The college football season is over and the end of the NFL season is quickly approaching, which can only mean one thing – the 2023 NFL Draft is just a few months away. Before we know it, football fans will get to see some of their favorite college players wear their new team’s jersey and draft hat for the first time.
The 2023 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place between April 27th and 29th in Kansas City, Missouri. As of January 23, the first 27 picks are already locked with the Chicago Bears earning the No. 1 overall pick after a very disappointing season. The Texans, Cardinals, Colts, and Seahawks round out the top-five.
Over the next few months, teams will take a close look at thousands of college football players that are made eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft. And while a majority of those players are seniors who have finished their schooling, there are also a hefty amount of underclassmen who will likely be selected on draft night.
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20 of the Best Underclassmen Entering the 2023 NFL Draft
While senior college football players are automatically entered into the NFL Draft – unless they explicitly decline – the same can’t be said for underclassmen who wish to forego their remaining years of college eligibility to enter the draft. In fact, a player must be three years removed from high school to enter.
With that said, the NFL can grant special eligibility to anyone who meets that criteria, whether they’re a senior or not. Of course, they have to declare their intent prior to the January 16th deadline – which passed a week ago. Since no more players can declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, the field is now set.
The field includes 82 underclassmen – 69 of which were granted special eligibility and 13 of which had fulfilled their degree requirements. Since we’re most definitely going to see some of those players drafted in the first few rounds, let’s take a look at some of the greatest underclassmen in the 2023 NFL Draft.
20. Trenton Simpson
Trenton Simpson is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior linebacker who spent three years with the Clemson Tigers. He had a bit of a down year in 2022, but finished his college career with 165 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, 5 passes defensed, and 3 forced fumbles. He had 12.5 tackles for loss in 2021.
Simpson can certainly shine in the right system, but he’s not a plug-and-play type of linebacker. He’s best used as a nickel linebacker and excels in his coverage and pass-defense. He has incredible pursuit and doesn’t hold back when tackling someone. If the right team drafts him, he can make an instant impact.
19. Brian Branch
Brian Branch is a 6-foot-0, 190-pound junior defensive back who spent the past three seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He’s a versatile player who finished his college career with 172 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 23 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery, and a punt return TD.
Some NFL teams are going to view Branch as a cornerback, especially considering he had 14.0 tackles for loss in 2022 – for a defensive back, that’s pretty remarkable. With that said, he can also excel at the safety position and many experts have him pegged as one of the top safeties in the 2023 NFL Draft.
18. Lukas Van Ness
Lukas Van Ness is a 6-foot-5, 264-pound red shirt sophomore defensive lineman who spent the past three seasons (played two) with the Iowa Hawkeyes. He knows how to attack the quarterback, finishing his college career with 70 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, and one pass defensed in 26 games.
Van Ness is one of the more talented defensive lineman in this draft, despite never really starting a game for Iowa. He’s effective at both defensive tackle and defensive end, showing versatility along the line – something teams will value at the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s projected to go in the middle of the first round.
17. Michael Mayer
Michael Mayer is a 6-foot-4, 250-pound junior tight end who spent the past three seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He’s an all-around tight end that can help an offense as a receiver and a blocker. He finished his college career with 180 catches, 2,099 yards, and 18 touchdowns – 9 of which came in 2022.
Mayer is one of, if not the, best tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft. The only real downside to his game is his lack of arm length, which comes as a disadvantage in the blocking game. With that said, he makes up for it with technique and power – not to mention his 800+ yards receiving in each of his past two seasons.
16. Peter Skoronski
Peter Skoronski is a 6-foot-4, 315-pound junior offensive tackle who spent the past three seasons with the Northwestern Wildcats. He’s expected to be a top-10 draft pick and is currently rated as the top offensive tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft. A big reason why is his ability to both run- and pass-block.
He played in 23 games over the past three seasons and only allowed 5 sacks in those games – including just one sack last season. He’s not going to give the defensive line much to work with, is more athletic than most offensive lineman, is a born leader on the field, and leads by example with a high football IQ.
15. Drew Sanders
Drew Sanders is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior linebacker who spent his first two years with the Alabama Crimson Tide before transferring to the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2022. He finished last season with 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 1 interception, 5 passes defensed, and 3 forced fumbles.
