Tag: Luke Musgrave

Six points with David Dorey (2023 Rookie Edition)

Taking an early look at the top rookies for 2023, where they rank and the schedule for 2022-2023 NCAA Bowl Games with mentions of which future fantasy players to watch.

We’re turning the corner into fantasy playoffs and most teams in every league are on the outside looking in. There will still be developments and happenings left to see that will play into next year, but everyone should start to think about the annual turning of the NFL soil known as the draft.

Below are the current consensus best players getting ready to hear their names called from the big stage. This is a good time to turn your attention to the college ranks, because Bowl Season is here and you can watch those players in their biggest game perform. Consider it research with beer and nachos,

The players ranking below will no doubt change by April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, but here’s where they currently rank by consensus from several sources.

Quarterbacks

1. Bryce Young (5-11, 194 pounds, 4.8/40) Alabama
2. C.J. Stroud (6-3, 215 pounds, 4.7/40) Ohio State
3. Will Levis (6-3, 232 pounds, 4.7/40) Kentucky
4. Tanner McKee (6-6, 230 pounds, 4.8/40) Stanford
5. Anthony Richardson (6-4, 236 pounds, 4.5/40) Florida

Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are expected to be Top-10 picks and maybe Top-5.  Will Levis is a first-round pick but likely later in the round. All three should end up with teams looking to start a rookie quarterback at least at some point during the season, if not Week 1.  McKee and Richardson are expected to be taken in the first two rounds and potentially the first round. Their performances in bowl games and the NFL Combine will impact their draft slot.

Running Backs

1. Bijan Robinson (6-0, 214 pounds, 4.48/40) Texas
2. Jahmyr Gibbs (5-11, 200 pounds, 4.5/40) Alabama
3. Zach Charbonnet (6-1, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) UCLA
4. Kenny McIntosh (6-1, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) Georgia
5. Zach Evans (5-11, 195 pounds, 4.49/40) Ole Miss
6. Blake Corum (5-8, 210 pounds, 4.5/40) Michigan
7. Devon Achene (5-9, 185 pounds, 4.55/40) Texas A&M
8. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (5-11, 209 pounds, 4.55/40) Kentucky
9. Chase Brown (5-11, 209, 4.55/40) Illinois
10. Kendre Miller (6-0, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) TCU

Bijan Robinson is the running back that will go in the first half of the NFL draft and probably end up a second or third-round fantasy pick depending on where he ends up. He is “the guy” by every analyst out there. Jahmyr Gibbs could go in the first or second round, depending on how badly a team wants a new starting running back.

Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, and Zach Evans currently project as a second or third round pick. But remember, last year there was no first round running back and yet plenty of great picks in the first three rounds – Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Rachaad White and Brian Robinson. Dameon Pierce was the 4.02 pick.

Those backs from No. 6 to No. 10 can impact their draft slot with bowl game performances, the NFL Combine and Player Days at their schools.

Wide Receivers

1. Quentin Johnston, (6-4, 201 pounds, 4.5/40) TCU
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6-0, 197 pounds, 4.45/40) Ohio State
3. Kayshon Boutte (announced return to LSU)
4. Jordan Addison (6-2, 175 pounds, 4.5/40) USC
5. Cedric Tillman (6-3, 215 pounds, 4.5/40) Tennessee
6. Zay Flowers (5-10, 180 pounds, 4.45/40) Boston College
7. Andrei Iosivas (6-3, 200 pounds, 4.5/40) Princeton
8. Xavier Hutchinson (6-3, 210 pounds, 4.6/40-time) Iowa State
9. A.T. Perry (6-5, 206 pounds, 4.55/40) Wake Forest
10. Jalin Hyatt (6-0, 180 pounds, 4.45/40) Tennessee

There is less consensus about where wideouts fall than any other fantasy position. This class is not considered as deep as 2022, but the top receivers are expected to be contributors as rookies.

Quentin Johnston, Jaxon Smith-Njigba,  and Jordan Addison are strongly considered as the Top-3 and a level above the rest of the class. Each may end up as a first-round pick. The 40-times shown are estimates and the NFL Combine will hopefully clear up how fast they really are regardless of what their University P.R. machine says.

All of the other receivers listed above are currently expected to be second or third-round picks, but again – beyond the Top-3 there is little consensus and each could experience dramatic swings in outlook by the time the NFL draft takes place in April.

