As the college football season careens towards a far-too-soon conclusion, it’s becoming clear who the top 2023 NFL Draft prospects to watch each week are. However, each week we try and bring some new names to the table, whether that be emerging names at big programs or under-the-radar prospects from smaller schools. Which 2023 NFL Draft prospects should you be watching for in college football Week 9?
Top 2023 NFL Draft Prospects To Watch in Week 9
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
After being curb-stomped by Michigan in their first big test in Big Ten play, Penn State will be hoping to provide a more formidable force when they face Ohio State in the biggest game of college football’s Week 9 noon slate. It’s a marquee matchup filled with some of the best 2023 NFL Draft prospects, but one Nittany Lions name should command more attention than the rest as he continues his ascent up big boards.
Penn State’s offense has been extremely efficient this fall, and a lot of that success can be attributed to offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. The 6’6″, 308-pound OT prospect has outstanding physical tools matched only by elevated technical use of his extremities. While young, Fashanu has high football IQ and boasts high character off the field. He’s on a collision course with the early part of the first round in April.
Jamal Hines, EDGE, Toledo
A former three-star recruit who flashed his potential early as a freshman, Toledo edge Jamal Hines has been an incredibly productive member of the Rockets’ defense since 2018. In addition to hovering around the team lead in tackles for the past three seasons, he’s been one of the most productive edge rushers in the Mid-American Conference.
Those performances haven’t escaped national attention, with Hines being one of three Toledo NFL Draft prospects on the Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist. This season has been no exception for the 6’3″, 250-pound linebacker. Hines has already tallied seven tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, and one forced fumble while flashing pass-game disruption of a different kind with four passes defended.
The Toledo edge prospect will have the opportunity to pad his statistical résumé against an Eastern Michigan side that has allowed almost three sacks a game. Hines wins with an explosive first step, the speed to beat offensive linemen around the outside track, and quick feet to move from gap to gap as an impressive penetrator. Meanwhile, he’s an instinctive run defender who plays with a hot motor in pursuit.
Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida
Once considered a top-tier linebacker prospect, Ventrell Miller suffered a dip in draft stock after missing most of last season with an injury. This season, he’s back with a vengeance and appears determined to prove his detractors wrong as he imposes himself amongst the 2023 NFL Draft’s top LB prospects. With 49 tackles, including four and a half for loss and a first career forced fumble, he’s on track for the most statistically productive season of his career despite missing a game with an injury.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
While potentially considered under-sized at 6’1″ and 226 pounds, Miller routinely showcases the ability to be impactful coming downhill against the run. He hustles to the ball in all phases of defense and has flashed coverage ability during his Florida career. A vocal leader for the Gators’ defense, Miller also displays a high level of football intelligence that ensures he’s one step ahead of the game.
A key clash against Georgia in arguably college football’s greatest “neutral” venue game should give Miller a stern test of his NFL Draft credentials. Bulldogs tight ends Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington are a real handful for any linebacker. You can see how Miller fares in the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” with a free trial of FuboTV.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
In what is shaping up to be an impressive cornerback class once again, there are 2023 NFL Draft prospects at the position still emerging as the season rumbles on. One of those players who has risen up draft boards this year is Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon. Each and every week, it feels like someone in the Illini secondary makes an incredible play, and more often than not, it’s their fourth-year cornerback.
So far this season, Witherspoon has broken up 11 passes while adding a third career interception in the season opener against Wyoming. The Illinois cornerback has four games with multiple pass breakups as he earns a reputation as a genuine ballhawk for a defense that has allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game in the nation.
At 6’0″ and 180 pounds, Witherspoon might not be the biggest of cornerback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he plays with a ferocious physicality that has resulted in big plays behind the line of scrimmage in previous seasons. That also enables him to be a menace against the run game in the open field. Meanwhile, his twitchy athleticism, short area explosion, and instincts allow him to be a force in coverage.
Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
While most analysts — myself included — predicted the demise of the Cincinnati Bearcats offense with the departure of Desmond Ridder, the reigning AAC champions and last year’s college football darlings have been surprisingly high scoring and rank just behind Week 9 opponent UCF in the conference in points per game.
They have multiple offensive prospects to watch for in the 2023 NFL Draft, but Tyler Scott should draw your attention this week. The 5’9″, 185-pound wide receiver leads Cincinnati in receiving yards (500), receiving yards per catch (17.9), and touchdowns (6). Scott needs just 20 yards against UCF to set a new career-high single-season receiving yardage total. All this success has come despite missing time with an ankle injury.
A true athletic freak when he’s healthy, Scott can reportedly run a 4.29-second 40-yard dash time while posting eye-popping vertical and broad jump numbers. That pure athleticism is apparent on the football field, with the Cincinnati WR easily able to take the top off any defense. As you’d expect with such speed, he’s an after-the-catch threat who also adds return value. However, he also possesses good ball skills and tracking ability.
