With the college football season around the corner, it’s time to set our eyes on the next group of NFL hopefuls that could be available next April in the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City. In this edition, we’ll take a look at the draft prospects and scouting reports from the Pac-12.
2023 NFL Draft Pac-12 prospects to know
Arizona
Arizona has struggled on the field and in NFL war rooms for a decade now. In watching the film, it was apparent that while they have a few good football players, they don’t have many next-level athletes.
Jordan Morgan, OT | Grade: 3.35 | Projected Round: 6
The one player from the program who presently looks like he has a chance of being selected in the draft is offensive lineman Jordan Morgan. Fundamentally sound, Morgan blocks with terrific leverage, uses his hands exceptionally well, and looks good in pass protection. He’s also effective blocking in motion. Morgan must get stronger and start finishing blocks, but right now, he grades as a sixth-round pick on my board.
Paris Shand, DT | Grade: 3.25 | Projected Round: FA
Paris Shand is an underclassman defensive tackle who flashed playmaking ability and is on the cusp of being draftable.
Paiton Fears, OT | Grade: 3.16 | Projected Round: FA
Paiton Fears is a small-area blocker who lines up at right tackle for Arizona and could ultimately end up as swing guard or tackle at the next level.
Arizona State
There’s been a lot of upheaval for Herm Edwards at Arizona State over the past 12 months. A roster steeped in talent underperformed in 2021, then watched as several of their best players walked out the door and transferred elsewhere. What’s left are a few potential late-round prospects.
Kyle Soelle, LB | Grade: 3.34 | Projected Round: 6
I believe Kyle Soelle is an underrated linebacker, and while scouts I’ve spoken with grade him as a PFA, I have the senior as a sixth-round prospect. He’s tough, very instinctive, and much more athletic than given credit for. At 6’3 1/2″ and 230 pounds, Soelle has plenty of room for growth.
Ben Scott, C | Grade: 3.32 | Projected Round: 6
Ben Scott is a mechanically sound offensive lineman I’ve had graded the past two seasons. He has an NFL build and will only get better as he physically matures and adds strength to his game. Scott moves from right tackle to center this season, which is his next-level position.
Kejuan Markham, S | Grade: 3.30 | Projected Round: 6
Kejuan Markham is a developing safety with nice range and solid ball skills.
Like Soelle, both Scott and Markham have sixth-round grades on my board.
California
Cal has been spotty on the field and in the NFL draft. Moving towards 2023, they have a terrific center prospect everyone should keep an eye on.
Matthew Cindric, C | Grade: 3.34 | Projected Round: 6
Matthew Cindric presently grades as a sixth-round pick on my board, and I have no doubt he’s a next-level prospect with starting potential on Sunday. The senior is an explosive blocker who plays with great intelligence and a nasty disposition. While he’s not a dominant mauler in the middle, Cindric is very effective at the line of scrimmage or on the second level. Cindric has average size and won’t wow anyone in pre-draft testing but has the “it” factor at center.
Colorado
The once proud Colorado program has fallen on tough times as it tries to regain the glories of a quarter century ago. The impact on the NFL draft by CU has been marginal, and that won’t change anytime soon.
R.J. Sneed, WR | Grade: 3.35 | Projected Round: 6
The top CU prospect on my board is receiver RJ Sneed, who made the curious decision to transfer from Baylor. Sneed didn’t have great production for the explosive Bears offense last year, but when the ball was thrown in his direction, he caught it and was tough to stop. Sneed plays smart football and comes with next-level size (6’1″) as well as speed (4.47 40-yard dash). He presently holds a sixth-round grade on my board, but there’s a lot of upside potential.
Isaiah Lewis, S | Grade: 3.32 | Projected Round: 6
Safety Isaiah Lewis is a complete player at the position, displaying terrific instincts, toughness, and effectiveness defending the run or covering the pass. The big issue for Lewis is speed — he plays like a 4.58-second defensive back –which is the main reason I stamped him with a late-sixth-round grade.
Oregon
Oregon has been the most consistent program in the Pac-12 the past decade, making a major impact on the NFL draft and the league. The former may take a step back as no Duck presently grades as a top-60 pick on my board, yet there are plenty of mid-to-late-round prospects with next-level futures.