Sanders brings a lot of size to the linebacker position and has experience playing the EDGE, so he’s beaming with talent. Despite his size, he’s very fast and fluid with his movements on the field. He made the transition to an off-ball linebacker with Arkansas and it paid off well – he can do the same in the NFL.
14. Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson is a 6-foot-0, 215-pound junior running back who spent the past three seasons with the Texas Longhorns. He has consistently gotten better each year and went absolutely haywire in 2022. He finished the 2022 campaign with 1,580 rushing yards, 314 receiving yards, and 20 total touchdowns.
All in all, Robinson finished his college career with 3,410 rushing yards (back-to-back seasons of 1,100+ yards), 33 rushing touchdowns, 60 receptions, 805 receiving yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns. He came in 9th place in Heisman voting this past season, proving just how unstoppable of a RB he was.
13. Kelee Ringo
Kelee Ringo is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt sophomore defensive back who spent the past three seasons (played two) with the Georgia Bulldogs. He has been a key part of the Bulldogs’ defense, totaling 76 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 4 interceptions, 1 defensive TD, and 15 passes defensed.
Ringo had two interceptions in each of the past two seasons and forced quarterbacks to a 67.7 QB rating when thrown to. He was named to the Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team in 2021 and named to the AP and Coaches’ All-SEC Second Team last season. He’s projected to go in the 2nd round, if not the 1st.
12. Broderick Jones
Broderick Jones is a 6-foot-4, 310-pound junior offensive tackle who spent the past three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs. He didn’t see a lot of action as a freshman, only appearing in 25 snaps in 2020. He was named a starter in 2021, playing in 11 games and only allowing two sacks at the left tackle position.
Jones followed that up with another strong showing in 2022, playing in 13 games and only allowing one QB hit – he didn’t allow a sack all season long. He was named to the AP All-SEC First-Team in 2022. Some of his strengths are his arms, grip, core strength, quickness, agility, high football IQ, and reflex.
11. Paris Johnson Jr.
Paris Johnson Jr. is a 6-foot-6, 310-pound junior offensive lineman who spent the past three seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He didn’t see a lot of action as a freshman in 2020, only appearing in 26 snaps all year. In 2021, he won a starting role at guard and didn’t give up a single sack in 13 games.
In 2022, Johnson Jr. made the transition from guard to left tackle – a move that paid off for him. He played exceptional and only allowed two sacks – no QB hits – in 12 games. Many experts have him going in the top-half of the first round, likely between picks No. 10 and 15. He’ll be an immediate starter in the NFL.
10. Gervon Dexter Sr.
Gervon Dexter Sr. is a 6-foot-6, 303-pound junior defensive lineman who spent the past three seasons with the Florida Gators in the SEC. He’s an every-down quarterback nightmare with his physical prowess, totaling 55 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 pass defensed last season.
In 33 career college games, he recorded 125 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defensed, and 2 fumble recoveries. He’s one of the more physically-gifted players in the 2023 NFL Draft with a freakish combination of size, length, strength, speed, and fluidity. Will it translate?
9. Bryan Bresee
Bryan Bresee is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound three-year sophomore defensive lineman who spent the past three seasons with the Clemson Tigers. He’s best-suited as a defensive tackle, having finished his 2022 campaign with 15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 2 passes defensed in 10 games played.
All in all, Bresee finished his collegiate career with 51 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss (6.5 TFL as a freshman in 2020), 9.0 sacks (4.5 sacks as a freshman), 4 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble. He only played in four games in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL that kept him out the rest of the year.
8. Christian Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound three-year sophomore defensive back who spent two years with the Colorado Buffaloes and one year with the Oregon Ducks (2022). He finished his impressive 2022 campaign with 50 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 4 interceptions, and 7 passes defensed in 10 games played.
Gonzalez is one of the best cornerbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft and will make an immediate impact for whichever team selects him – which will likely be in the top-20. He was already a lockdown defender, but got even better when he transferred to Oregon. He had 0 interceptions in Colorado, but 4 with Oregon.
7. Anthony Richardson
I know – finally, a quarterback. Anthony Richardson is a 6-foot-4, 236-pound three-year sophomore QB who spent the past three seasons with the Florida Gators. He only played 10 games in his first two years and was able to redshirt his first year. Still, he showed glimpses of superstar ability in limited action.
