishing third on the school’s all-time list with 202. He is one of two players in Carolina history with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Downs finished First-Team All-ACC in both ‘21 & ‘22. (Source: UNC)
At 6’7” and 270 pounds, Darnell Washington stood out on the College Football field and will do the same in the pros. Washington is the type of prospect who even if the team doesn't have a need for a TE, he’s such a freak that he might be worth taking a chance on. He’s a WR in the TE’s body.
Jalin Hyatt is all gas, no brakes. The ‘22 Biletnikoff Award Winner was the nation’s most explosive playmaker. Hyatt holds the Tennessee school records for single-game touchdown receptions (5 vs. Alabama on 10/15 ‘22) and single-season receiving touchdowns (15 in ‘22). Of his 108 career catches, 52 went for 10+ yards, 30 for 20+ yards, 21 for 30+ yards, and 12 for 40+ yards. (Source: Tennessee) In my opinion, he’ll be taken in the 1st round of the draft, but scouts may be skeptical that Hyatt really only has one year of elite college production. Tennessee WR Coach Kelsey Pope said this past Aug ‘22, “Jalin Hyatt is like a different person this year. Impressing early. Put on 8-10 pounds in weight and continue to improve.” The added muscle during the offseason from hard work certainly played a key factor in his breakout season. An easy player comparison as a floor for Hyatt would be Robbie Anderson. If Hyatt is able to add more than just the 4.2 40-time straight-line speed into his game, he may be Scary Terry McLaurin good or maybe even better - why place ceilings on a hard-working 21-year-old?
A program-changing quarterback who led Tennessee back to national prominence in his two seasons. Hooker finished his time with the Vols as one of the most well-liked and respected players to dawn the Orange & White, holding a high standard for himself and his teammates in all facets of being a student-athlete. He was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in ‘22, good for ‘22 All-SEC First Team. For his entire collegiate career, put up 11,053 yards of total offense, completing 632-of-944 passes (66.9 percent) for 8,974 yards and 80 touchdowns with 12 INTs. Hooker added 2,079 yards on 517 carries with 25 scores on the ground, including four 100-yard rushing games. Owned a 15-7 record as a starter at Tennessee with the offense averaging 43.1 points per game and 512.3 yards per game in those 22 contests. In his two seasons at Tennessee, completed 435-of-632 passes (68.8) for 6,080 yards with 58 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Shattered Peyton Manning’s school record for career completion percentage (68.8). (Source: Tennessee)
John Michael Schmitz was an AP 1st Team All-America in ‘22 and All-Big Ten First Team in ‘22 for coaches & media. Started all 12 regular-season games at center. He blocked for an offense that rushed for 2,698 yards and 33 touchdowns and one that passed for 2,369 yards and 12 touchdowns. (Source: Minnesota)
Isaiah Foskey was named a team captain for the ‘22 season. Played in 12 games, making 12 starts before opting out of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Finished the season with the 5th most tackles on the team at 45. Led the team with 11 sacks for the 2nd straight season and recorded 14 tackles for loss. Foskey also led the team with six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He earned himself to be named a Consensus All-American in ‘22. In ‘21, Foskey led the team in sacks with the 3rd most in a Notre Dame single season (11.0). He recorded a sack in 9 of 13 games, including 2 multi-sack performances, and finished T-11th with 0.85 sacks per game. Foskey tallied six of the team’s 13 forced fumbles on the season and collected two fumble recoveries. He ended with 12.5 TFLs to lead the defense. Foskey was an extremely productive player for the Fighting Irish and had a very good showing at the Senior Bowl by all (Twitter) Accounts. (Source: Notre Dame)
Brian Branch in ‘22 started every game at Nick Saban’s “star” position. He earned 1st Team All-America honors as the defensive back from CBS Sports and ESPN.com and at the flex position by PFF. He was selected as a 2nd Team All-American by the AP. He recorded 90 tackles, good for 3rd on the Tide’s defense. As a DB, he impressively finished 2nd on the team with 14 tackles for loss, including 3 sacks while adding in 7 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and a pair of QB hurries. Branch also returned a punt for a 68-yard TD. He can play all over the defensive backfield. His 4.44 40-time gives him the range to play CF as a safety and his hard-hitting tackling ability allows him to also blitz or be a pseudo linebacker. (Source: Roll Tide)
B.J. Ojulari is a “Team leader who makes an impact on teammates, classmates, and the community on a daily basis. Goes in line with his heritage, being the grandson of a Nigerian prince. Awarded No. 18 days into training camp. The No. 18 is given each year to the player who best represents all the outstanding traits of an LSU football player. Versatile defender who can play defensive end or linebacker. Tremendous athlete who explodes off the ball … Excellent speed with the ability to run down quarterbacks. A very disruptive player who causes problems for the offense in both the passing and running games.”(Source: LSU)
Luke Musgrave at 6’6” and 255 lbs. has the size along with the 4.51 40-time speed to play in the NFL. He is coming off a ‘22 season where a serious knee injury limited him to only 2 games played last year. He was healthy enough to play at the Senior Bowl (only TE to break 20 MPH in practice) and he should be participating the in NFL combine as well. His production in college is a bit underwhelming, but he could be a very solid Day 2 project pick.
