The LSU NFL Draft prospects may not grab the headlines in 2023 as they have in previous years, but they still have some intriguing players set to be selected this cycle. Let’s take a look at the LSU scouting reports for the top 11 prospects declaring this year.
LSU 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Ali Gaye, DE
Strengths: Tall, fluid pass rusher with outstanding athleticism. Breaks down well, plays with leverage, and is instinctive. Easily moves about the field, quickly changes direction, and immediately alters his angle of attack. Rarely off his feet, plays faster than his 40 time, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Shows ability dropping off the line. Resilient and gives effort.
Weaknesses: Possesses a thin build and marginal playing strength. Easily ridden from his angle of attack and gets hammered on running downs.
Overall: Gaye is an athletic pass rusher standing over tackle or out of a three-point stance and is effective playing in space. He must get bigger and stronger, but Gaye offers potential as a third-down specialist early in his NFL career.
Want more information on Gaye? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Ali Gaye, EDGE, LSU | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Anthony Bradford, G
Strengths: Strong run-blocking lineman who is best in a small area. Blocks with leverage and power and stays square. Anchors in pass protection and turns defenders off the line to open up running lanes. Knocks blockers back with explosive hand punch. Keeps his head on a swivel and plays with a nasty attitude.
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Weaknesses: Lacks footwork in space. Late with his hands. Must sink his butt at the line of scrimmage.
Overall: Bradford is a massive lineman who offers possibilities in a power-gap scheme, yet he comes with limitations.
Want more information on Bradford? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Anthony Brafrod, OL, LSU | NFL Draft Scouting Report
BJ Ojulari, EDGE
Strengths: Athletic pass rusher who was a menacing force on LSU’s defense. Outstanding pass rusher who displays terrific hand technique and plays with excellent pad level. Comes off the edge with balance, body control, and speed. Easily changes direction or immediately alters his angle of attack and plays with a nasty attitude.
Agile, rarely off his feet, and fast-moving in any direction. Slides down the line of scrimmage to make plays against the run. Fast laterally, displays ability in pursuit, and runs down ball handlers from the back side. Gets out into space to make plays against opponents. Causes fumbles and creates opportunities.
Weaknesses: Lacks overall strength and gets out-positioned by larger opponents. Handled by tight ends. Primarily used up the field and wasn’t asked to make plays in reverse.
Overall: Ojulari has been a terrific defender for LSU the past two years and has shown a lot of progress in his game. He’s a multipurpose front-seven defender who can rush the passer as well as make plays in pursuit. Ojulari comes with tremendous upside but needs to improve his playing strength. However, he will offer immediate impact as a 3-4 OLB or as a one-gap DE.
Want more information on Ojulari? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jaquelin Roy, DT
Strengths: Explosive one-gap tackle who shows a lot of athleticism. Fires off the snap, is effective when he bends his knees, and easily moves about the field. Quickly gets down the line of scrimmage and outside the box to pursue the action. Fights with his hands, is quick in all his actions, and immediately alters his angle of attack to get to plays. Gives effort against the run, flashes power, and wraps up tackling.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t play with consistent pad level, gets tall, and makes himself an easy target. Must develop more moves to disengage from blocks. Hasn’t displayed himself to be an effective pass rusher.
Overall: Roy possesses a nice combination of size as well as movement skills and comes with upside. He must improve his pad level and consistently play with leverage every single down to have a career in the NFL.
Jaray Jenkins, WR
Strengths: Solid underneath receiver who does the little things well. Adjusts to the errant throw, extends his hands, and pulls the ball from the air. Possesses eye/hand coordination, shows good route discipline, and makes the difficult reception in contorted positions. Displays good awareness and breaks off routes to come free and help the quarterback. Gives effort blocking downfield. Works hard even if he’s away from the play.
Weaknesses: Was never a big part of LSU’s offense and combined for 84 receptions the past three seasons. Stands to improve his route running.
Overall: Jenkins is a nice-sized WR who comes through when called upon. He flew under the radar, as he was an afterthought in the LSU offense, but Jenkins has a lot of next-level potential and a decent upside.
Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB
Strengths: Oklahoma State transfer who is disciplined, effectively reads plays, and keeps the action in front of him. Tracks the pass in the air facing the action. Physical, works to get off blocks, and makes his way up the field to defend screen throws or running plays. Gives effort.
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Weaknesses: Gets turned, does a lot of trailing in coverage, and possesses an average closing burst. Really must face the action. Coming off a slightly disappointing season.
