1. - CB Harold Wallace Jr.. Wallace is the closest to a sure thing that you can find in this draft. He has elite level coverage, tackling, and bump and run ability. He should speed up as he drops the additional weight he carried during his high school career. He is already a polished M2M cover corner, so he should slide in and make an impact immediately. Rumors out of Ann Arbor has them also interested in WR Kenneth Washington as well as QBs Uncle Rico and John Fox.

2. - WR Frederick Mitchell. Mitchell played like a man possessed last season for FCS Liberty, which raised enough eyes to get the invite to the next level. Texas is looking for a complement to Andrew Jetton, and Mitchell fits their needs. He can stretch the field, make every catch, and has no qualms about going across the middle. The addition of Mitchell should bring an added dimension to the Longhorn’s offense.

3. - QB John Fox. Texas A&M recently parted ways with QB Todd Carrillo, leaving two somewhat inaccurate signal callers. John Fox should be an upgrade, as he completed a competent percentage over his career at Dartmouth. He is game ready, with the intelligence to soak up an entire playbook during spring practice. His arm shouldn’t disappoint, and neither should his ability to scan the field quickly. Fellow transfer QB Uncle Rico is a possibility here as well, depending on A&M’s preferences.

4. - WLB Ale Kaho. Current starter Brough is nearing graduation and with no heir apparent, the Cardinal grab Kaho here. He has the flexibility to play any of the three LB positions, as well as DB, although his Bump and Run leaves much to be desired. This isn’t their greatest area of need, as their OL has been porous as best and they lack CB help beyond OConnor. However, there will be some interesting OL and CB options on the transfer list and we expect them to be major players on a few. Also, the strength of this High School class is not top heavy among DB. A sneaky signing here could also be one of the two aforementioned QB, as sources have reported Stanford may not be happy with their options at this point.

5. - RDE Eugene Alley. After undisclosed team rules violations, the Jayhawks moved on from DE David Honeycutt during the bowl season. Alley comes with his share of question marks, stemming from several run ins with the law back in high school involving vandalizing park property. If they can keep him on the straight and narrow, he’ll fill the void left by Honeycutt’s departure admirably. Kansas has a nice roster, but fell victim to a tough schedule last season. They will look to turn things around this next season, as a trip back to the Bowl Games shouldn’t be ruled out.

6. - CB John Curley. The transfer from Youngstown State is perhaps the most polarizing player early on in the signing period. He has shown the ability to be a shutdown corner during his time in the FCS. The question with him has always been the same, whether or not he can stay focused enough to continue that success at a higher level. The Bruins are willing to bet on Curley. They have made no secret of their desire to grab a certain other CB, but since he fails to fall to the Bruins, Curley is their man.

7. - RDE Evan Fairman. Evan Fairman is a super utility player coming out of high school. He can play anywhere on the defensive side of the ball competently. We project him to move to stay at his current DE position, as they have a need for a pass rushing, run stuffing option coming off the edge. Their number one priority heading into the offseason has been addressing the defensive line, and this is a dream scenario for the Gators.


8. - WR Justin Shorter. The Seminoles have signed a defensive player in each signing period going back to the beginning of the league. With an aging WR corps, they change that pattern here. Shorter goes into a dynamic passing system where he will get the chance to learn from the upperclassmen before being thrust into the starting role. Like others in this class, he has a few question marks, but FSU believes they have the leadership in place to avoid the same pitfalls that distracted Shorter before. If they decide to continue their defensive trend, CB John Curley is right up their alley, high risk, high reward.

9. - RB Zamir White. Reports out of WSU have made it known who they prioritize in their recruiting efforts and it’s the speedy White. They fell in love with his versatility. He can hit the hole and get to the second level of the defense in a flash as well as slip out of the backfield and make the catch in space and turn it up field. He comes with his share of issues, however. He was kicked off his High School team after a Senior year DUI. The Cougars feel confident that they can keep him on campus and out of trouble.

10. - MLB William Becker. The Ducks lost a contributing LB after last season to sudden retirement, and the transfer from FCS Murray State should come in and fit into their rotation. He lacks top end speed, but has elite coverage skills and brings the pain against anyone who dares come across the middle while he’s patrolling. He is also a newly minted Eagle Scout, guaranteeing you will get his best, play in play out. Becker will be a fixture in the Duck’s defense for the foreseeable future.

11. - CB Francis Hackett. Hackett can already do something that current CB on LSU’s roster can’t, actually cover WR. He lacks the top end speed of an ideal elite cover corner, but he will gain a step or two as he drops a little of the extra pounds he carried in High School. Being able to step in and immediately be a starter, supplanting number 2 Jeffrey Obrien should help LSU compete for a division title that they haven’t held since 2019.

