New Year’s Day brings a full slate of college football action. On Monday at 1 p.m. ET, the Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Tennessee Volunteers on ESPN.
The Citrus Bowl will showcase a few 2024 NFL Draft prospects. Which players in the bowl game will be drafted this year?
Top NFL Draft Prospects in Citrus Bowl
Unfortunately, few games have seen as many key players decide to sit out as much as this one. According to College Football Network’s bowl game opt-out tracker, 25 players are slated to miss this game. Among those 25, almost every notable prospect will be out.
Iowa Hawkeyes Prospects
Cooper DeJean, DB
A leg injury will keep Cooper DeJean out of this matchup, and he was the lone potential first-round player in the game. The versatile playmaker defined the Iowa defense and special teams over the last two years. Able to force turnovers as a corner, safety, and linebacker, DeJean totaled 406 punt return yards, 116 tackles, seven picks, four total touchdowns, and 13 pass breakups in that span.
A smooth athlete with great acceleration and good hip fluidity in coverage, DeJean can be a defensive weapon at the next level. His pure man coverage skills might be a little suspect, but a creative defensive coordinator will use him all over the field and reap the rewards. He should be locked in as a top-45 pick.
Yahya Black, DT
Fourth-year junior Yahya Black made a considerable impact in his first full season as a starter. The 6’5″, 287-pound tackle burst onto our radar with 51 tackles, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and five pass breakups. It’s impossible to miss Black thanks to his immense wingspan, everlasting motor, and a first step that allows him to fold a pocket.
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With little game experience entering this season, there are spells where Black was invisible or washed out by double teams. He could use more experience to improve his move set, play recognition, and consistency. However, Black has the tools to be a starter in the NFL, and it’s hard to imagine falling far out of the top 100, even in a deep class.
Leshon Williams, RB
He doesn’t have the eye-popping stats or size that you’d love to see from the running back position, but the context of Iowa’s offense matters. Fourth-year senior Leshon Williams is 5’10” and 205 pounds, giving him more than enough bulk to project as an NFL role player. The question evaluators are asking is whether he has the explosiveness.
Williams has some quickness and can break away from defenders just enough to create chunk plays. Unfortunately, with a career 4.3 yards per carry average and only 22 receptions, our sample size is small for his potential. If he can prove to be someone who can squeeze out extra yards and contribute as a receiver, Williams will stick on an NFL roster.
Tennessee Volunteers Prospects
Joe Milton III, QB
Known for having one of the strongest arms in college football history, Joe Milton III is a unique prospect. He has little control over where the ball is going when he needs it the most, and his lack of finesse is problematic for his NFL projection. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising for a team to draft him in hopes of solving his erratic nature.
In fairness to Milton, his efficiency improved in 2023, and he’s a rushing threat. The tools are great, but his best-case scenario is to become a decently reliable backup.
Jaylen Wright, RB
There aren’t many backs — if any — more explosive than the Volunteers’ leading rusher Jaylen Wright. With so much uncertainty in this class, Wright is in a position to see his stock rise significantly. We could see the 5’11”, 200-pounder taken in the top 100 selections.
His electric speed and knack for sneaking through tight running lanes before leaving defenders in his wake is something every NFL team could use. He found his stride in 2023, producing a career-high 1,013 yards with a 7.4 average per carry. He has the quickness, agility, and vision to destroy tackling angles, which also helps his ability to run through contact.
His lack of bulk and contributions as a receiver (30 career receptions) are concerning as to whether he’ll be a full-time starter or be more like Tennessee Titans 2023 third-round pick Tyjae Spears.
Tyler Baron, EDGE
The best draft-eligible defender on the Tennessee roster will also be sitting this one out. Tyler Baron was a great companion across from James Pearce Jr., producing 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2023. The 6’5″, 260-pounder has an NFL body, good quickness, and the right effort level to be an effective player.
That said, Baron only had 50 solo tackles and three pass breakups over four years, so there’s room for a lot more production on his resume. He’s thickly built, so his speed is average, and his contact balance limits his flexibility around the edge of the pocket. His run defense and pass-rush speed have to improve to be more than a Day 3 rotational piece.