2023 NFL Draft Watch, Week 0 - Kevin Field is back giving you all you need to know for Patriots prospects

College football is officially back this weekend! While there is only one notable game (a Big Ten matchup in Dublin), what it means to the average fan is that meaningful football is back and will be on TV every weekend until the middle of February. That is a win for all of us!

Before we get to the game of the week, let’s set the table. To start with the obvious; there is a full season of evaluation ahead so a lot will and should change. The college football landscape is changing rapidly with NIL money and transfers being able to move freely between schools. Scouts will have more to evaluate on the field (how the players adjust to new schemes) and off the field (why did they transfer and intel from both schools on the player’s intangibles). But heading into the season here’s where I have the local and top-tier prospects.

Local Prospects

Potential Top 100 Draft Picks

QB Will Levis, Kentucky (Madison, CT)
QB Phil Jurkovec, BC
QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (Glastonbury, CT)
OG Zak Zinter, Michigan (North Andover, MA)

Potential Day 3 Draft Picks

TE Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan (Hampstead, CT)
OG Christian Mahogany, BC
CB Josh DeBerry, BC
WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan (Greenwich, CT)
CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan (Everett, MA)
WR Jake Bobo, UCLA (North Andover, MA)
S Jaiden Woodbey, BC
LB Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross
LB Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern (Raynham, MA)
LB Jackson Mitchell, UConn (Ridgefield, CT)
CB Darion McKenzie, Merrimack

Position Groups (measured by depth)

Position groups that are strong: QB, RB, WR, TE, Edge, DT
Position groups that are average: G, CB
Position groups that are below average: S, LB, OT, C

Top 5 By Position

QB

1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2. Bryce Young, Alabama
3. Tanner McKee, Stanford
4. Will Levis, Kentucky
5. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

*There are a lot of prospects who could propel themselves into potential first-rounders based off their season. Names like Devin Leary (NCST), Tyler Van Dyke (Miami), Cam Rising (Utah), Jurkovec, etc.

RB

1. Bijan Robinson, Texas
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
3. Tank Bigsby, Auburn
4. DeWayne McBride, UAB
5. Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

WR

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
2. Kayshon Boutte, LSU
3. Quentin Johnson, TCU
4. Jordan Addison, USC
5. Rakim Jarrett, Maryland

*Zay Flowers (BC) has a chance to break into this group. I see him as a potential top 50 pick.

TE

1. Mike Mayer, Notre Dame
2. Sam LaPorta, Iowa
3. Erick Ali, Michigan
4. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
5. Darnell Washington, Georgia 

*Georgia is absolutely loaded at TE. Brock Bowers is the starter and one of the best players in the country as a sophomore. Arik Gilbert sat out last season but has Kyle Pitts-type athleticism. His projection relies on him staying on the field and checking some off-the-field boxes.

OT

1. Dawand Jones, Ohio State
2. Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
3. Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
4. Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio state
5. Blake Freeland, BYU

OG

1. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
2. Andrew Vorhees, USC
3. Zak Zinter, Michigan
4. O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
5. Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

*Christian Mahogany (BC) was number 2 on this list before he tore his ACL in offseason workouts.

OC

1. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
2. Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
3. Steve Avila, TCU
4. Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
5. Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

DEFENSE

Edge (DE)

1. Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
2. Myles Murphy, Clemson
3. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
4. Colby Wooden, Auburn
5. Andre Carter, Army

DT/NT

1. Jalen Carter, Georgia
2. Bryan Breese, Clemson
3. Siaka Ika, Baylor
4. Gervon Dexter, Florida
5. Brett Johnson, California

Edge (OLB)

1. Will Anderson, Alabama
2. Will McDonald, Iowa State
3. Nolan Smith, Georgia
4. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
5. BJ Ojulari, LSU

ILB

1. Noah Sewell, Oregon
2. Trenton Simpson, Clemson
3. Jack Campbell, Iowa
4. Nate Herbig, Wisconsin
5. DeMarvion Overshown, Texas

CB

1. Cam Smith, South Carolina
2. Kelee Ringo, Georgia
3. Riley Moss, Iowa
4. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
5. Garrett Williams, Syracuse

Safety

1. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
2. Jordan Battle, Alabama
3. Jammie Robinson, Florida State
4. Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
5. Jalen Catalon, Arkansas

GAME TO WATCH

NEBRASKA VS. NORTHWESTERN in Dublin, Ireland, 12:30 p.m on FOX

LT #77 Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (6-foot-4, 315 pounds)

The junior LT has good technical skills and very good feet. He’s started every game since he’s been on campus and been very productive. He was First-team All-Big Ten last year (gave up 2 sacks and 11 pressures in 410 snaps). His footwork prevents him from getting caught off guard very often. He’s not the biggest LT (think Matt Light) so arm length will be important. He’s a potential first rounder.

DE #32 Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska (6-5, 260)

Transfer from TCU was a two-time all-conference player in the Big 12. He has tons of playing experience with 34 games started in college. He has good size (the measurables that the Patriots target for their edge rushers) and more often wins with technique than pure speed. He does have good get-off and hustles to make backside plays. He’s a potential breakout candidate this year. 

Teammate OLB Garrett Nelson (6-4, 245) is a potential Day 3 pick who will also match up against Northwestern’s Skoronski.