2023 NFL Draft Risers from Week 5: Clark Phillips III Makes a Statement

Several more 2023 NFL Draft prospects made their bid to rise up the boards during Week 5 of college football action. Prospects like Utah’s Clark Phillips III and Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan top the list, but who else is moving up?

Week 5 2023 NFL Draft Risers

Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

Sometimes, prospects rise. But sometimes, they just keep showing us who they are, and more and more people take notice. Clark Phillips III may be a case of the latter, but nonetheless, he’s rising in national circles. More and more onlookers give him the respect he deserves. His showing against Oregon State was a display of dominance, as Phillips earned three interceptions. He stuck to receivers like glue in man coverage, displayed excellent awareness in zone, and naturally high-pointed at the catch point. Phillips is proving he’s a high-level defender wherever he lines up.

MORE: Top 25 College Football Rankings After Week 5

Of course, the conversation with Phillips has never been about his floor. He’s long been considered an early-round prospect. The question has been his ceiling. Can he rise into the tail end of the first round? There will be conflicting opinions regarding his size. But in Week 5, he took a step toward proving his value in spite of that.

Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

We spotlighted Jaelyn Duncan vs. Michigan State edge rusher Jacoby Windmon as one of the marquee prospect matchups of the Week 5 slate. But it ended up being a fairly one-sided affair in Duncan’s favor. The 6’6″, 320-pound tackle locked down Windmon all day, using his blend of athleticism, size, and strength to suffocate Windmon’s speed rushes before he could work to his counters. It helped that Maryland played with a lead for most of the game. Still, Duncan was lights out in pass protection and showed he could get out in space and move defenders on the ground.

Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

As Mississippi State dismantled Texas A&M in Week 5, Emmanuel Forbes was a starring talent on the defensive side of the ball. Forbes notched two interceptions against the Aggies. He now has 11 interceptions and 15 pass deflections across a two-and-a-half-year career with the Bulldogs. Forbes’ elite ball production is, in fact, a culmination of many things. Yes, the long 6’0″, 180-pound CB has excellent ball skills. But he’s also an incredibly twitchy and fluid mover with high-end closing speed and explosiveness when triggering on plays. CBs need to get in position before they can make plays. Forbes can do both.

Mike Morris, EDGE, Michigan

Mike Morris isn’t the same type of defensive line prospect we saw with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo last cycle. But Morris’ NFL projection is exciting in its own right, especially after the Wolverines defender racked up two sacks against a hapless Iowa offensive line on Saturday. One sack for the 6’6″, 280-pound rusher came from outside the tackle. He was able to get around the apex, shrug off a block with his play strength, and rip inside to take down the QB. On another, he rushed from inside, stunted left, and finished in pursuit. He’s a powerful, versatile, high-motor defender who’s assuredly rising up boards.

DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson

If I were to bet on it, I’d still say DJ Uiagalelei returns to school for another season. But he’s now at least entering the conversation for the 2023 NFL Draft with his recent play. Uiagalelei was very good in Clemson’s overtime win against Wake Forest two weeks ago, and he followed it up with another efficient, composed performance against a talented NC State defense. Uiagalelei also has a kind of playmaking ability on the ground that we hadn’t seen much to this point — an impressive trait with his 6’4″, 235-pound frame. Uiagalelei has the natural talent to claim an early-round spot. And he’s starting to rise.

AJ Finley, S, Ole Miss

As is often the case with safety play, it wasn’t a perfect day for Ole Miss’ AJ Finley. The 6’3″, 205-pound defensive back can still improve his angles coming downhill at times. On one touchdown throw, he passed off a receiver he should’ve carried over the middle. But Finley also flashed the playmaking ability he’s shown his entire career — a type of ability emboldened by his length. Finley made several open-field tackles coming downhill. He also had a great deflection in the second half, closing with a burst on a quick out and jarring the ball loose at the end of the catch process.

Al Walcott, DB, Baylor

The Baylor Bears weren’t able to come out on top in this one, but defensive back Al Walcott showed a great deal of promise in his team’s loss to Oklahoma State. After playing cornerback in 2021, Walcott moved to the hybrid slot “STAR” role in 2022, replacing Houston Texans draft pick Jalen Pitre. With his 6’2″, 219-pound frame, Walcott provides a size element that Pitre didn’t, and he flashes the same dynamic ability. Walcott had eight tackles on Saturday, including a ferocious run support play in which he charged downhill, bowled through two blockers, and made a sealing tackle in space.

Beau Brade, S, Maryland

Maryland was able to suffocate Michigan State’s offense on Saturday in a statement win. It was a team effort from the Terrapins, but the presence of Beau Brade in the secondary undoubtedly made a difference. The 6’1″, 200-pound playmaker has been a steady riser in 2022. He’s up to a pick and four pass deflections through five games. And against the Spartans, he had a deflection and an additional pick that was overturned by a penalty. Brade is smooth and fluid in space, already showing off good zone awareness for a junior. He’s also a willing disruptor when engaging in contact situations.

Miyan Williams, RB, Ohio State

You simply can’t leave Miyan Williams off a list like this after his performance against Rutgers. Everyone thought Tre’Veyon Henderson would be Ohio State’s premier rusher this year, but Williams had his moment with a 21-carry, 189-yard, five-touchdown outing against the Scarlet Knights. Henderson has a better NFL projection, but Williams might’ve gotten himself onto the map with that game. He’s a dense ball carrier at 5’9″, 225 pounds, and while he’s not elite in speed or burst, he can vary his foot speed, hit holes, and bowl through contact for big gains.

Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

There’s still room for Julius Brents to become more consistent as a playmaker at the catch point. But more often than not, teams simply aren’t throwing his way. The Kansas State CB has a high-level combination of coverage tools. At 6’4″ and over 200 pounds with 34″ arms, it’s uncanny the foot speed and agility that Brents possesses when matching receivers off the line. In spite of his height, he can play low in his stance and mirror WRs with disciplined footwork and hands. And his run support remains an added strength of his game. He was lights out against Texas Tech, and he stands to keep climbing.

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Speaking with my colleague Oli Hodgkinson about Zay Flowers, it’s clear that perhaps Flowers should’ve been on the early-round radar all along. Hodgkinson has been on Flowers from the jump, and Saturday was a validating development. Flowers exploded for five catches, 151 yards, and two scores in Week 5 against Louisville. The 5’10” receiver’s explosiveness, speed, and twitch remain vital separation components. But against the Cardinals, he also won with smooth body control and high-level instincts at the catch point. His type of deep-tracking ability — with his speed — is lethal.

De’Corian Clark, WR, UTSA

Every time you watch the UTSA offense, you can’t help but be drawn to No. 1: WR De’Corian Clark. Clark has tremendous size and length at 6’3″, 210 pounds, and he’s an exciting playmaker within that mold. He’s expectedly a superb contested-catch threat with his size, body control, and hand strength. But Clark also has a degree of lateral agility and burst in space, and he plays strong after the catch. He’s up to 35 catches for 556 yards and six scores in just five games.

All three UTSA receivers are worth knowing on the NFL Draft landscape. Joshua Cephus is a long, lean receiver with impressive twitch and control in his movement, while Zakhari Franklin is as instinctive as they get. All three are top five all-time in receiving yards for the Roadrunners.