Five UC Football Players That Could be Drafted in 2023

The Bearcats are a long shot to set another program picks record, but there is still plenty of pro potential on the 2022 roster.

Author:
Russ Heltman
May 4, 2022 2:21 PM EDT

CINCINNATI — The 2022 NFL Draft has passed, with Cincinnati breaking plenty of records, including a program-record nine selections across the three-day event. It would be foolish to expect the 2022 team to continue that trend in the NFL Draft and set another new mark for selections, but there are talents on the current roster with draft potential.

Here are five current Bearcats with realistic NFL Draft hopes in 2023.

Dec 4, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Josh Whyle (81) runs with the ball against the Houston Cougars in the second half during the American Athletic Conference championship game at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports — © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

TE - Josh Whyle

Whyle is the easiest and obvious candidate here after testing the NFL Draft process this offseason and ultimately returning to Cincinnati. The senior should continue the trend set by Travis Kelce, Josiah Deguara, and Korey Cunningham as Bearcat TEs that were drafted in recent years.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound talent started seven games last season and appeared in all 13—posting 26 catches for 332 yards and six touchdowns. Whyle was an All-AAC honorable mention after earning second-team All-AAC honors in 2020.

Whyle bet on himself to be one of the top tight ends available in 2023. He should blow past his career-high for catches in a season (28) as Cincinnati leans into more 12 personnel in 2022.

Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Leonard Taylor (11) scores a touchdown as East Carolina Pirates linebacker Aaron Ramseur (51) attempts to stop him in the first half of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, NC, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Cincinnati Bearcats At East Carolina Pirates 09 — © Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

TE - Leonard Taylor

It's not hard to find the strength of this Bearcats offense heading into the summer. Taylor and Whyle will play a big role in the team's success and an even bigger role in their own NFL dreams. Taylor should start alongside Whyle in 12, and 22 personnel looks.

Eerily enough, Taylor matched Whyle's career-high with 28 catches last season for 268 yards and four touchdowns. The latter was a bit more explosive with his chances last season, and that could be the difference on the depth chart. Regardless, Taylor has shown enough in the blocking and receiving game to warrant a sniff from the NFL.

I wouldn't be surprised if Taylor and Whyle get 70-plus targets each this season—which would be about 25-30 more than either player's career-high. Taylor's quickest path to a rise up draft boards is through a stronger showing as a receiver. He caught just 60% of his targets in 2021—getting that up near 70-75% is a key factor.

Safety - Ja'Von Hicks

Bryan Cook passed the Bearcats' lead safety baton to Hicks, and he could follow his former teammate as a draft cycle darling. Hicks has been a menace as the last line of defense. In his two healthy seasons (2019, 2021), Hicks amassed 106 tackles (2.5 TFLs), seven interceptions, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 28 games.

At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, Hicks has a similar profile to Cook's and now gets free reign to lay down the thunder as a top leader in this secondary along with Arquon Bush. He posted eight tackles in Cincinnati's loss to Alabama—to go with some other nice plays on tape in the CFP.

Hicks could show more development with his ability to defend the ball in the air, and he'll likely get 14 more chances to display that growth.

Dec 7, 2019; Detroit, MI, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas quarterback Quinten Dormady (12) passes the ball over Miami Redhawks linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (23) during the fourth quarter in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports — © Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

LB - Ivan Pace Jr.

Both of the Pace Brothers (Deshawn and Ivan) could've been lumped in together here with how much talent both bring to the table, but having to pick one—I'll lean on Ivan.

The Miami (OH) transfer is one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the country. He stuffed the stat sheet with 125 tackles (60 solo), four sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in the MAC last season. According to PFF, Pace totaled 19 QB pressures on just 46 rushes in 2021. Add in an 88.6 coverage grade with a 6-foot, 239-pound frame, and you get a prototype NFL linebacker for today's game.

The one thing in Ivan's way could be initial playing time on a new team, but he should wrangle control of a starting job eventually. Another is a step up in competition, going from the least talented conference in the FBS—to the sixth-best conference.

If he plays like expected, Pace could be battling for a professional starting spot next year.

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Jowon Briggs (18) chases Houston Cougars quarterback Clayton Tune (3) in the first quarter of the American Athletic Conference Championship football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Houston Cougars at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. The Bearcats led 14-13 at the half. Houston Cougars At Cincinnati Bearcats American Athletic Conference Championship — © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

DL - Jowon Briggs

Cincinnati's defensive interior will be under a bit more pressure than they're accustomed to over the past few years, and returning senior Jowon Briggs is playing a big role this coming fall.

It's always tougher on a defense when it has to replace a pair of All-American cornerbacks, but now Briggs & Co. gets to drive the defensive bus. The 6-foot-2, 315-pound menace in the middle finished 2021 with 42 tackles (nine solo, four TFLs) and three sacks after transferring from Virginia.

Briggs is the fulcrum piece in the middle of Mike Tressel's 3-3-5 defense. His ability to push the pocket and plug the A-gap is where the success of this defense starts. He has prototypical size for an NFL three-technique inside rusher and would love to post a mirror-image campaign to Curtis Brooks in 2021 (57 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks).

If Briggs comes close to those numbers in Brooks's old role—then he's on his way to following his old team a similar path as a late-round flier.

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