Clark Phillips III’s ‘22 season was littered with awards. He was a consensus All-American, a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, and the AP Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Phillips started every game he played and had 9 career interceptions, including a school-record-tying 4 that were returned for TDs. (Source: Utah Utes) He also had an impressive 30 career pass breakup in only 31 career games. At 5’10”, he may be best suited to play the nickel back position in the pros, but that shouldn’t be too big of an issue as he has experience playing on the outside as well as in nickel as a Ute. Per PFF, his 6 INTs while playing man coverage in ‘22 were the most among CBs.
Devon Achane in ‘22 was named All-SEC First-Team Running Back, All-SEC First-Team All-Purpose Player, and an Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist. He started his career with the Aggies at an 8.5-yards per carry clip in ‘20. His yards per carry took regressed a bit in ‘21 to a 7.5 yards per carry clip, before falling off a cliff to a 5.6 yards per carry last year. @YouTheReader any RB who runs above 4.5 yards per carry in a game likely had a great day on the ground, so anything above 5 yards per carry on a season is absurd. Achane also returned kicks at Texas A&M, averaging 30.6 yards per return (well above average) and scoring 2 TDs. Achane would be a very scary addition to an offense in Miami that already had so much speed at the playmaking position.
Keion White in ‘22 as a pass rusher produced 40 total pressures, which included 29 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and a decent 7 sacks. (Source: NFL Draft Buzz) At 24 years old, White will be a bit of an older rookie in the NFL, but unfortunately, he transferred to Georgia Tech entering his junior year in ‘20 and missed ‘21 with an injury.
Derick Hall was a 3-year starter for the War Eagles and was voted team captain by his teammates. He followed up a 9-sack season in ‘21 with 7 in ‘22. The coaches of the SEC named him First Team All-SEC and he was honored with the national Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award from the Premier Players Foundation of Tampa. Hall is “active in campus service efforts, he jumps in wherever he can use his influence to help, whether it's enlisting students to attend basketball games, providing water to those in need in his home state of Mississippi, or donating a turkey, toys, and Halloween candy to the families of his hometown of Gulfport, Miss. ‘I want to give back to my community any way I can because I've been blessed,’ Hall said. ‘Community service has always been a priority to me, coming from a place where I know what it's like to see a single mother struggle and have to make ends meet. I feel like it is my priority to use the platform I have to help and serve others! Why not give back when I have the ability to do so?’” (Source: Auburn) His on and off-the-field production should work great on the gridiron as well as in his community.
