Week Eleven saw me watch nine games full of 2023 NFL Draft prospects.
Each week, I will look back at the top prospect performances from the games I watched the previous week.
WEEK ELEVEN PROSPECT REWIND
EASTERN MICHIGAN AT AKRON
Akron’s 6th-year linebacker Bubba Arslanian is undersized (5’10” 215) and not flashy. This is usually a bad combination for one’s NFL prospects. However, the Zips’ star defender is a consistent playmaker. Obviously, special teams are his only way to an NFL roster. Against EMU, Arslanian recorded 12 tackles (four solos), broke up two passes, and picked off another.
The main player I wanted to watch in this game was Eastern Michigan guard Sidy Sow. Sow is a huge man at 6’5” and 326-pounds. He possesses a strong punch and strength you would expect from a man his size. Sow also moves well in space. He is moving up my offensive guard rankings.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT LOUISIANA
Read more about the prospects in this game on Saturday.
EAST CAROLINA AT CINCINNATI
Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker can be an impact slot receiver at the next level. Tucker has good stop/start speed and changes directions well. Against ECU he caught three passes for 64 yards (on six targets) and a touchdown.
Bearcats corner Arquon Bush stood out as well. He will not be in the same regard as Sauce Gardner or Coby Bryant, but he can still play. Bush broke up two passes against the Pirates on Friday night.
East Carolina had a triumvirate of prospects on offense that stood out to me. The first is WR CJ Johnson. Johnson is a big-bodied wide receiver who can go up and get the 50/50 ball. However, he also has the speed to separate. Against Cincinnati, Johnson caught seven of 11 targets for 123 yards and a score.
RB Keaton Mitchell was having his way with the UC defense before leaving in the third quarter with an injury. The 3rd-year back is only 5’9” and 185-pounds. But he can run in between the tackles and hit the home run. Mitchell finished with 18 touches, 127 yards, and a touchdown.
This my very own original taek: Keaton Mitchell is G5 Devon Achane and I can’t be told otherwise. Honestly, he might be even better between the tackles.
— Felix Sharpe (@sharpereview) November 12, 2022
ECU tight end Ryan Jones could be a solid TE3/H-Back option for NFL teams next year as an undrafted player. Jones caught four of his six targets for 32 yards.
OKLAHOMA AT WEST VIRGINIA
After being written off, RB Eric Gray has resurfaced as a top 200 overall prospect. Gray showed he is still explosive. The former Tennessee player ran the ball 25 times for 211 yards and two scores in the loss to West Virginia.
I finally got to watch Sooners’ 3rd-year OT, Anton Harrison. The 6’6” 309-pound talent lived up to the hype. Harrison uses his length well and has nimble feet. Harrison will go into my top-10 offensive tackle prospects.
Whatever draft hopes JT Daniels had I think we can flush now. Daniels was benched for ineffectiveness and replaced by Garrett Greene. The 3rd-year QB led the Mountaineers to a win in relief.
LOUISIANA MONROE AT GEORGIA STATE
Read more about the prospects in this game on Saturday.
SOUTH CAROLINA AT FLORIDA
I still don’t know what to make of Florida QB Anthony Richardson. As a passer, he is still rawer than a steak still attached to the cow. Richardson is phenomenal as a runner. He probably needs another year in Gainesville to get better as a passer before entering the NFL. Against the Gamecocks, Richardson completed less than 50% of his passes for 112 yards and two scores. He ran for 96 and a score.
O’Cyrus Torrence has cemented his status as the top guard in this class. He has progressed as a pass blocker to match his dominance as a run blocker. I think Torrence is a first-round pick in April.
With no Marshawn Lloyd or Christian Beal-Smith, the South Carolina offensive staff decided it would be in their best interest to make TE Jaheim Bell RB1 this week. Bell responded with 14 touches for 36 yards. I don’t foresee him becoming the next Brandon Jacobs.
TCU AT TEXAS
There weren’t a whole lot of offensive fun times in this game. The best player I saw this week for the Longhorns was CB Jahdae Barron. The 3rd-year prospect (and future NFL nickel) had 11 tackles (8 solos), 3.5 TFLs, and returned a fumble 48-yards for a TD. The only touchdown Texas had on the night.
He is listed at 5’9” tall. Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson isn’t 5’9”. The nephew of NFL hall-of-fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson plays much bigger. THT could be one of the highest-drafted nickels in this class. He reportedly has a 41” vertical and I expect he will run fast as well. Against the Longhorns, the 4th-year prospect made two tackles, broke up three passes, and intercepted Quinn Ewers.
FLORIDA STATE AT SYRACUSE
Albany transfer Jared Verse has been great this year for the Seminoles. He hasn’t quite had the impact that Jermaine Johnson II did a year ago but I think he could continue to build his resume as JJ2 did last year. Verse sacked Garrett Schrader one time along with four more tackles.
I don’t know if FSU QB Jordan Travis will be drafted or not. But he comes to play each and every week. Travis was 21/23 passing for 155 yards and three TDs. He also ran for another.
Check back on Saturday for another edition of Sun Belt/Small School Scouting.