We’re only through Week 0, but already, a few players have emboldened their imprint on the next NFL draft cycle. Who are some of the biggest risers in the 2023 NFL Draft crop after the first week of college football action?
Week 0 2023 NFL Draft risers
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Chase Brown claimed a spot on PFN’s Week 0 Team of the Week with his performance against Wyoming. But evaluators may look back at this game as the one that piqued their interest in Brown as well. The 5’11”, 205-pound back rumbled to 151 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and also caught a third score through the air. He had help from his line, but Brown was decisive, showed great vision, got up to speed quickly, and darted through lanes for big gains left and right.
Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte
Charlotte lost to FAU 43-13 in Week 0. All 13 of Charlotte’s points can be attributed to Grant DuBose, who caught four passes for 89 yards and two scores in Saturday’s outing. DuBose looked like the real deal last weekend. The 6’3″, 200-pound junior — who caught 62 passes for 892 yards and six scores in 2021 — repeatedly won at the catch point, using his size and high-level body control to blanket defensive backs. And in open space, he brings deceptive long-strider acceleration as well.
Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Even after losing Bailey Zappe, Jerreth Sterns, Mitchell Tinsley, and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, the Western Kentucky offense didn’t skip a beat against Austin Peay. The Hilltoppers came out on top 38-27, and a lot of the credit goes to wide receiver Malachi Corley, who picked up five catches for 61 yards and three touchdowns. Corley has an extremely intriguing profile at 5’11”, 210 pounds. He displayed natural receiving ability on Saturday but also took a short pass to the house with high-octane short-area athleticism.
Travis Vokolek, TE, Nebraska
When Casey Thompson was clicking on Saturday, tight end Travis Vokolek was his favorite target. A career backup who originally came to Nebraska from Rutgers, Vokolek brought newfound life to the Cornhuskers’ offense, catching five passes for 63 yards before a minor ankle injury forced him off the field. Vokolek’s 6’6″, 260-pound frame is an asset over the middle of the field, where he did most of his damage. His smooth body control only compounds that strength.
Julian Pearl, OT, Illinois
Illinois dominated the front against Wyoming in Week 0. There were standout performers all across the line. Alex Palczewski shined at right tackle, as did Isaiah Davis at left guard. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, left tackle Julian Pearl might have done the most to rise. Pearl flashed at times in 2021 with his athleticism, length, and power, but his showing against Wyoming was perhaps his most complete yet. Beyond his high-end traits, he combated hands in pass protection and consistently paved open lanes in the run game.
Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
The stat sheet brings only a modest endorsement of Adetomiwa Adebawore’s impact on Saturday against Nebraska. But while he only logged four tackles, Adebawore was a consistent pressure generator. From both the interior and the edge, he drove blockers back, compressed the pocket, and made Thompson uncomfortable. His unique tools — 6’2″, 280 pounds, with a 37.5″ vertical and a 6.9 three-cone — makes him a constant nuisance.
Byron Vaughns, EDGE, Utah State
Byron Vaughns had a tackle for loss and several total tackles in Week 0, but you have to watch the tape to get a true feel for his impact against UConn. Vaughns was constantly surging through gaps and wrestling his way into the backfield. On one play, he destroyed a pulling blocker and drove him all the way back into the runner, allowing a teammate to seal the deal. Vaughns, a former Texas commit, has an outrageous combination of explosiveness, twitch, and length (36″ arms). He’s absolutely one to watch as a potential 2023 NFL Draft riser.
Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
If you’re an Albany football fan, you know who Jared Verse is. He logged 9.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss with the Great Danes in 2021. Nevertheless, Verse came to Florida State as a relative unknown. In his FSU debut, however, he introduced himself to the college football world with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. His sack was a beauty — a cross-chop around the apex made possible by his searing explosiveness and bend at 6’4″, 248 pounds. He has the tools to climb very high up the board, like Jermaine Johnson before him.
Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida State
After eclipsing the 100-tackle mark with UCF a season ago, Tatum Bethune took his talents to Tallahassee for the 2022 campaign. It’s safe to say his FSU career started on a strong note. Against Duquesne on Saturday night, Bethune had four total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass deflection. The tackle for loss was perhaps the most impressive play of the day for Bethune. Showing both patience and decisiveness, Bethune surged into a gap inside and stifled a run play before the blocks even developed.
Jackson Mitchell, LB, Connecticut
You never like to open the season with a loss, but it wasn’t all bad for UConn on Saturday. A major silver lining was the performance of Jackson Mitchell, a Shrine Bowl 1000 prospect. Mitchell led UConn in tackles comfortably in 2021 and looks to be on his way to doing it again in 2022. Mitchell had 16 total tackles against Utah State, to go along with a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He’s fluid in space at 6’2″, 229 pounds, but also willing to come downhill, slab blockers, and get his hands dirty in congestion.
Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
Adebawore wasn’t the only Wildcats’ defender who helped himself with a strong showing in Week 0. In fact, cornerback Cameron Mitchell perhaps did the most of any Northwestern player. A smooth, fluid, and instinctive defender in coverage with a proactive playmaking mentality at the catch point, Mitchell came away with a game-defining interception and two additional deflections on Saturday. His impact was not only tangible but also translatable on Sundays.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
He’s already one of Illinois’ top 2023 NFL Draft prospects, but Devon Witherspoon added to his résumé in Week 0. Not only did he provide stellar coverage all day, but he elevated for a phenomenal interception midway through the second quarter. Covering a slot fade in off-man coverage, Witherspoon stuck to his receiver the whole way, got his eyes around as the ball came, and made a smooth adjustment in the air to seal the turnover. He’s an agile, explosive athlete with good length, but his playmaking shined on Saturday.