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 2022 Las Vegas Bowl.
Gervon Dexter, DL
Dexter stepped on campus for the 2020 season and has impacted his team ever since. He has 120 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in his career. This season, Dexter has totaled 50 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
At 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds, Dexter is a massive defensive lineman. While his stats don’t show the most production, Dexter has been disruptive on the interior. He is more of a 4-3 defensive tackle than a true nose tackle, but could play on multiple fronts. Dexter is an expected day two pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Rashad Torrence II, S
Torrence was with Dexter in the 2020 recruiting class and also made an impact early in his career. He has 188 total tackles, three interceptions and three passes defended during his time at Florida. In 2022, Torrence has 76 total tackles, one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The 6-foot and 202-pound safety isn’t the biggest in the draft class, but has adequate size. He has great range and isn’t afraid to hit, even though he isn’t huge. Torrence could return to school, as he has more eligibility, but would be a mid-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Fourth Round Pick-Sixth Round Pick
*Quarterback Anthony Richardson has declared for the NFL Draft and is expected to skip the bowl game. He is a projected first-round pick.
*Offensive guard/center O’Cyrus Torrence has declared for the NFL Draft and is expected to skip the bowl game. He is a projected first or second-round pick.
*Edge rusher Brenton Cox was dismissed from the team during the season. He is a projected mid to late-round pick
*Wide receiver Justin Shorter has opted out of the bowl game. He is a projected late-round pick.
*Linebacker Ventrell Miller has opted out of this game. He is a projected late-round pick.
Other Draft Prospects: S Trey Dean (5th-7th), LB Derek Wingo (UFA), OT Richard Gouraige (UFA), OT Michael Tarquin (UFA), TE Keon Zipperer (UFA)
Avery Roberts, LB
Roberts played one season at Nebraska before transferring to Oregon State, where he sat out a season then jumped right into things. In his career, Roberts has tallied 280 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and five sacks. This season, he has 123 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
He has an ok size for the position at 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds. Roberts has shown great pursuit of ball carriers and can help stop the run. He will have to prove himself more in coverage to consistently play at the next level. Currently, he is projected to be a mid to late pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Fourth Round Pick-Sixth Round Pick
Omar Speights, LB
Speights joined the Oregon State program in 2019 and has been a constant presence since. He has 298 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss and five sacks in his career. For the 2022 season, he has 77 total tackles and six tackles for loss.
At 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds, he also has decent size for an NFL linebacker. Like Roberts, he has proven to be tough against the run, but still has more to prove while defending in coverage. He is projected to be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Projected Draft Range: Sixth Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
*Tight end Luke Musgrave is injured and out for this game. He is a projected Third to Fifth round pick.
*Cornerback Rejzohn Wright had surgery on his thumb and is out for the game. He is a projected Fourth to Sixth round pick.
Other Draft Prospects: S Jaydon Grant (UFA), OG/C Brandon Kipper (UFA)
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