In truth, every week is filled with 2023 NFL Draft prospect matchups to keep tabs on. But the Week 7 college football slate is especially rich with high-stakes battles between 2023 talents. What are the top prospect matchups to watch this coming weekend?
2023 NFL Draft: Which Prospect Battles Are Worth Keeping an Eye on in Week 7?
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker vs. Alabama DEF Will Anderson Jr., Brian Branch, Henry To’oTo’o
There’s no glossing over it anymore. Hendon Hooker has legitimate early-round potential in the 2023 NFL Draft with the way he’s playing. So far this year, he’s completed 98 of 140 attempts for 1,432 yards, 10 touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
The 6’4″ QB has athleticism, arm talent, improvisational ability, and an extremely efficient high-reward, low-risk style. It’s why, even with his advanced age, he’s in the first-round conversation for some.
However, there’s also a case to be made that Hooker’s system at Tennessee helps him stay comfortable, and Alabama’s talent-laden defense will do everything it can to make him uncomfortable.
Will Anderson Jr., Henry To’oTo’o, and Brian Branch are just a few of the disruptive threats that Hooker will encounter at each level. The Crimson Tide play fast and physical, while also exploiting opponent mistakes.
Hooker’s been at his best this year, and if he keeps pace through this matchup, it’ll truly be an accelerant for the early-round hype. In fact, this is one of the last barriers standing in the way between him and heightened respect.
Kentucky QB Will Levis vs. Mississippi State QB Will Rogers, CB Emmanuel Forbes
As Will Levis returns from injury, his Kentucky team is reeling after a loss to unranked South Carolina. A lot of responsibility will be placed on Levis’ shoulders to right the ship against Mississippi State, but he’ll have some resistance on both sides of the ball.
On defense, Emmanuel Forbes is a ball hawk who consistently makes life difficult for QBs. On the other side, Will Rogers is an Air Raid machine who’s played very well this year in Mike Leach’s offense. His mechanics look better, and he’s in command each week. Outpacing Rogers, while working around Forbes, is one of Levis’ biggest tests yet.
USC WR Jordan Addison vs. Utah CB Clark Phillips III
Quarterback matchups may lead this week’s 2023 NFL Draft prospect battle list, but this is the matchup we’re circling as a clash between potential first-round talents. Jordan Addison and Clark Phillips III look built to battle against one another. Addison is 6’0″, 175 pounds — lighter for an NFL prospect, but so light on his feet, explosive out of breaks, and natural at the catch point.
But if anyone has the short-area athleticism and physicality to match and jar Addison, it’s Phillips, who plays larger than his size and makes game-changing plays every week. Bragging rights are absolutely on the line, but it’s even bigger than that.
Penn State OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu vs. Michigan EDGE Mike Morris
Olumuyiwa Fashanu has slowly entered the mainstream as a legitimate early-round 2023 NFL Draft prospect. The 6’6″, 321-pound lineman has all the qualities you’d want in an NFL starter — spry athleticism and foot speed, length and width, strength and power, and surprising technical refinement for his age. We know Fashanu is good at this point, but he hasn’t yet played an edge rusher like Mike Morris.
A riser in his own right, Morris is 6’6″, 278 pounds, with a hot motor and violent style. He’s a size and power threat that Fashanu hasn’t seen yet, and he’ll help us judge the limit of Fashanu’s play strength in anchor situations.
There’s incentive on both sides to emerge victorious in this battle, with undefeated records and draft prestige all on the line. This matchup could be truly pivotal in deciding the game.
Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz vs. Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton
There are several high-profile names on this list, but this is one of the Week 7 matchups I’m most excited about. John Michael Schmitz is a known quantity in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. As of now, he’s still my top center and has played like it in 2022.
He’s a physical mauler who checks all the boxes — size, athleticism, flexibility, awareness. Against Illinois, however, he’ll face an underrated player in Illini DT Jer’Zhan Newton.
MORE: Top 10 Interior Offensive Linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft
Newton, a redshirt sophomore, has seven tackles for loss and three sacks this year. The 6’2″, 295-pound defender is an explosive athlete who also brings good proportional length and hand strength.
He’s been one of the league’s most productive pass rushers this season, but he also has the tools to hold strong against the run. Newton is a test for Schmitz, but additionally, seeing how he handles an early-round opponent could be a good barometer for his stock.
