The 2023 Senior Bowl is quickly approaching, and we’ll have you covered for all of the practices leading up to the big game itself. Ahead of the action next week, here are players that you show be watching. Check out our 2023 NFL Draft profiles for these top college football prospects.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles 
2023 Senior Bowl Rosters
Let’s take a look at NFL Draft prospects you should monitor at the 2023 Senior Bowl.
Quarterbacks
Jaren Hall (QB – Brigham Young)
He is a quarterback who gets the fundamentals right, makes good decisions with the ball, and shows impressive touch and placement to most of the field, but whose tools are somewhat limited, being shorter than a typical passer and lacking ideal velocity on his throws. Those limitations may lead him to be viewed as more of a long-term backup or spot-starter at the next level, but he could carve out a long career as a smart and reliable game manager in an offense based around short, rhythm-based passes. Probably more of a mid-round option.
Max Duggan is a productive, tough quarterback who makes sound decisions with the football, shows appropriate touch on his passes, and offers the ability to pick up yardage with his feet on designed runs or as a scrambler. However, he has below-average physical tools, relatively pedestrian arm talent, and occasional issues with ball placement that either result in incompletions or limit yards after the catch. Those limitations may make him more of a backup/spot-starter at the pro level, projecting as more of a mid-round selection.
Running Backs
A pretty good pure runner with a strong lower body, good footwork, and who proved that he can carry the load as a workhorse in a highly productive senior season, but who is on the small side for the position, lacks special athleticism, and is a relatively straightforward safety valve in the passing game. Definitely put himself on the map this season, but is probably going to end up in a running-back rotation, probably paired with a receiving back and perhaps a more dynamic option. Looks like a mid-round pick.
A huge running back with a finesse approach based around quickness and vision but doesn’t run with quite as much power or grit as is typical given his size. Was overshadowed by Bijan Robinson in school but is a solid back in his own right and could continue to work his way into a running back rotation at the pro level. Probably more of a mid-round selection.
A pretty big running back who has the quickness and patience to get what’s available and who also offers a reliable pair of hands in the passing game, but who doesn’t have the consistent grittiness of some of his peers in the class, limiting the amount of yards he can gain after contact. With some more glass in his diet, could turn into a pretty good member of a running-back committee, but may have to wait until the mid-to-late rounds to hear his name called and will likely begin his career as a reserve.
Wide Receivers
One of the most polished receiver prospects in this year’s class, he combines impressive size and physicality with attention to detail as a route runner, and all the traits teams look for in a possession target: hands, tracking, adjustments, leaping ability, concentration and physicality. May not be one of the most explosive players in the class, but has the traits to develop into a reliable split end on a team where his quarterback is willing to give him chances to make plays vertically and down the field.
Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa State)
The best receiver from the program since the likes of Allen Lazard (undrafted, 2018) and Hakeem Butler (fourth round, 2019), his game more closely resembles the former, who has also had by far the better pro career. Executes fades and back-shoulder throws well, routes which could make him a good situational receiver and red-zone target at the next level, although it remains to be seen whether he has the speed, explosiveness, and attention to detail as a route runner to create separation against pro cornerbacks in man coverage, and it would be nice to see him leverage his size a little bit more in contested-catch situations.
Dontayvion Wicks (WR – Virginia)
One of the more enigmatic receiver prospects in the class, his stock will ultimately depend on whether teams think they’ll be getting the dangerous 2021 version or the highly inefficient 2022 version of his game. With an impressive Combine, should be able to work himself into the mid-round conversation, appealing to teams that value tools and which are willing to overlook his metrics.
A toolsy upside-based pick, Palmer emerged as a viable deep threat from the slot this past season, using some nuance as a route-runner to provide opportunities for big plays down the field, often on post routes. While he’ll have to expand his route tree and increase his focus as a receiver at the next level to eliminate drops, he has the look of a potential starter who could draw some second-day interest, especially if he tests well pre-draft.
