6 Underclassman Sleepers Set to Skyrocket Up Board During 2023 NFL Draft Process
Some underclassmen dominate NFL draft coverage throughout the collegiate campaign all the way up to the event itself. This year, Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Young, Georgia's Jalen Carter, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Texas' Bijan Robinson fall into that category. Other early entrants don't receive the same recognition throughout the process and tend to look like late risers, even though their caliber of talent deserved recognition all along.
As such, the latter options appear to be skyrocketing up boards after officially declaring when the reality is that scouts don't concentrate as heavily on potential early entrants until they've officially declared.
Last week, the NFL revealed that 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 class. The number has decreased dramatically over the last three years. In 2020, a record 115 underclassmen received clearance to enter the draft. With the advent of NIL deals, as well as extra eligibility granted from the COVID-19 season, the choice to return for another year has become far more appealing.
The pool of incoming talent isn't nearly as deep. Yet a handful are prime candidates to go from being lesser-known prospects to early-round options, even with the capability of hearing their names called in the opening frame.
Six individuals stand out as deserving and expected of such a bump once they're under closer inspection by NFL evaluators.
RB Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan
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In what could be another good, albeit devalued, running back class, multiple underclassmen could work their way into becoming starting backs after being selected a little later in the process.
Texas' Bijan Robinson is almost certainly a lock for the first round as one of the class' best offensive weapons. Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs should be in that conversation as well.
From there, three other early entrants are intriguing.
TCU's Kendre Miller received significant attention during the Horned Frogs' attempt at a perfect regular season. UAB's DeWayne McBride probably would have led the FBS in rushing yardage had he not opted out of the Blazers' Bahamas Bowl appearance.
A person needs to scroll all the way down to the 136th overall slot to find Central Michigan's Lew Nichols III with his 616 rushing yards this past season. So, why did he declare?
Nichols led major college football the prior season with 341 rushing attempts and 1,848 yards. Unfortunately, the back dealt with a leg injury and played in only nine games in 2022. That coupled with the fact he's a MAC product has him flying under the radar.
Yet a healthy Nichols is a fantastic running back prospect because of his ability to consistently press the running lane and make decisive cuts. His stop-start acceleration is also outstanding. Plus, the 222-pound back factored into the Chippewas' passing game with 61 receptions in his 22 appearances over the last two seasons.
WR Parker Washington, Penn State
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Wide receiver classes are loaded every year now because of the reliance on passing games and overall depth found around the country.
A few big-time weapons will be found in this year's first round with the likes of TCU's Quentin Johnston, USC's Jordan Addison and Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba. All three are early entrants.
Penn State's Parker Washington is as well, though his game differs greatly from those mentioned. His somewhat unique skill set should intrigue evaluators.
Washington is listed at 5'10", but he's built more like a running back at 212 pounds. He has the toughness, reliability and short-area burst to be a power slot receiver.
"At the next level, you have to be able to run. You have to be able to get open and you have to be able to catch the ball," Penn State wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield told reporters.
"Those are some of the things that he does extremely well. Sometimes with guys his size you have to be elite, and his hands are absolutely elite. So if given that opportunity to play at the next level, I have full confidence that Parker will be a huge asset to any NFL team."
The 20-year-old presents tremendous upside after being one of the nation's best slot receivers. Washington caught 110 passes for 1,431 yards over the last two seasons. He's capable of turning a short catch into a big play because of his ability to shirk tacklers and create after the catch.
OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
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A rough season in Oklahoma wore off any luster on the Sooners' draft prospects. But evaluations can be made in a vacuum, while projections remain vital to proper roster-building.
Left tackle prospect Anton Harrison has two major factors now playing into his advantage.
First, the first-team All-Big 12 performer will be 21 for the entirety of his rookie campaign. His growth potential is enormous. Harrison is a 6'5", 315-pound blindside protector with two years of starting experience in a Power Five conference before he could legally have an alcoholic beverage.
Harrison is light on his feet with long arms and natural power in his frame. As with any young offensive lineman, consistent repeatable technique is the primary goal and where they're most often found lacking. Harrison can significantly improve with hand placement and footwork. His athleticism won't be enough to overcome better and more nuanced NFL pass-rushers.
These negatives can be coached up, though. The physical tools are clearly present, and an NFL offensive line coach is going to see the potential found in Harrison to make him a left tackle sooner rather than later.