Richardson played in 12 games for the Gators last season and proved to be one of the best QBs in the nation. He finished the campaign with 2,549 passing yards, 17 passing TDs, and 9 interceptions. He also recorded 654 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns in 2022. He most likely won’t be a day-one starter.
6. Joey Porter Jr.
Joey Porter Jr. is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound four-year junior cornerback who spent the past four seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions. He’s the son of Joey Porter, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 199 and retired with 98.0 sacks. Unlike his father, Porter Jr. matches up with receivers, not lineman.
With that said, Porter Jr. has that ‘dawg’ in him – something that made his father dominant in the NFL. He’s aggressive when mirroring receivers and knows how to get his hands on the football – he only had one career interception at Penn State, but had 11 passes defensed in 2022 alone. He’ll be a first-rounder.
5. Myles Murphy
Myles Murphy is a 6-foot-5, 275-pound junior defensive end who spent the past three seasons with the Clemson Tigers. As a freshman in 2020, he recorded three fumble recoveries (career-high), 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks. He followed that up with 14.5 tackles for loss (career-high) and 8.0 sacks in 2021.
He continued to terrorize opposing quarterbacks in 2022, finishing with 40 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble. With 18.5 career sacks, he’ll make an instant impact in the NFL and will likely be drafted in the top-10. He’s going to be a tough player for anyone to pass up.
4. Jalen Carter
Jalen Carter is a 6-foot-3, 310-pound junior defensive lineman who spent the past three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs. He has been one of the most consistent and dominant interior defensive lineman in all of college football the past two seasons – notching at least 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks each year.
Carter is almost a lock to be drafted in the top-five, but some experts – including Mel Kiper – have him going No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, if a trade isn’t made, of course. He’s as explosive in the pass-rush as he is in the run-stop. He will make an immediate impact for the team that drafts him.
3. Will Anderson Jr.
Will Anderson Jr. is a 6-foot-4, 235-pound junior linebacker who spent the past three seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He’s one of, if not the best defenders in the draft and finished in 5th place in Heisman voting in 2021 – he finished that season with 101 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks.
Anderson finished his college career with 204 tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 defensive touchdown, 4 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble. He’s unblockable in a variety of situations and is just as effective rushing the quarterback as he is stuffing running backs. He’ll be taken in the top-5.
2. C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound three-year sophomore who spent the past three seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He didn’t see any action as a freshman in 2020, but was named starter in 2021 and 2022. He threw for 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 25 games during that span.
Stroud finished in 4th place in Heisman voting in 2021 and 3rd place in 2022. He has averaged 4,000+ yards and 40+ touchdowns per season. He’s accurate with his throws, can throw the ball anywhere on the field, and seems to play some of his best football when stakes are high. He’ll be a top-five pick in 2023.
1. Bryce Young
Bryce Young is a 6-foot-0, 195-pound junior quarterback who spent the past three seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He didn’t see a lot of action in 2020, but has been the team’s starting QB the past two seasons. In that time, he threw for 8,200 yards, 79 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions as a starter.
Young had an incredible 2021 season that saw him win the Heisman Trophy after nearly throwing for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns – he was 128 yards and 3 touchdowns short. He has a great feel for the pocket and doesn’t have a problem moving around to find his target. He’ll be a top-five pick in 2023.
Other Notable Players Who Declared for the 2023 NFL Draft
The underclassmen above will likely be some of the first players taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, but that’s not to say there aren’t any seniors worth keeping an eye on. In fact, some of the best football prospects are seniors with no college eligibility remaining and some will have an instant impact once in the NFL.
Some of those non-underclassmen to keep an eye on include Will Levis (QB), Tyree Wilson (EDGE), Devon Witherspoon (CB), Nolan Smith (EDGE), O’Cyrus Torrence (OL), Will McDonald IV (EDGE), Dalton Kincaid (TE), Tyrique Stevenson (CB), Jaelyn Duncan (OL), and Andrew Vorhees (OL).
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The 2023 NFL Draft is going to be extremely exciting with talent across the board. Several teams will take a shot at a franchise quarterback, some will satisfy other positions of need, and some will be looking for the best available player – either way, we can’t wait to see where some of the best rookies will land.
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