Trikweze Bridges, S | Grade: 3.68 | Projected Round: 3
Oregon has two prospects I grade higher than most, starting with safety Trikweze Bridges. Last year as a true sophomore, Bridges showed flashes of brilliance. He was bigger, faster, and more explosive than his much-heralded teammate Verone McKinley.
What Bridges lacks is experience, yet when on the field, you can see he has the potential to be a big-time next-level prospect. He presently holds a third-round grade on my board, but I believe if he improves and takes his game to the next level, Bridges could move into the top 45 in the future.
Alex Forsyth, C | Grade: 3.50 | Projected Round: 4
The other UO prospect I grade highly is center Alex Forsyth. Personally scouting the Ducks’ upset victory over Ohio State last season in Columbus, I was blown away by Forsyth. The way he quarterbacked the offensive line and the way the offense really revolved around his play was impressive. He’s super smart, tough as nails, and gets the most from his ability. What he’s not is a great athlete, which is why many scouts grade him as a UDFA. This point is indisputable, but I still think Forsyth is a thinking man’s center and worth a Day 3 draft pick.
Brandon Dorlus, DT | Grade: 3.46 | Projected Round: 5
Ironically, Brandon Dorlus is another player from the program I have a differing opinion compared to scouts I’ve spoken with. Many grade Dorlus as a Day 2 pick, yet I don’t see it. The senior is an explosive defensive lineman who shows himself as a good athlete.
Dorlus fires off the snap and easily moves about the field, but he is easily blocked from plays or removed from the action. He possesses a ton of upside, but until he starts making plays on a consistent basis and causing more impact, I’ll keep a fifth-round grade on him.
T.J. Bass, G | Grade: 3.36 | Projected Round: 6
T.J. Bass moves from offensive tackle into guard, a more natural position for him and the spot he projects to on Sunday. Bass is a big, slug-it-out guard who shows solid footwork in space and has excellent size as well as growth potential. I grade him as a sixth-round prospect.
Bo Nix, QB | Grade: 3.34 | Projected Round: 6
One of the more interesting offseason stories was Auburn legacy Bo Nix transferring to Oregon. After two tough seasons at Auburn, where he looked like a horribly inaccurate quarterback with no next-level potential, Nix often played like an NFL signal-caller in 2021. Nix is athletic with good size and a decent arm. If he continues to develop his game, he’ll be no worse than a middle-round choice in 2023.
Oregon State
Since Brandin Cooks was selected in the first round back in 2014, Oregon State has had minimal impact on the draft and the league. That won’t change anytime soon.
Luke Musgrave, TE | Grade: 3.41 | Projected Round: 5
There are a number of scouts who absolutely love tight end Luke Musgrave, and I understand it from the standpoint of testing numbers. Musgrave is an impressive 6’6″, 250 pounds, and reportedly runs the 40 in 4.70 seconds. He looks imposing on the field and catches the ball well, but his production has been underwhelming.
Last season, Musgrave caught a career-best 22 passes for 304 yards and one TD, his only scoring reception in college. His blocking needs a lot of work as well. And while athleticism alone gives Musgrave great upside, as a next-level prospect, I’ll grade him as fifth-round talent until he starts to produce on the field.
Brandon Kipper, OT | Grade: 3.28 | Projected Round: 7
Brandon Kipper is an offensive line prospect I’ve watched for two seasons and someone I like. He has next-level size and is more athletic than given credit for. I presently have a seventh-round grade on him, higher than the PFA many in the scouting community have pegged him to be.
Stanford
Despite not having a player selected in the first round for almost a half dozen years, Stanford placed a number of prospects into Day 2 of the draft. And the program can boast several productive NFL players. Day 2 seems to be the place for Stanford players in the immediate future.
Myles Hinton, OT | Grade: 3.83 | Projected Round: 2
Stanford has sent several good offensive linemen into the league, and Myles Hinton will keep that trend going. The junior right tackle has next-level size, athleticism, and strength. He stands out in pass protection as well as run blocking. Hinton presently has a second grade on my board, and I feel he has enough ability to get consideration at left tackle.
