While college football Week 2 might not feature the same number of marquee matchups as the opening weekend, there are still a number of high-profile games containing 2023 NFL Draft prospects.
Additionally, while some games might feature so-called “cupcake” opponents, these clashes offer opportunities for smaller school prospects to elevate their draft profile.
As always in this 2023 NFL Draft prospect watch, we’ve tried to provide a good mix of offensive and defensive prospects spread out across the hours of action while shining some light on the sleepers in the class rather than repeatedly highlighting the established superstars.
Tylan Grable, OT, Central Florida
We’re not ones to get carried away by a Week 1 whipping of an FCS program, but UCF certainly looked impressive in their 56-10 beatdown of South Carolina State. John Rhys Plumlee had all the time in the world to throw, and when he took off running, he was able to rack up chunks of yardage behind a dominant offensive line that was anchored by transfer left tackle Tylan Grable. The former Jacksonville State standout was extremely impressive in his UCF debut.
If you follow me on social media, you’ll know that Grable has piqued my interest since scouting the AAC through the summer. He’s on the Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist and the Senior Bowl Watchlist for a reason, and that reason is he’s a damn good offensive tackle.
At 6’7″, he’s a towering yet slender figure whose height is weaponized by long, powerful levers. Meanwhile, he’s a stellar athlete with the light feet and flexibility to effortlessly mirror pass rushers. A tougher test awaits against Louisville, but he’s more than a match for their defensive front.
JL Skinner, S, Boise State
It might have been a disappointing opener for Boise State, losing 34-17 to a good Oregon State team, but there was nothing disappointing about the performance of JL Skinner. Pro Football Network’s top-rated safety prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class, Skinner tallied 12 tackles with one interception in the defeat.
He was one of just five players in college football Week 1 who tallied 10+ tackles while logging an interception. He’s also the first Boise State Bronco to achieve the feat since former first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch.
At 6’4″, 218 pounds, Skinner boasts the rare size that was the bedrock of Kyle Hamilton’s SAF1 candidacy last fall. From that size comes an unexpected explosion, with the ability to close on an opponent in an instant. When he closes, he comes loaded with physicality.
A size/explosion/intelligence triple threat, Skinner is comfortably one of the top 2023 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Friday’s limited slate. The Broncos travel to New Mexico for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff.
Kivon Bennett, EDGE, Arkansas State
If you’re looking for a smaller school prospect to excel against top-level opposition, there isn’t much more appealing of a battle, and bigger challenge to boot, than Arkansas State edge Kivon Bennett facing off against one of the top prospects in the whole of the 2023 NFL Draft class — Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
The Buckeyes OT was imperious against Notre Dame, while Bennet got his first half tackle for loss of the season in a comfortable win over Grambling State.
As a former Tennessee Volunteer, Bennett is no stranger to playing at the highest level, so the occasion won’t faze him. The 6’2″, 236 pounds pass rusher has showcased impressive upper body power at the point of attack, and it’ll be interesting to see how that works against Johnson.
Meanwhile, both prospects boast impressive athletic profiles, so it should be a great test for both. Bennett is on both all-star game watchlists, so he’s already on the national radar. But, a good performance here can help elevate his stock ahead of April.
Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Alabama and Texas is unequivocally, undeniably, and understandably, the marquee matchup of college football Week 2. This game is absolutely teeming with 2023 NFL Draft prospects from Alabama QB Bryce Young to Texas RB Bijan Robinson, and just about every other position you can think of has a prospect in play.
There’s even a kicker prospect in Will Reichard. Additionally, half of the current top-10 favorites — as per DraftKings — for the 2022 Heisman Trophy are on show in this game. There’s a ludicrous amount of talent.
And then there’s Brian Branch, who’s ludicrously talented yet somehow doesn’t receive the appropriate level of national attention. Playing the STAR role in Alabama’s defense, Branch flies to the football in all facets of defense.
He’s a high-motor guy who also boasts top-level instincts. When required in pass coverage, he has the vertical athleticism to make an impact. Meanwhile, you’ll struggle to find a more reliable tackler in all of college football. The Longhorns will provide a great test and platform for Branch to elevate his stock.
Tobias Harris, CB, Old Dominion
Former West Texas A&M cornerback Tobias Harris attracted our attention over the summer. He arrived at Old Dominion boasting an incredible statistical résumé for a defensive back who has a diminutive stature at 5’9″.
Backing up the stats with a stellar on-field performance in his FBS opener, Harris was a key component of the Monarchs’ upset win over Virginia Tech, snagging an interception to go with the 17 in four years with WTAMU.
While his size may hamper his 2023 NFL Draft prospects, there’s no mistaking the skill set that he offers is alluring. Harris boasts the quick footwork and movement fluidity that defines high-level cornerback play while possessing the speed to break on the ball. He’s physical, can track the ball well in the air, and has the ball skills to finish the play.
