Every week, new 2023 NFL Draft sleepers emerge and make themselves known to the national crowd. Which prospects fall under that list after the Week 7 action? Let’s take a closer look.
2023 NFL Draft Sleepers to Watch in Week 8
Kendall Smith, S, Illinois
Illinois’ secondary is packed with talent, from Devon Witherspoon to Jartavius Martin, to Sydney Brown. But the most underrated prospect in the Fighting Illini DB room might be safety Kendall Smith.
A sixth-year senior and former wide receiver, Smith is finding his stride as a starting safety, following in the footsteps of Kerby Joseph from the previous cycle.
Smith has four interceptions and three deflections so far this season. The most impressive interception to this point came last week against Minnesota when Smith used his range to traverse the deep third and hawk in front of a lofted boundary pass.
The 6’1″, 205-pound safety has the speed and playmaking ability to garner interest, and after last week, that interest is building.
Hugh Nelson II, DB, Hawaii
Hawaii football isn’t a hotbed for 2023 NFL Draft talent, but there is a prospect to know among the Rainbow Warriors: Defensive back Hugh Nelson II. A former Georgia walk-on who participated on special teams with the Bulldogs, Nelson made the move to Hawaii as a grad transfer in 2021 and immediately took on a role on defense, amassing two interceptions and six deflections in his first season as a starter.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
This year, the 6’2″, 205-pound Nelson has remained a stalwart at cornerback. He has five deflections thus far and made a crucial goal-to-go stop against Nevada this past week, using disciplined technique, quickness, length, and closing burst to deflect a pass intended for an end zone fade.
Nelson looks the part and quietly has a lot of the traits you’d want in the CB position. He could be a riser late in the process.
Gavin Holmes, WR, Baylor
Baylor was on the losing end of their clash with West Virginia this past week, but don’t tell that to Gavin Holmes. Holmes exited the week as a major winner, accruing seven catches for 210 yards and a score as he helped his team keep up with the Mountaineers.
Holmes is a sixth-year senior who’s battled injuries at various points in his career. This year, however, he’s finally healthy, and he’s putting up career-best numbers.
Holmes’ 210-yard explosion last Saturday was a career-high outing and more than doubled his yardage production for the season to that point.
At 5’11”, 200 pounds, Holmes has solid density, but his speed is what allows him to put so much pressure on defenses, both vertically and up intermediate seams.
Blake Watson, RB, Old Dominion
Old Dominion dominated the previously undefeated Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Week 7 action, and a lot of the credit goes to running back Blake Watson, who picked up an astounding 256 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.
The 5’9″, 193-pound Watson isn’t overwhelming with his stature, but he overwhelmed Coastal’s defense with a masterful display of patience, control, and natural talent.
In the summer, we named Watson as a 2023 NFL Draft sleeper at the RB position, citing his burst, fast feet, fluid hips, and control through congestion as various selling points.
All of those traits were on display in Watson’s dominant Week 7 outing — an outing worthy of a spot on PFN’s Team of the Week. Watson’s smooth running ability — combined with his underrated utility as a receiver — will earn him fans in April.
Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah
He still doesn’t have a great deal of hype, but perhaps Braeden Daniels needs more after he and Sataoa Laumea helped keep the Utes’ offense churning along in a 43-42 win over the USC Trojans last week.
Daniels’ athleticism pops on tape. He’s a very smooth lateral mover with great technique matching rushers around the apex, and he’s shown to have quick hands as well. And while he’s underweight for his height, his exceptional proportional length helps make up for it. He falls within an unorthodox mold, but Daniels will have fans as either a tackle or guard at the next level.
It’s also worthwhile to expand on Laumea’s ability here. Laumea has played guard before but has been the Utes’ right tackle, for the most part, this season. And at that spot, he’s impressed. He brings great size and power and has looked more impactful as a displacing lineman this season.
Caleb Okechukwu, DL, Syracuse
It’s time to talk a little bit more about Caleb Okechukwu, who has three sacks across his last three games with the Syracuse Orange. The 6’4″, 268-pound defensive lineman has great size and length, as well as alignment-versatility that comes with that mold.
He can rush the edge or rotate inside to three-tech and work outside the guard. He’s not the most explosive or flexible player, but with his sheer power and motor, he can pick blockers and open the way for devastating stunts, and his forceful hands can do a bit of disrupting on their own as well.
2023 NFL Draft Sleepers to watch at the FCS level
Sundiata Anderson, EDGE, Grambling State
“Looks the part” is a common phrase when identifying 2023 NFL Draft prospects who pass the thresholds for size and athleticism. Especially at the FCS level, it can be a bit more distinct when those prospects come about.
Sundiata Anderson, who has three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss so far this year — including a TFL this past week — is one of those prospects.
Anderson is a little bit lighter for his 6’5″ frame at 240 pounds, but he clearly has the athleticism required to rush the edge and cover ground in pursuit. He gets off the line quick and can pressure tackles around the apex, and he also has the speed to run down ball carriers all the way to the deep range.
Ty French, EDGE, Gardner-Webb
If you’re looking for another productive FCS edge rusher to keep your eyes on, there aren’t many who’ve been more productive than third-year junior Ty French at Gardner-Webb. French had two sacks against an FBS opponent in Liberty this past weekend. But across his three-year, 22-game career, he already has 22 total sacks and 33.5 total tackles for loss.
French, who’s listed at 6’3″, 230 pounds, likely doesn’t declare this year. But he’s averaging a sack per game across his tenure at Gardner-Webb and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. A quick, high-motor rusher, French is a prospect who needs to stay on your radar.