2023 NFL Draft: Week 0 Prospects to Watch
Wyoming at Illinois 4 PM ET (Big Ten Network)
Illinois had an odd season last year. They beat Penn State on the road, but also lost to Rutgers at home. The Illini won against Minnesota on the road, but fell to Maryland at home. This is head coach Bret Bielema’s second year at the helm in Champaign, and it’s safe to say that many are expecting an improvement on last year’s 5-7 finish. They have the talent to do it, and I’ll highlight a few players that could be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Devon Witherspoon is part of the new breed of cornerbacks making their way up the college ranks. He’s got decent size (6’0”, 170 pounds) and lots of toughness (42 solo tackles and eight tackles for loss last year). Witherspoon also has the quickness and fluidity to cover elite receivers. His nine passes defended last year are evident of that.
Witherspoon’s dexterity is especially evident on longer routes, as he has the speed and agility to carry deeper routes and avoid getting burnt. He probably could play some man at the next level, but he is likely more suited for zone coverage. This is because Devon Witherspoon is terrific at coming up to make tackles in run support. Zone schemes might give him more of a chance to do that.
He can also deliver the big hit, and this is easier to do in a zone look as he can let the play develop in front of him before he runs in for the big shot. I’ve seen Witherspoon described as a “gritty” player and I think this has more to do with his effort level than how tough he is. Devon Witherspoon plays with great intensity and effort and there were a few plays where he chased down ball carriers to save touchdowns. If he has some success this year and Illinois wins six games or more, Devon Witherspoon could be a day two pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Illinois running back Chase Brown was a pleasant surprise for the Illini last year. He ran for 1,005 yards in 10 games while averaging an efficient 5.9 yards-per-carry. He did all that while splitting carries 60/40 with fellow running back Josh McCray. Brown showed he could thrive in a running back rotation last year, and he could flourish in a similar role at the next level.
Chase Brown is a thick, compact back (5’11”, 207 pounds) with sprinter’s speed. He won a state championship as part of his high school’s 400-meter relay team, and he’s projected to run in the mid-4.4s for the 40-yard dash. Brown is an instinctual runner that has shined in Illinois’ zone blocking scheme. This type of scheme allows Brown to use his excellent patience to wait for a hole to develop and then burst through it.
Once he gets up through the hole, Brown has demonstrated good contact balance, as the first defender rarely brings him down. He’s got some wiggle to him as well. On film, I saw Chase Brown make some sudden cuts and leave defenders in the dust. He also showed some growth as a receiver last year, catching 14 passes for 142 yards. Despite his strengths, Chase Brown does have some weaknesses.
He’ll need to improve his pass blocking if he wants to stay on the field at the next level. He’ll also have to continue to improve as a pass-catcher, as the modern NFL back has to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield consistently. Nevertheless, if Chase Brown averages 5.5 yards per carry (his career average) that would give him 1,100 yards over 200 carries. Those numbers are quite reachable for him, and if he gets there, he should hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft.