Constructing a top-50 draft board at this point is an interesting and challenging process. At first, it can be daunting to identify that many prospects who are truly deserving a spot on the list. After compiling names for a while, though, it becomes tough to narrow down the rankings to only 50.
Here are 15 players I hated leaving off my midseason top-50 update:
(Note: An asterisk indicates a draft-eligible underclassman.)
Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
Although an ankle injury has hampered his senior season, Cedric Tillman is back on the field and ready to show why he belongs in the top 50. A big, physical target at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he won’t be bullied off his route and shows smooth body control in and out of his breaks. His catch radius and athleticism are why he could be the first senior receiver drafted.
Gervon Dexter Sr., DT, Florida*
If you take his best 10 plays from this season, Gervon Dexter Sr. looks like the next Chris Jones. However, the body of work just isn’t there yet. He can uproot blockers with his power or slice through gaps with his body flexibility, but Dexter is consistently the last defensive lineman off the snap, and a lack of discipline takes away from his potential impact.
Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Luke Musgrave was going to be a shoo-in for my top 50 until a knee injury in September clouded his immediate future. Nonetheless, he graded as the top senior tight end in this class, when healthy. Musgrave has outstanding route speed and receiving ability for his size (6-6, 250) and projects as an NFL starter.
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DJ Turner, CB, Michigan*
DJ Turner lacks refinement in several areas. He needs to play with more control in downfield coverage and when firing downhill against the run. However, he has 4.3 speed with redirect skills and toughness that will translate well to the NFL. He is a top-100 prospect trying to break into the top 50.
Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Tyler Nubin continues to be one of the more underrated senior prospects in the 2023 draft class. At 6-2, 210, he is a well-put-together athlete with a great feel in coverage and outstanding ball skills (team-high three interceptions in 2022). He’s also a dependable open-field tackler. He’ll drop his pads, extend his arms and drive through his target.
Layden Robinson, OG, Texas A&M*
Layden Robinson has been the first to acknowledge that he hasn’t played up to expectations this season. Still, although he’s been inconsistent, it is easy to see the talent that put him on the NFL radar. With his ability to anchor at shallow depth, Robinson is a hard guy to move at the point of attack and matches power with power.
Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse*
Garrett Williams made my initial draft for the most recent top 50 but, unfortunately, suffered a torn ACL last weekend against Notre Dame. Williams is a hyperaware player with above-average speed and the footwork to stay on top of routes. Time will tell how the knee injury will affect his decision to go pro or not.
Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State*
Although his heart might be on defense, Cade Stover is a damn talented offensive weapon. The former linebacker is a bully as a blocker (aside from his misses on wide receiver screens) and looks natural catching the football. Stover has sticky hands (zero drops in 2022) with playmaking athleticism after the catch.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge, Kansas State*
A relentless quarterback hunter, Felix Anudike-Uzomah can dip the corner or use his physical hands to attack and work off blockers. He is more average than above average in areas, but he has terrorized Big 12 offensive tackles the past two seasons (18.5 sacks since the start of 2021).
Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina*
Listed at 5-10, 175, Josh Downs doesn’t have an ideal size, but his scampering speed and ball skills make him tough to cover, especially downfield. He won’t reach triple-digit receptions like he did last season (especially after he missed two games in September), but he is finding the end zone more in 2022. Downs has the talent to crack the top 50.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan*
Blake Corum has destroyed Big Ten defenses this season, averaging 168.6 rushing yards in Michigan’s five conference games. He is built low to the ground with the agile footwork and toughness to bounce out of tackle attempts. What truly sets Corum apart is his line-of-scrimmage vision and decision-making.
🗣️ “BLAKE THE GREAT! It looked like Blake Corum would be stopped for a loss, but he broke a long one and took it all the way to the 1. 😱 @blake_corum x @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/0mNAk1OblD — Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 8, 2022
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
An ascending prospect, Devon Witherspoon might not have elite size and speed, but he plays fast and much bigger than he looks. He does a nice job returning his eyes to the quarterback to find the football, and his coverage awareness has blossomed this season as he’s anticipating routes and understanding his help. Witherspoon’s aggressive style and versatility will make him a popular prospect among NFL defensive coordinators once they watch his film.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
As a blocker, Dalton Kincaid has been inconsistent this season. But NFL teams looking for an athletic pass catcher at tight end will love what he has to offer. Kincaid quickly enters his routes to create passing windows and shows outstanding focus and ball skills. His best trait might be how quickly he transitions from a receiver to a runner and picks up yards after the catch.
JL Skinner, SAF, Boise State
At 6-4, 210 with 33-inch arms, JL Skinner is a long-striding athlete with outstanding range. The big question will be: What is his best position and scheme fit? He plays more of an overhang role close to the line of scrimmage at Boise State, but he won’t be scheme-proof in the NFL.
.@JlJlskinner with the hit heard around the Treasure Valley 😳 📺 FS1 pic.twitter.com/EMsBC9gt0G — Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) September 19, 2021
Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M*
A king-sized corner at 6-2, 205, Jaylon Jones has enticing length and athleticism for the next level. However, his technique and awareness at the position are still in the development phase, and Jones remains unproven in several areas (just 10 targets in coverage this season).
Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski landed at No. 7 on Dane Brugler’s midseason top 50 draft board. (Brad Mills / USA Today)
Three must-see NFL prospects this weekend
1. Peter Skoronski, LT, Northwestern (vs. Ohio State, noon ET, ABC)
Skoronski is one of the best offensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft; there isn’t much debate about that. But can he stay at left tackle in the NFL or will he move inside to guard? The answer to that question is split throughout the league. Skoronski can convert doubters with a strong performance against Ohio State’s deep group of edge rushers, including Zach Harrison, who will have a substantial length advantage.
