2023 NFL Draft: Prospects with the Most to Prove in 2022
By Hunter Haas
The 2023 NFL Draft is still a full football season away, but there are a number of prospects that enter the 2022 season with much to prove.
Not every five-star recruit finds immediate success in college football, and even some of those that do, wind up transferring due to a litany of reasons. A majority of the players featured in this fall into one category or the other, while I few fit the criteria of both. Whether they’ve underachieved since arriving on campus, or they’ve opted to move on to greener grass elsewhere, they have one thing in common: the need to prove they belong. Each player listed must have a big 2022 season to cement their place in the early round section of the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. Let’s start things off with a couple offensive weapons in search of new scenery.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Jahmyr Gibbs has superstar written all over him. During his time in the run-heavy Georgia Tech offense, Gibbs was quite easily the most explosive player on the field for the Yellow Jackets. He led the team in rushing this past season with 746 yards and a strong yards per carry number (5.2). At times, Gibbs was also asked to block and catch passes out of the backfield, both of which he excelled at. He brought in 59 catches for 768 yards in his two seasons in Atlanta, finishing within 25 yards of being the teams’ most productive pass catcher.
Unless you live under a rock, you know how prevalent the Alabama Crimson Tide have been in running back discussions in the NFL Draft. The likes of Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, and Damien Williams are some current examples. If you are the lead back in a Nick Saban offense, your chances of being an NFL back go up exponentially. Gibbs surely took this into account when making his decision, and it looks to be paying off already. Early reports say that he is fitting the offense like a glove, and there is little competition behind him. What remains to be seen: can his explosiveness and dual ability translate to the tougher SEC?
Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Texas
Speaking of Alabama, Jahleel Billingsley decided to transfer away from the program, landing a fresh start in Austin with the Longhorns. No one has outright said what the issue was with Billingsley and the Crimson Tide coaching staff, but all indications point to head coach Nick Saban being displeased with the effort level of the tight end. You know what they say though, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Thankfully for Billingsley, head coach Steve Sarkisian very much views him as the latter.
2023 NFL Draft Hopefuls with the Most to Prove
Sarkisian was able to see Billingsley up close and personal as he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons under Saban, even winning a national championship in 2020. The talent of the former four-star recruit is not up for debate. He has a rare profile that falls in the “tweener” territory, meaning he’s not really a tight end or a wide receiver. He’s a football player. In the Texas system, I see a world where Billingsley hears his name early in mock drafts by the end of the season. Is the work ethic concern a valid one? We will find out.