Defensive ends
He might have been a top-20 selection in the 2023 draft, but Verse surprised analysts by
returning to Florida State for another season. The former Albany pass-rusher had nine sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss this season, his first with the Seminoles. At 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, he's ideal for a stand-up role in a 3-4 defense and should enter the year as a favorite for DE1 in the class rankings. Verse has length and a fantastic first step, and he always has a pass-rush plan. Rarely do college pass-rushers have a secondary move, but Verse's hand use and spin move are pro-caliber.
In his first season as a full-time player, Tuimoloau put on a show as a three-tool prospect. He had 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble while coming into his own as a defensive end. At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, he has the movement traits and strength that NFL scouts line up to see.
Yeah, Alabama has
another very good pass-rusher. Turner has been turning heads for the past two seasons and will be draft-eligible in 2024. He doesn't have great size at 240 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame, but his first-step quickness is astoundingly good. He has 12.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 60 pressures in two seasons and will be the focal point of the Alabama pass rush with
Will Anderson Jr. off to the NFL.
Sleeper: Barryn Sorrell, Texas
Defensive tackles
With three sacks and nine tackles for loss in limited reps in 2022, Taylor showed flashes of his potential. And I'm expecting him to take a step forward this offseason ahead of his junior season. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder can develop into the premier interior pass-rusher in the nation.
A role player in 2022 on a veteran-laden defensive line, Payne will be leaned on to make a bigger impact in 2023. A former four-star recruit, Payne can line up at defensive end or tackle at 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds. Payne is still developing and has played only 79 defensive snaps for Alabama, but he has already shown awareness and poise that few underclassmen have in their skill set. His instincts will make him a great all-around player.
Scouts who cover the Southeast rave about the potential of Smith as the next great LSU defensive lineman. He turned heads with four sacks in 2021 but missed the 2022 season after
tearing the ACL in his left knee in Week 1 against Florida State. Smith is expected to be back at full strength, though, and is primed to be one of the top defensive tackles in the nation. He has big-time length and uses it like a pro. And he has all the quickness and bend you want from a defensive tackle, and Smith knows how to set up blockers with his hands and arms.
Sleeper: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Linebackers
The son of a longtime NFL linebacker, the younger Trotter has made a name for himself at Clemson. With 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble, he was among the most productive defenders in the ACC this season. Trotter has NFL-level instincts, and at 6-foot and 230 pounds, he has the strength and size that scouts look for in top prospects.
Yeah, Georgia has
more defensive prospects. Sorey has been stuck in a logjam in the linebacker room (111 total defensive snaps over two seasons) while Georgia ran to back-to-back national championships, but scouts believe the former five-star recruit is the next Bulldog defender to break out. He's a capable downhill player but has the quickness and range in the open field to be a problem for opponents once he has more reps under his belt.
A long, lean front-seven defender at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Gentry had two sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in his sophomore year. Scouts want to see him bulk up and add strength, but the quickness and ball skills he has displayed are worth paying attention to in 2023.
Sleeper: Junior Colson, Michigan
Cornerbacks
While
Kelee Ringo received most of the attention in 2022, it'll be Lassiter whom opposing offenses avoid in 2023. The 6-foot, 180-pound sophomore cornerback had four pass breakups this season but has shown the quickness, instincts and length to be a problem for NFL-caliber receivers. He's likely to carry a top-32 grade entering the season.
With three interceptions and 15 pass breakups, King returns to college as one of the most prolific corners in the nation. He's my top-ranked player at the position heading into the 2023 college season, thanks to great ball skills, quickness and a sturdy 5-foot-11, 188-pound frame. He's silky smooth in transitions and punishes quarterbacks who throw in his direction.
The Iowa secondary was loaded in 2022, and DeJean led the group with five interceptions and seven pass breakups. He also had 67 tackles and scored three defensive touchdowns. DeJean is an all-around cornerback who plays the run as well as he plays opposing quarterbacks. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he also has NFL size.
Sleeper: Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Safeties
Ransom can do it all.
Against Indiana, he blocked a punt, had two sacks and knocked a pass down in coverage. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety is a menace with the defensive traits to play in the box, rush off the edge or line up deep in coverage. It's hard to imagine any safety overtaking him in the rankings next season. He finished 2022 with 69 tackles and four pass breakups.
Kinchens is a ball-hawking free safety with elite instincts and ability to track the football in the air. Those traits helped him grab six interceptions in 2022, which tied for third most in FBS. His range and speed are ideal for the NFL, which is why he has an early Round 1 grade.
The 2022 Michigan defense was basically an All-Big Ten roster, and many of those players are now headed to the NFL. But Moore returns and has a chance to be an All-American performer. Moore grabbed four interceptions in 2022, and he continued to develop throughout the season. He played his best football against
Purdue and
TCU, and he heads into the 2023 season with a ton of momentum.
Sleeper: Calen Bullock, USC
