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 Rose Bowl.
Penn State Nittany Lions Draft Prospects
Ji’Ayir Brown, S
Brown has been at Penn State for three seasons, but has really been good for them over the last two seasons. He has 145 total tackles, nine interceptions and nine passes defended in his career. For 2022, He has 66 total tackles, three interceptions and three passes defended.
He stands 5-foot-11 and 208 pounds, which won’t make him the biggest safety in the class. He has shown good ball skills and physicality. His man-to-man skills aren’t great, but he can still be a successful player. Brown is projected to be a mid-round pick.
Projected Draft Range: Fourth Round Pick-Sixth Round Pick
PJ Mustipher, DL
Mustipher has been at Penn State for five seasons and has made a big impact in four of them. In his career, he has 140 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. This season, Mustipher has 33 total tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
At 6-foot-4 and 323 pounds, Mustipher has good size for an interior defensive lineman. While the production hasn’t shown up this season, Mustipher can take on several blockers and free up others to make plays.
Projected Draft Range: Fifth Round Pick-Seventh Round Pick
*CB Joey Porter has opted out of this game. He is a projected first-round pick.
*WR Parker Washington has opted out of this game. He is a projected second to fourth-round pick.
Other Draft prospects: OG/C Juice Scruggs (6-UFA), WR Mitchell Tinsley (6-UFA), OT Caeden Wallace (UFA), Edge Adisa Isaac (UFA), EDGE Nick Tarburton (UFA)
Utah Utes Draft Prospects
Braeden Daniels, OG/C
After joining Utah in 2018, he played two games and redshirted. He started all 14 games in 2019. In 2020, he started one game, but then returned to the starting lineup the rest of his college career. He was named to the All-PAC-12 Second Team in 2021 and All-Pac-12 First Team in 2022.
He stands at 6-foot-4 and 297 pounds, which isn’t prototypical size for an NFL offensive lineman. Daniels has position versatility, as he played both tackle and guard in college, but probably fits best on the interior.
Projected Draft Range: Fourth Round Pick-Sixth Round Pick
Brant Kuithe, TE
Kuithe has been with the Utes for five seasons and has had plenty of production throughout. In his career, Kuithe has 148 catches for 1,882 yards and 16 touchdowns. This season, Kuithe has 19 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Kuithe is undersized for a tight end and may need to play more of an H-back role for an NFL team. He only played in four games during the 2022 season due to injury and will need to prove he is healthy.
Projected Draft Range: Fifth Round Pick-Seventh Round Pick
*CB Clark Phillips has opted out of this game. He is a projected first-round pick.
*TE Dalton Kincaid has opted out o this game. He is a projected second to fourth-round pick.
*RB Tavion Thomas was injured and opted out of this game. He is a projected late-round pick or undrafted free agent.
Other Draft Prospects: QB Cam Rising (6-UFA), LB Mahamoud Diabete (UFA)
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