The Monarchs face East Carolina and QB/WR duo Holton Ahlers and CJ Johnson in Week 2, presenting Harris with the perfect opportunity to prove himself in coverage once more.
D’Anthony Jones, EDGE, Houston
After an enthralling clash with UTSA last week, Houston travels to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech and their Zach Kittley-engineered high-power offense. While the scoreline in the UTSA game might suggest that defense was optional, Cougars defensive dynamo D’Anthony Jones actually made some of the more memorable plays in the game.
Those include a ludicrous hit on the Roadrunners running back in the backfield. Meanwhile, he was one of just four players who recorded nine QB hurries during a mammoth Week 1 slate.
The Cougars are loaded with defensive prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class, but Jones is clearly the headline act from “Sack Avenue.” The 6’2″, 270 pounds playmaker is powerful and explosive, as demonstrated in the play described above.
When he hits you, he hits you hard. Jones is so explosive that it’s hard to imagine that the former JUCO product hasn’t been fed the snap count in advance. Jones will be a thorn in the side of Donovan Smith, who will make his first start of the year with Tyler Shough sidelined by injury.
Tashawn Manning, G, Kentucky
Florida and Kentucky clash in one of the top matchups on the Week 2 schedule, with the battle of 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects Will Levis and Anthony Richardson the hot topic of conversation.
Both signal callers got off to sensational starts, but talent only takes you so far if you’re offensive line isn’t up to scratch. Thankfully for Levis and Kentucky, Auburn transfer Tashwan Manning lived up to expectations in the Wildcats’ season opener.
Manning has the potential to assert himself in this interior offensive line class. In Week 1, he helped keep Levis clean while springing Kavosiey Smoke with a nice block. The 6’4″ 344 pounds guard is an immovable force in pass protection with a good anchor and a vice-like grip. He also boasts impressive movement skills for a man of his size.
Manning can elevate his 2023 NFL Draft stock with another strong performance against an imposing Florida defensive front.
Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State
There weren’t many more impressive quarterback performances in Week 1 of college football than Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders. Don’t believe it? Shrine Bowl Director Eric Galko enthused about Sanders’ “composure on the move and under pressure, high-end decision-making as a passer and when transitioning to a runner, and high-end accuracy, especially downfield,” in his Monday Morning GM piece for Pro Football Network.
Sanders’ Oklahoma State team welcomes a resurgent Arizona State to Stillwater in one of the highlight games of the 7:30 p.m. ET slate. The Sun Devils routinely produce NFL-level defensive backs, and there are several playmakers on this team, including Kejuan and Keon Markham, Ro Torrence, and Hawaii transfer Khoury Bethley who can bait and make life difficult.
There’s also defensive pressure in the form of Merlin Robertson to navigate. Another sensational performance from Sanders could skyrocket his NFL Draft stock.
Jalen Moreno-Cropper, WR, Fresno State
A low-key, under-the-radar, late-night matchup sees Fresno State welcome Oregon State to Bulldog Stadium. Both of these teams will be top-25 contenders throughout this season and will want to avoid an early defeat after opening the season with comfortable wins.
There’s a good number of top-level 2023 NFL Draft prospects within this clash, but in a crowded wide receiver class, Fresno State’s Jalen Moreno-Cropper (Cropper added the Moreno this season to honor his grandfather) is definitely one to watch.
The go-to guy for fellow pro-prospect Jake Haener, Cropper racked up 126 yards in the opener against Cal Poly. The 6’0″ 172 pounds WR showcases tremendous catch technique and body control at the catch point while elevating himself above the rim in impressive style for his size.
Meanwhile, his impressive burst makes him a dynamic multi-use weapon, as evidenced in the season opener. Oregon State’s secondary caused Boise State issues in Week 1 and will serve as a good yard-marker for Cropper’s true next-level potential.
Christopher Brooks, RB, BYU
Kicking off just 15 minutes before the aforementioned Fresno State game, BYU host Baylor in one of just a handful of all-ranked matchups in college football Week 2. It’s another fascinating, must-watch clash that features an army of 2023 NFL Draft prospects.
Those include Baylor offensive tackle Connor Galvin, center Jacob Gall, and BYU quarterback Jalen Hall. However, it’s former Cal running back Christopher Brooks who holds the most intrigue.
Brooks broke a 20-year-old BYU-debut record when he racked up 135 yards in the season opener. The 6’1″, 230 pounds flashed game-changing speed and the elusiveness to force missed tackles for fun. Meanwhile, he offers physicality in the ground game and a reliable receiving option out of the backfield.
The Baylor defensive front, particularly gargantuan nose tackle Siaka Ika, is a different proposition to USF, but if Brooks can perform to a similar level, he can assert himself in this class in the same way Tyler Allgeier did last year.