Rome Odunze, the player who is moving up to the receiver position for the next draft.
The second half of the NFL season begins, and the first conclusions are obvious: should we prepare for the playoffs or for next year? Now six months before the 2024 NFL draft, DNA of Sports offers you a roster review, with the five best prospects in each offensive position at the moment. The ranking of defensive positions is scheduled for next week.
(*junior, **sophomore)
QUARTERBACKS
1. Caleb Williams* (USC)
2. Drake Maye** (North Carolina)
3. Quinn Ewers** (Texas)
4. Bo Nix (Ore.)
5. JJ McCarthy* (Michigan)
Other main players cited: Michael Penix (Washington), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Shedeur Sanders * (Colorado).
The duel between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye should continue in full swing between now and next spring. The last best university player is capable of the best possible improvisations, while the jewel of North Carolina seems the most established player in the aerial domain. They have both experienced ups and downs this season, to the point that their two programs are now excluded from the race for the playoffs (without necessarily this being their primary responsibility). Behind a Quinn Ewers clinging on as a third force, despite arm power and questioning decision-making, Bo Nix and JJ McCarthy have shown real maturity in recent months, which could allow them to climb during the 2024 NFL draft .
RUNNING BACKS
1. Blake Corum (Michigan)
2. TreVeyon Henderson* (Ohio State)
3. Braelon Allen* (Wisconsin)
4. Trey Benson* (Florida State)
5. Audric Estimé * (Notre Dame)
Other players mentioned: Bucky Irving * (Oregon), MarShawn Lloyd * (USC), Raheim Sanders * (Arkansas).
Very difficult at the moment to establish a clear hierarchy on the runner’s position. As lively as he is solid on his supports, Blake Corum has appeared as a constant force since his arrival on the Ann Arbor campus, and benefits in part from Henderson’s physical problems at Ohio State and from an offensive system in reconstruction which does not help not totally Allen in Wisconsin. Behind, the powerful running backs have pride of place between Estimé, Irving, Lloyd and Sanders.
RECEIVERS
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.* (Ohio State)
2. Rome Odunze* (Washington)
3. Malik Nabers* (LSU)
4. Troy Franklin* (Oregon)
5. Keon Coleman* (Florida State)
Other players cited: Emeka Egbuka * (Ohio State), Ja’Lynn Polk ** (Washington).
Behind the untouchable Harrison Jr., undoubtedly the best intrinsic prospect in this class, places are expensive, and the spectacular play of LSU, Washington, Oregon or Ohio State benefits the quarterbacks’ favorite targets. A Michigan State defector, Keon Coleman is a very intriguing project capable of being real one-on-one poison when he’s on a big day.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Brock Bowers* (Georgia)
2. JT Sanders* (Texas)
3. Cade Stover (Ohio State)
4. Jaheim Bell* (Florida State)
5. Bryson Nesbit* (North Carolina)
Other players cited: Ben Sinnott * (Kansas State), Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota).
Brock Bowers and the others, one would almost be tempted to say… Because apart from JT Sanders, an extraordinary athlete, although with sometimes inconsistent production in the very aggressive Texas attack, no real guarantee seems to be provided, in a class which can, however, have quite a few specimens as capable of blocking as of leaving the box to receive, especially in the red zone. The next few months will be very revealing about this position.
Kingsley Suamataia, the ancient mountain of Oregon, works wonders for Brigham Young.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Olu Fashanu (Penn State)
2. Joe Alt* (Notre Dame)
3. Amarius Mims* (Georgia)
4. Kingsley Suamataia** (BYU)
5. Graham Barton (Duke)
Other players mentioned: Taliese Fuaga * (Oregon State), JC Latham * (Alabama), Patrick Paul * (Houston)
The panel is quite large and it does not seem far-fetched at the moment to imagine seven to eight tackles drafted in the first round of the next 2024 NFL draft. Although in difficulty against Ohio State, Olu Fashanu still serves as a safe bet to play on the left. Behind, the very young Mims and Suamataia are developing in an interesting way, to the point of already making many people salivate. front office. Special mention for a very consistent Fuaga in recent years at Oregon State and who seems to fully explode in 2023, in the wake of his training.
GUARDS / CENTERS
1. Cooper Beebe (Kansas State)
2. Sedrick Van Pran* (Georgia)
3. Zak Zinter (Michigan)
4. Christian Mahogany (Boston College)
5. Christian Haynes (Connecticut)
Other players cited: Donovan Jackson * (Ohio State), Beaux Limmer (Arkansas).
Quite a few names already met last year, and who had chosen to return at the end of the last off-season. Beebe is the best guard on the board, Van Pran the best center. Behind, the nice surprise seems to come from Christian Mahogany, finally in shape after a completely blank 2022 and whose potential coincides with the best performance of his program in 2023, particularly on the ground.
