2023 Senior Bowl: Defense Look Ahead

The 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl gets underway in four days. Draft Countdown will have you covered for every practice and the game itself. I will be there for each practice and also serve as the radio broadcast’s draft analyst for the 3rd straight year. 

Like every year, the Senior Bowl is loaded with prospects and the defensive side of the ball is no exception.

2023 Senior Bowl: Defense Look Ahead

EDGE RUSHERS

Andre Carter II Army
Eku Leota Auburn
Derick Hall Auburn
Thomas Incoom Central Michigan
KJ Henry Clemson
Keion White Georgia Tech
Will McDonald Iowa State
Lonnie Phelps Kansas
YaYa Diaby Louisville
Ali Gaye LSU
Isaiah McGuire Missouri
Adetomiwa Adebawore Northwestern
Isaiah Foskey Notre Dame
DJ Johnson Oregon
Dylan Horton TCU

The edge rusher group is an interesting mix of highly productive players with some interesting position projections. 

Army’s Andre Carter will project to linebacker this week. Carter is still a bit raw but has all the tools to be a 10+ sack guy in the NFL.

Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame) has gone over double-digits in sacks the last two seasons and should be the highest-drafted prospect in this group.

Derrick Hall (Auburn), Keion White (Georgia Tech), Will McDonald (Iowa State), and Dylan Horton (TCU) are the other names that should hear their names called in the Top 100.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Byron Young Alabama
DJ Dale Alabama
Nesta Jade Silvera Arizona State
Karl Brooks Bowling Green
Jerrod Clark Coastal Carolina
Tavius Robinson Mississippi
Cameron Young Mississippi State
Jalen Redmond Oklahoma
Tyler Lacy Oklahoma State
Zacch Pickens South Carolina
Keeanu Benton Wisconsin

This isn’t the deepest group in Mobile and it hurt even more so when Siaki Ika had to pull out. My top prospect is Zacch Pickens of South Carolina. Byron Young of Alabama and Tyler Lacy of Oklahoma State are the other two that I can see going on day two.

I am anxious to see how Jerrod Clark (Coastal Carolina) and Karl Brooks (Bowling Green) step up from the G5 ranks.

LINEBACKERS

Henry To’o To’o Alabama
Nick Hampton Appalachian State
Ivan Pace Jr. Cincinnati
Isaiah Land Florida A&M
Cam Jones Indiana
Aubrey Miller Jr. Jackson State
SirVocea Dennis Pittsburgh
Dee Winters TCU
Byron Young Tennessee
DeMarvion Overshown Texas
Carlton Martial Troy
Dorian Williams Tulane
Daiyan Henley Washington State

The linebacker position at the Senior Bowl is full of athletes. My highest-rated player is Alabama’s Henry To’o To’o. He will be a three-down backer early in the NFL. Demarvion Overshown (Texas) is a wild man that needs to be reeled in from time to time. Nick Hampton (App State) and Isiah Land (Florida A&M) both have a penchant for getting to the QB. I believe Dorian Williams (Tulane) and Daiyan Henley (Washington State) are going to be starters in the NFL for a long time.

Let us not forget the FBS career tackles leader, Carlton Martial of Troy.

CORNERBACKS

Riley Moss Iowa
Julius Brents Kansas State
Jakorian Bennett Maryland
Tyrique Stevenson Miami (FL)
Rezjohn Wright Oregon State
Darrell Luter Jr. South Alabama
Darius Rush South Carolina
Mekhi Blackmon Southern Cal
Kyu Blu Kelly Stanford
Chamarri Conner Virginia Tech
Anthony Johnson Virginia

The cornerback position may just be the strongest of all the groups here. I will likely have eight players in my Top 100 rankings from this group.  I have been singing the praises of Kyu Blu Kelly and Chamarri Connor all season. Julius Brents, Rezjohn Wright, Darrell Luter Jr, Darius Rush, Jakorian Bennett, and Tyrique Stevenson all could be off the board by the end of night two. 

SAFETIES

DeMarcco Hellams Alabama
JL Skinner Boise State
Daniel Scott Cal
Jammie Robinson Florida State
Chris Smith II Georgia
Jartavius Martin Illinois
Sydney Brown Illinois
Kaevon Merriweather Iowa
Jay Ward LSU
Ronnie Hickman Ohio State

While not as deep as the corner group, safety has a few studs here as well. It starts with Boise State enforcer JL Skinner. Chris Smith II should also go on day two. Florida State’s Jammie Robinson can excel as a safety or as a nickel corner.

NEXT FOR DRAFT COUNTDOWN AND THE SENIOR BOWL

Draft Countdown will go beyond just Senior Bowl week with our coverage. This includes daily practice reports, podcasts, and more. So, be sure and check back daily.