Carrying on with our studies of the 2023 NFL Draft, let’s take a look at the latest group of sleepers to join the list after Week 6 of college football. This list is heavy with cornerback talent, but there are prospects on both sides of the ball to know, including two forgotten five-stars who may be starting to emerge once again.
2023 NFL Draft Sleepers to Watch in Week 7
Brian Cobbs, WR, Utah State
Utah State got a much-needed win in Week 6 against Air Force, and the game ball can easily go to Maryland transfer WR Brian Cobbs, who caught eight receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.
If there’s one thing we know about the Terrapins, it’s that they can scout WR talent, and that talent is visible with Cobbs. He has a strong 6’2″, 210-pound frame along with stellar body control and focus at the catch point.
But he can also beat press with swift lateral athleticism and forceful swipes, and he has enough acceleration to win vertically as well. He’s finding his stride with Utah State, and he could be a riser in the coming weeks.
Chimere Dike, WR, Wisconsin
Chimere Dike was an unexpected breakout star of the Week 6 slate. On a traditionally run-heavy Wisconsin offense, Dike was the engine of his team’s success in a 42-7 win over Northwestern, with 10 catches for 185 yards and three touchdowns.
The performance did come against an ailing Northwestern team, but that same Northwestern team has legitimate NFL Draft prospects like Cameron Mitchell and Rod Heard II in its secondary — so it can’t go overlooked.
Dike navigated through seams in Northwestern’s defense surgically with his throttle control and explosive athleticism and used steady hands to convert time and time again.
Gabe Wallace, OG, Buffalo
The Buffalo Bulls steamrolled Bowling Green this past week 38-7, amassing almost 300 rushing yards in the process. In light of such a dominant performance on the ground, it feels right to draw attention to offensive guard Gabe Wallace, who helped contribute to the absolute thrashing of the Falcons.
Wallace is a massive 6’6″, 330-pound blocker from British Colombia. He can play guard and tackle, but his raw power and road-grading mentality arguably translates best on the interior.
Shrine Bowl Director of College Scouting Shane Coughlin has spoken glowingly of Wallace to PFN, but Wallace remains a sleeper on the national stage.
Lonnie Phelps, EDGE, Kansas
Kansas’ explosive ascent into the Top 25 can largely be accredited to Lance Leipold and Jalon Daniels. But there’s talent to thank on defense as well, notably Miami (OH) transfer Lonnie Phelps — if you remember, Phelps was rushing opposite 2022 NFL Draft pick Dominique Robinson for the RedHawks in 2021.
Alongside Robinson, Phelps picked up 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, and he’s picked up right where he left off at Kansas. Phelps has six sacks and 8.5 TFLs through six games, and the 6’3″, 244-pound edge rusher had 1.5 TFLs and a sack against TCU.
The sack was secured with a brutal inside swim move, but Phelps’ tenacity and motor gave the Horned Frogs trouble all day.
Marcel Brooks, LB, TCU
In a universal sense, Marcel Brooks isn’t necessarily a sleeper. He’s been a known entity ever since he signed with LSU as a five-star safety recruit. But Brooks’ collegiate career hasn’t matched up with the pedigree.
After failing to make a consistent impact at safety, he transferred to TCU and switched to linebacker, then to wide receiver, and then back to linebacker in 2022.
We still have a ways to go before Brooks is a legitimate 2023 NFL Draft prospect, but he’s been getting more reps in recent weeks. And against Kansas, he made tackles in the open field in a couple of crucial moments, showing off his range and explosive athleticism in space.
Tony Grimes, CB, North Carolina
Tony Grimes started off the 2023 NFL Draft cycle with some hype, but it’s since cooled a bit. Perhaps it’s time to bring it back. Grimes upped his season total of pass deflections to five against Miami this past week, providing a semblance of stability on a defense that’s been rather up-and-down to start the year.
As a high school recruit, Grimes was a five-star talent with first-round projections in some circles. He’s not quite in that range as a prospect yet, but the natural coverage talent is impossible to ignore.
