Every week of the college football season produces more film for NFL scouts to digest and creates movement on draft boards around the league.
There's always intrigue at the top of the draft, but, barring injury or surprise, the first few picks will feature some combination of Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Clemson defensive linemen Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee also likely won't wait long to hear their names called.
But NFL success is often determined by players taken in later rounds. Many sleepers eventually become key contributors or stars. Identifying them is the tricky part, but I'll take a shot.
Everyone has a slightly different definition of an NFL draft sleeper, so to keep things simple, I took the early 2023 NFL draft rankings from Todd McShay and Scouts Inc. and identified 12 draft-eligible players ranked between No. 90 and 200. These players project as draftable prospects and have made contributions this season but aren't generating the same buzz as guaranteed first- or second-round picks. To gather additional insight, I spoke to coaches and some scouts about the potential draft sleepers for 2023.
Here they are, in descending order from the highest rated in ESPN's rankings.
Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
Scouts Inc. ranking: 92
Year: Senior
Measurables: 5-foot-9, 180 pounds
2022 stats: 25 tackles (22 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups
Hodges-Tomlinson broke through in 2020, when he led the Big 12 and ranked second nationally with 13 pass breakups, earning the highest grade from Pro Football Focus as a cornerback in coverage. The two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection relishes being assigned to opponents' top wide receivers, a role that has continued this fall under new defensive coordinator Joseph Gillespie and cornerbacks coach Carlton Buckels.
"Pretty much being more physical, making them understand, 'You're going to have to work for these catches, and I'm going to come at you every play,'" Hodges-Tomlinson told ESPN. "It's the physicality part of it, and also my quickness, it makes it harder for these guys to be able to catch the ball."
Hodges-Tomlinson cited his lateral quickness, which helps him close on passes and either break them up or rattle receivers to force incompletions, as his greatest attribute. He has the requisite confidence for a No. 1 cornerback, but also understands the main concern about him from the NFL's viewpoint.
"I feel like there's nothing I'm really lacking, besides being a 5-9 cornerback," he said.
An NFL scout said the concern with Tomlinson is he could get exposed later in the draft process because he's "super small" and lacks elite speed despite being a good athlete. Gillespie told ESPN that Hodges-Tomlinson has benefited from learning a new defense and working with Buckels, who has sent several defensive backs to the NFL.
Hodges-Tomlinson isn't the type of cornerback who opponents never challenge, so he gets chances to make plays on the ball. He's tied for second on the team in solo tackles with 22, and since 2020, he has 23 passes defended. Last season, Hodges-Tomlinson had two interceptions and a forced fumble to go with a career-high 41 tackles.
"[NFL] scouts know how talented he is, but at the end of the day, what do you bring to the table that nobody else can bring? Because you're already going to be in a mismatch from the height standpoint," Gillespie said. "So you've got to be a phenomenal technician."
Nick Broeker, G, Ole Miss
Scouts Inc. ranking: 94
Year: Senior
Measurables: 6-5, 315 pounds
2022 stats: Started every game (31 straight in his career) for No. 3 offense in rushing (252 ypg) and No. 8 in fewest sacks allowed (.75 per game)
Broeker played left tackle for his first three seasons at Ole Miss, starting every game in 2020 and 2021, and allowed only four sacks on 929 pass-blocking plays. But NFL scouts saw guard as a better fit for Broeker at the pro level. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin let Broeker decide what he wanted to do.
"It was up to him," Kiffin told ESPN. "We weren't going to move him if he didn't want to, because he did a great job at tackle. It was really more for his long-term future."
Broeker made the shift for left guard, and has thrived for Ole Miss, which boasts one of the nation's most balanced and effective offenses. The Rebels have thrived in the run game behind TCU transfer Zach Evans (No. 97 on Scouts Inc.'s prospect list), and Broeker's ferocity as a run blocker has stood out to scouts.
Kiffin also sees the senior often helping the man occupying his old spot, redshirt freshman left tackle Jayden Williams. Broeker also has seen some time at center for the Rebels, so his flexibility should help him in the draft process. He has faced the SEC's best pass-rushers and now lines up across from top interior players with strong draft grades.
