The 8-4 North Carolina Tar Heels will play the 8-4 West Virginia Mountaineers in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl. How many NFL Draft prospects will play in this game, and what are their projections at the next level?
Duke’s Mayo Bowl Prospect Preview
Each year, two teams get to play for the right to have mayonnaise dumped on their head coach. This year, those two teams will be North Carolina and West Virginia.
North Carolina’s roster will be heavily stunted in this game, as the team has already lost over a dozen players, either to injury, the transfer portal, or the 2024 NFL Draft.
Three opt-outs on North Carolina’s side have the potential to go in the top 50 of the 2024 NFL Draft, but there’s still draft talent to survey in this game, even with those players choosing not to play.
North Carolina NFL Draft Prospects
Drake Maye, QB
The first of three high-profile North Carolina 2024 NFL Draft prospects to opt out, Drake Maye‘s decision was hardly surprising. Maye projects as the potential first-overall pick in the 2024 class after throwing for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine picks in 2023.
Maye has been compared to Justin Herbert for his physical qualities and stylistic tendencies. He’s a superb athlete, an exceptional creator, and a rocket-armed QB at around 6’4″, 228 pounds, with the field vision and anticipation to dice up opposing defenses.
Tez Walker, WR
It was a tumultuous offseason for Tez Walker, who transferred from Kent State and then had his transfer waiver denied. But eventually, the NCAA reversed that decision, allowing Walker to play — and Walker played his way into early-round range.
MORE: Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
At around 6’3″, 200 pounds with legitimate stacking speed and high-level catching instincts, Walker has some of the class’ best playmaking ability in the deep third. He’s a bit one-dimensional as a deep threat, but his upside is through the roof.
Like Maye, Walker has also opted out of the bowl game.
Cedric Gray, LB
The Tar Heels’ third high-profile opt-out for Duke’s Mayo Bowl is linebacker Cedric Gray, who put up 23 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and 10 pass breakups over the past two seasons. At 6’2″, 235 pounds, Gray is an explosive and uber-physical second-level defender with great instincts, both when playing gaps and managing zones in coverage.
Power Echols, LB
With Gray opting out, watch Power Echols as a potential 2025 NFL Draft linebacker prospect. Alongside Gray, Echols has been very good over the past two seasons, with 195 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and two sacks. He’s a bit smaller, but he’s similarly explosive and physical combating blocks.
West Virginia NFL Draft Prospects
Beanie Bishop Jr., CB
With Maye and Walker opting out, Beanie Bishop Jr. could feast on a Tar Heels’ passing attack anchored by backups. The 5’10”, 184-pound Bishop is an absolute ball-hawk who put up four interceptions and 20 pass breakups this year in a campaign that earned him a spot on the Shrine Bowl roster.
Brandon Yates, G
Zach Frazier, West Virginia’s top 2024 NFL Draft prospect, won’t play due to an injury. But the Mountaineers have two more prospects to watch on the line — the first being Brandon Yates. Yates is well-leveraged, long, and powerful and flashes a mauling finisher mentality at the second level.
Doug Nester, OT
Another OL prospect who could grab evaluators’ eyes in this game is West Virginia right tackle Doug Nester. Nester, who stands around 6’7″, 319 pounds, has experience at guard and tackle, and he’s started over 50 games in his five-year collegiate career.