While March was yet another month that passed without the XFL revealing any plans for its 2023 season, the league’s player personnel department kept busy by scouting potential talent at college pro days across the country. Officially known as pro timing days, these events are visited by pro scouts to ascertain player measurables, as well as times and repetitions for events like the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill, and 225-pound bench press. Coaches also attend to put players through position-specific drills.
Unlike the NFL Combine or post-season all-star games, which are invitation-only, these college pro days are for all draft-eligible players from that school. For some, it’s an opportunity to improve on their numbers from the combine. For others, it’s their only chance to show out in front of scouts and coaches prior to the draft.
This is shaping up to be one of the largest draft classes in history due to the extra year of eligibility afforded players as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That increases the pool of prospective XFL players and could push more talented players into the undrafted/unsigned category. The XFL could be the beneficiary of the overabundance of talent in this class.
NFL team scouting departments can number into double-digits. For the XFL however, the only people confirmed as attending the all-star games and/or pro days are:
Russ Brandon, XFL President
Marc Ross, Executive Vice President of Football Operations
Doug Whaley, Senior Vice President of Player Personnel
Jim Monos, Senior Director of Football Operations
David Dykeman, Director of Football Special Projects
CJ Cavazos, Director of College and Pro Relations
It’s possible the league has scouts working underneath these individuals and have not openly revealed their attendance at other pro days. It’s unlikely though; I’ve reached out to a number of schools not publicly cited as having XFL scouts in attendance, and of the over two dozen that have responded, none had a record of anyone from the league at those pro days.
Having so few scouts on the road means the XFL is limited in the pro days for which it can be represented. For that reason, it’s interesting to see the schools where they decided to send personnel. Film is generally made available to teams/leagues for pro days in which they are unable to attend, so it’s not like the XFL would be completely missing out on these players. Having boots on the ground is just as important, especially for a start-up league, in forging relationships with coaches and athletic administrators at these schools as it is getting times and in-person info on players.
Posting their pro day appearances on social media, to that point, had been the most sustained communication the XFL or its representatives had with the public since this ownership’s purchase of the league in August 2020. Even the largely dormant XFL twitter account came to life to tweet and retweet pro dayinfo.
In this column, I’ll present in chronological order, all the pro days attended by XFL reps that have been made public. I’ll include who was at the pro day from the XFL, the players who participated (separated into categories: “top prospects” – those likely to or have the possibility of landing on NFL rosters this year; and “notable players” – those who could be XFL targets), and I’ll spotlight one player from each school who may be of particular interest to the XFL.
Notable players: P Derek Adams, WR Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman (2021 grad), G Trey Georgie (Illinois State), WR Dennis Houston (Western Illinios), LB Jaylen Jenkins (Bemidji State), WR Andrew Kamienski (North Central), FB Timothy McCloyn II (Illinois State), DE Jeffery Pooler, Jr, WR Stephon Robinson, Jr, DT Joe Spivak
Spotlight on… DL Jeremy Meiser: The first trending topic of the 2022 pro day cycle was Meiser, who put up 35 reps on the bench press at Northwestern’s pro day. That would’ve placed him first among defensive linemen at the NFL Combine by a wide margin. Meiser spent one season at Northwestern after transferring from Old Dominion, where he started for two seasons. In 2021, he tallied seven tackles for loss and four sacks for the Wildcats. Meiser has the versatility to play all along the defensive line.
Top prospects: OL Logan Bruss, LB Leo Chenal, TE Jake Ferguson, DE Matt Henningsen, LB Jack Sanborn
Notable players: FB John Chenal, CB Madison Cone (Appalachian State), WR Danny Davis III, CB Faion Hicks, K Collin Larsh, S Scott Nelson, WR Kendric Pryor, G Josh Seltzner, S Collin Wilder, CB Caesar Williams
Spotlight on… LB Noah Burks: Chenal and Sanborn got lots of attention among Wisconsin’s linebacking corps, but it’s best not to sleep on Burks. He finished fifth on the team in tackles as a senior, with 8.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. That comes on the heels of a 2019 season in which he also notched seven tackles for loss. He was a key cog for a nationally-ranked defense during his tenure with Wisconsin. His 4.71 40-yard dash time at pro day will knock him off some boards, but a slow 40-time didn’t hurt his former Badger teammate T.J. Edwards, who ran a 4.87 in 2019 and is now a starter at middle linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Top Prospects: CB Chris Brown (2021 grad), P/K Cameron Dicker, OL Derek Kerstetter, G Denzel Okafor, S Earl Thomas (2010 grad), CB Josh Thompson
Notable Players: TE Cade Brewer, Edge Ben Davis, CB Darrion Dunn, S Donovan Duvernay (Northwestern State), Edge Jacoby Jones, S Justin Mader, Edge Ray Thornton, RB Gabriel Watson
Spotlight on… WR/DB Brenden Schooler: A collegiate nomad, Schooler played at Oregon and Arizona prior to landing in the deep south. Schooler was a wide receiver before switching to defensive back for his final season with the Longhorns. Even with his limited experience on defense, he started seven games in 2021. Schooler was a special teams demon early in his career, which will increase his appeal to NFL teams. So too will his pro day results, where he paced his teammates in vertical jump, long jump, 3-cone drill and 40-yard dash (4.41), all at 6’2″ and 206 pounds. There is talk that his performance may have even pushed him into the later rounds of the NFL draft.