Harrison should also benefit from the fact it's not a strong offensive tackle class, particularly on the left side. Northwestern's Peter Skoronski may ultimately end up at guard, depending on how teams project him. Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. started only one season at left tackle. Tennessee's Darnell Wright is better on the right side. Like Harrison, Georgia's Broderick Jones is a work-in-progress from a technique perspective.
Some organization is going to see Harrison's gifts and take a chance on him sooner than expected.
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DT Calijah Kancey, Pittburgh
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What's the lesson everyone learned with former Pitt Panther Aaron Donald? Don't overlook a dominant prospect simply because he doesn't meet prototypical size requirements.
Looking back, the thought of Donald not being a top-10 selection in the 2014 draft is ludicrous. Yet the 6'1", 285-pound defender didn't hear his name called until the 13th overall pick, despite destroying opponents for three seasons and crushing his predraft workouts.
To be clear, Calijah Kancey isn't Aaron Donald. It's unfair to even make the comparison based on what we've seen during the latter's Hall of Fame career. However, the lesson still remains true. Evaluations should allow players to overcome shortcomings if they're good enough to excel in other areas.
Like Donald, Kancey is an undersized interior defender at a listed 6'0" and 280 pounds. So it's easy to understand why he wasn't exactly a top-rated prospect entering his junior campaign. Most defensive tackles don't get much of a look at that size. Kancey did what he needed to make everyone reevaluate his standing.
Kancey became the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American this past season. Over the last two, the two-time All-ACC performer registered 27.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. His quickness off the snap and disruptive nature help him blow up offensive schemes and get after quarterbacks.
In the right system as a pure 3-technique or one that asks him to slant and move a lot, Kancey can become a big-time defender at the professional level.
EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
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Lukas Van Ness' game is best described as power personified.
Functional playing strength isn't often discussed when it comes to evaluating prospects. A difference exists between weight-room strength and what happens on the field. Guys like San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams and Dallas Cowboys defender Micah Parsons shouldn't be able to throw around other elite athletes like they do. But they do.
A combination of athleticism, leverage, flexibility and raw brute strength all factor into an individual's ability to overwhelm another who may be bigger or more athletic.
Van Ness played a couple of the best blockers college football had to offer this past season. Both Northwestern's Peter Skoronski and Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. are projected first-round left tackle prospects. Van Ness trucked both.
The 6'5", 275-pound prospect is far from a polished pass-rusher and he wasn't even a full-time starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes. But the type of power with which Van Ness displays cannot be taught. It's special.
Sometimes, the underclassman proved to be too one-dimensional. He needs to become a far more well-rounded pass-rusher, instead of just a straight-line defender. But he always has a bull rush in his back pocket that offensive linemen know is eventually coming.
The defensive lineman provides an added bonus of having played along the interior and on the edge. Van Ness started his collegiate career at defensive tackle because Iowa lacked depth. With 13 sacks over the last two seasons and the versatility to play up and down the front, Van Ness is an attractive prospect.
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
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Shutdown corners still matter. Yes, some will argue that they no longer exist in a league where everything is tilted into the offense's favor. All the more reason an elite coverage defender is worth his weight in gold (and so much more).
Both the Denver Broncos and New York Jets saw the impact truly elite man-cover corners brought to their system in Pat Surtain II and Sauce Gardener, respectively. Both became top-10 picks in the last two draft classes. Now, they're first-team All-Pro corners.
Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes isn't as big as either of them, as the 6'0", 180-pound corner is long and lanky. But he thrived when asked to lock down the receiver across from him.
According to Pro Football Focus, Forbes led all cornerbacks with six interceptions when in man coverage, while no other corner had more than three.
While his ball skills are sought-after, the natural traits founds in Forbes' skill set make him a contender to impress and hear his named called very early in the process.
The consensus All-American has fluid hips that allow him to stay in phase with receivers without giving up ground. He can play both man and off coverage. He's an instinctive player who isn't afraid to play a physical brand of ball. Forbes' ability to close on receivers and the ball ranks among the class' best.
OK, maybe a true every-down shutdown corner, like Deion Sanders, doesn't exist in today's landscape. But defensive backs with the ability to lock onto an opposing WR1, consistently stay with them, possibly produce a turnover and expand coverage possibilities within a scheme are highly valued by every NFL franchise.
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