Overall: Bernard-Converse possesses next-level size and speed and also has long arms. He struggled last year and never met the expectations of scouts, yet he comes with an upside. He offers possibilities as a ninth DB, but in a worst-case scenario, Bernard-Converse should be kept on a practice squad with the hopes of future development.
Jay Ward, S
Strengths: Tough run-defending safety who works to make positive plays. Flashes ability over the slot receiver, quickly transitions off the line, and tracks the pass in the air. Displays a nice move to the throw and effectively times pass defenses. Displays solid range in center field, stays with assignments, and keeps the action in front of him. Gives effort against the run, squares into ball handlers, and wraps up tackling.
Weaknesses: Lacks a closing burst to the action. Doesn’t display the second gear. May not be able to handle a complex defense.
Overall: Ward is a hard-working safety who gets the most from his ability and is very effective facing the action. He’s a tough run defender with solid ball skills who can be a fourth safety on Sundays.
Want more information on Ward? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Jay Ward, S, LSU | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Joe Foucha, S
Strengths: Underrated safety with an explosive style. Quickly recognizes coverage assignments, stays with the action, and battles opponents throughout the route. Displays a burst to the ball, squares into tackles, and brings down ball handlers at the point. Plays smart, tough football and takes on blocks in the open field to allow teammates to get to the ball handler.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t stay on the receiver’s hip out of breaks or get his head back around to track the pass in the air. Plays faster than his 40 time but still lacks next-level speed.
Overall: Foucha was a terrific safety the past two years at Arkansas and then last season for LSU. He’s a zone defender who is best facing the action, with the ability to be a fourth safety/coverage-units specialist.
Kayshon Boutte, WR
Strengths: Game-controlling receiver who quickly releases off the line of scrimmage and runs sharp routes. Stays low exiting breaks and positions himself to make the reception. Quick-footed, plays with outstanding balance, and works back to the quarterback. Fights with his hands to separate from defenders, exposes himself to the big hit, and comes away with the difficult catch in a crowd.
Possesses eye/hand coordination and extends to make the reception away from his frame. Sturdy receiver who takes a pounding, yet holds onto the ball. Adjusts to the errant throw and grabs the pass in stride. Uses his frame to shield away defenders.
Weaknesses: Misjudges receptions on occasion, which leads to a loss of opportunity. Double-catches passes too often. Was very streaky last season and even nonexistent during the opening games. Initially announced his return to LSU before deciding to enter the draft.
Overall: Boutte has flashed dominance the past two seasons and generally presented himself as a sure-handed receiver who runs great routes and separates from defenders. He possesses a large amount of upside, and if he hits on all cylinders and improves on the flashes of dominance he displayed, Boutte could develop into a No. 1 wideout on Sundays.
Want more information on Boutte? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Mekhi Garner, CB
Strengths: Super-sized cornerback who may ultimately move to safety. Keeps the action in front of him, stays with receivers on crossing patterns, and has a burst to the ball. Fluid transitioning off the line with opponents, engages receivers throughout the route, and works well with safeties. Fires upfield and gives effort defending the run. Strong tackler who brings opponents down at the point.
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Weaknesses: Too large to play cornerback. Cannot stay on the receiver’s hip out of breaks. Lacks deep speed. Chided in the past for not playing with a sense of urgency.
Overall: Garner has flashed tremendous ability the past two seasons at two different schools — first Louisiana then LSU. He lacks speed and is probably too big to play cornerback, though a creative defensive coordinator could use him as a zone safety if Garner is willing to make football a priority.
LB Micah Baskerville
Strengths: Athletic linebacker with an underrated game. Breaks down well, effectively uses his hands to protect himself, and chases hard to get involved in the action. Quickly locates the ball, displays good change-of-direction ability, and takes proper angles to plays. Scrapes well laterally, shows speed in pursuit, and gets out into space to make plays. Goes sideline to sideline and shows excellent range. Possesses a closing burst and gets depth on pass drops. Shows ability and awareness in coverage. Plays within the system.
Weaknesses: Not a strong or stout tackler. Easily taken from the action by blocks. Doesn’t play to his size. Instincts run hot and cold.
Overall: Baskerville has been rated as a draftable player on my board the past three seasons, and he’s a terrific run-and-chase LB who displayed development in his game. He needs to pull the pieces together, but Baskerville comes with an upside and offers possibilities as an eighth linebacker/special-teams player at the very least.
Want more information on Baskerville? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Micah Baskerville, LB, LSU | NFL Draft Scouting Report