Notable Players: LB Blinky Coleman, OL Liam Dobson (USFL), S Troy Lefeged, Jr, CB Michael Lovett III, DL Caeveon Patton, DL Jaquel Pierce
Spotlight on… CB DC Williams: A lifetime ago, he was known as Dontye Carriere-Williams, a projected sophomore starter on the University of Wisconsin’s #2 ranked defense in the nation for 2018. However, Williams bolted from Madison and ended up at Independence Community College, known best for being featured on the hit show Last Chance U on Netflix. Williams then went to Vanderbilt before finally ending up at Texas State. For the Bobcats in 2021, he played in 12 games, with 32 tackles and six passes defensed (ranking second on the team in that category).
Top Prospects: OT Brodarious Hamm, S Bydarrius Knighten, LB Zakoby McClain, CB Roger McCreary, S Smoke Monday, Edge TD Moultry, WR Demetris Robertson
Notable Players: DB Devin Guice, P Aidan Marshall, LS Clarke Smith, LB Chandler Wooten
Spotlight on… DT Tony Fair: There are a finite number of truly large humans on this earth. Tony Fair is one of them. At Auburn’s pro day, he checked in at 6’1″, 342 pounds (up 12 pounds from his listed weight on Auburn’s website). He was a plugger in the middle of Auburn’s defense after transferring from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. These kinds of players don’t rack up eye-catching stats or run great 40 times, but they’re valuable for defense coordinators who prefer odd-man fronts. XFL scouts also saw Fair at the Tropical Bowl in January.
Top Prospects: P/K Jake Camarda, S Lewis Cine, RB James Cook, DT Jordan Davis, LB Nakobe Dean, TE John FitzPatrick, CB Derion Kendrick, WR George Pickens, OL Jason Poe (Mercer), G Jamaree Salyer, G Justin Shaffer, LB Channing Tindall, Edge Travon Walker, LB Quay Walker, RB Zamir White, DT DeVonte Wyatt
Notable Players: DB Prather Hudson (Illinois), RB Deon McIntosh (Washington State)
Spotlight on… DT Julian Rochester: Playing time can be hard to come by when you’re a reserve on a record-setting defensive line. That’s just what happened to Julian Rochester. Injuries played a part as well, as Rochester suffered a torn ACL in 2020 that he was still working through this past season. He was then behind the likes of Wyatt and Davis, two future first-round picks, at the tackle position. Despite being in the program for six years, this former four-star recruit could provide some fresh legs if healthy, and a chip on his shoulder to prove that while he may not be Wyatt or Davis, he can play at a high level, too.
Top Prospects: C Matt Allen, OT AJ Arcuri, FB/TE Connor Heyward, OL Kevin Jarvis, WR Jalen Nailor, Edge Jacob Panasiuk, RB Kenneth Walker III
Notable Players: Edge Drew Beesley,G Blake Bueter, LB Noah Harvey, DE Drew Jordan, QB Anthony Russo, P Cody Waddell
Spotlight on… K Matt Coghlin: If you’re a specialist and want to get noticed by the NFL, the XFL may be the place for you. Almost half of the kickers from XFL 2020 at least spent time in NFL camps in the seasons that followed. Coghlin could be a candidate to do the same in 2023. He ended his Michigan State career as the school’s leader in points scored and field goals made, while landing fifth on their all-time list in field-goal percentage. His lack of size shouldn’t be a concern: At 5’9″ and 190 pounds, he compares favorably to Ty Rausa, late of the D.C. Defenders, who checked in at 5’9″ and 189 pounds. Rausa was 9-for-12 on field goals in 2020, including 3-for-3 beyond 50 yards.