He plays low in his stance, is incredibly fluid in side-saddle and press-bail coverage, and his high-end twitch and length for his size allow him to consistently suffocate receivers of space.
Elijah Clark, CB, Temple
Temple football normally isn’t synonymous with NFL Draft talent. But no stone can truly go unturned in the draft cycle because then you’ll miss prospects like Elijah Clark at cornerback.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Temple has more talent beyond Clark, but Clark may be the team’s most enticing defensive prospect. At 6’3″, he’s a long, lean defender who’s shown he can transition efficiently and carry receivers upfield. And at the catch point, he’s a methodical operator who can get his head around, seek out the ball, and use his coordination to make plays in the air.
Quavian White, CB, Georgia State
As we’ve said before, production can be a guiding light when looking for 2023 NFL Draft sleepers to keep an eye on. Another case of this notion is Georgia State CB Quavian White, who has 11 interceptions and 27 pass deflections over the past four and a half seasons.
This year, the 5’10”, 185-pound White has four picks and four deflections. Three of those deflections came this past week in a close win over Georgia Southern, in which White’s coverage prowess helped make the difference.
White may be a bit undersized, but he’s a feisty, proactive playmaker with visible ball skills, and he’s a willing run-support defender as well.
Myles Brooks, CB, Louisiana Tech
Quietly, Louisiana Tech’s secondary has talent. Beejay Williamson remains a player to watch at safety after an excellent 2021 campaign, and the team also added two cornerbacks from Stephen F. Austin — Willie Roberts and Myles Brooks.
Brooks doesn’t have quite as much production as his counterpart, but he’s an exciting sleeper at the Group of Five level. He sports a long, 6’2″ frame but also has good fluidity for his size.
And in Week 1, he was able to carry five-star signee Luther Burden up the field with his acceleration. Brooks also notched a pick-six this past week, using his length and recognition ability to hawk in front of a dangerous pass.
David Spaulding, S, South Carolina
Few prospects broke onto the scene with as much voracity as South Carolina safety David Spaulding did in the Week 6 slate. The Gamecocks defender returned from injury for the first time since September and had a standout showing with five tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a game-sealing interception.
Spaulding made an impact early, demolishing an intended reverse in run support. He continued to come downhill with ferocity throughout the game but also showed he could manage space in zone coverage and convert at the catch point with smooth ball skills.
A Georgia Southern transfer, the 6’1″ Spaulding is finally emerging at the SEC level.
2023 NFL Draft Sleepers at the FCS Level
Jadakis Bonds, WR, Hampton
Draft HBCU has partnered with the Shrine Bowl to help elevate HBCU prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. But oftentimes, HBCU prospects like Hampton wide receiver Jadakis Bonds make it easy. Bonds, who has an effortless elevation ability of his own, was named the Shrine Bowl HBCU Player of the Week in Week 6 after accruing 144 yards and two touchdowns against Maine.
Bonds has the necessary talent — he was a three-star recruit who had some Power Five interest years ago. That’s evident with his long 6’4″, 200-pound frame, surprising quickness, and smooth body control in tight situations.
He’s been productive dating all the way back to 2019 when he had 70 catches for 943 yards and 15 scores. But now, Bonds is earning looks as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect.
Malik Chatman, CB, Indiana State
Indiana State might have a guy to watch at CB with Malik Chatman. The production this year won’t wow you. Through five games, Chatman only has a pass deflection to his name. But in previous stops, he’s proven his ability to produce.
He had 13 interceptions in his final year of high school, and at Highland Community College, he had a pick and 12 pass deflections while allowing just eight catches on the year.
Turn on the tape, and you’ll see that the lack of production isn’t a performance issue. More often than not, Chatman just makes it difficult to throw his way. At 6’2″, 180 pounds, Chatman has great length, and he naturally plays low in his stance.
But at the same time, he’s an athlete with high-level corrective twitch and foot speed, and he has the hip fluidity to make 180-degree transitions with ease. The JUCO product is a redshirt junior, so this might not be his year to declare. But keep his name in the vault because the talent is absolutely there.