"He has really good balance and body control, really understands the game and leverage and angles really well, and he's a phenomenal finisher," Kiffin said. "It's very valuable that he can play multiple positions. He's done everything for us, and now showed that he can go play inside."
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Dalton Kincaid makes the catch in traffic to give the Utes a 14-0 lead.
Scouts Inc. ranking: 98
Year: Senior
Measurables: 6-4, 240 pounds
2022 stats: 39 receptions, 558 yards, six touchdowns, 14.3 ypc, 79.7 ypg
Kincaid emerged for Utah last season, when he started 13 games and averaged 14.2 yards per catch with eight touchdowns, which ranked fifth nationally among tight ends. But he was overshadowed by fellow tight end Brant Kuithe -- rated No. 91 in ESPN's draft prospect rankings, who had comparable but slightly better numbers (50 receptions, team-high 611 receiving yards).
Kuithe once again projected as Utah's top tight end and had 19 receptions and three touchdowns in the first four games, but tore his ACL against Arizona State and will miss the rest of the season. As expected, Kincaid's role has increased significantly. He shined in Utah's Oct. 15 win over USC, putting up the most receiving yards total (234) for a Utes player since 1988. His single-game totals for receptions (16) and yards marked the most ever for a Utah tight end.
"He's been of great value so far, a big-time player," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham told ESPN. "He's a guy that's going to play on Sundays. He's got everything you look for in a tight end. He'll continue to be targeted quite often the rest of this season."
Several NFL scouts told ESPN they would be surprised if Kincaid goes past Day 2 without being selected. Kincaid isn't a trench-based tight end who will be celebrated for his blocking, but his production in the receiving game, plus the fact he's expected to test well leading up to the draft, helps his chances.
"There's no chance he gets out of Day 3, probably no chance he gets out of Day 2 at this point," a scout said. "He's going to measure well and run well. He's a bit easier to project, but if all of a sudden he goes out and runs a 4.82, things change."
Nick Hampton, OLB, Appalachian State
Scouts Inc. ranking: 109
Year: Junior
Measurables: 6-3, 235 pounds
2022 stats: 7 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 5 quarterback hurries, 30 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery
Hampton is an undeniably skilled pass-rusher and his production hasn't dropped off despite the increased attention he sees this season. In 2021, he recorded 11 sacks -- an Appalachian State record during the program's time in the FBS -- to go with 17.5 tackles for loss and 69 total stops. He finished with five sacks in the final three games.
His ability to maintain production this fall -- Hampton recorded 2.5 sacks in the season opener against North Carolina and also has had multiple sacks against James Madison and Georgia State -- underscores the evolution of his game.
"He's getting doubled and chipped every opportunity," Appalachian State outside linebackers coach Mark DeBastiani told ESPN. "It's forced him to be a much better pass-rusher. He's able to convert from a run situation into a pass-rusher, which is where the majority of his sacks and hurries have come from."
Hampton had been undersized for his position and added 13 or 14 pounds this offseason, according to DeBastiani. His weight would occasionally dip below 220 last fall, and the NFL feedback was that he needed to play above 230 pounds. Hampton reported to camp at 236 pounds and has maintained his weight without losing explosiveness.
"His ability to go from power to speed with his length makes him pretty special, because they can't just sit on a speed move," DeBastiani said. "A lot of guys who are that twitched up have some stiffness and can't bend their hips as much. That's the attribute he has that very few people have."
An NFL scout noted Hampton has been very productive and likely will run well at the combine, but said "weight's an issue" even though it doesn't hold him back in the Sun Belt. Hampton ultimately must show he can carry the extra weight and thrive as a bigger player.
"Production always gets you drafted when you can get sacks," a scout said. "He's going to get drafted, if I had to guess right now, third or fourth [round]."
Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
Zach Charbonnet crosses goal line for 46-yard TD
Scouts Inc. ranking: 123
Year: Senior
Measurables: 6-1, 220 pounds
2022 stats: 766 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, 107 carries, 15 receptions, 171 receiving yards
DeShaun Foster knows what an NFL running back looks like. He was one for six seasons with the Panthers and 49ers, and saw plenty during his time in the league. As running backs coach for UCLA, his alma mater, Foster views Charbonnet through the same lens.