Top Prospects: CB Andrew Booth Jr., TE Braden Galloway, CB Mario Goodrich, WR Justyn Ross, LB James Skalski, LB Baylon Spector, S Nolan Turner
Notable Players: RB Darien Rencher, P Will Spiers
Spotlight on… LS Jack Maddox: We here at XFLBoard respect our specialists, especially long snappers. According to Clemson’s athletic website profile of Maddox, he served nary an errant snap in his 36 games as part of the Tigers. Unlike many snappers today, Maddox didn’t rank on any of the long snapping scouting services in high school. He walked on at Clemson, eventually earning a scholarship; Maddox has certainly snapped in many high-pressure situations for this perennially top-ranked team. It’s interesting to see the XFL send scouts to schools like Clemson that have so many sure-fire future NFL players, with so few who would fit the criteria to play in the XFL.
Notable Players: TE Bryson Cannon, P Jake Julien, DB Alvinoski LaFleur, LB Terry Myrick, DL Turan Rush, DL Woo Scott, Sr., DT Michael Smith, Jr., C Mike Van Hoeven
Spotlight on… DB Freddie McGee III: Listed generously by the school at 5’8″, McGee measured in at 5’6″ at Eastern Michigan’s pro day. That will all but disqualify him for any kind of meaningful work at the NFL level, but leagues like the XFL are for those that don’t meet the standard NFL size, speed, and strength requirements. Despite his limitations, his Relative Athletic Score speaks favorably to his explosiveness, shown by his bench press, 20-yard split time, and vertical jump. If nothing else, he could provide some feistiness on special teams.
Spotlight on…TE Nick Muse: Muse is already on the radar of NFL scouts, having been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game in February. With the league trending toward athletic pass-catchers at the tight end position, the block-first, 258-pounds Muse could be overlooked. His season-high in receiving yards as a senior was just 38, and he caught more than two passes in a game just once. Prior to joining the Gamecocks, Muse played for FCS William & Mary where he showed a bit more pass-catching prowess as a sophomore. The tools are there; they just need to be unlocked.
Top Prospects: CB Vincent Gray, RB Hassan Haskins, S Brad Hawkins, S Daxton Hill, DT Chris Hinton, DE Aidan Hutchinson, Edge David Ojabo, LB Josh Ross, OT Andrew Steuber
Notable Players: WR Daylen Baldwin, DL Elijah Pierre
Spotlight on… DT Donovan Jeter: A five-year role player on the Wolverines, Jeter started just four games along the defensive line in his career. While listed on the Michigan website at 325 pounds, Jeter slimmed down to 310 pounds for pro day, getting in better shape and potentially becoming a more versatile asset. A four-star recruit, Jeter was stuck behind talented players his entire career in Michigan. It’s possible his best football is yet ahead of him.
Top Prospects: LS Cal Adomitis, TE Lucas Krull, WR Taysir Mack, CB Demarri Mathis
Notable Players: DT Keyshon Camp, LB Phil Campbell, P Kirk Christodoulou, LB Chase Pine, WR Melquise Stovall, WR Tre Tipton, G Kendrick Wilson
Spotlight on… LB John Petrishen: Petrishen was one of the winners of Pitt’s pro day, running a respectable 4.65 40. He’s a bit of an unknown quantity, having never started a full season in college. Petrishen began his career just down I-376 at Penn State. He was a safety then, eventually moving to linebacker at Pitt. He played the “Star” linebacker position, which is a hybrid LB/safety who plays in the slot and can blitz in a 4-2-5 formation. As a seventh-year senior in 2021, Petrishen tied for the team lead in interceptions and also had 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. His extensive experience as a special teamer will help in his search for a roster spot, either in the NFL or elsewhere.
Top Prospects: LB Olakunle Fatukasi, TE Jovani Haskins, WR Bo Melton, RB Isiah Pacheco, LS Billy Taylor
Notable Players: CB Tre Avery, RB Samad Davila (American International), LB Tyshon Fogg, LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams, LB Drew Singleton, DE Julius Turner, DE Mike Tverdov
Spotlight on… S Lawrence Stevens: Another player lacking size at 5’7″ and 180 pounds, Stevens makes up for it with smarts and discipline: He’s a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and attended the U.S. Military Academy Prep School at West Point. For three seasons, Stevens led the Scarlet Knights in special teams tackles. His limited game reps on defense makes him a great candidate for the XFL, where he can earn a spot and continue to develop at that position before perhaps getting a call from the NFL.