Nebraska WR Trey Palmer vs. Purdue CB Cory Trice
Sometimes, two prospects rise on a similar trajectory throughout the early weeks, until their paths suddenly cross in conference play. That’s what you have with Trey Palmer and Cory Trice — two 2023 NFL Draft risers who now stand in each other’s way this weekend.
I’ve written about Trice a lot in these matchup previews. Last week against Maryland’s WR corps, he was largely solid, save for a coverage bust before the half. At 6’3″, 215 pounds, Trice has the size and fluidity to match and showed on his interception against the Terps that he can identify intent in zone coverage and loom in front of passes.
This week against Nebraska, he’ll be matched up against Palmer — an A-athlete who’s emerged as a legitimate prospect with the Cornhuskers. Palmer thrives with his ability to displace defenders, create distance, and guide in passes downfield — a true challenge for a plus-sized CB like Trice.
Ole Miss G Nick Broeker vs. Auburn DT Colby Wooden
Nick Broeker played OT earlier in his Ole Miss career but has shifted inside to left guard this season. The results have been fairly positive, as he’s a better fit inside with his lacking length. Broeker still sometimes struggles with control and hand placement, but he’s a dense, mobile interior blocker who can use his width and grip strength to manage blocks.
Colby Wooden is a good test for him, and vice versa. Wooden is a bit underweight for the interior, but his smooth athleticism, proactive hands, and angle flexibility pose a definite challenge.
Syracuse RB Sean Tucker vs. NC State LBs Payton Wilson, Drake Thomas, Isaiah Moore
Two weeks ago, Sean Tucker had a historic first-half performance against Wagner. It was a performance that put the spotlight on his explosive athleticism, pressure-enhancing speed, and ability to string together big plays. This week, however, Tucker will encounter much more resistance with the NC State LB trio of Payton Wilson, Drake Thomas, and Isaiah Moore.
All three linebackers had over 10 tackles last week against Florida State. Provided that he stays healthy, Wilson has the highest ceiling with his athleticism and size, but all three are sound tacklers with the gap discipline to seal lanes as they develop.
Florida State OT Robert Scott Jr. vs. Clemson EDGEs Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry
Some prospects stuck in the middle of the draft board have crucial prove-it games on their schedule. This is one of those games for Florida State OT Robert Scott Jr. Recently returned from injury, Scott will draw Myles Murphy and K.J. Henry against Clemson — two of the most ferocious pass rushers in college football.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
We’ve seen flashes of improvement from Scott, who has enough talent to potentially garner mid-round interest. He has the size and length to wall off rushers, but Murphy and Henry, with their respective power and hand strength, will force Scott to be technically sound.
Purdue WR Charlie Jones vs. Nebraska CB Quinton Newsome
Since starting off the year on a torrid pace, Charlie Jones has hit a bit of a lull in recent weeks. Over the past three games, he hasn’t eclipsed 59 yards. Additionally, Jones hasn’t seen the end zone since a two-score game against FAU in late September, and last week against Maryland, he was held to just three catches for 15 yards.
Jones will be looking to rebound against Nebraska, and he has the easy separation ability and catching instincts to do so. But he’s also facing another tough test in Nebraska CB Quinton Newsome. Newsome, at 6’1″, 180 pounds, brings length, physicality, and discipline in man coverage.
Other Prospect Battles To Watch in Week 7
- Texas OT Christian Jones vs. Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV
- TCU OL Steve Avila vs. Oklahoma State DL Tyler Lacy
- Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo vs. Auburn CB Nehemiah Pritchett
- Old Dominion WR Ali Jennings III vs. Coastal Carolina CB Lance Boykin
- Texas State OL Kyle Hergel vs. Troy DL T.J. Jackson, Will Choloh
- Arizona OT Jordan Morgan vs. Washington EDGE Bralen Trice
- North Texas WRs Roderic Burns, Jyaire Shorter vs. Louisiana Tech CB Myles Brooks
- Oregon State OT Joshua Gray vs. Washington State EDGE Ron Stone Jr.
- Florida OT Richard Gouraige vs. LSU EDGEs BJ Ojulari, Ali Gaye
- Jackson State EDGE Nyles Gaddy vs. Bethune-Cookman OT Jordon Carty