After starting his very first college game at Michigan in 2019, where he set the team's freshman rushing touchdowns record with 11, Charbonnet transferred to UCLA after the 2020 season. Last year, he finished second in the Pac-12 in rushing (94.8 ypg) while leading the league in 100-yard rushing performances (7). Charbonnet's production has continued this fall, as he's putting up the best numbers of his career, averaging 127.7 rush yards per game with seven touchdowns, as well as 15 receptions for 171 receiving yards.
"He has unbelievable vision and feet for his size," Foster told ESPN. "He's really nimble to be that size, and vision, and he's a physical runner. He never lets the first defender tackle him. Most of the scouts who keep coming through here let me know he's checked all the boxes. Top back, one of the best they've seen. So hopefully he can just keep that going."
Foster often sends Charbonnet highlights of NFL running backs either making defenders miss or running through tackles, reminding the senior that the elite ball carriers have to beat the men assigned to stop them. Charbonnet ranks sixth nationally in yards per carry (7.16) and consistently generates yards after contact, a trait that will help him in the NFL evaluation process.
His durability also stands out, as he has missed only one game at UCLA, a Week 2 contest against FCS Alabama State.
"That's huge because availability is the No. 1 ability," Foster said. "One thing Zach doesn't do is miss practice or anything. He's a serious kid. He's locked in. He understands what's at stake and he sees the bigger picture. I'm just excited for him to continue to lead this team, and then see where he gets drafted."
Scouts say Charbonnet isn't a burner and runs a bit too upright at times, but his instincts and understanding of the game will land him on an NFL roster spot. His draft status likely will come down to how he runs at the combine.
"It wouldn't shock me if he dropped 8 to 10 pounds, shows up at 215 and runs 4.55," a scout said. "Does he get into [the third round] because he runs well enough, or does he fall to [fourth or fifth] and someone takes him in five and gets a steal down the line? The speed's going to determine where he goes, but he's a helluva player."
Olu Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
Scouts Inc. ranking: 127
Year: Senior
Measurables: 6-3, 307 pounds
2022 stats: Started all seven games for line that has allowed only nine sacks (only three in the past two games) and propels the nation's No. 8 rushing offense (241.7 ypg)
Several weeks ago, Big Ten coaches said Michigan's offensive line was better than the version last season that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation's top trench crew. Oluwatimi, a transfer from Virginia, might be the biggest reason why.
A Rimington Trophy finalist in 2021, Oluwatimi has filled a significant need at center and become another reliable star for an experienced group. Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore told ESPN that Oluwatimi, who was named a reserve captain on offense, seems like he has been around the program for years, not months.
"He's as talented as anybody we have," Moore told ESPN. "He's played a lot of football. He compares a lot to a guy we had here a few years back, [first-round pick] Cesar Ruiz. He's got all the physical tools to be the first center taken off the board in the draft. From strength, athletic ability, flexibility, he can handle anybody we face. He's just been outstanding and has got all the tools you want for the next level."
I talked with an NFL scout who watched Michigan bulldoze Penn State for 418 rushing yards in a 41-17 win. The scout marveled at Oluwatimi's athleticism, especially when pulling on run plays. Replacing the extremely intelligent Andrew Vastardis, Oluwatimi has quickly absorbed the system and all of his responsibilities.
"You have to be able to pull and move, especially at that position, and he's got an elite ability to do that," Moore said. "He gets the ball where it needs to go on the snap and then target who he's supposed to target, and then adjust when the guys aren't where they're supposed to be. The way he plays, the way he carries himself, he can play for as long as he wants."
Jacob Copeland, WR, Maryland
Scouts Inc. ranking: 152
Year: Junior
Measurables: 6-0, 202 pounds
2022 stats: 21 receptions, 324 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 kickoff returns, 69 return yards
Maryland is loaded with receivers -- Dontay Demus Jr. is No. 76 in Scouts Inc.'s draft rankings, while Rakim Jarrett and Jeshaun Jones are proven players -- and boasts a group that ranks behind only Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten. Copeland, a transfer from Florida, doesn't have the lion's share of the targets, but has capitalized on his opportunities.