Drew Sanders in ‘22 was a unanimous All-American in his single season at Arkansas, earning All-America status from the Associated Press (1st team). He became the 1st Arkansas LB to earn First-Team All-America honors from the AP since Ronnie Caveness in 1964. Named First-Team All-SEC by the AP, Coaches, Pro Football Focus, and USA Today. One of 3 finalists for the Butkus Award, Arkansas’ first finalist for the award in program history. He finished second in the SEC and 15th nationally with 9.5 sacks – the most by a Razorback since ‘12 and the seventh-most in a single season in program history. Started all 12 games he played in with a team-leading 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. (Source: Arkansas)
Sam LaPorta ranks 14th in career receiving yards with 1,786 yards on 153 receptions . . . among Iowa tight ends all-time, ranks first in receptions and second in receiving yards . . . according to PFF in ‘21, led Big Ten tight ends in receptions (53), yards (670), yards after catch (299), yards after contact (206) and catches of 15+ yards (18). He maintained a streak of 24 straight games with at least one reception from ‘19 through 10 games in ‘21. (Source: Iowa)
Trenton Simpson was a ‘22 Dick Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity) semifinalist. His 4.39 40-time speed as a linebacker makes him extremely versatile. Although he at times may struggle in pass coverage, Simpson has great pass rush instinct from a stand-up linebacker. In ‘20 and ‘21, he combined for 10 sacks. He may have only had 2.5 sacks last season, but Simpson can hold his own as a chess piece on defense and at times line up essentially as a safety for Clemson.
Tuli Tuipulotu is a force to be reckoned with in the trenches. He finished his career at USC with 32 TFLs, 21 sacks, 5 pass deflections, and 4 forced fumbles. In ‘21 Tuipulotu proved to be one of the nation’s top young defensive linemen. He made the 2021 All-Pac-12 first team and won USC’s ‘21 Defensive Lineman of the Year Award & Bob Chandler Award. (Source: USC)
Antonio Johnson was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week and Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week honors after recording 13 tackles in the ‘22 win against Arkansas. (Source: The 12th Man) His sophomore season of ‘21 was what put Johnson on the NFL scouting map. He 58 tackles, 18 assists, and had 26 stops (the total number of plays by a defensive player that prevent a successful play by the offense, defined as 45% of needed yards on first down, 60% of needed yards on second down, and 100% of needed yards on third or fourth down, according to Football Outsiders). In coverage, he totaled one pass breakup, one interception, and an impressive QB rating of 71.2 when targeted against. Johnson regressed in ‘22 a bit in terms of coverage (91.2), but still kept to par in run defense with 55 tackles, 16 assists, and 28 stops. His 6’3” size should help the 21-year-old fill out into a very physically imposing safety one day.
Joe Tippmann in ‘22 played in 12 games, starting the entire regular season at center. He logged the offensive line’s best run-blocking grade, according to PFF (78.0), and allowed only one sack with five pressures over 338 pass-blocking snaps. (Source: UWBadgers.com) The Badgers always seem to have good O-Lines so maybe the Jets find their long-term answer at Center with a guy out of Wisconsin.
Tyrique Stevenson has good technique, size (6’), and speed (4.45 40-time). An AFC Scout (not the scout who never was) at the Senior Bowl said, “I loved watching (Tyrique Stevenson) play in Mobile. He was the best guy there by far.” Another NFC Scout said, “Stevenson looked like he could play right away and live at the line of scrimmage” meaning he could be a press corner from the get-go. In ‘22, he had 2 INTs and 7 pass deflections. (Source: Miami)
Tucker Kraft had a breakout ‘21 season as a redshirt sophomore where he caught 65 balls for 773 receiving yards and 6 TDs. In ‘22, the QB play regressed and so did Kraft’s production as he only caught 27 balls with 3 TDs as a junior. Kraft turned down 6-figure NIL deals out of loyalty to stay with South Dakota State. A big 6’5” TE from a small school, Kraft will look to follow in the footsteps of Dallas Goedert, who also went to South Dakota State.
Keeanu Benton by all accounts on the internet had a great week at the Senior Bowl last week. Benton had such a good week of practicing and playing in front of NFL coaches and scouts that Steeler’s scout (and former very good CB), Ike Taylor, praised Benton. “There is no limit or ceiling for him. Keanu just dominated and then you see the short amount of space between the center and the guards how much they can work with and it’s little to nothing for him.” At the start of the week, the consensus view for Benton was that he was a very solid run defender, but not much was to be expected as a pass rusher. Expect Benton’s draft stock to continue to rise.
