The first wave of the invite process is underway, but the 2023 NFL Draft evaluation process never truly stops for the East-West Shrine Bowl. Each week brings new information on players across the nation, and Week 9 was no different.
Kentucky-Tennessee Showdown Highlights Notable Games From Week 9
Naturally, the eyes flocked to the Tennessee-Kentucky matchup this past week. Not only was it a ranked contest between SEC teams, but it also pitted two top 2023 NFL Draft QB prospects against each other in Will Levis and Hendon Hooker.
The presence of two high-quality QB prospects drove up excitement for the game, but the result was a lopsided victory in favor of Tennessee. The Volunteers won 44-6. Hooker completed 19 of 25 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Levis, meanwhile, threw three picks and less than 100 yards.
It was a disappointing game for Levis, and one that will have many in the media cooling on his stock. But for Shrine Bowl Director Eric Galko, from a game-script standpoint, the outcome wasn’t entirely unanticipated.
“Watching Tennessee and Kentucky, and seeing how those guys performed and went through stuff, it was kind of as we expected,” he said. “Tennessee got out in front early. We wanted to see how the Kentucky offense could rebound.”
The Wildcats ultimately weren’t able to rebound, and part of the loss does fall on Levis’ shoulders. But after this game, for Galko, an emphasis is placed on not getting too high or too low. Levis struggled, but in all likelihood, it’s not going to change his perception in the NFL as a first-round caliber prospect — because there are still tools that teams will feel they can mold. And against a fearsome Tennessee rush, there’s one redeeming trait that Levis did show.
“One thing NFL teams love about Will Levis and will continue to love about Will Levis is: He is tough as nails,” Galko said. “He’s going to run the ball if he has to, and break tackles the way we love to see Josh Allen do. He’s going to have his teammates galvanize around him after a tough run and a tough play that he makes himself.
“He knows how to improvise, and I think he’s going to keep going out there. I’m sure he’d say that wasn’t his best game this year. That’s no surprise. But I think for Will and evaluators, it’s not always about wins and losses. His toughness and resolve always shows up.”
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Levis has lingering questions in his profile — there’s no sneaking around that. He still sometimes struggles with processing. And as we saw last Saturday, he can try to force the issue with his arm talent when his team is down big, sometimes taking ill-advised risks.
But Galko reiterates that Levis’ stock, at this point, is steady. He’s an early-round talent that someone will bank on. So the only question teams have left to answer is: Will it be us taking the chance?
“Some people treat it like you’re buying tech stocks,” Galko said of draft stock during the season. “But it’s more like the S&P 500. It’s going to be a lot more steady than you’d think it’s going to be. And I think at QB especially, you have to use a whole game. Sometimes receivers and edge rushers — two or three big plays can tell you a lot about these guys.
“But with QBs, there’s a whole story to make. It’s not a short story, it’s not an essay, it’s not a poem. This is a novel you’re writing about who these QBs may be. There’s always positives and negatives in every game. I think this game really tells a story about these QBs, more than ‘who’s great, who’s not, stock up, stock down.'”
And just as important is this: The story continues next week. Levis still has games against three solid defenses in Georgia, Missouri, and Louisville to test himself and show growth, and he’ll likely have a bowl game as well. Meanwhile, Hooker will have a chance to keep his stock soaring, with his Volunteers on the verge of the CFB Playoff, largely behind his arm.
Alex Forsyth, Olusegun Oluwatimi Standing Tall in a Strong Center Class
Some teams will need a QB next April. Others will need a lineman to snap the ball to their signal-caller. The center position remains in constant demand at the NFL level. It’s not only an underrated component of QB comfort but the molding position of the entire offensive line. Lines are built around their centers, and it makes the aspect of finding one all the more important.
The 2023 NFL Draft center class appears strong, both with its underclassmen and upperclassmen. Young blockers like Sedrick Van Pran-Grainger, Luke Wypler, and Joe Tippmann have already flashed the talent to ascend to the NFL. Meanwhile, veterans like John Michael Schmitz, Ricky Stromberg, and Steve Avila are well-established as quality protectors.
There are several names worth recognizing in this year’s center group. But another who deserves more recognition is Alex Forsyth of Oregon.
Forsyth has battled injuries at times in his career, but he’s healthy this year as a sixth-year senior. And in the eyes of Galko and other evaluators alike, he’s putting up his best film yet.
“That Oregon offense is rolling right now,” Galko exclaimed. “They had another big game against Cal, but I think the consistency at which Alex Forsyth plays makes this interior offensive line so confident in what they’re doing. They can allow five-man protections against blitzing downs because they know Forsyth can pick up those keys, and he can take on nose tackles by himself.
“The running game wasn’t at its best this past week, but they’ve had huge rushing games all season long. Forsyth is a guy who we liked a lot. He’s been great since Week 1 — he’s been dominant this year.”
Overall — Galko says — the 2023 center class is a quality group, and Forsyth is a big part of that. But the excess of talent has also made the evaluation process tougher. At the end of the day, the Shrine Bowl has to stack up these players somehow. In that process, another prospect who’s been tough to place, but easy to appreciate, is Michigan’s Olusegun Oluwatimi.
