The Old Dominion Monarchs had three players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the 2024 NFL Draft could feature a dramatic swing in the other direction. Do the Monarchs have the necessary talent to maintain an imprint on the NFL Draft and potentially improve their CFB performance along the way?
Old Dominion Monarchs NFL Draft Prospects
For a team that went 3-9 in 2022, the Monarchs lost a shocking amount of talent in the 2023 offseason. Not only did they see three players leave via the 2023 NFL Draft — Nick Saldiveri (Saints), Tre Hawkins III (Giants), and Zack Kuntz (Jets) — but they also lost three more of their top offensive players to the transfer portal.
Quarterback Hayden Wolff took his talents to Western Michigan. Running back Blake Watson departed for the Memphis Tigers. And Ali Jennings III — a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree at wide receiver in 2022 — joined up with the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The Monarchs dipped their feet into the FCS and JUCO transfer pools to solidify the roster, but the fact is, it’ll be a big adjustment with so many big names moving on. They’ll ultimately need help from these eligible prospects to keep things stable.
Javon Harvey, WR
The Monarchs saw their top receiving threat, Ali Jennings III, transfer to Virginia Tech. But they return a dynamic WR in his stead with Javon Harvey. In an ancillary role in 2022, Harvey caught 30 passes for 558 yards and four scores, averaging almost 20 yards per catch.
His season featured a 124-yard outing against Georgia State, and a 133-yard outing against Appalachian State. In both games, his explosiveness at 6’0″, 178 pounds made a difference.
Isaiah Spencer, TE
Having lost Zack Kuntz to the 2023 NFL Draft, the Monarchs will need a new presence to step up at TE. The top candidate is Isaiah Spencer — a 6’5″, 235-pound sixth-year senior who put up 18 catches for 172 yards and a score in 2022.
Spencer was a high school quarterback who undertook a gradual transition to tight end over the past five seasons. He’s a good athlete who can chop his feet and tightly hinge around breaks, and more volume could induce a breakout.
Santana Saunders, OT
The Monarchs produced a home-grown 2023 NFL Draft pick at offensive tackle in Nick Saldiveri. In the final game of the regular season, which Saldiveri sat out, Santana Saunders took his place at right tackle.
Now, Saunders will shift to left tackle as a full-time starter in 2023. At 6’5″, 291 pounds, Saunders is light right now, and he might not be a true prospect until 2025. But he has decent quickness out of his kick and a frame to add more mass.
Devin Brandt-Epps, DT
Old Dominion has a pair of defensive tackles with strong production records on their defensive front, with Devin Brandt-Epps leading the way. At the JUCO level, Brandt-Epps led his team with 8.5 tackles for loss, and the 6’3″, 297-pound defender has carried that chaos-generation ability to the FBS level.
In 2021, he logged six TFLs for the Monarchs, and he nearly matched that figure in 2022 while also adding three sacks to his total.
Denzel Lowry, DT
Alongside Brandt-Epps, the Monarchs have a disruptive 6’1″, 280-pound redshirt sophomore in Denzel Lowry. In 2022, Lowry tied for the team lead with four sacks while adding an additional tackle for loss.
He’s a bit lighter than Brandt-Epps, but he’s well-leveraged and has disruptive traits. He’s also still very young from a relative standpoint. Thus, it’s exciting to see what kind of growth he can experience in 2023.
Jason Henderson, LB
Here’s a bit of trivia for you. Who was the leading tackler at the FBS level in the 2022 campaign? It was Jason Henderson, and it wasn’t particularly close. With 186 tackles and 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, Henderson had over 30 more takedowns than the next-closest FBS defender.
It’s a testament to Henderson’s range, quick reaction speed, and finishing ability at 6’1″, 227 pounds, and it’s what makes him a prospect to watch.
Shawn Asbury II, DB
Though they lost both Tre Hawkins III and Tobias Harris, the Monarchs still have a competent presence at cornerback in Shawn Asbury II.
Asbury transferred to Old Dominion from Boston College in 2022 and put up 32 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, an interception, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in the team’s nickel DB role. A fleet-footed athlete at 5’9″, 192 pounds, Asbury can play in coverage, but he’s also a rocket in pursuit when crashing the box.
Terry Jones, S
Terry Jones gives Old Dominion valuable stability on the back end for the 2023 campaign. The 6’1″, 193-pound safety has racked up 132 total tackles over the past two seasons.
And in 2022, he added some playmaking fire to his arsenal, picking up two interceptions and 5.5 TFLs. Jones’ length allows him to provide value in support and clog passing lanes, but this year, he’ll take on heightened responsibility as a defensive leader.
Other Notable Names
- Grant Wilson, QB
- Kadarius Calloway, RB
- Jordan Bly, WR
- Chris Chernak Jr., OT
- Leroy Thomas, G
- Xavier Black, C
- Jahlil Taylor, DT
- EJ Green, LB
- LaMareon James, CB
- Tahj Ra-El, S
Old Dominion Monarchs Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: at Virginia Tech Hokies - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons - Week 5
Sept. 23: vs. Texas A&M Commerce Lions - Week 6
Sept. 30: at Marshall Thundering Herd - Week 7
Oct. 7: at Southern Miss Golden Eagles - Week 8
BYE - Week 9
Oct. 21: vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers - Week 10
Oct. 28: at James Madison Dukes - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers - Week 12
Nov. 11: at Liberty Flames - Week 13
Nov. 18: at Georgia Southern Eagles - Week 14
Nov. 25: vs. Georgia State Panthers - Week 15
BYE