Top Prospects: DT Travis Jones, OT Ryan Van Demark
Notable Players: WR Keyion Dixon (Eastern Kentucky), LB Omar Fortt, WR Jahkai Gill, WR Tyshaun James (CCSU), LS Brian Keating, RB Kevin Mensah, LB DJ Morgan, TE Jay Rose, OL Josh Sokol (Sacred Heart), CB Kyle Williams
Spotlight on… RB Julius Chestnut (Sacred Heart): The small-school prospect impressed longtime scout Ric Serritella, who noted Chestnut “put on a show” at UConn’s pro day and “checked off every box” with his performance. Chestnut ran an impressive 4.57 40 at 5’11” and 228 pounds, up 13 pounds from his listed weight on Sacred Heart’s website. Chestnut’s breakout campaign came in 2019 when he ran for 1,495 yards and 11 touchdowns. In just four games in 2020, he upped his per-carry average to 7.7. He was a Walter Payton Award finalist, given to the top offensive player at the FCS level, and was the first-ever player from Sacred Heart selected to play in the Hula Bowl.
Top Prospects: DT Haskell Garrett, OL Thayer Munford, WR Chris Olave, OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, TE Jeremy Ruckert, DE Tyreke Smith, RB Master Teague III, WR Garrett Wilson
Spotlight on… QB Cardale Jones: Wait, what? Jones resurfaced at the Ohio State pro day as one of the throwing quarterbacks, along with future first-round pick CJ Stroud, tossing the rock to the draft-eligible Buckeye receivers working out. Jones had a tenuous grip at best on the D.C. Defenders’ starting QB job in 2020 when the season ended prematurely, so he wouldn’t necessarily come in as a presumed starter three years later. But in a league that will be competing for talent at the most important position in football with the USFL, someone with the name value and potential of Jones could be attractive to the new ownership group.
Spotlight on… WR Samuel Emilus (Louisiana Tech): Not only will Emilus be waiting to hear his name called during the NFL Draft next week, he’ll also be doing the same a few days later during the CFL Draft. While he’s unlikely to be an NFL draft pick, the Montreal native is expected to be one of the first receivers taken north of the border. While working out at UMass’s pro day, Emilus excelled in the short shuttle and three-cone drill, with times that would’ve put him second and third respectively in his position group at the NFL Combine.
Top Prospects: TE Trae Barry, LB Isaiah Graham-Mobley, OT Zion Johnson, C Alec Lindstrom, OT Tyler Vrabel
Notable Players: TE Dante Baldelli, DE Brandon Barlow, P Grant Carlson, QB Dennis Grosel, RB Travis Levy, DE Isaiah Miranda (West Georgia), DE Bryce Morais (North Alabama), S Mike Palmer, DT TJ Rayam, DE Max Roberts, CB Brandon Sebastian, S JT Thompson
Spotlight on… G Ben Petrula: Another Hula Bowl 2022 alum, Petrula was incredibly durable at Boston College, starting 60 consecutive games along the Eagles’ offensive line. As a freshman in 2017, he started 12 games at center, the first time he had ever played that position. From 2018-2021, Petrula started at right tackle. However, given his size and athletic limitations, he projects inside to guard at the next level. His Pro Football Focus grade as a senior was 82.1 showing out much stronger in run blocking than pass blocking. Experience, versatility, and power are his calling cards.
Top Prospects: WR Kevin Austin, Jr., QB Jack Coan, K Jonathan Doerer, S Kyle Hamilton, DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, RB Kyren Williams
Notable Players: DT Kurt Hinish, LB Jonathan Jones (Toledo), G Cain Madden, LB/S Isaiah Pryor, WR Noah Thomas (Rose-Hulman), CB Donte Vaughn (2019 grad), LB Drew White
Spotlight on…LB Asmar Bilal (2020 grad): Pro days aren’t just for those looking to get selected in the upcoming NFL draft; colleges often allow players who have been through the draft process, but are currently unsigned, to return to work in front of scouts. That’s what Asmar Bilal did this year. Bilal was an undrafted free agent in 2019, signed by the Los Angeles Chargers. He played two games on special teams that year before ending up on injured reserve. In 2021, he spent time on the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders. The XFL could be a chance for Bilal to get his foot back in the door in the NFL, just as others did in 2020.