Siaki Ika in ‘22 was named All-Big 12 First Team by Coaches and AP. He was a finalist for the Polynesian Player of the Year Award and played in 12 games with 11 starts at nose tackle. Ika totaled 24 tackles, including two for a loss, with five QB hurries and two pass breakups. Pretty impressive stat line for a nose tackle responsible for clogging up as many interior linemen as possible every single play. (Source: Baylor)
Matthew Bergeron is a two-time All-ACC selection. Finished his career with 39 starts at offensive tackle. Emerged as Syracuse’s starting right tackle during the last half of ‘19, moved to left tackle for the last eight games of ‘20 and all of ‘21 and ‘22. (Source: Cuse)
Gervon Dexter started at defensive tackle in all thirteen games. He finished the ‘22 season with 55 tackles, 4 TFLs, 4 quarterback hurries, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and a pass breakup. 6’6” and 312 lbs, Dexter has the size and length that NFL teams look for on the line.
Rashee Rice led the College Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in receiving yards per game with 112.9. Rice’s 1,355 receiving yards (3rd) and 8.0 receptions per game (5th) ranked him at the top of all of College Football. At 6’2”, Rice’s physical play makes him look even bigger and his speed should translate in the NFL.
Blake Freeland played offensive line as a four-year starter at BYU (2019-22), appearing in 44 games with 41 starts. He was named Third Team AP All-American in ‘22. One of six players to start all 13 games in ‘21, helping lead BYU's offense to score 33 points per game, average 452 yards of total offense per game, and achieve a 46% third-down conversion rate with 89% scoring efficiency (49 of 55) on red zone trips. The offense allowed just 15 sacks on the season. 6’8” & 315 lbs. (Source: BYU)
DJ Turner was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (second team coaches; third team media, ‘22; honorable mention, coaches and media, ‘21). He Shared Most Improved Player (Defense) honors and Defensive Skill Player of the Year honors in ‘21. He played a ton of special teams at the beginning of his time at Michigan before ‘22 when he started all 14 games at cornerback; made 36 tackles with one for loss, one interception among 11 pass breakups, and one fumble returned 45 yards for a touchdown and one quarterback hurry, and returned one punt, to earn his fourth varsity letter. (Source: Michigan)
Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson was the ‘22 Jim Thorpe Award Recipient as the nation's top defensive back. He became the 2nd Horned Frog (Tre'von Moehrig, ‘20) in three years to receive the honor. He was selected as the ‘22 First-Team All-American by the AP, Sporting News, and ESPN. He was also selected to the ‘22 First-Team All-Big 12 and ‘22 Honorable-Mention Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. TVHT had 3 pass breakups in the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Michigan. Finished his career at TCU with 5 INTs and 41 pass breakups. Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of Ladanian Tomlinson. (Source: TCU)
The Buckeye’s Center is from Montvale, NJ, and went to high school at St. Joseph’s Regional. Wypler snapped the ball every play on the offense that ranked #1 in the nation in total offense yards and scoring offense. Ohio State’s offense also ranked in the Top 5 nationally in 2021 in passing (3rd; 380.9), passing efficiency (2nd; 182.3), and third down conversions (2nd; 52 percent). (Source: THE Ohio State University)
Kayshon Boutte’s best season was his freshman year when we made the ‘20 Freshman All-SEC. LSU entering the season wrote this up about him, “One of the nation’s top receivers. Outstanding player in every phase of the offense. Creates matchup issues for any defense. Great hands and rarely drops a pass. Ability to score anytime he gets the ball in his hands. Playmaker who thrives with the ball in his hands and with space to work with.” (Source: LSU)
Daiyan Henley played one year at Washington State as a graduate transfer from Nevada. Henley was named to All-Pac-12 Conference First Team as a linebacker and All-Pac-12 Second Team as an all-purpose/special teams player. He was a Butkus Award Finalist (top college linebacker), the first Butkus finalist in Washington State’s program history. In ‘22 alone, Henley had 106 tackles, 12 of which were for a loss of yards, 1 INT, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. Henley has all the tools to be a stud LB in the NFL as he seems to be a natural in coverage on an island. (Source: Washington State)
Zach Harrison was the most experienced Ohio State defensive end in ‘22. Harrison finished his Buckeye career with 25.5 career TFLs and 13 sacks. In ‘21 he was a team captain. He’s 6-foot-6, 274 pounds, and has the longest arms of any EDGE in the ‘23 draft. (Source: Ohio State)
Andre Carter II had a terrific junior season in ‘21 where he had 15.5 sacks. His ‘22 season didn’t reach the same sack heights, but his draft stock watch was relevant enough that a U.S. bill was revised so that Carter could possibly reach the NFL immediately after graduating from Army. Graduates of military academies -- namely Army, Navy, and Air Force -- are typically required to fulfill two years of active-service duty immediately following graduation. (Source: NFL.com)
Byron Young in ‘22 was All-SEC First Team (Coaches) and All-SEC Second Team (AP). Started his college career at a Junior College - Georgia Military College. Young is an inspirational story - due to COVID-19, he did not receive any Power Five offers until late fall of ‘20. He moved from his native South Carolina to the Columbus, Georgia, area and served as an assistant manager at Dollar General for approximately 18 months before earning a spot at Georgia Military College through a tryout. (Source: Tennessee) Once he became a Volunteer, Young had 12.5 combined sacks between ‘21&’22. A pretty cool story that I didn’t know prior to writing this, rooting for this guy now.