He leads Maryland in yards per reception (15.4) and ranks third on the team in receiving yards (324). Copeland hasn't had more than four receptions in any game this season. He has been a big-play threat throughout his career, averaging 18.9 yards per catch in 2020 at Florida and 15.7 yards per catch with a career-high 41 receptions last year for the Gators.
"Statistically, he may slide under the radar, but if you come watch him play, the skill set is that of a guy that's a first- or second-round draft pick, very similar to the guys I had at Alabama," Maryland coach Mike Locksley told ESPN. "He has more size than most of the guys I had there, but has the same kind of explosiveness and big-play ability.
"He is physical as hell as a receiver in the run game. He has the size and speed, very similar skill set to that of a Deebo Samuel, a powerful guy."
NFL scouts are aware of the talent surrounding Copeland, not just at wide receiver but tight end and running back. Locksley noted the "special teams value" Copeland brings. Although Maryland hasn't used Copeland as a ball carrier much, the junior has the ability.
He's viewed as a player who could overcome unspectacular numbers at Maryland by shining at the pre-draft events.
"When it comes to the all-star circuit, the combine circuit, he probably will rise," a scout said. "He's big, he's fast, he's strong, he's got production in his past at Florida. I don't think he gets in the top 100, but he'll be an intriguing guy."
Isaiah McGuire, DE | Darius Robinson, DT, Missouri
Scouts Inc. ranking: 168/184
Year: Senior/Senior
Measurables: 6-4, 274 pounds/6-5, 296 pounds
2022 stats: 21 tackles, 2 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick, 2 quarterback hurries/14 tackles, 1 sack, 3 quarterback hurries
I grouped McGuire and Robinson together because of their proximity both on Missouri's defensive line and in the prospect rankings.
After a breakout season in 2021 -- McGuire led the team with six sacks and had 14 tackles for loss -- the senior has continued to contribute for an improved Tigers defense this fall. He had forced fumbles in two of Missouri's first four games and has had his production spike in recent games against Florida (seven tackles) and Vanderbilt (five tackles).
Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz thinks McGuire will be "a five- to eight-year pro" who projects as a midround selection.
"Hard worker and he's developed into a great player," Drinkwitz told ESPN. "When they recruited him, he was 6-2; he's now 6-5, so he's grown three inches. A very productive player, really smart, intelligent. Isaiah's shown versatility being able to drop as an overhang outside linebacker."
Robinson has been instrumental in Missouri improving from 124th nationally in scoring defense last season to 46th this fall. He had a sack in Missouri's near upset of Georgia and has consistently filled gaps against the run.
"There's just not that many guys in the entire world that look that size," said Drinkwitz, who also believes Robinson projects as a midround pick. "D-Rob's been playing nose, he can rush the passer, can play a 3 [technique] or a shade. He's got, as Mel Kiper would say, position flexibility."
DeAndre Square, LB, Kentucky
Eric Gray runs for 28-yard touchdown
Scouts Inc. ranking: 170
Year: Senior
Measurables: 6-1, 221 pounds
2022 stats: 52 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries
Like a number of others on this list, Square has incredible college production working in his favor -- 296 career tackles, 6.5 sacks, three interceptions -- and size likely working against him for NFL draft purposes. Square is undersized next to others at his position, but could be a very good pickup, likely in Day 3, for teams seeking a smart, speedy player on the outside.
"If you're looking for a big 240-pound inside backer, that's not him," Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White told ESPN. "He's going to be that 220, 225 pounds, he can run, he's savvy, he can sort blocks, he's shown he can be violent in finishing tackles. He's going to have to fit somebody as a Will backer."
White, who came to Kentucky after coaching linebackers with the Indianapolis Colts, likens Square to former Colts and Chicago Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who "just bounced around and made a ton of plays." Listed at 6-foot, Freeman averaged 117.6 tackles during his first five NFL seasons.
