While the 2023 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players that will be drafted early are on the field now. Each week presents unique matchups for draft prospects and this week is no different. Here are NFL Draft prospects to watch in college football week 11 recap.
1. Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss dropped a tough game to Alabama by six points. They ran the ball well, but most of the work went to freshman running back Quinshon Judkins. Evans finished the game with six carries for 12 yards, which was not a great performance even with limited carries.
Evans has been dealing with injuries this season, but Ole Miss has run with the freshman Judkins. While Evans still has some NFL Draft value, his stock has taken a slight hit after losing work in the backfield. He is currently projected to be a mid-round pick.
2. Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama was able to go on the road and get a big win over Ole Miss. They did a decent job of stopping the pass in this game, which helped them get the victory. Eli Ricks had one total tackle. He had to leave the game with a head injury early in the game and did not return.
Ricks has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons and was just returning to the field. He was widely regarded as one of the top corners in the country this offseason, but needs to put more on tape. Hopefully, he can return to health and get some good reps in before the end of the season. He is currently projected to be a day two pick in the NFL Draft.
3. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State could not keep things close against Georgia. Georgia attacked Mississippi State through the air and were successful. Forbes finished the game with four total tackles. While Forbes has played well this season, the Georgia game was not one of his better performances.
The whole body of work still has helped Forbes be highly-regarded as a draft prospect. His ball skills are still impressive and he will need to play well down the stretch to get things back on track. He is still projected to be a second-round pick.
4. Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia has continued to dominate teams and a lot of that starts up front. They have plenty of talent on the offensive line and Jones might be the most talented player they have on offense outside of tight end Brock Bowers. He helped the Bulldogs pass for 289 yards and rush for 179, while the team did not allow a sack.
In a tackle class that didn’t have many names early in the year to watch, Jones has helped give teams options in the first round. He has shown good power, but has improved his ability in space. Jones will likely be a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
5. Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU Horned Frogs
For a game that was expected to have a lot of offense, TCU’s defense stepped up and helped them get a win. They limited Texas to 199 total yards with 171 coming through the air. TCU’s secondary played well, including Hodges-Tomlinson. He finished the game with two total tackles, three passes defended and an interception.
His team needed him and Hodges-Tomlinson stepped up. Although he is undersized, he showed some good plays on the perimeter. He still most likely fits in as a slot corner at the NFL level, but his performance will only help his draft stock. Hodges-Tomlinson is a projected day two pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Check out our NFL Draft page for more news and updates like NFL Draft prospects to watch in college football week 11 recap!