Tanner McKee, QB | Grade: 3.65 | Projected Round: 3
After falling into the third round, Davis Mills has developed nicely as the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. Stanford’s junior quarterback Tanner McKee seems as though he’s headed in that direction. He is a nice-sized passer with a terrific arm and the ability to make all the throws.
McKee displays good awareness, and though not an RPO quarterback, McKee has enough mobility to elude the rush or easily make throws outside the pocket on the move. I’d like to see him improve his pass placement and make it easier for his wideouts to come away with the ball, but McKee, who holds a third-round grade, has a next-level future.
Elijah Higgins, TE | Grade: 3.54 | Projected Round: 4
Scouts love receiver Elijah Higgins and presently consider him to be a Day 2 prospect, but I’m much cooler on the senior. Higgins is an enormous wideout measuring 6’3″ and tips the scales in excess of 230 pounds. He also times the 40 in 4.55 seconds. My issues projecting Higgins for the next level is he is too big for receiver and doesn’t catch the ball all that well. He’s a fourth-round tight end on my board and more athlete than football player to this point.
Patrick Fields, S | Grade: 3.37 | Projected Round: 6
Keep an eye on Oklahoma transfer Patrick Fields, who I feel is an underrated gem at safety. Fields is more of a tremendous football player constantly around the action than an athlete.
UCLA
Except for 2017, when tight end Caleb Wilson was selected in the last round, UCLA has had a run of Day 1 and 2 players chosen in every draft the past 15 years. It’s very iffy as to whether or not they can keep that streak intact next April.
Zach Charbonnet, RB | Grade: 3.56 | Projected Round: 4
If the streak keeps moving forward, it will be due to running back Zach Charbonnet. The Michigan transfer has nice size, power, and terrific short-area quickness. Rarely brought down by a single defender, Charbonnet drags opponents for yardage off contact and shows a bit of agility in his game. I question his perimeter running and corner speed for the next level. While many scouts grade Charbonnet as a Day 2 prospect, I have a fourht-round grade on him.
Darius Muasau, LB | Grade: 3.37 | Projected Round: 6
Hawaii transfer Darius Muasau will start at middle linebacker, and he’s a tough, instinctive defender with limitations. Muasau shows a lot of stiffness in his game and is marginally effective in coverage.
Jon Gaines, G | Grade: 3.32 | Projected Round: 6
Muasau grades as a sixth-rounder on my board, as does versatile offensive lineman Jon Gaines who has played tackle as well as guard and offers potential at center. Gaines is an agile lineman I feel could fit a zone-blocking scheme on Sunday.
USC
Few teams made as much news in the past six months as USC. After coaxing head coach Lincoln Riley to Southern California from Oklahoma, the Trojans had the first big surprise of the first round when Drake London was the eighth overall selection. Then came the news the Pac-12 stalwart was leaving the west coast conference and heading to the Big Ten. And just like last April, USC’s top prospect can be found at receiver.
Jordan Addsion, WR | Grade: 3.99 | Projected Round: 1-2
The Trojans will have many new faces on the field, but none could be as omnipresent as Jordan Addison. The productive transfer from Pitt, who was a favorite target of Kenny Pickett last season, is a natural pass catcher who runs great routes, separates from defenders, and catches everything in sight. He’s quick, has a burst, and shows terrific football intelligence. Addison lacks a stout build and true second gear.
He presently holds an early second-round grade on my board, though as we saw with Jahan Dotson this past April, NFL-ready wideouts are selected early in the draft, regardless of the testing numbers.
Travis Dye, RB | Grade: 3.63 | Projected Round: 3
Another transfer that ranks high on my USC board, Travis Dye moved south from Oregon to join the Trojans. The fifth-year senior is woefully underrated at the running back position and brings tremendous versatility to the field. He’s a quick-footed runner who creates yardage, has the toughness and sturdiness to run hard on the inside, and is also an exceptional pass catcher. He’s a prototypical third-down back/situational runner whom I grade as a third-round prospect.