Notable Players: OT Cam Durley, CB Eddie Graham, WR Nick Harper, Jr., WR Vincent Perry, TE Rodell Rahmaan, S Cory Rahman, CB Dominique Williams
Spotlight on… QB Geremy Hickbottom: Hickbottom’s incredible size stands out. He’s almost 6’5″ and weighs 235 pounds. He earned an invitation to the HBCU Legacy Bowl this year where he started at QB for Team Gaither and was voted offensive MVP of the game (9-of-15 passing for 72 yards, 25 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown). Hickbottom transferred to Tennessee State from Grambling and in both stops showed his dual-threat abilities. The XFL hired a head coach from the HBCU in Reggie Barlow (Virginia State) and that familiarity will give players like Hickbottom a leg-up in getting noticed by the league.
Notable Players: WR Tyrell Alexander, CB Allan George, S Shawn Shamburger (UT-Martin)
Spotlight on… WR Chris Pierce, Jr.: A four-year starter for the Commodores, Pierce had a breakout campaign in 2021, doubling his reception total from the prior year in just three more games. He has the requisite size at 6’3″ and 227 pounds, but his 4.65 40 will knock him down the draft boards of some teams. Vanderbilt hasn’t had much success as a program in Pierce’s tenure there, finishing at or near the bottom of the East Division of the SEC each season. Uneven quarterback play has been partially to blame, so Pierce is still somewhat of an unknown commodity.
Top Prospects: RB Ty Chandler, G Joshua Ezeudu, LB Jeremiah Gemmel, QB Sam Howell, OT Marcus McKethan, CB Kyler McMichael, OT Jordan Tucker
Notable Players: K Grayson Atkins, CB Patrice Rene (Rutgers), TE Garrett Walston, S Myles Wolfolk (Bowie State)
Spotlight on… Edge Tomon Fox: Despite accolades that include an All-ACC Third Team selection in 2021 and finishing his career third in sacks in North Carolina history, Fox only comes in 67th in Dane Brugler’s ranking of the linebackers in this draft class (full list available with a subscription the The Athletic). A tweaked hammy sustained at his pro day stunted some of the work he could do, but he impressed with what he was able to show. My scouting notes from games I’ve watched of Fox: “plays edge on LOS; accomplished sack master; keeps working to get through blocks; gets hands up to block passes when not able to reach QB; doesn’t seem to have array of pass rush moves.”
Top Prospects: CB Josh Blackwell, RB Mataeo Durant, CB Leonard Johnson
Notable Players: LB Colby Campbell, S Javon Jackson (West Georgia), DE Drew Jordan (Michigan State), CB Dominique Long, TE Isiah Macklin (North Carolina Central), G Kade Parmelly, LS John Taylor, C Jack Wohlabaugh
Spotlight on…RB Nakeie Montgomery: There are few players in this draft class who have less game tape for scouts to go off than Montgomery; football tape, anyway. He’s got plenty of lacrosse film, as he played on that team for five years at Duke. In 2021, he crossed over to football. Montgomery played just 31 snaps and tallied only three rushes over nine games. But at Duke’s pro day, he blazed a 4.46 40. An NFL team might bring Montgomery to camp as a developmental player, but he’s going to need game reps to hone his skills. The XFL would give him that opportunity.
Notable Players: OL Sean Bailey, LB Bruce Bivens, OL Justin Chase, RB Lorenzo Dorr, S DJ Ford, OL Fernando Frye, WR Audie Omotosho, LB Aaron Ramseur, WR Tyler Snead, QB Bryce Witt (Chowan), P Jonn Young
Spotlight on… TE Zech Byrd: Heading into the 2021 season, ECU’s website listed Byrd at 281 pounds. He weighed in at 301 at pro day. That’s heavier than some offensive linemen. At 6’6″ and with that weight, he makes for an interesting target, but 5.40 40 speed limits how effective he can be. Some team may find success with Byrd by having him switch positions to the offensive line. He’ll need a lot of time and patience, which is where playing in a spring league like the XFL could come in handy for his development.