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12. - WR Salvatore Kilbourne. The Trojans have a talented roster with the potential to make some noise in 2023. They have had their share of issues with QB play, and if they truly are ready to move on from Mary Plank or Meskow, a QB is an option here. We feel however, that they will be patient and see how Plank progresses and perhaps see how Meskow responds to the rule changes next season. They have retired number 2 WR in Anthony Carter, and it’s never too early to find his eventual successor. For a team who likes to spread the ball around, it’s a nice move at this point in the signing order. A TE is also on their to do list, as they lose Jahn, but the talent is not there for a move this early. Look for them to address that either in the transfer period or with their later signings.

13. - WLB Kevin Thorson. The Tigers are one of the first teams in no man’s land. Arguably their biggest need is along the Defensive Line, where the talent this season is pretty shallow for top end players. They also could use some help along the exterior of the offensive line, and if they wanted to reach, FB Sandy Murray would be an option. We think they’ll look to address those issues in the transfer period. Thorson won’t be a flashy signing, but he’ll fill in admirably as a spot starter this season and a starter the next.

14. - QB Uncle Rico. Sources around the NCAA suggest that the Black Knights would sprint to their fax machine to submit paperwork signing Rico if he were available here. Uncle Rico put up nice numbers this season for Montana State, and looks to take his show on the road. He has the potential to succeed at the next level, with the drive to prove his doubters wrong. Combined with his potential, he should make his mark on the field once Bradshaw walks off into the sunset. If Rico were to come of the board early, we suspect he’ll look to upgrade his defensive line, possibly taking LDE Adrian Johnson.

15. - CB Herbert Hersch. The Scarlet Knights have an aging secondary, and could use a youth movement. Hersch has the potential to become an elite coverage corner with the speed to match most WR 1. He won’t be much use in the pass rush, but for this point on signing day, you take what you can get. He comes with several red flags, but Rutgers feel they have the upper classmen to keep him focused on improving and helping the team make it back to the Bowl Series.

16. - CB Timothy Foster. Georgia has expressed their desire to shore up their defense this signing period, and they start with the speedy DB. Foster has many of the tools to play a competent defensive backfield spot, regardless of where he transitions to at the next level. His nickname in high school was Bam Bam because of all the heavy hits he delivered on would be pass catchers. Recent comments have disclosed the possibility of taking a QB here like Uncle Rico were he to slide, so keep an eye out for that move here as well.

17. - RDE Mark Erickson. The Thundering Herd are losing their leading RDE to graduation and with no heir apparent on their roster, Erickson is their man with this signing. He lacks some of the pass rush and run stopping technique of the outgoing DE, but he is quicker off the snap and should grow into the role nicely. When you have to play teams like Navy, Notre Dame, and Army twice a season, keeping pressure from your line is crucial. He lacks the flash of most first day signees, but he brings his lunchbox to work every day and you’ll get his best at all times.

18. - RB John Reid. Clemson finished the season 3rd in defensive yards allowed in 2022. Their offense was middle of the pack. In response, the Tigers moved one of their WR, Dunford, back to his original RB slot. Reid split time in high school between the backfield and out wide, and WR is the position he’ll excel in at the next level. He stands to gain some top end speed as he slims down to ideal playing weight, and should be a very nice complement to All American caliber Charles Ford. Clemson’s offense will be much more dynamic next season with the moves being made by the coaching staff this offseason.

19. - RG John Carroll. Oklahoma takes the best available player here. In most signing periods, he would be a top 10 signee, however, with defense being such a premium he slides a little. Last season, starting RG Dru Samia allowed 8 sacks with another 8 penalties. Combined with their LT’s 16 sacks allowed and 7 penalties, they will be looking at other options for their offensive line configuration. Carroll can play anywhere on the line except Center, and will anchor the line for years to come.

20. - WR Ernest St. George. Iowa just missed out on the Bowl Series this season, and improving their passing game is key to the Hawkeyes taking the next step in 2023. They finished the year 24th in passing yards and 23rd in passing TDs a game in 2022. Adding a dynamic playmaker like St. George should improve those stats. He ran crisp routes and made the catches he was supposed to in high school, as he led his team to an improbable State title run last season. He’s as close to a sure thing as there is, what you see is what you get. DE Adrian Johnson is also on Iowa’s short list, as they look to add depth to their DL.

21. - FS Tyler Coleman. Miami loses his top CB to graduation, and while Coleman won’t take over as their number 1, he’ll come in and serve as depth. Coleman has the ceiling of a nice number 2 cover corner, he just needs coaching to polish his M2M skills. CB Leonard Mendenhall is an option here as well.

22. - LDE Adrian Johnson. With the new rules coming next season to improve the running game, the Utes look to beef up their run defense along their defensive line. He needs to add some muscle to his frame in order to stand up to the advanced competition and while that will slow him up a touch, he has enough to spare. He won’t be elite in either discipline, but will make most every tackle. In most years, he would be a second day signing, but he’s among the best in this season’s class.

