Scouting the Nation: Top 2024 NFL Draft Prospects at Big Programs

Who are this week's players that have the spotlight shined on them for the NFL Draft?

Author:
Jack Borowsky
Publish date:
Feb 28, 2023 8:56 AM EST

In this story:

Michigan State Spartans

Per usual, the top of next year’s draft features a lot of talent from the blue bloods of college football. In this week’s edition of Scouting the Nation, we look at five prospects with the talent to be top-of-the-line prospects in next year’s draft.

C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

Had Van Pran declared for the 2023 draft, he’d have been in the mix to be the first center drafted. By returning to school, Van Pran could cement himself as not only the top center but one of the best players in the draft. Van Pran looked great on his redshirt freshman tape but elevated his game to another level in 2023. He is the easy favorite to win the Rimington Trophy and will anchor a team looking to win three national championships in a row. It isn’t a coincidence they won two straight with him at center; Van Pran is a difference-maker.

WR Bru McCoy, Tennessee

With the way they’ve produced receivers over the past few years, Tennessee is slowly becoming Wide Receiver U. Next in line, Bru McCoy could be the best of the bunch. For his size, McCoy is a fluid athlete who can change direction well. McCoy is great with the ball in the air, as he has excellent hands and can track the ball downfield. When Hooker targeted McCoy, he consistently came down with the football while also showing YAC ability, which is hard to find with a bigger wideout. McCoy is really the complete prospect who should be the focal point of the high-octane Tennessee offense next season. He is the top senior receiver returning in college football and should cement himself as a first round prospect.

LB Jestin Jacobs, Oregon

Going into the 2022 campaign at Iowa, Jacobs was considered one of the top linebackers in the country. Because of injuries, he was limited to 32 snaps. A transfer from Iowa, I think Jacobs is going to skyrocket up draft boards this fall. The Hawkeyes never fully let him loose for evaluators what he was capable of. Now, Jacobs will show off his elite athleticism and speed for his size. He can cover, has impressive range and always makes plays when on the field. Jacobs has also shown the potential to rush the passer. Quay Walker and Channing Tindall really rose under Dan Lanning at Georgia; expect the same to happen with Jacobs. He has first-round written all over him.

DE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

With Zach Harrison off to the NFL, Sawyer will take over as a full-time starter for the Buckeyes. Sawyer, a former top recruit, flashed immense potential on the field last season. He has NFL size, is a high-end athlete and showed knockback power as a bull rusher. As he continues to get stronger and develops more of a pass rush plan, Sawyer’s tools will make him hard to stop. Sawyer does a great job of disengaging in the run game and then using his closing burst to make a play on the ball carrier. Sawyer should break out in his junior campaign and in a weak defensive end class, the talent is there for him to be one of the first drafted.

DT Derrick Harmon, Michigan State

Whenever I turn on Michigan State film, Harmon has wow reps that are hard not to notice. For such a young prospect, he has incredible size to go along with an excellent frame. Harmon has unbelievable play strength and he plays low to anchor down consistently. He displayed the ability to stack and shed offensive linemen and he can overwhelm them with power as a rusher. There are just very few defensive tackles who play as well as Harmon did in their first year really playing in the Big Ten. Harmon could develop into an all-around force this upcoming season with what he showed as a pass rusher last fall. He is scheme versatile and projects as a day-one starter at the next level.