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2. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee (at Georgia, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Tennessee is 8-0, but only two of those wins have come on the road. This is a matchup of the nation’s top scoring offense (Tennessee) and the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense (Georgia). Hooker has passed every test with flying colors this season, but the Bulldogs’ defense presents a few challenges he hasn’t faced yet.
It also will be interesting to see the Volunteers’ wide receivers, led by Tillman and Jalin Hyatt, against cornerback Kelee Ringo and Georgia’s athletic secondary. Every snap in this game will be scrutinized by evaluators.
3. Tyler Steen, LT, Alabama (at LSU, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
A three-year starter at Vanderbilt, Steen transferred to Alabama this offseason to fill the shoes of Evan Neal at left tackle. In eight games, he hasn’t been perfect (see the Tennessee tape), but he has grabbed the attention of scouts and become a draftable player. Steen versus LSU’s top pass rusher, BJ Ojulari (who earned a spot on my top 50), will be a must-see matchup for Steen’s NFL evaluation.
Stat of the Week
We have passed the midseason point of the college football season and only two senior running backs are averaging better than 6.5 yards per carry: UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet (7.53) and Oklahoma’s Eric Gray (6.80), seniors who started their college careers elsewhere.
Charbonnet returned to the West Coast after two years at Michigan. He has averaged better than 5.0 yards per carry in every game this season and ranks No. 3 in the FBS with 137.7 rushing yards per game. Although he isn’t as dynamic as other backs in this class, Charbonnet has outstanding vision and balance and is receiving third-round grades from scouts.
Gray doesn’t receive the same hype, but don’t be surprised if he also ends up on Day 2. When he’s seen at least 15 carries in a game this season, the Tennessee transfer has gone over 100 yards rushing each time, displaying an impressive blend of vision and burst.
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Prospect trending up …
When running back Jahmyr Gibbs elected to transfer in the offseason, Georgia Tech lost its best player and a top NFL prospect. But sixth-year senior DL Keion White (6-4, 290) decided to return and has been an NFL prospect on the rise.
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Formerly a tight end at Old Dominion, White made the switch to defense as a sophomore, then transferred to Georgia Tech a year later. His production has been solid this season: 35 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. But the traits are why he made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” and why NFL scouts now believe he is in the top-75 discussion as a prospect. Not many 290-pounders have the juice to turn and run with a running back downfield, as White does on this clip from Georgia Tech’s game against Virginia.
Prospect trending down…
It has been a tough season for Boston College, specifically for fifth-year senior QB Phil Jurkovec (6-5, 219). The Eagles rank dead last in college football in rushing (67.5 yards per game) and the offensive line has been decimated with injuries, but Jurkovec hasn’t been at his best, either. While he looks lighter and nimbler this season, which has helped him buy time and allow routes to develop, his accuracy and decision-making have been too volatile.
All of the blame shouldn’t be put on Jurkovec, but the disarray around him leaves unanswered questions that complicate his draft projection for NFL teams. Right now, Jurkovec is viewed as a late-round possibility.
Scouting lingo
“Core special teamer”
It is easy to focus on how prospects perform on offense or defense, but experience and impact on special teams are greater factors than fans realize, especially on Day 3 of the draft. A “core special teamer” describes a prospect who plays on four special teams units (punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return). These players must have equal parts speed, awareness and toughness. Some might not have a natural fit on offense or defense, but their ability on special teams can help them make a 53-man roster.
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Rookie linebacker JoJo Domann is an example. He was viewed as a tweener and had some medical concerns, which led to his going undrafted this past April. However, he has found a home in Indianapolis because of his impact as a core special teamer.
Kenneth Walker III rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns at Michigan State last season. (Zach Bolinger / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Rookie revisited
The Seattle run game appeared to take a hit when it lost Rashaad Penny for the season. As it turned out, though, the Seahawks actually might have upgraded there, because Kenneth Walker III has flourished as their featured back the last few weeks. My No. 1 running back in the 2022 NFL Draft class, Walker was the second back selected (No. 41 overall), five spots after the Jets drafted Breece Hall.
Here is the summary from his scouting report in the 2022 NFL Draft Guide:
A one-year starter at Michigan State, Walker was the featured weapon in offensive coordinator Jay Johnson’s multiple run scheme. After two seasons at Wake Forest, he transferred to East Lansing and had a prolific 2021 campaign with 136.3 rushing yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns, finishing sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy (highest finish by an MSU player since 1988). With his vision and contact balance, Walker generates impressive burst off his plant foot to dart away from trouble and break tackles (led the FBS with 89 forced missed tackles in 2021). Once he clears the first wave, he can hit an extra gear to reach the corner or fend off chasing defenders. Overall, Walker must improve as a pass catcher and pass protector, but his instinctive ability to press the line, set up his cuts and create yardage will translate to the pro game, similar to former Pro Bowler Garrison Hearst. He projects as an immediate NFL starter.
Quotable
“I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. Thank you everyone who’s reached out with prayers and blessings. I love you” — Michigan tight end Erick All on Instagram last week after back surgery. The procedure, which All described as “life-changing,” will sideline him for the rest of the season. A fourth-year player, he was expected to be a part of the 2023 NFL Draft class, but this injury probably changes his plans.
(Top photo of Cedric Tillman: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)