23. - DT Carl Barajas. The Midshipmen lost 2 of their defensive tackle contributors from last season due to graduation. Navy also will lose stud DT Hawkins at the end of this season to graduation. It’s time to get some fresh blood in the ranks and Barajas is a nice start. He won’t wow anyone with his speed, but should improve a step as he gets into Navy’s world renowned training program. Barajas already possesses elite strength, and the discipline that Navy loves. He has shown the potential to excel at both rushing the passer and stuffing the run up the middle, just needs the right coaching. He may miss a tackle every now and again, but overall, a steal for this part of the signing day for the Midshipmen.

24. - FS Richard Hadley. Tennessee’s offense last year lit up the scoreboards each game. The only problem? Their defense allowed the opposing team to wear out the lightbulbs too. They allowed the 31st most yards through the air, were 22nd in Passing TD allowed, and 26th in completion percentage allowed. With Wu entering his last season of eligibility, and second CB Avitia not far behind, addressing their secondary should be important enough to sound the air raid alarms all over campus. Hadley is the ultimate high risk, high reward candidate. If he comes in and decides he wants to excel at the next level, this will turn into a phenomenal signing for the Vols. At this point of the round, Tennessee likes their chances. CB Leonard Mendenhall is also in play here, if they go the more conventional route.



25. - DT James Sunseri. The Crimson Tide experienced a mass exodus from campus following last season, losing several pieces on both sides of the ball from a team which made a run in the Bowl Series. Sunseri spent last season at Yale in the FCS, where he managed 7 sacks and 29 tackles and turned enough heads to warrant a transfer to the BCS. He managed to overcome his off the field issues to flourish for the Bulldogs, but some are weary his past is not behind him. He’ll fit right in with Alabama, who care more about wins than character. As long as you can produce, they’ll overlook a murder or two in Tuscaloosa. This is another spot for CB Mendenhall to land.

26. - WR Jonnie Langdon. Last signing period, Washington got Ed Dalton and transitioned him from RB to WR where he made an immediate impact, leading the Huskies in both TD (14) and yards (1,367). This season, they add a wide out who features many of the same characteristics of Dalton. Langdon can make the tough catch, including across the middle, and should step in immediately and play a number 2 in this offense.

27. - MLB Garland Lawrence. Arizona lacks depth at LB position, and Lawrence has the flexibility to play any of the three slots. He lacks the speed of an elite LB, but makes up for it with his other skills, including M2M coverage. He should make his share of plays as the Wildcats get him into their rotation. Solid pickup this late on the first day of signings.

28. - DT Kenneth Hammett. Hammett could stay at DL in college, but with Oklahoma State’s depth, he will look elsewhere to find playing time at the next level. We see him transitioning to WLB, where he should challenge CB Blakely, who is playing very undersized, for playing time within a season. If he dedicates himself to the new position, Hammett will be another impact player for the Cowboys.

29. - CB Leonard Mendenhall. We admit, he very well could be gone long before this signing slot. If not, Ohio State will take the best available player, and Mendenhall fits the bill. He is not a burner, but has the cover skills to at worst be a safety at the next level. He won’t bring the wood in run defense, but will shoot the gaps and bring pain to opposing quarterbacks.

30. - LT Richard Wolf. His strength is far from elite, but he’s shown the capacity to fire out in run blocking and ability to fight on an island against pass rushing DE. He ultimately will slide inside for the Orange, meaning RT Rubio’s time as starter is likely coming to an end. They want their run game to improve next season, and getting better run blockers are their first step.

31. - FS Adalberto Byers. The FCS transfer from Idaho put up solid numbers last season, allowing him to make the jump to the upper level of college football. He lacks top end speed of a CB, but if his M2M improves enough, he’ll provide depth and an eventual replacement at starter for the Wildcats. At worst, he should be a rotational piece, but Kentucky believes he has the fire inside to come in and make those who passed on him yet again feel foolish. Sources have also indicated that Kentucky could look to sign a player to transition to WR if they feel the value isn’t right when they are on the clock to sign.

32. - MLB Elmer Lepe. Notre Dame is flying high after clinching their 3rd straight National Championship, having taken Kentucky to the woodshed. They finish up round 1 of this season’s Signing Day with a typical Fighting Irish selection. Unlike past late day one signings, Lepe comes in with an impeccable reputation. He will come in and be who he looks like on game tapes. He won’t be elite in coverage, but will gain speed as he enters South Bend’s historic training program and will be just another cog in the machine that Bryson has created. Next man up, Elmer Lepe. If he decides upside is more important, TE Thomas Fanelli from FCS Townson is an option.