Top Prospects: OT Ikem Ekwonu, WR Emeka Emezie, P Trenton Gill, RB Zonovan Knight, CB Joshua Williams (Fayetteville State)
Notable Players: CB Chris Ingram, Edge Daniel Joseph, DT Val Martin (Minnesota), TE Dylan Parham, RB Ricky Person, Jr., WR CJ Riley, OT Tyrone Riley, WR Tyeous Sharpe (Fayetteville State)
Spotlight on… LB Levi Jones: Holding offers from Florida, Washington, Oregon among others coming out of high school, Jones committed to USC where he spent two seasons. At NC State in 2020, he shared in the team’s Special Teams Player of the Year award after blocking three kicks. He played more on defense in 2021, leading the team with six sacks and also notching eight tackles for loss. Known for his speed, Jones ran a 4.51 40 at pro day, which would’ve been good for fourth among linebackers at the combine. His father, Robert Jones, won three Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys.
Top Prospects: WR Tanner Conner (Idaho State), CB Kyler Gordon, CB Trent McDuffie, TE Cade Otton, C Luke Wattenberg
Notable Players: RB Sean McGrew, QB Patrick O’Brien, RB Kamari Pleasant, P Race Porter, WR Quinten Pounds (2020 grad), CB Brendan Radley-Hiles
Spotlight on… Edge Ryan Bowman: Sometimes talented but injured players can fall through the cracks in entering the NFL. Bowman could be one of those players. He missed half of Washington’s COVID-shortened 2020 season with an injury, then was lost for the season in 2021 with a shoulder ailment in late October. He was still recovering from surgery to that shoulder at his pro day and therefore did not go through a full workout. In Bowman’s first three seasons, he was amazingly consistent: He ranged between 30-34 total tackles, had 9.5 tackles for loss twice and 5.5 sacks twice. Had he been healthy the last two seasons and continued to develop, he could be discussed as a mid-round pick.
Top Prospects: CB Kalon Barnes, LB Terrel Bernard, RB Trestan Ebner, G Xavier Newman-Johnson, S Jalen Pitre, RB Abram Smith, CB Raleigh Texada, WR Tyquan Thornton, S JT Woods
Notable Players: S Zeke Brown, WR Drew Estrada, S Jairon McVea, G Johncarlo Valentin
Spotlight on… RB John Lovett (Penn State): While Lovett’s stats as a senior at Penn State were far from eye-popping (3.4 yards per carry as a backup RB), what stands out is his home run potential. Lovett ran a 4.48 40 yard dash. He competed at Baylor’s pro day because he attended the school from 2017-2020 where he averaged 5.1 yards per carry during that time and ranks 16th on the school’s all-time rushing yardage list despite leaving early. He has shown some receiving ability out of the backfield and can also contribute as a kick returner.
Notable Players: WR Korey Banks, LS John Davis, LB Stephen Davis, Jr., G Jaylan Galloway (Fayetteville State), WR Ron Hunt, G De’jour Simpson, QB Bryce Witt (Chowan)
Spotlight on… S Najee Reams: North Carolina A&T was one of the teams that cancelled their season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, so Reams’s development is behind by a year. A two-year starter for the Aggies at free safety, Reams has a track background having run at the college level and his profile on the school’s website noted he ran a 4.25 40. However, he only ran a 4.52 at pro day according to Brugler’s draft guide. Nevertheless, the promise of that speed will be intriguing and he’s played in some big games while at North Carolina A&T.
Top Prospects: WR Jaquarii Roberson, K Nick Sciba, CB Ja’Sir Taylor, G Zach Tom, DE Luiji Vilain
Notable Players: TE Brandon Chapman, DT Miles Fox, S Nasir Greer, DL Sulaiman Kamara, LB Traveon Redd, WR Donald Stewart
Spotlight on… LB Luke Masterson: I promise I didn’t just choose Masterson because he went to school down the road from me at Gulf Coast High in Naples, Florida. Masterson is intriguing in his own right having played three positions on Wake’s defense over the years: safety, linebacker, and a hybrid rover position. He led the team in tackles in 2021 and was the defensive MVP of the Hula Bowl all-star game. Masterson is also a two-time team captain. His ‘tweener status could limit him at the next level, but wherever a team plays him, Masterson will come in and compete.
