2023 NFL Draft: The Most Intriguing Prospect on Each Top 25 Team in the Preseason AP Poll

The Baylor Bears are coming off of a 12-win season in 2021. They lost a few key members to the NFL Draft, but they return their best player on the roster: Siaki Ika. Ika is one of the most fun (and dominant) players in the country. Ika originally spent time at LSU before transferring over to the Big-12 and becoming the starter at nose tackle for Baylor. His tape is fun to watch because even when he’s not credited with a stop, you can see all the work he does to put his teammates in position to clean up the play. Ika is the rare prospect at nose tackle that transcends the position. His energy is infectious and he’s got a personality that is as big as his 350-pound frame.

Marvin Mims is the perfect embodiment of the Will Smith Fresh Prince of Bel-Air meme that shows Will standing in an empty house. Mims lost his head coach, Lincoln Riley, and his quarterback, Caleb Williams, to the USC Trojans. To make matters worse, his quarterback before Williams took over was Spencer Rattler, who also left for a different USC (South Carolina Gamecocks). This is enough to call into question how effective Mims will be in 2022, but you shouldn’t count this guy out. Mims averages 19 yards-per-catch in his collegiate career and has a knack for making a big play when his team needs it the most. NFL scouts will be watching closely to see how he adapts to the new Oklahoma quarterback, Dillon Gabriel. We’ve seen several Oklahoma wide receivers make a name for themselves at the next level, Mims should be no different.

The Michigan Wolverines finally exercised their demons as they beat their rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and punched their ticket to the College Football Playoffs in 2021. They came up short against the Georgia Bulldogs, and even though they lost a ton of talent to the NFL Draft, Jim Harbaugh and Co. will be looking to repeat the success. Blake Corum is in line to be the top running back in Ann Arbor after stalwart Hassan Haskins left for the NFL. Corum is a better athlete than Haskins and will have a chance to prove that he’s capable of carrying the brunt of the load at running back. Even while in a timeshare with the aforementioned Haskins, Corum still toted the rock 144 times on the ground and added 24 receptions as well. Now that there are 270 carries vacated from 2021, it’s time for Corum to show that he is worth an early pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kyle Wittingham has been in charge of things for Utah since taking over for Urban Meyer in 2005. He’s led the team to a winning season in each of the past eight seasons, and even though they suffered some losses to the 2022 NFL Draft, Clark Phillips III still roams the secondary in Salt Lake City. Phillips III has started all 19 possible games since becoming a member of the Utes. He returns for his true junior season poised to lift the program into College Football Playoff discussions. Phillips III led the PAC-12 in passes defended in 2021, using his superb ball skills to disrupt passing lanes consistently. He is a bit on the smaller side in terms of his frame, but you’d never notice it by watching him play. The Utes should have a great season this year and Clark Phillips III will be a major reason why.

Antonio Johnson is another secondary member on the list, but he is hard to label at any single position for the NFL. Johnson has primarily served as the slot defender for the Aggies’ defense. He does a little bit of everything from the nickel position, using his hard-hitting play style to stuff would-be ball carriers and flexing his elite athleticism when sticking to his assignments in coverage. The versatility and frame (6’, 3”, 200 pounds) are enough to grab the attention of evaluators. If he can continue building on the foundation that he has already laid at Texas A&M, Johnson should fly up the draft board by the time of the 2023 NFL Draft. Due to the influx of talent both at wide receiver and tight end, slot defenders are becoming as important as any on a defense. It won’t take Antonio Johnson long to find a home in the NFL with his skillset.