AT Perry had a storied career not only at Wake Forest but in the entire ACC and national landscape that included a program record 28 touchdowns which also is tied for seventh in ACC history. He holds the Wake Forest record with 15 touchdown receptions during the ‘21 season. Perry tied the program record with 12 100-yard receiving games. He is the only player in Wake Forest program history to have two double-digit touchdown seasons, doing so during the ‘21 and ‘22 seasons. He is also the only player in program history to have two 1,000-yard seasons, doing so during the ‘21 and ‘22 seasons. He totaled 2,662 receiving yards which ranks third in school history. Perry ranks sixth in program history with 171 career catches. 6’5” lanky WR who runs like a gazelle. (Source: Wake Forest)
Emil Ekiyor was a 3-year starter at guard for Saban’s ‘Bama squad. He earned first-team All-SEC recognition from both the Associated Press and the league coaches. Ekiyor had the most knockdown blocks on the team with 31.
In ‘22 Nathaniel Dell was named a Team Captain of his Houston Cougars squad. He also led the nation in receiving yards (1,398) and receiving touchdowns (17). The only thing that may hold back Nathaniel “Tank” Dell from being drafted earlier is he only weighs 165 pounds. Even if the slight frame may deter teams from drafting Tank as the focal point of their offense, his speed and twitch should at least make him an above-average NFL punt returner.
Darius Rush originally went to South Carolina as a WR. After redshirting his freshman year in ‘18, he went into ‘19 training camp as a pass catcher and came out guarding them. In ‘21 & ‘22, he made 21 combined starts and ended up with 3 INTs with 18 pass deflections. He possesses very good ball skills, it’s not like they left him once he switched to defense, and he also has very good route recognition from his days running routes. (Source: South Carolina)
Jaquelin Roy’s first year as a full-time starter was in ‘22 and he posted a career-high 49 tackles from Defensive Tackle. 6’4”, 300 lbs, and athletic. A key figure among LSU’s deep and talented defensive front. Tremendous upper body strength. A run stuffer who can also get after the quarterback. Quick feet and difficult to block. Roy has had Top-30 visits with the Bills and Eagles, some of the NFL’s best scouting departments. (Source: LSU)
Henry To’oTo’o earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league coaches. He was a true leader on a Nick Saban defense which almost certainly stands out for NFL scouts. Like most Saban LBs, To’oTo’o seems to have good instincts at linebacker which makes up for him being a bit undersized. He has some real athleticism but didn’t have much production in either pass coverage or pass rush.
