The final weekend of the regular season saw Army beat Navy in a double-overtime thriller. It was also a weekend in which USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the odds-on favorite to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, won the Heisman. And with bowl season ready to kick off Friday, expect the tempo of underclassmen declarations to pick up speed. Here’s the latest 2023 NFL Draft news.
State of Florida Losing Talent to the 2023 NFL Draft
Last week was the news of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson officially declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, as we had been reporting he would do. I’m now told another Gator from the defensive side of the ball will follow suit.
Multiple people have informed me safety Rashad Torrence II is expected to enter next April’s draft. The true junior, who entered the season with a fifth-round grade on my board, fell a bit short of expectations and did not match the three INTs or five PBUs he registered in 2021.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Staying in the Sunshine State, pass rusher Jared Verse set the ACC on fire after transferring to Florida State from FCS Albany. Verse finished the 2022 season with 7.5 sacks as well as 14.5 TFLs and was named a first-team All-ACC performer, earning the most votes among all defensive players in the conference.
It looks like Verse will be on the move again, as I am told he will leave FSU and enter the NFL draft. There was some thought Verse would skip the Seminoles’ contest against Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl on December 29, but as of now, I’m told Verse will play in the game. If Verse tests well prior to the draft, he could end up in the first round.
Latest on Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud’s NFL Draft Plans
Last week, I reported the floodgates at Ohio State will open once its playoff run is over, and all the top-rated underclassmen will enter the draft. Now comes news from the agent community that quarterback C.J. Stroud has chosen representation for the next level.
Cincinnati’s Tyler Scott to Declare for 2023 NFL Draft
The Cincinnati Bearcats lost head coach Luke Fickell after he took the job at Wisconsin last week. This week they will lose their game-breaking receiver, as junior Tyler Scott will enter the draft. Scott turned in a career campaign, catching 54 passes for 899 yards (16.6-yard average) with nine TDs. Last year, Scott averaged 17.3 yards on 30 catches with five TDs.
Scott is a natural pass catcher with home-run-hitting speed. I’m told that in the past, he’s timed the 40 under 4.3 seconds, and on film, Scott is insanely athletic. From an athletic and football ability point of view, Scott grades as a second-round pick, though scouts are eager to see the junior’s true measurables.
Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace to enter 2023 NFL Draft
Over the summer, I wrote about linebacker Ivan Pace, who transferred to Cincinnati from Miami of Ohio, mentioning, “Ivan Pace Jr. was a tackling machine for Miami-Ohio in 2021, totaling 125 tackles in 13 games. He’s undersized but fierce and fast. I doubt Pace will hit the six-foot mark when he’s eventually measured by scouts, which will diminish his appeal.”
Pace went on to post 119 tackles with eight sacks for the Bearcats this season. He’ll now take his game to the next level, as Pace has declared for the draft. While he has scheme limitations, Pace will be a terrific fit on the inside of a 3-4 alignment. He holds a 5th-round grade on my board.