In the Market: 2023 NFL Draft QB prospect superlatives after the season
By Scott Rogust
With the college football regular season over, let’s hand out some awards for the quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class in the latest “In the Market.”
The college football regular season has reached it send. Conference champions have been crowned, and bowl game matchups have been set for the remainder of the month, but the latter of which isn’t set to begin until Dec. 16.
But on Saturday, the Heisman trophy ceremony will be taking place in New York City. Given that there are four quarterbacks eligible for the award, we figured to hand out some awards to the top quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at the superlatives from the 2023 season.
Previous editions of “In the Market” can be found in the links below:
Biggest Riser: Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
We start things off with one of the best stories of the year, and that’s the rise of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. In 2021, Hooker threw for 2,945 yards, 31 touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing 68.0 percent of his passes through 13 games. In 2022, Hooker was a legitimate Heisman candidate. Not just that, but he rose his stock up to a potential first-round draft pick.
Hooker showed up in the big games, defeating ranked teams such as Florida, Pittsburgh, LSU, Alabama, and Kentucky. The game against the Crimson Tide was his Heisman moment, as he threw for 385 yards and five touchdowns. Two of those completions were big throws on the final drive of the game to set up Tennessee’s game-winning field goal, giving them the 52-49 victory.
Unfortunately for Hooker, his season ended earlier than expected, as he tore his ACL on Nov. 19 against South Carolina.
On the year, Hooker completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns, while running for 430 yards and five touchdowns on 104 carries.
Prior to the injury, Hooker really looked like a first-round quarterback prospect. It will remain to be seen if that will be the case, or if he’ll be selected at some point on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Biggest Faller: Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
Tyler Van Dyke was considered a potential first-round pick in 2023. Sadly, this past season didn’t showcase that. And most of it wasn’t even his fault.
Yes, he was benched when facing Middle Tennessee State in Miami’s embarrassing loss. But with Van Dyke, he was limited down the stretch due to a right shoulder injury suffered against Duke on Oct. 22. He would return two weeks later to play against Florida State, but he left the game early after re-aggravating it. Two weeks later in Miami’s regular-season finale, Van Dyke injured his right shoulder once again and was pulled very early in the game.
On the year, Van Dyke threw for just 1,844 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 63.2 completion percentage through nine games.
It was already revealed that Van Dyke won’t be declaring for the NFL Draft. Instead, he’ll return to Miami for the 2023 season.
Most Sure Thing: Bryce Young, Alabama
When it comes to the NFL Draft prospects who are the most sure thing, it has to be Alabama’s Bryce Young.
Even though Young did miss a game due to a right shoulder injury suffered against Arkansas, Young had consistent performances throughout the year. Through 11 games played, Young recorded 3,007 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 64-1 completion percentage.
Perhaps his best game was his first since the aforementioned shoulder injury, where he threw for 455 passing yards and two touchdowns in their epic game against Tennessee.
Besides the statistics, he has true game-changing ability, such as his elusiveness in the pocket and ability to make big throws on the run.
If a team is in desperate need for a quarterback for the foreseeable future, they should take Young.
This QB is going Top 10, so Quit Asking: Will Levis, Kentucky
The question of “is Will Levis a Top 10 draft pick in the NFL Draft” needs to stop being asked. He’s going to be drafted early this April, end of story.
He’s got the arm talent, athleticism, and physical traits that NFL scouts love. The issue is, while the teams see these intangibles, fans rarely see it all put together, especially this season.
Levis showed off some impressive throws throughout the year, but there were also some bad interceptions. Not to mention that he was among one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the nation (37 times, eighth-most). Before the season ended, the Wildcats fired offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, a former NFL coach who was tasked with getting the most out of Levis, who shined last season.
On the year, Levis completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Levis has already announced he won’t play in the Music City Bowl, as he declared for the NFL Draft. Even though the top quarterbacks in the class are considered to be Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, don’t be shocked if Levis finds a way to be selected as high as No. 1 overall this April.
End of Semester Hero: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Spencer Rattler was once considered a perennial first-overall pick in the NFL Draft. The thing is, his 2021 campaign was far from perfect at Oklahoma. He transferred to South Carolina, looking to start anew. Again, there weren’t many great showings…but that all changed in the Gamecock’s final two games of the season.
Rattler helped end the Tennessee Volunteers’ College Football Playoff chances, as he threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns on an 81.1 completion percentage (30-of-37) in the 63-38 victory.
Then Rattler led South Carolina to a huge win over the Clemson Tigers, ending their chances at the Playoff as well. Although he did throw two interceptions in that game, Rattler threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns, while running for a score in the narrow 31-30 win.
What a way for Rattler to end the regular season. There was a lot of promise surrounding Rattler in the past, and it now has returned. He looks to end his season on a high note when he takes on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Gator Bowl.
Forgot to Take Final Exam: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Throughout the year, C.J. Stroud looked to be the favorite to win the Heisman. But then, there were performances like against one-win Northwestern, when he threw for just 76 yards and threw just 10 completions on 26 attempts. But, he did rebound.
All Stroud needed to do was to do what he couldn’t the year prior — defeat Michigan. Sadly for him and the Buckeyes, that didn’t happen.
Despite throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to help lead Ohio State to a 20-17 lead, Stroud and the Buckeyes were limited to just three points in the entire second half. Stroud threw two interceptions in the final two quarters of that game, and watched the Wolverines cruise to a 45-23 victory.
While it was far from a great showing, Stroud has the chance to put it behind him. Ohio State will be playing in the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinal but against Georgia and their dominant defense.
Who are buyers in the NFL?
Here’s how the top of the NFL Draft order would look like entering Week 14:
- Houston Texans (1-10-1)
- Chicago Bears (3-10)
- Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos (3-9))
- Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams (3-9))
- Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints (4-9))
- Carolina Panthers (4-8)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)
- Arizona Cardinals (4-8)
- Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
- Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
Based on the top four, it is entirely possible that the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions all take a quarterback at the NFL Draft this April. Ironically, the Seahawks and Lions are in this position due to the fact that they gained the first-round picks of the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams, respectively. Both of those team have been bad this season, and don’t have a high draft pick to show for it.
Teams like the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts will probably have to swing a deal with the Chicago Bears to get ahead of some of the quarterback-needy teams. But that’s only if the draft board were to look exactly like this at year’s end. The Bears don’t need a quarterback, as they have Justin Fields.
The Atlanta Falcons could be a team to keep an eye on. This week, they decided to bench Marcus Mariota in favor of rookie third-round pick Desmond Ridder. With four more games remaining this season, the Falcons can determine if Ridder can be the team’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, or if they need to scout some of the top quarterback prospects this offseason.
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