Jartavius Martin in ‘22 was voted to the All-Big Ten second team by the media and captain of the team for his 64 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and two forced fumbles on the season. No. 4 tackling grade in the nation among cornerbacks (90.4), according to PFF. 22nd in the nation and third in the Big Ten in passes defended (14). In ‘21, Martin had 55 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one interception, seven pass breakups, and one forced fumble on the season. He has experience at cornerback in college but will play safety in the pros. (Source: Illinois)
Zach Charbonnet in ‘22 led the nation in all-purpose yards per game (168.0) and topped the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (135.9 - fourth in FBS and first in the Pac-12). He started his collegiate career in Ann Harbour, Michigan before heading to the West Coast. In his 2 seasons as a Bruin, Charbonnet amassed 2,496 rushing yards, 518 receiving yards, and 27 rushing TDs. He is a large back 6’1” 220 lbs who can move at a 4.4 40-time speed. (Source: UCLA)
DeMarvion Overshown was named to the first-team All-Big 12 at linebacker by conference coaches and the AP in ‘22. The Super Senior Longhorn had 96 tackles, 10 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 QB hurries, and 5 pass breakups last season. (Source: Texas) Overshown will likely need to put on weight in the NFL as a 220 lbs linebacker, but his 6’4” height and 4.5 40-time speed should make him a plus defender in coverage against athletic TEs and RBs.
Noah Sewell is the younger brother of Penei Sewell. Finished a three-year career with 215 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. First Oregon player to be named a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award multiple times, and UO’s first two-time semifinalist for the Butkus Award. (Source: Oregon)
Davis Allen was voted by his teammates as a permanent team captain. Allen is a reliable receiver, physical blocker, and team leader who recorded 88 receptions, 951 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns in 1,842 offensive snaps over 54 games (25 starts). He was also a core special teamer throughout his time at Clemson. Allen exited as one of only six tight ends in Clemson history to record double-digit career touchdown receptions, as his 12 touchdown catches tied John McMakin (12 from 1969-71), Dwayne Allen (12 from ‘09-11) and Brandon Ford (12 from ‘09-12) for the second-most career touchdown receptions by a tight end in Clemson history. (Source: Clemson)
DJ Johnson possesses extreme athleticism, so much so that he played Edge as well as TE throughout his career in Oregon. In ‘22 as a senior, he returned to defense full-time in his final collegiate season. He played in 11 of Oregon’s first 12 games, making 10 starts, before opting out of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl to prepare for the ‘23 NFL Draft. This past season he led the Ducks with a career-high 6.0 sacks, tied for fifth-most in the Pac-12 … He was 2nd on the team with a career-high 8.5 tackles for loss. Johnson had 39 total tackles, including 15 solos. He closed his collegiate career with 67 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, and 9.0 sacks over 6 seasons. (Source: Oregon)
Tyjae Spears exploded as a senior in ‘22. He rushed for 1,528 yards and 19 rushing TDs. He is also an elite passing option out of the backfield, averaging 12.6 yards per catch in ‘22. He has great speed (4.4 40-time), vision, and wiggle. His stellar Senior Year was a huge reason why Tulane was ranked #9 in the country to close out the year, which is the highest in school history since 1998 when they were ranked #9 as well. (Source: Tulane)
Karl Brooks was the ‘22 PFF first-team All-American. Brooks at Bowling Green was a 2-time Team Captain. He played 5 years at Bowling Green and racked up 27.5 sacks in 52 career games. This past ‘22 season he had 10 sacks, a career-high. Just a shot in the dark, but I see a bit of young Mo Wilkerson in him. Brooks was snubbed from the NFL Combine. (Source: Bowling Green)
Jammie Robinson started his collegiate career at South Carolina before transferring to Flordia State in ‘21. At FSU, in 24 starts he impressively had 12 tackles for loss from the safety position. He also had 4 INTs in ‘21. Could be used as a nickel where he’ll have the speed in pass coverage but could also be an asset in timely blitzes. (Source: FSU)
