Bijan Robinson Leads Big 12’s NFL 2023 Prospects: Report
Texas running back Bijan Robinson topped The Athletic’s ‘Way Too Early’ Big 12 top prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.
The article called Robinson ‘the most electrifying athlete in college football.’ He was eighth in FBS last season after averaging 112.7 yards per game. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said after April’s spring game that the Longhorns’ success this season will flow through Robinson.
The article featured 10 players that could be on NFL Draft radars going into 2023.
Robinson is projected by some to be a first-round pick.
In fact, Baylor, TCU, Iowa State and Kansas State had multiple prospects on the list.
Baylor’s main prospects were on the line, led by offensive tackle Connor Galvin. The Athletic named him a First-Team All-American last season, and he’s probably going to pop up on the All-Big 12 Preseason Team next month. He’ll be charged with protecting starting quarterback Blake Shapen.
Also on the list from Baylor was defensive tackle Siaki Ika, who is 350 pounds and plays nose tackle.
TCU had a pair on the list. Cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of TCU legend LaDainian Tomlinson and is coming off an All-America season. Wide receiver Quentin Johnson could be one of the Big 12’s top overall weapons, especially if the Horned Frogs’ quarterback play gets more consistent in 2022.
Iowa State had two prospects in the article. Offensive lineman Trevor Downing is a player that could work at guard or center at the next level. And he’s making the move to center this season. Defensive end Will McDonald was an Associated Press All-American last season and he’s recorded 22 sacks the past two seasons.
Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn is on the list, and he reminds many of another former K-State back, Darren Sproles. Vaughn is capable of dominating the game as a back or as a receiver. His teammate, defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah has been a high-level producer for the Wildcats for two seasons.
The final Big 12 player on the list was West Virginia defensive lineman Dante Stills, who gets sacks in a system that is really more designed for him to take up space, which makes him intriguing to NFL scouts.
Matthew Postins can be found on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
