Breakout Stars from the 2023 NFL Draft
2023 NFL Draft Risers: 7 Players Who Could Explode This Season
Sometimes, in the realm of college football, a Joe Burrow kind of figure emerges from the shadows. This is before turning himself into the top overall draft pick. Of course, this doesn’t always happen on such a drastic scale. However, it’s very interesting to watch as the college football season commences.
April 27th, 2023, marks the beginning of the 2023 NFL draft. The all-important draft order is determined at the end of the season. The win percentages of all 32 teams are graded from best to worst. Here we will explore some of the college football talents who may outperform their current expectations and fly up draft boards before the 2023 NFL draft kicks off.
WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Ohio State is projected to have another very strong year offensively. In most analysts’ opinions, CJ Stroud currently stands as the No.2 quarterback behind Bryce Young of Alabama. Because of this, all eyes are on the Buckeyes’ wide receivers again in 2022. But if there is one guy who is waiting in the wings and ready to emerge, it’s Emeka Egbuka. He was the No.1 wide receiver in the nation, not to mention a 5-star recruit emerging out of high school in 2021.
Egbuka redshirted his freshman year. He only had six receptions for 145 yards in the three games he saw targets. We believe Egbuka could emerge as the No.3 target in the Buckeyes’ offence in 2022 with ease. Egbuka will be competing for reps with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming. The former being a redshirt freshman picking up lots of hype.
QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
Tyler Van Dyke took over as the starter for the Miami Hurricanes in 2021. When D’Eriq King suffered a shoulder injury, it was Van Dyke who stepped into his role. Since then, Van Dyke has never looked back. In 2021, he ended the season with 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions. After a disheartening outgoing against North Carolina in week seven that saw the ‘Canes lose 45-42, Van Dyke upped his game.
The player threw 20 touchdowns in the six games that followed. What makes Van Dyke unique is his great blend of speed and size, coupled with a powerful throwing arm. In his first year as a starter, he won over the Miami Hurricanes crowd. Before you catch Van Dyke in action in the upcoming season, you may want to head to www.onlinecasinos.co.uk and play on some exciting games and betting apps first.
RB Byron Cardwell, Oregon
The road ahead has been cleared for Cardwell to take over and emerge as one of the top running backs in college football this coming season. The No.1 back for the Ducks in 2021 was Travis Dye. However, he moved to USC during the offseason.
All the shortlists show praise and demand expectations from Cardwell. Although, many people still underestimate what the sophomore is capable of. Cardwell is set to have one of the strongest offensive lines in the game. With that said, the stage is ready and set for him to explode and showcase his full potential.
WR Josh Vann, South Carolina
Josh Vann is a fantastically talented wide receiver who’s never quite had the numbers to align with his ability. In the 2021 season, Vann enjoyed a career-high 43 cards for 678 yards and five touchdowns. This featured an impressive game against Georgia. Against Georgia, Vann caught three balls for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Vann also became the first Gamecocks wide receiver to enjoy back-to-back 100-plus-yard receiving games since 2018 when Deebo Samuel did it. Later on in the season, Vann enjoyed another career high with seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown against Florida.
RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
While Blake Corum is predicted to take over as the No. 1 running back for the Wolverines in the 2022 season, this does not mean there won’t be chances for the sophomore Donovan Edwards. Last season, the backfield duo of Corum and Hassan Haskins accumulated more than 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.
This means there will be a ton of work for the Wolverines this upcoming season. While many have uncertain expectations for Edwards, there’s the possibility of him breaking out in a major way this year. Edwards has been described by head coach Jim Harbaugh as a player who could outshine Corum right out of the gate in 2022.
WR Parker Washington, Penn State
Arguably referred to as the best player on Penn State’s offence this year, it still feels as though Parker Washington is being undervalued. While Washington may not have flawless straight-line speed, he has everything needed for a pass-catcher. He has incredible hand-eye coordination.
Washington has fantastic hands and has shown that if the football is thrown into his general vicinity, he will make the catch. The player has shown great ability as a deep threat. With the likes of Jahan Dotson now playing in the NFL, the target volume and share for Washington will dramatically increase.
CB Eli Ricks, Alabama
Eli Ricks transferred to Alabama during the off-season and entered his junior year of college. Ricks is a former LSU cornerback who was once ranked as the top corner in the state of Florida . Ricks had four interceptions and four pass breakups in 10 games as a freshman. In fact, he was touted as one of the top defensive names to look out for in 2021.
Unfortunately, Ricks had his sophomore campaign cut short because of a shoulder injury. The player had surgery for a torn labarum in October 2021 and later decided to enter the transfer portal. Standing at 6’2″ and 190 pounds, Ricks has all the makings of a long, tall, physical corner who could truly play at the next level.
With the college football season now in full swing, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the players who could raise their draft stock in 2022. All of the talents above could easily become household names by the end of the 2022 college football season.