Square was only 17 when he got to Kentucky, and struggled to hold weight early in his career. He hasn't been asked to pack on pounds but has added muscle and boasts "a mature man body," White said.
Kentucky's defense uses multiple coverages, and White believes Square shouldn't struggle in absorbing or executing NFL schemes. Square also will embrace the special teams element after starting on Kentucky's punt coverage team for three years.
"He's got great instincts and feel," White said. "With as much Cover 3 as we play, and all the over routes, he's able to hunt them and roll them, and that is not an easy task at any level. That's a huge upside for him. His ability to understand and manipulate through a defense, when he gets into a system, he's going to understand that playbook. He's already been exposed to a variety of coverages and techniques.
"He'll be able to execute that with confidence, where a lot of rookies and young players in [the NFL], they just came from just a Cover 3 system or only a [Cover 4] system."
Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
Scouts Inc. ranking: 171
Year: Senior
Measurables: 5-10, 210 pounds
2022 stats: 695 rush yards, 5 touchdowns, 97 carries, 14 receptions, 105 yards
Like Charbonnet, Gray is a running back with notable résumés at two Power 5 schools. He eclipsed 100 carries in each of his two seasons at Tennessee, finishing with 1,311 yards and eight touchdowns. After transferring to Oklahoma, Gray wasn't in a featured role in 2021, but still averaged 5.3 yards per carry and finished with one of his better performances in the Alamo Bowl against Oregon (82 yards on eight carries).
This year, Gray has blossomed as RB1 under new coach Brent Venables and coordinator Jeff Lebby, recording double figures in carries in every game. He has four 100-yard rushing performances despite only hitting the 20-carry mark in his most recent game against Kansas. Gray ranks fifth nationally in yards per carry (7.2) and No. 1 among players with at least 70 carries.
"He stays healthy, he's going to have a huge year from a production standpoint," Lebby told ESPN. "I've said it 100 times, this guy's a pro. He operates like a pro, he takes care of his body, then he prepares in the meeting room. He has a ton of knowledge."
Scouts don't expect Gray to test exceptionally well, which likely will keep him out of Day 2. One said of the Sooners' senior: "Awesome player, but he will be drafted late."
Gray's speed might not blow away evaluators, but how he runs continues to resonate.
"Runs hard, runs physical, got good speed," a Big 12 coach said. "He's one of those guys who can run through tackles."
Charlie Thomas, LB, Georgia Tech
Scouts Inc. ranking: 193
Year: Senior
Measurables: 6-2, 207 pounds
2022 stats: 61 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass breakups, 3 quarterback hurries
Georgia Tech interim coach Brent Key describes Thomas as a prolific playmaker who has started games in each of the past four seasons. Thomas has 262 career tackles, including 34 for loss and nine sacks, to go along with six forced fumbles and four interceptions.
"He's such a quick striker and he's so dadgum intense," Key told ESPN.
Key, who coached against Thomas in practice the past few years while working with Georgia Tech's offensive line, appreciates the fifth-year senior's intensity and straightforward approach to the game: "See ball, go hit ball," Key said. As Georgia Tech's head coach, he has seen Thomas' painstaking preparation for games, which helps him anticipate big plays, like an interception in Georgia Tech's road upset of defending ACC champion Pitt on Oct. 1. Thomas also had a fumble recovery in the win.
In 2020, Thomas lined up at all three levels of the defense. He has shown the ability to both rush and cover, despite being barely 200 pounds.
"He's an extremely natural linebacker," Key said. "I know he doesn't have the bulk of most of the guys at the next level, but the thing I judge a great linebacker by, their initial alignment might be four yards [off the line] but it feels like they're playing from 2 yards out. And then his ability to blitz and not just make them miss but put moves on them and play in the tackle box, covering the A- and B-gaps. He's not just an edge rusher, he can rush over a guard."
Key likes how Thomas plays at his current weight but could see him adding 15 to 20 pounds for the NFL and still being effective in a versatile role.
"They'll want to see him in space, see him cover, see him in sub packages [more than four defensive backs], which are becoming more prevalent in the league," Key said. "To be a linebacker who can match up on a tight end, kind of those dime linebacker types, they're hard to find."