Jonathan Mingo (WR – Ole Miss)
A classic “boom-or-bust” receiver prospect who flashed the ability to run past defenders on deep posts and was always a threat to take a screen to the house, but whose college tape was inconsistent from game to game and who is going to have to become much more of a technician at the line of scrimmage and at the route stem, and significantly diversify his route tree in order to reach his potential, which is considerable.
Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State)
An explosive athlete who can threaten defenses downfield, his speed creates opportunities for him to work underneath as cornerbacks play off, and he is a solid route-runner with impressive body control and aggressiveness as a blocker. Those traits could put him in the mix for a second-day selection, even following a relatively modest senior season in which he didn’t make as many plays as he had during his junior year.
It sure took a while, but eventually established himself as a legitimate prospect with a highly productive senior season in which he did a little bit of everything from the right side of Purdue’s offense. One of the most pro-ready receivers in the class and someone who has very few holes to his game; if teams don’t mind his advanced age, looks like a good plug-and-play receiver who should provide his quarterback with a reliable target sooner rather than later as a pro.
Tight Ends
A solid blocker who executed a lot of different assignments from different alignments and who presents his quarterback with a big target and reliable pair of hands underneath. Might need to add a little bit of bulk and functional strength at the pro level, but has a very translatable skillset and looks like a safe pick, especially for a team looking to play smashmouth football.
Luke Musgrave (TE – Oregon State)
One of the more intriguing tight ends in the class from a physical/athletic standpoint, offering an impressive combination of size, length, physicality, competitiveness, and speed, but is mostly potential at this point, with inconsistent technique as a blocker and issues with drops in the passing game. Has starting-caliber tools which could allow him to slip ahead of some of the more productive, polished tight ends in the class if his knee checks out medically.
Others to watch
National Team
Offense
Dawand Jones (OT – Ohio State)
Has rare size, athleticism, and coordination for a player of that size, traits which should tantalize teams looking for a starting right tackle. Could fit in either a zone or inline scheme, winning in a phone booth or disrupting defensive fronts in space in the run game and mirroring effectively in pass protection. As long as he keeps his weight under control, looks like a pretty safe bet to develop into a long-term starter sooner rather than later.
Cody Mauch (OT – North Dakota State)
An excellent left tackle with the technical polish, snap-to-snap consistency, athleticism, and nastiness teams look for in offensive linemen, traits which should make him a starter at the next level. North Dakota State ran mostly gap concepts, but could also work well in a zone scheme. Should come off the board early on the second day given the positional value of the tackle position and because he has few holes to his game.
A very tall, long left tackle with the quickness to protect the edge against speed in the passing game and to execute a variety of blocks in the run game, a rare set of traits that should attract the interest of teams looking for a blindside protector and confident that they can iron out some of the kinks in his game. Reminiscent of other big, athletic tackles from years past, such as Nate Solder.
A big, tough offensive lineman with a powerful upper body and two years of experience in one of the most highly-regarded programs in the country for offensive linemen, but he is a somewhat limited athlete who needs to clean up his pass sets and hand placement. Will most likely be asked to play on the right side at the pro level or potentially as a swing reserve; may be a little bit too tall to play on the inside.
Jarrett Patterson (OG – Notre Dame)
A smart, experienced, and well-built “lunchpail” type player who may not have the most impressive athletic tools but who was able to get the job done consistently at the college level over the past four seasons and who has experience playing both guard and center, traits which should attract mid-round interest from teams which primarily run gap concepts in the run game and who are looking for a relatively high-floor player who at the very least should be able to serve as a swing reserve and spot starter on the interior.
Defense
A likable player with the size, length, flexibility, and motor to develop into an effective contributor, but who doesn’t play with the polish expected of a fifth-year senior. Consequently, has the look of a relatively high-upside developmental prospect who will need to develop an arsenal of pass-rush moves and counters in order to succeed against pro linemen at the next level, and draft stock will probably be in large part based on how much more development teams think he’s capable of. Could conceivably fit in either an even or odd front.