Utah
Utah is coming off a great campaign in which they won the Pac-12, played in the Rose Bowl, then had a player selected in the first round of the draft. While the first two could be repeated this upcoming season, it’s unlikely Utah will have a player selected in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Clark Phillips III, CB | Grade: 3.80 | Projected Round: 2-3
Cornerback Clark Phillips III is a terrific prospect who shows solid ball skills, next-level speed, and a ton of upside. Phillips is feisty but lacks desired height and must improve his ability to make plays with his back to the ball. He holds a third-round grade on my board.
Dalton Kincaid, TE | Grade: 3.42 | Projected Round: 4
Tight end Dalton Kincaid does have outstanding measurables for the next level, measuring 6’6 1/2″ and 240 pounds, with legitimate 4.7-second 40 speed. He shows a lot of ability catching the ball as well as blocking. Kincaid’s productivity was average last season, in large part because the Utes had so many weapons. If he picks up the production, Kincaid could end up a top-120 pick next April.
Washington
Washington took a hard fall last season after being a consistent competitor in the Pac-12. Yet, for the fifth time in six years, the program had a player selected in the first round. In fact, a pair of Huskies ended up as top 40 selections last April. It would be shocking if Washington ends up with a top-75 pick during the 2023 NFL Draft. Washington has a lot of wait-and-see prospects — those with upside yet to be met or players coming off a disappointing 2021 season.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE | Grade: 3.63 | Projected Round: 3
At the top of that list is Zion Tupuola-Fetui, an athletic pass-rushing linebacker who looked terrific in 2020 but struggled with injury last season. Zion Tupuola-Fetui offers terrific size at 6’3 1/2″ and 250 pounds, plays with great power as well as explosion, and is constantly making positive plays.
Tupuola-Fetui is forceful up the field but mobile enough to drop in space or make plays in pursuit. He also shows outstanding football intelligence and still has a Day 2 grade on my board despite scouting buddies telling me he’s a PFA.
Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB | Grade: 3.53 | Projected Round: 4
Similarly, Edefuan Ulofoshio was outstanding in 2020 but played just half the season before being sidelined with injury. Ulofoshio is not the pass rusher of his teammate. Rather, he’s more of a three-down linebacker that’s more effective in coverage. I have a fourth-round grade on Ulofoshio.
Carson Bruener, LB | Grade: 3.55 | Projected Round: 4
If the Carson Bruener’s name rings a bell, it’s because the junior linebacker is the son of former first-round pick Mark Bruener, a Washington product. And while dad was catching passes, the son is covering pass catchers or stuffing running backs — and he’s doing a great job of it. Bruener plays with great instincts, intensity, and shows a lot of athleticism in his game. He also holds a fourth-round grade on my board but offers terrific upside.
Jalen McMilian, WR | Grade: 3.52 | Projected Round: 4
Jalen McMilian is a playmaking receiver who also offers potential as a return specialist. He rounds out the group of Huskies who received a fourth-round grade.
Jaxson Kirkland, OL | Grade: 3.38 | Projected Round: 6
Jaxson Kirkland will be one of the more interesting stories to watch. Kirkland struggled with an ankle injury most of 2021 but played through the pain. He was set to enter last April’s draft until the injury was diagnosed as potentially career-threatening, and major surgery was needed to correct the situation.
It was a story I broke on my way from Shrine Bowl to Senior Bowl practice in January. Kirkland petitioned the NCAA for another season on the college field — a petition which was granted. Kirkland is a nice-sized and fundamentally sound blocker with growth potential. He’s smart and super tough, but Kirkland lacks next-level athleticism. I like him as a sixth-round pick who could be a backup/swing tackle on Sunday.
Washington State
Washington State occasionally has a player peak their head into the top 100, as we saw last April with Abraham Lucas. In 2023, they may struggle to have a single player drafted at any point.
Daiyan Henley, CB | Grade: 3.21 | Projected Round: FA
Daiyan Henley transfers to Washington State from Nevada, where he was a tackling machine the past two years. Henley is slightly undersized but quick and most effective in pursuit.
Jarrett Kingston, G | Grade: 3.15 | Projected Round: FA
Several scouts I’ve spoken with grade left tackle Jarrett Kingston as a Day 3 pick. Yet on film, the senior comes across to me as a stiff, small-area blocker who’ll have to move inside to guard and has limitations for Sunday.
