After having just two players drafted from the school in the past three years, can the Kansas 2023 NFL Draft prospects match that number in a single class? In our Kansas scouting reports, we look at the top four prospects from the school who have declared this year.
Kansas 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Caleb Sampson, DT
Strengths: Quick, penetrating lineman with upside. Plays with terrific pad level, fires off the snap with a quick first step, and works his hands throughout the action. Agile, moves well around the field, and fires through the small openings of the offensive line. Possesses a closing burst to the action.
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Weaknesses: Shows little in the way of playing strength and is easily turned from the action by a single blocker. Production at Kansas the past three seasons was minimal.
Overall: At face value, Sampson possesses the size, athleticism, and movement skills to line up at DT in a four-man line. He really doesn’t play like a 300-pound lineman and often leaves everyone thinking he’s capable of more. Sampson has the physical skills to play on Sundays if he decides to play to his level of ability.
Earl Bostick Jr., OT
Strengths: Athletic left tackle who blocks with terrific fundamentals. Bends his knees, fires off the snap, and blocks with leverage. Keeps his feet moving, stays square, and anchors in pass protection. Displays terrific range off the edge and is smooth sliding his feet. Quick to the second level, moves well in space, and nicely redirects to linebackers. Blocks down well on opponents.
Weaknesses: Possesses average run-blocking strength and struggles to finish off opponents. Late with his hands and doesn’t consistently place them correctly.
Overall: Bostick is an underrated OT prospect who was a productive starter on the left side for Kansas over the past three seasons. He’s athletic, has an upside, and needs just a year or two in an NFL weight training program before he’ll be ready to play on Sundays.
Want more information on Bostick? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Earl Bostick, OT, Kansas | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Lonnie Phelps, EDGE
Strengths: Miami (Ohio) transfer who showed improvement in his game the past three seasons. Athletic, moves well around the field, and can be used out of a three-point stance as well as standing over tackle. Plays with terrific pad level and fires off the snap with a terrific first step at defensive end.
Displays good change-of-direction ability, quickly collapses outside-in to defend the run, and wraps up tackling. Covers a good amount of area on the field, is fast moving laterally, and makes plays in pursuit. Quickly locates the ball handler and remains disciplined with assignments.
Weaknesses: Not a forceful blitzer. Stiff pedaling in reverse and minimally effective making plays in coverage.
Overall: Phelps is a nice-sized linebacker who turned in a terrific Combine workout and comes with a large upside. He needs to refine his techniques and learn to make plays against the pass, yet at the very least, Phelps should offer immediate help for a team that needs a pass-rush specialist.
Malcolm Lee, EDGE
Strengths: Relentless and hard-charging defensive line prospect who fires off the snap with a quick first step. Effective with his hands and moves well around the field. Plays with proper pad level and works his hands throughout the action. Quickly changes direction and collapses down the line of scrimmage to defend the run. Consistently gets leverage on opponents and easily redirects to the action.
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Weaknesses: Lacks bulk and strength and is easily handled at the point of attack. Lacks sustained speed. Marginal production over the past three seasons.
Overall: Lee grades out high in the areas of intensity and movement skills, but he’s an undersized and marginally athletic defensive front-seven prospect with limited upside.