Top Prospects: TE Trey McBride, DE Scott Patchan, P Ryan Stonehouse,
Notable Players: TE Cam Butler, DB Marshaun Cameron, DT Manny Jones, LB Anthony Koclanakis, WR Jordan Kress, DB Dajon Owens (Stony Brook), LS Ross Reiter, S Logan Stewart
Spotlight on… OT Barry Wesley: It’s one thing to walk-on at a school and become a starter; it’s another to walk-on and start all 12 games as a redshirt freshman. That’s exactly what Wesley did at Colorado State. He continued starting through his senior season, doing so at three different positions along the offensive line. Eventually, he shuffled his way over to the most important position on the line, left tackle. His height (over 6’6″) may preclude him from playing guard for some teams, but that experience will help no matter where he ends up. Wesley won’t be intimidated in facing long odds in the pros: He survived being held at gunpoint while selling roofing door-to-door in college.
Top Prospects: LB D’Marco Jackson, CB Shaun Jolly, K Chandler Staton, WR Corey Sutton
Notable Players: S Madison Cone, WR Thomas Hennigan, C Baer Hunter, S Kaiden Smith, DL/FB Caleb Spurlin, DT Demetrius Taylor, WR Jalen Virgil, WR Malik Williams
Spotlight on… P Xavier Subotsch: It wouldn’t be fair if I spotlighted a long snapper and kicker but not a punter. Like many collegiate punters these days, Subotsch hails from Australia and grew up playing Australian rules football. He played 66 games across five seasons at Appalachian State, and while his gross average of 41.3 yards per punt during that time isn’t necessarily impressive, his periphery stats are: He had just 15 touchbacks on 116 punts and had over 37% downed inside the 20-yard line. Also, 39% of his punts were fair caught, limiting return yardage. Another advantage: Subotsch is a lefty, which can cause issues for returners.
Notable Players: DB Jon Alexander, RB Kenny Benjamin (Western Carolina), TE Ryan Carriere, QB Davis Cheek (Elon), WR Cameron Dollar, LB Ty Harris (Western Carolina), LB Ivan Hogans (Western Carolina), C Hunter Kelly, LB Luke Martin, OT Chibueze Nwanna, WR Daquan Patten (Western Carolina), DL Siah Sa’o, LB Kareem Taylor (Western Carolina), WR Kortez Weeks (Elon), QB Rogan Wells (Western Carolina), LB Justin Whisenhunt, TE Donovan Williams (Elon), WR Dareke Young (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Spotlight on… WR Keith Pearson: Pearson’s one year at Charlotte didn’t turn heads as he only started two games and caught 13 passes. However, he did average 17.5 yards per catch and his tape from his time at Presbyterian will probably impress. While there, he was a three-time all-conference selection and an FCS All-American. He holds the school’s receiving yardage and receptions record, as well as the record for most catches in a game (15). The 5’8″ Pearson also has experience on special teams returning kicks and punts.
Top Prospects: WR Johnny Johnson III, S Verone McKinley III, DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, RB CJ Verdell, WR Devon Williams, CB Mykael Wright
Notable Players: WR Devon Allen (signed by Eagles), S Jordan Happle, OT George Moore, S Nick Pickett (2021 grad)
Spotlight on… QB Anthony Brown: Brown’s signature win as a starter came in 2021 when the Ducks upset the #6 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at the Horseshoe. Brown began his career at Boston College where he stepped into the starting role as a redshirt freshman. He transferred to Oregon after his junior season and broke out in 2021 with 18 touchdown passes (plus an additional nine TDs on the ground) and seven interceptions. From my scouting report on Brown: “utilized in designed runs; lots of quick-read plays, checking down – not a lot downfield; moves the pocket frequently to throw; tough runner, will lower shoulder.”
Top Prospects: LB Damone Clark, RB Tyrion Davis-Price, OT Austin Deculus, NT Neil Farrell, Jr., CB Cordale Flott, G Chasen Hines, G Ed Ingram, CB Derek Stingley, Jr., K Cade York
Notable Players: DE Andre Anthony, K/P Avery Atkins, CB Darren Evans, WR Jontre Kirklin, S Cameron Lewis, DT Glen Logan, TE Jamal Pettigrew (McNeese State)
Spotlight on… C Liam Shanahan: Shanahan has one of the more interesting resumes of any player in this draft class. Shanahan spent three years starting on Harvard’s offensive line at right guard and right tackle. He graduated there with a degree in Economics before moving on to LSU for the 2020 season. He was plugged right into the starting lineup at center for the Tigers and held down that job for two years. Shanahan’s smarts allowed him to make all the calls and checks for the line against top competition in the SEC. But he’s not just brains; his relative athletic score is an 8.90 out of 10.
*Information above presented in the most complete form possible.
