With the 2022/23 NCAAF season now raring to get underway, college fans and NFL scouts alike will be eager to witness the next line of top prospect star names who could excite fans at the collegiate level and take the NFL by storm for the foreseeable future.
Here are some of the best names to watch ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 NCAAF campaign and those that could eventually become top picks during the 2023 NFL Draft class:
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J. Stroud (QB) – Ohio State:
The Buckeyes have a true gem on their hands for the 2022/23 which was demonstrated throughout his 2021/22 tenure as Stroud became a finalist for last year’s Heisman Trophy award, which he is very likely to replicate this season.
The starting Quarterback for the best offence in college football with impeccable stats of 4,435 yards on 72% passing, culminating in 44 touchdowns last season, a feat that had many believing he could be potential top tier pick should he have declared for this year’s Draft.
With Stroud now planning on playing one more year in Ohio, he is expected to dazzle with incredible vision, movement and passing that could help the Buckeyes win their first NCAA title since 2014 which is reflected in the College football odds, and mark Stroud as the consensus first overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft Class.
Will Anderson (Linebacker) – Alabama:
Potentially the closest challenger for C.J. Stroud’s case of being the best collegiate player heading into the 2022/23 season is defensive ace Will Anderson who has widely been regarded as one of the best linebacker’s that college football has ever witnessed in recent history.
Anderson has proven to be a sheer nightmare for opposing QB’s with his nation leading numbers in sacks (17.5) and tackles for loss (34.5), earning him a well-deserved unanimous All-American slot as well as winning the Nagurski award for the best defensive player.
Anderson has demonstrated all the means to become a future Pro-Bowler and superstar in the making heading into next year’s Draft class with many core attributes that could attract the wandering gazes of any major NFL scouts, who might be looking to improve their versatility on defense.
Overall, next year’s top two picks are most likely to come down to Stroud and Anderson marking them as prime-time viewing options to watch throughout the season.
Bryce Young (QB) – Alabama:
Both the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide are fortunate to have two of the best QB’s available at the collegiate level, and there is still a strong case among many fans to believe that Bryce Young could look remain hotly in the race as the best player at college football level for the new season, especially given that he is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
After a tremendous 2021/22 season that saw Young lead Alabama to the SEC Championship, the now 21 year old Junior is a viable asset to watch throughout the upcoming season as Young looks set to remain a hot fixture as the starting QB on an Alabama team that is raring to remain a major contender for the National Championship.
In his sophomore season, Young earned respectable percentages of 67% from 4,872 passing yards, completing 47 touchdowns as a result, with many now looking ahead to his Junior year as potentially being the best of his upstart career.
Jalen Carter (DL) – Georgia:
Moving away from the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide, we head to another promising youngster playing out of the ever-prestigious Georgia Bulldogs, program in the form of Defensive Line Jalen Carter.
The Bulldogs enjoyed great success at the 2022 NFL Draft as a number of high-profile defensive anchors were selected within the first round, which included the number one selection of DE Travon Walker by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and there is a great case to be made on whether Carter maybe the best defensive starlet to come out of the Bulldogs program yet.
Carter is a force to be reckoned with due to his intimating frame and physical stature as well as his excellent first step and speed with only a few minor blips being discussed towards his inconsistency on shedding blocks and a desire to see an improvement in his overall read-and-react skills that could holster him back from being a consensus top four pick.
Arch Manning (QB) – Texas:
It felt only right to include a five star ranked high-school prospect on this list and there maybe be none more discussed than Arch Manning who (as his surname suggests) could prove to be a potential superstar athlete heading into the college scene.
As stated, Arch is a member of the legendary Manning family as the older son of Cooper and as such a nephew to legendary NFL names Peyton and Eli.
Manning confirmed his desires to join Texas which has had all eyes fixated on the Longhorns for the 2022/23 season as the college fandom will get another taste of the immense potential that Manning showcased at high-school, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of his family members and become a global football phenomenon.