Week 8 of the college football season came and went, bringing more developments on the 2023 NFL Draft stage. Here’s a look at some of the most enthralling and relevant performances and prospect battles from the previous slate of games.
Eli Ricks Finally Arrives on 2023 NFL Draft Circuit
The preseason scouting process always prematurely anoints a high-caliber recruit who’s flashed promise in the past. That was the case with Eli Ricks, an LSU-to-Alabama transfer who had four interceptions and five pass deflections in a groundbreaking freshman campaign back in 2020.
Ricks was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, whose freshman season was a legitimately brilliant debut on the CFB stage. But Ricks failed to show much progression in 2021 and ended up entering the transfer portal. On his 2021 tape, there were more glimpses of NFL promise, but that tape was also flawed.
For me, Ricks graded out as a Day 2 prospect out of the summer — a step or two out of the CB1 conversation. Then reports came that he wasn’t progressing in practice. By the start of the season, he hadn’t even won a starting job outright. Through the early weeks of the 2022 campaign, Ricks didn’t see much playing time on defense, and at times, it looked like he might be destined to return to school in 2023.
Ricks Dominates in His First Start With Alabama
But this past week, something changed. Ricks improved in practice and rode those improvements to his first start as a boundary CB at Alabama. The results? A dominant, four-deflection performance against a high-volume Mississippi State passing attack.
It’s worth noting that the Bulldogs’ receiving weapons aren’t the caliber of natural separators you’ll find elsewhere. But Ricks, in his first start of 2022, put on a clinic of how to cover and suffocate pass catchers at the point.
Ricks’ length and playmaking ability remain two of the top-selling points on his profile, and he used them to their full capacity on Saturday. He was physical and proactive in press coverage, actively using his length to get a lever on receivers and jar them at contact.
His high-level ball skills were also on display. Ricks routinely made stellar adjustments at the catch point to force incompletions and played the ball all the way through the catch process.
Not only did Ricks show off his coveted playmaking gene, but he also flashed vital operational improvements in a limited sample size. His technique looked smooth and urgent. He played low in his stance, utilized his feet first, and showed great synergy between his feet and hands.
Through it all, Ricks’ chippy competitive mentality shined through — a sign of what might be the newfound confidence he needs to officially establish himself as an early-round prospect.
To be clear, Ricks has always had early-round talent. He might not be the most fluid mover, but he has enough fluidity to pair with a high-level combination of length, explosiveness, and playmaking instincts.
Before Week 8, it was too early to crown Ricks in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Even now, we need to see him stack these kinds of weeks back to back. But this is a great step in the right direction for a CB who has what it takes to be an impact NFL starter.
Matthew Bergeron, Myles Murphy Square Off in Anticipated Showdown
Of the Week 8 2023 NFL Draft prospect battles highlighted ahead of this past Saturday, this was the matchup that stood out most. We all know about Myles Murphy — a 6’5″, 275-pound ball of energy with unending violence in his game and torrid movement speed for his size.
Murphy entered the season as an early first-round prospect, and nothing has changed in that regard. But fewer people know about Matthew Bergeron — the tackle he lined up against for a large portion of his snaps.
Bergeron absolutely looks the part at 6’5″, 327 pounds, and he’s quietly been very good again for Syracuse this year. The Orange offensive tackle has some early-round hype in the scouting community, but Saturday’s matchup against a top-tier 2023 NFL Draft prospect was his chance to truly prove himself as a starting-caliber talent.
It was never going to be perfect for Bergeron against an overwhelming mix of traits like Murphy’s, and we did see a few lapses. Interestingly, those lapses came in large part on the first drive and on the very last one, but not as much in between.
Early on, Bergeron allowed a sack from Murphy, who used a long-arm on Bergeron’s outside shoulder, then pried inside with his strength and ruthless motor. But more often than not after that, Bergeron held his own in both phases.
Bergeron is a high-energy mover at his size, with excellent corrective athleticism in pass protection. More than once, he managed to hold Murphy at bay with quick feet, balance, tight hands, and play strength. Notably, Bergeron showed off the grip strength to maintain his anchor against violent clubs from Murphy — a feat not all tackles would be able to boast.
Bergeron’s strength is even more awe-inspiring when you see how he snaps into place off the line. He not only has the athleticism to match to the apex and seal off outside rushes, but he can go from idle to active much quicker than most blockers, and there’s a definite twitch in his motion that’s uncanny for his size. His mobility and explosiveness show up as a run blocker as well, where Bergeron traverses space with ease.
At times, Bergeron did get grabby, and at times, too wide with his hands. Murphy’s power is elite, and especially when he was able to torque inside Bergeron’s torso and drive his hips through, the latter struggled to limit movement.