Jerrod Clark, DT, Coastal Carolina
While a large amount of attention focuses on Grayson McCall at the head of Coastal Carolina’s 2023 NFL Draft prospects, they have a number of potential draftees on the defensive side of the ball. We’ve highlighted cornerback Lance Boykin before, and fellow Chanticleer cornerback D’Jordan Strong has many fans in the scouting community. However, the main man to watch when Coastal travels to Marshall in college football Week 9 is nose tackle Jerrod Clark.
Coastal defensive linemen are perennially underrated, and despite leading the team with five and a half tackles for loss this fall, Clark certainly falls into that category. For a man with his production and talent, he should receive more hype in this upcoming NFL Draft class.
While he’s productive himself, the 6’4″, 340-pound nose tackle helps his teammates pad the stat sheet by routinely attracting double and even triple-teams. His sheer mass allows him to clog rushing lanes, but he’s also adept at penetrating those gaps to be impactful in the backfield. He has impressive quickness for his size while possessing the power and technicality in his hands to enable him to shed blocks for fun.
Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State
With a porous defense and an offense that has had its fair share of struggles this fall, not many people will give Michigan State much hope of victory in their rivalry game against Michigan this weekend. In fact, the Spartans are currently a 23-point underdog against the Wolverines according to DraftKings Sportsbook. If they’ve any chance of victory on Saturday, winning the field position battle will be crucial.
That’s where punter Bryce Baringer comes in. The senior standout leads the nation with 51.4 yards per punt this season, almost three and a half yards per punt more than his nearest challenger. Over half of his punts have traveled 50+ yards, with a 70-yard boom in the season opener. Meanwhile, 12 of his 30 attempts have landed inside the 20, with over half of those being downed inside the 10-yard line.
In addition to his impressive punting statistics — both this season and during his college career — Baringer routinely showcases NFL-requisite snap-to-punt and hang time as one of the top special teams prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
Mike Morris, DL, Michigan
After Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo attracted significant draft capital in the previous cycle, the Wolverines have another plethora of potential defensive line prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Eyabi Anoma has been mentioned in this column previously, and the likes of Jaylen Harrell and Mazi Smith have received national attention.
However, Michigan’s most intriguing defensive prospect in the upcoming class is Mike Morris. Boasting impressive size at 6’6″, 292 pounds, the defensive lineman has the size of a bigger defensive end or even defensive tackle prospect but has been used to devastating effect as a stand-up edge rusher. Morris can fly off the edge with decent speed and a ludicrous amount of aggressiveness and intensity.
MORE: Top 2023 NFL Draft Prospects
Furthermore, he’s showcased some impressive technical ability in his hands to help him overcome opposition offensive linemen. He has the athletic ability to stunt inside while having the strength to pose a danger as an edge-setting run defender. A Michigan State offensive line that ranks in the top 50 for both sacks and tackles for loss allowed should prove a good test of his skill.
Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
Looking for an excuse to stay up past midnight watching college football? How about one of the more polarizing quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft showcasing his wares against an impressive defense while going toe-to-toe with an offense that has been one of the best in the nation this fall? Well, we have just the thing for you!
Tanner McKee has drawn rave reviews and high rankings from some quarters ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s easy to see the allure. At 6’6″ and 226 pounds, he has NFL size and should have no issues with longevity or field vision at the next level. Meanwhile, he boasts impressive arm strength. McKee is able to drive the ball to the deep third and generates velocity from a multitude of arm angles.
The result of this is that McKee presents as an accurate pocket passer who is some inconsistencies away from attracting significant attention next April. Although hampered by an underwhelming supporting cast, an impressive performance against a strong UCLA team — with precious few other high-profile matchups in the same window to divert attention — should help the Stanford quarterback to silence his doubters.
Titus Swen, RB, Wyoming
For those college football die-hards eagerly awaiting an 11 p.m. ET kickoff between Wyoming and Hawaii, we salute you! You’ll be rewarded for your loyalty and craziness with a look at a running back who has already earned national attention as one of just three Cowboys on the Shrine Bowl 1000 watchlist.
Titus Swen faces the Rainbow Warriors off the back of the third 160+ yard rushing yard game of his career. The fourth-year back, who sat out the 2020 season, terrorized Utah State to the tune of 160 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, and three touchdowns, the second time this season he’s found the end zone thrice in a game.
At 5’11” and 206 pounds, Swen is your archetypal north-south back who runs with a physicality that is difficult to halt. He’s more than capable of lowering his shoulder and driving with his powerful lower body to grind out yardage. However, there’s a deceptive long speed to his game. While his minimal receiving game exposure could hamper his stock, his willingness and ability as a blocker should help earn him some fans at the NFL level.