“Olusegun Oluwatimi is about as reliable as it gets as an interior pass blocker and run blocker,” Galko said. “NFL teams have had questions about: ‘Well, can he play in space? For teams with wider splits, is he a good fit? Can he take on nose tackles head-on?’ And I think the answer is yes, in his own way.”
Oluwatimi simply performs. That’s something that’s been evident across his 2022 season at Michigan. He’s earned four first-team PFN Team of the Week mentions, and five total TOTW honors — more than any other player in college football. Each week, he’s been a staple of the Wolverines’ success on the line.
With Oluwatimi, there is a bit of a disconnect between the traits and production. He won’t be a schematic fit for every team. But looking at how consistently he does his job and does it effectively, it’s hard not to be a fan of his game.
“He’s not going to be the most athletic lineman, but that guy is efficient,” Galko reaffirmed. “He wins a lot of reps. He’s very, very successful at what he does. He’s been one of my favorite guys to see this year, because he’s not a height-weight-speed guy at center.
“He’ll probably be a center-only in the NFL. But talking to the program, and hearing how much he’s quickly become a leader and one of their best offensive linemen game after game, as a transfer — walking in and becoming a team captain and an impact player. As far as guys playing true center, he’s clearly one of the best centers in this class from that perspective.”
Chase and Sydney Brown Distinguishing Themselves at Illinois
It’s not often that twin brothers, on the same team, emerge as quality NFL draft prospects in the same year. But that’s what the Illinois Fighting Illini have with running back Chase Brown and safety Sydney Brown.
Chase is coming off another dominating showing for the Fighting Illini on the ground, with 149 yards on over 30 carries in Week 9. Sydney, meanwhile, had two interceptions in the team’s emphatic win over Nebraska. He now has three interceptions and seven pass deflections on the season, along with 34 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Both Brown brothers are on the Shrine Bowl’s radar, and Galko has plenty of praise for both. But he’s especially excited about Chase, who he says bears similarities to one of the NFL’s most productive, most efficient running backs.
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“I think the way he plays, there are a lot of similarities with his running style, and the big plays he makes, to Nick Chubb,” Galko said. “I’m not sure Chase will test as elite as Chubb — Nick was a one-of-one type tester. But the way Chase runs, the way he can be a one-cut-and-go guy. The way he stands up at contact and makes plays against linebackers and safeties — Chase Brown is going to start in the NFL.
“Whether it’s in Week 1, or Week 7, he’s going to start as a rookie because he’s so refined and ready to go, and he can do some third-down stuff as well.”
Vision, explosiveness, and density all blend together to make Brown a capable NFL running back. And this season, the production has absolutely been there to back up the traits.
Clayton Tune-Tank Dell Connection Heating Up in November
A pair of all-star eligible prospects in the Group of Five put on a show this past weekend, as Houston lit up South Florida 42-27. Houston quarterback Clayton Tune completed 31 of 37 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns. Nathaniel “Tank” Dell was on the receiving end of nine of those completions, amassing 112 yards and two scores in the process.
Tune now has almost 6,000 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions over his past two seasons. Dell’s numbers are even more staggering. Over that span, he has 150 catches, 2,068 yards, and 22 touchdowns. This season alone, he has 60 receptions for 739 yards and 10 scores, and there’s still time for that stat line to get even bigger.
Galko has an appreciation for both players. In the past, he’s spoken about Tune, and how his mentality can serve him well at the NFL level. The Cougars QB has no doubt taken his lumps this year and has been on the losing end of more than one heart-breaking photo finish. But Galko says he’s starting to hit his stride.
“It was awesome to see Clayton Tune have his best game of the season against South Florida,” Galko recalled. “I think everything came together for him in that game. I think a lot of Tune as a player and a person, but that game showed that he can be a complete pocket and outside-the-pocket player.”
Tune and Dell, together, have formed one of the most explosive passing combinations in Houston football history — and that’s an illustrious history to go through. For Galko, it’s an expected result of the talent and confidence that Tune brings to the table. But Dell is just as impressive. Galko got to see Tune and Dell work with Jordan Palmer during the summer. In that moment, Galko says, Dell made a very strong impression.
“Seeing the way Dell operates — he is so coachable. He’s developed as a route runner, as a red-zone player, as a timing receiver,” Galko explained. “I think people will be surprised, once Dell reaches the NFL, by how complete he is as a receiver. He’s smaller and skinnier, and that’ll maybe limit some of the stuff he can do against NFL defenders. But in terms of route definition and complete receiver play, there aren’t many guys in this draft class who’ll have the instincts — in terms of timing, footwork, depth, and chemistry — that Dell has.”
At 5’10”, 165 pounds, Dell will be a size outlier. Yet, that hasn’t been a problem for him in college, where he’s found the end zone at an outrageously high clip. Tune and Dell are using their dual-sided chemistry to maximize production. One thing Galko makes clear is this — both players have the tools to succeed in the NFL on their own.