Adetomiwa Adebawore (DL – Northwestern)
Impressive functional strength should allow him to contribute as a pro sooner rather than later. Although, his draft stock may be impacted by his lack of ideal physical characteristics for most positions as a pro, lacking the ideal length/athleticism for the edge and size for a three- or five-technique end. However, his interesting skillset could make him an appealing prospect to teams that like jumbo ends or have a clear role in mind for him.
Isaiah Foskey (DE – Notre Dame)
A big, smooth athlete who can do a little bit of everything, with almost everything a conservative two-gapping defense looks for in the run game and considerably more value in coverage than a typical edge, but who lacks the burst/explosiveness and go-to rush moves of a primary pass-rusher. Consequently, he may fit best with a team like the Patriots, who place relatively less emphasis on sacking the quarterback and instead value traits like technique, discipline, recognition skills, and versatility. Has a solid chance to come off the board on the second day, most likely as a strongside linebacker on a 3-4 defense.
A toolsy edge rusher with the twitchiness, first step, speed, flexibility, and wingspan to be a problem on passing downs, but who is a little bit of a one-trick pony at this point, struggling to get low and anchor in the run game, lacking polish with his hands on passing downs, and looking raw in coverage. A team with a good strength program and coaching staff could have a real gem on their hands, but early impact might be somewhat limited. Will likely be eligible to defer his military service and play in the NFL immediately.
Nick Hampton (LB – Appalachian State)
An interesting developmental prospect who has the first-step explosiveness, flexibility, and closing burst to potentially develop into an effective pass-rusher at the next level but who will need to bulk up a little bit and develop a more diverse repertoire of moves and counters as a pro. Path into the second day involves showing up at the Combine weighing around 250 pounds and showing that he can retain his athleticism at the higher weight; otherwise, might be more of an early third-day pick who will need a couple of years to develop and adjust to the higher level of competition.
Daiyan Henley (LB – Washington State)
One of the more unique linebacker prospects in the class as a rocked-up former receiver/safety, combining excellent explosiveness as a downhill player with the ability to make drops into coverage. Having only converted to linebacker in 2020 can be a little bit reliant on his superior physical/athletic tools, but represents a high-upside option who can already do a few things well, which should allow him to attract second-day interest.
American Team
Offense
Darnell Wright (OT – Tennessee)
An experienced SEC starter with rare size and lower-body strength, he looks fine as line as he’s not asked to cover much ground, but doesn’t exactly dominate opponents either, lacking the aggression, explosiveness, and mean streak teams look for in a phone booth. Played tackle almost exclusively in college and could conceivably play on the right side for an inline team, but might be more comfortable as a guard, where his lack of lateral quickness won’t be as evident. Could potentially develop into a pretty good starter if he gets more glass in his diet.
Matthew Bergeron (OT – Syracuse)
A throwback-type blocker with the power, physicality, and nastiness teams look for, traits that allow him to maul defenders in a phone booth on rushing downs and stonewall power rushers on passing downs. However, may be looking at a move inside, as he doesn’t look the most natural in pass protection, and his physical/athletic profile more closely matches that of a guard. Has starting-caliber traits on the inside in an inline/power scheme and wants to establish a smashmouth identity on offense.
Wasn’t quite as dominant at the college level as some of the other top tackle prospects and lacks ideal height/length for the outside, but still did a pretty solid job of protecting the edge at college football’s highest level and would probably do even better on the inside, where his body type would probably be a more natural fit. A relatively polished prospect whose floor is probably as a swing reserve who could play either tackle or guard in a pinch but could potentially be more than that as well.
Pretty much the prospect you’d expect given his experience and physical profile; a consistent, fundamentally-sound guard with incredible size and the lower-body strength to stonewall opponents foolish enough to try and power through him. Will be limited to gap/power schemes because of his athletic limitations, but could conceivably play anywhere on the interior and has experience at all three spots, traits which should help him hear his name called on the second day as a relatively known quantity.