Andrew Vorhees appeared in 44 games during his career for the Trojans. He made 25 starts at right guard, 8 starts at left guard, and 4 starts at left tackle. (Source: USC) At 6’6” and 325 lbs, Vorhees according to the USC strength coach, Bennie Wylie, can bench 225 40 times. That doesn’t sound too surprising based on the limited clips&film I’ve seen on him. His versatility and experience in different spots on the offensive line should make him a Day 2 pick. Vorhees appeared to have suffered a significant injury during the NFL Combine on-field drills. He was originally a Round 1-2 prospect who will likely fall because of the torn ACL suffered at the combine. (Source: @_MLFootball)
Dontayvion Wicks set the UVA single-season receiving yards record with 1,203 in ‘21. He finished 12th on the UVA career receiving yards list (1,694). His 34 receptions of 20 yards or more are the most by any Cavalier since ‘00. 6 of 12 career TDs passes went for 40 yards or more. (Source: Virginia)
Eli Ricks transferred to Alabama from LSU. In ‘22, Ricks worked in 10 games with five starts after battling injuries early in the season. He recorded 13 tackles, including one for loss (-4 yards), to go with four pass breakups. Played in 14 games across his 2 seasons with the Tigers. He suffered an injury midseason that cut his ‘21 campaign short, but as a freshman, he recorded 20 tackles to go with 4 interceptions and 5 pass breakups so the potential, if he can stay on the field, is still there. (Source: Roll Tide)
Xavier Hutchinson in ‘22 was a First Team All-American selected by AP and PFF. Hutchinson earned First Team All-Big 12 for the third time in his career. He led the Big 12 and broke his own single-season school record with 107 receptions. Became the first Cyclone in school history to record 100 receptions in a season. The first player in league history to lead the Big 12 in receptions in 3 consecutive seasons. He finished the season with 40 more receptions than the player with the next most in the Big 12 Conference. Topped the Iowa State career record with 254 receptions, the most-ever by a Big 12 player in just three seasons. Hutchinson finished his career with the eighth-most receptions in Big 12 history. He had 1,171 receiving yards as a senior, the 2nd most in a single season in school history. He concluded his career with 2,929 receiving yards, the 3rd most by a Cyclone, led the nation in receptions per game (8.9), making at least eight receptions in 11 of 12 games, and was among the top-10 nationally in receiving yards (8th). He set the ISU career mark with 13 career 100-yard games, including seven as a senior ... had a reception in all 37 games of his career, the 2nd-longest streak in school history, and tied for the 7th-longest active streak in the nation when his career ended ... recorded 9 career games with 10 or more receptions, a school record. Led ISU with 6 touchdowns receptions in ‘22 and 15 in his career, tied for the 5th-most in the ISU career record books. As a senior, he had 2 streaks of 3 consecutive 100-yard receiving games, the 2nd-longest streak in school history. (Source: Iowa State)
Mike Morris went from not seeing any game action in any part of his freshman season to breaking out with 7.5 sacks his senior year and winning the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in ‘22.
Kendre Miller broke out in his ‘22 junior season, running for 1342 yards on 216 attempts for 6.2 yards per, with 17 TDs. At 6’ and 220 pounds, Miller’s bruising style would make for a nice complement to Saquon Barkley’s backfield. The TCU Bullfrog was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation's top running back.
Jay Ward is a versatile defensive back who played safety, cornerback, and nickel back during his LSU career. In 46 games & 23 starts, Ward had 64 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 6 interceptions. He developed into a leader in the secondary for the Tigers and served as a coach on the field. Has a knack for finding the football and coming up with the big play. Tremendous hand-eye coordination and ball skills. (Source: LSU)
Dermario Douglas runs a 4.4 40-time at 5’8” and 175 lbs. Reports out of the Senior Bowl are that he was consistently open. He made the Paul Hornung Award watch list (most versatile player in college football) his senior year in ‘22. He can put on matrix moves as a punt returner. NFL teams could probably also use him in their screen game. In his final year at Liberty, Douglas had 70 catches for 980 yards for an average of 14.0 yards per catch with 6 TDs. (Source: Liberty)
Riley Moss was voted a permanent team captain for the ‘22 season. He won Iowa’s Hustle Award in ‘21 and ‘22. Moss was first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and second-team All-Big Ten by the AP. In his 54 games as a Hawkeye, Moss started in 40 of them, had 37 pass breakups, 11 INTs, and scored 3 defensive TDs. Moss has vertical-jumped 42 inches and broad-jumped 10-8. We’re told he has clocked the fastest short shuttle time for DBs in Kirk Ferentz’s two decades-plus at Iowa, blazing through it in 3.85 seconds.