The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. Bowl scheduling allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2023 Liberty Bowl.
Blake Watson, RB
Watson joined Old Dominion in 2018 where he played before transferring to Memphis before the 2023 season. In his career, he has 3,194 rushing yards, 906 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. This season, he has 1,045 rushing yards, 458 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, he isn’t a big running back. He has good quickness and has great experience as a receiver out of the backfield. His versatility should help his draft stock, as well as his production over his college career.
Projected Draft Range: 6th Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
Seth Henigan, QB
Henigan signed with Memphis in 2021 and started right away for the Tigers. In his career, he has passed for 10,400 yards, 75 touchdowns and 25 interceptions on 63.6 percent completion. This season, he has 3,519 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 66.5 percent completion.
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Henigan has solid size for the position. He also has good experience and accuracy. Henigan will likely return to school in for another season as a chance to improve his draft stock, as he has eligibility remaining.
Projected Draft Range: Undrafted Free Agent
Other Draft Prospects: RB Branon Thomas (UFA), LB Geoffrey Cantin-Arku (UFA), EDGE Jaylon Allen (UFA)
T.J. Tampa, CB
Tampa became a Cyclone in 2020 and played sparingly. He cracked the starting lineup in 2021 and didn’t look back. In his career, he registered 107 total tackles, 19 passes defended and three interceptions. This season, he has 44 total tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions.
He is 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, which means he will need to add strength to provide more physical coverage. Tampa does have solid length and has shown good ball skills. He could end up opting out of this bowl game, as he has already built up his draft stock pretty well.
Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round Pick-3rd Round Pick
Jaylin Noel, WR
Noel joined Iowa State in 2021 and has gradually developed over the last three seasons. In his career, he has hauled in 159 passes for 1,582 yards and nine touchdowns. This has been his best season with 60 receptions for 741 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Noel is a little undersized for an NFL receiver. He can add weight, but will likely be playing in the slot in the NFL. Noel has shown to get decent separation, which helps his stock. He has eligibility remaining and will likely return to school for to enhance his stock.
Projected Draft Range: 6th Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
Other Draft Prospects: DL Tyler Onyedim (UFA), TE Easton Dean (UFA)
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