Murphy also took advantage of Bergeron’s energetic, frenetic movement, baiting him outside and then countering inside. There were also moments where Bergeron extended before matching with his feet and fell a step behind.
There are still things for Bergeron to clean up even now, but considering his opposition, he showed enough to warrant excitement in Week 8. This matchup absolutely lived up to the hype. While Bergeron wasn’t perfect, he proved perhaps the most important thing: That he had the raw physical traits to match up with Murphy and challenge him.
In an OT class that’s still settling, Bergeron has the tools to be an early-round pick and a future starter for NFL teams. At the very least, he showed that on Saturday.
Quentin Johnston Wins in Every Way
TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston has turned the power switch “on,” and at this point, there’s no turning it off. Across the past three weeks, Johnston has 26 catches for 460 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been a key cog in his team’s success each week and, more importantly, is showing off the traits that make him a tough WR1 candidate to contend with.
It’s refreshing to see Johnston winning as much as he is at this point in the year. Before the 2022 campaign, proven production and consistency were truly the only things he had left to show. Of course, there are always ways to improve his application of the physical tools, but Johnston’s ability to win in every phase and every range, at his size, is impossible to ignore.
Over the past three weeks, we’ve seen a little bit of everything in that regard. We’ve seen Johnston, at 6’4″, 215 pounds, take quick screens and make defenders miss with brutal cuts and jukes. We’ve seen him explode upfield and use his combination of burst and twitch to rack up run-after-catch yards.
Johnston’s shown to use his length and frame to wall off defenders at the catch point and make gravity-defying plays in the air. His brand of short-area athleticism and control has also proven very conducive to separation on comebacks, hitches, and other routes.
Johnston has proven he has the potential to be an elite three-level threat, but his big play in Week 8 was more of a reminder of just how natural he makes big plays look. With pure explosiveness and long-strider speed, Johnston got behind the Kansas State defense with ease and was able to corral a deep pass from Max Duggan uncontested.
That’s part of what makes Johnston’s talent so daunting for defenses. If you neglect to account for him on one play, he’ll burn you. But even when you give him attention, he has the tools to supersede all threats that come his way.
Other 2023 NFL Draft Risers From Week 8
Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
Tyler Davis has never looked as much like his 2019 self as he did this past weekend, notching two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss against Syracuse. He’s a bit high-cut at 6’2″, 300 pounds, so leverage remains an issue. But Davis’ combination of burst, functional strength, and urgency on the interior can be a lot for blockers to deal with.
On one sack, Davis quickly blasted his man back and deconstructed inside with a forceful rip move. Finally healthy, Davis is making his presence felt.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Perhaps it’s time to start giving more respect to Bo Nix. He needed to earn it after a season-opening dud against Georgia, but that’s exactly what he’s done. Since that two-interception Georgia game, Nix has completed almost 75% of his passes for 1,636 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just one interception, while also adding eight scores on the ground.
Nix’s talent is well-documented. He’s a great athlete with an exceedingly elastic arm. But this year — and especially against UCLA — he’s looked more controlled and manipulative with his chaotic traits, baiting defenders with his legs and extending windows with his arm. If Nix has fixed his issues, he has draftable talent at QB.
Karl Brooks, DT, Bowling Green
The Shrine Bowl Defensive Breakout Player of the Week, Karl Brooks had his best game yet in what’s already been a fantastic 2022 campaign. Logging three sacks in a victory over Central Michigan, Brooks upped his season total to 7.5 quarterback takedowns.
Across the past two seasons, Brooks has 15 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss — eye-popping numbers for a MAC defender who has NFL-quality size and alignment versatility at 6’4″, 300 pounds.
Rayshad Williams, CB, Texas Tech
The Texas Tech defense held West Virginia to just 10 points in Week 8, and Red Raiders CB Rayshad Williams did his part to contribute to such a dominant outing. After logging five deflections the week before against Oklahoma State, Williams notched a pick in coverage of 6’4″ sophomore Kaden Prather.
Williams used fast feet and length to gather Prather off the line, then matched him stride for stride and blanketed Prather at the catch point, using authoritative hands to make the play. At 6’3″, 195 pounds, Williams has size and athleticism, and he’s producing at a high clip this year.
Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State’s defense isn’t limiting points as they have in the past, but there’s still talent to know on the Cowboys’ unit. Jason Taylor II is one player who’s been opening eyes with his play in 2022.
Taylor had a fantastic day against Texas, notching two interceptions, which included a game-winner. On that second pick, Taylor spaced himself well over top of a slot fade and used his range and ball skills to pin down on the pass and seal the deal. At 6’0″, 215 pounds, Taylor has an impressive mix of playmaking ability in space and utility coming downhill. In a safety class that needs depth, he could provide it.