O’Cyrus Torrence (OG – Florida)
Very much the type of player his physical profile and metrics would suggest: a massive, immovable object with plenty of functional strength and the consistency, intelligence, polish, and toughness teams look for while also being more effective than expected when it comes to pulling and engaging defenders at the second level. Given his extensive experience and the way he dominated SEC competition this past season, looks like a safe bet to end up as a plug-and-play starter who should enjoy a long career playing guard for a team with a gap/power blocking scheme. Rock solid.
John Michael Schmitz (OC – Minnesota)
One of the safest linemen in this year’s draft class given his extensive starting experience, pro-ready build, excellent functional strength, and a nasty temperament, but he might appeal primarily to a relatively narrow subset of teams, namely those seeking a center for a gap-based blocking scheme. Other gap teams looking for a guard could certainly consider him, but zone teams may favor prospects with a little bit more quickness and athleticism. Nonetheless, looks likely to come off the board on the second day as a good bet to become a plug-and-play starter on the interior.
Defense
SirVocea Dennis (LB – Pittsburgh)
A high-intensity playmaker with strong instincts and excellent athleticism, splash plays are all over his tape, whether as a run defender or when rushing the passer. Well-suited to the modern game, he has the look of a starter at the next level, especially on a team that’s going to allow him to be who he is, playing with decisiveness and aggression. Hasn’t been getting as much hype as some of the other linebackers in the class, but makes a bigger impact on the game than almost any of his peers in the class.
Will McDonald IV (DE – Iowa State)
A long, sudden, and flexible pass-rusher with the first step and bend to threaten the edge, some variety to his rush approach, and a good understanding of hand use, he looks like someone who can contribute relatively soon as a situational pass-rusher, but who must continue to add additional bulk/functional strength to hold up in the run game at the next level.
Something of a mixed bag in that his intensity, physicality and power are all outstanding, but he needs to get off the line of scrimmage faster, lacks variety as a pass-rusher, and struggles with balance/flexibility. The type of player you root for because of his background, but he is both raw and significantly older than many of his peers in the draft class. Would probably fit best as a strongside “elephant” linebacker in a two-gap defensive front, but may need to spend some time developing before he’s ready to be a regular contributor.
A late bloomer who has the motor, power, and temperament to endear himself to pro coaches, there are still some technical/fundamental issues to his game, most notably his high pad level and struggles locating the football, but clearly has the physical and mental tools to succeed at the next level in some capacity. Could conceivably play as a strongside defensive end in a two-gap even front, or potentially as a five-technique end in an odd front, the latter being where he played last season.
Zacch Pickens (DL – South Carolina)
A powerfully-built nose tackle with the lower-body strength to hold the point of attack in the run game and the quickness to threaten gaps on passing downs, but who is still raw from a technical standpoint after three years in the starting lineup. Could eventually work his way into a rotation if he learns to use his hands better and develops some different approaches to rushing the passer, so his draft stock will likely depend on how confident teams are in their ability to coach him up.
One of the most pro-ready edge defenders in this year’s class, combining a thick build, excellent functional strength and contact balance. Can either bull-rush or rip his way into the backfield, traits which could allow him to contribute early in his career. May not have quite as high a ceiling as some of the other edge defenders in the class, but should be able to carve out a long, productive career modeled on players like Brandon Graham, LaMarr Woodley and Tamba Hali.
Something of a mixed bag in that his intensity, physicality and power are all outstanding, but he needs to get off the line of scrimmage faster, lacks variety as a pass-rusher, and struggles with balance/flexibility. The type of player you root for because of his background, but he is both raw and significantly older than many of his peers in the draft class. Would probably fit best as a strongside “elephant” linebacker in a two-gap defensive front, but may need to spend some time developing before he’s ready to be a regular contributor.
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