Tight Ends

1. Michael Mayer (6-4, 251 pounds, 4.7/40) Notre Dame
2. Luke Musgrave (6-6, 250 pounds, 4.7/40) Oregon State
3. Darnell Washington (6-7, 265 pounds) 4.75/40) Georgia
4. Sam LaPorta (6-3, 250 pounds, 4.69/40) Iowa
5. Dalton Kincaid (6-3, 241 pounds, 4.7/40) Utah

The position does little as rookies and Michael Mayer is the only tight end that may be taken in the late first or early second round. He’s the next Cole Kmet coming out of Notre Dame. None of the rest is expected to go prior to the third round.

2022-2023 College Bowl Schedule with 2023 fantasy rookies to watch

Friday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl: UAB vs. Miami (OH), 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Cure Bowl: Troy vs. UTSA, 3 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 17
Fenway Bowl: Louisville vs. Cincinnati 11 a.m., ESPN
New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. SMU, 2:15 p.m., ESPN
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Wash. State vs. Fresno State, 3:30 p.m., ABC
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Rice, 5:45 p.m., ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl: Florida vs. Oregon State, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Oregon State: TE Luke Musgrave
Florida: QB Anthony Richardson
Frisco Bowl: North Texas vs. Boise State, 9:15 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Marshall vs. UConn, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Liberty, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 21
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama, 9 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 22
Armed Forces Bowl: Baylor vs. Air Force, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Dec. 23
Independence Bowl: Houston vs. Louisiana, 3 p.m., ESPN
Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Wake Forest: WR A.T. Perry

Saturday, Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State vs. Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 27
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern, 12 p.m., ESPN
First Responder Bowl: Utah State vs. Memphis, 3:15 p.m., ESPN
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina, 6:45 p.m., ESPN
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State, 10:15 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl: Duke vs. UCF, 2 p.m., ESPN
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Texas Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m., ESPN
Ole Miss: RB Zach Evans

Thursday, Dec. 29
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m., ESPN
Cheez-It Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Washington, 9 p.m., ESPN
Texas: Bijan Robinson

Friday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. NC State, 12 p.m., ESPN
Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA, 2 p.m., CBS
UCLA: RB Zach Charbonnet
Gator Bowl: South Carolina vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Notre Dame: Michael Mayer
Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming, 4:30 p.m., Barstool
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Tennessee 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Tennessee: WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Cedric Tillman 

Saturday, Dec. 31
Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky, 12 p.m., ABC
Iowa: TE Sam LaPorta
Kentucky: QB Will Levis, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12 p.m., ESPN
Alabama: QB Bryce Young, RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Fiesta Bowl CFP: Michigan vs. TCU, 4 p.m., ESPN
Michigan: RB Blake Corum 
TCU: WR Quentin Johnson, RB Kendre Miller
Peach Bowl CFP semifinal: Georgia vs. Ohio State, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Georgia: RB Kenny McIntosh, TE Darnell Washington
Ohio State: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, QB C.J. Stroud

Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Illinois, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Illinois: RB Chase Brown
Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Tulane, 1 p.m., ESPN
USC: WR Jordan Addison
Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue, 1 p.m., ABC
LSU: WR Kayshon Boutee
Rose Bowl: Utah vs. Penn State, 5 p.m., ESPN
Utah: TE Dalton Kincaid

Top of the class: 2023 NFL Draft offers exciting options for Packers at TE

Brennen Rupp gives a look into his top tight ends in the 2023 draft class. Could the Packers get one?

As it stands right now the Green Bay Packers only have one tight end (Josiah Deguara) under contract for the 2023 season.

Will the Packers opt to re-sign Robert Tonyan? If Marcedes Lewis wants to come back for one more season will the Packers give him a new contract?

Regardless of what happens with Tonyan and Lewis, it’s clear the Packers need to add a younger, more athletic tight end to the mix this offseason. The 2023 NFL Draft has a handful of talented tight ends that will likely be Top 100 picks this April. Let’s take a look at the Top Five tight ends on my board.

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Mayer is a plug-and-play starter with his natural pass-catching abilities. The Notre Dame tight end has outstanding body control and is able to make catches through contact.

While Mayer may not be the most explosive athlete, he’s a natural route runner and with his size (6-5, 251 pounds), he’d be a weapon working the middle of the field for Green Bay’s offense.

The Packers are currently projected to own the No. 8 pick in the first round. If the Packers stay in that range there is a strong chance that Mayer will be on the board when the Packers are on the clock.

While the tight end position may not be viewed as a premium position, there is no doubt that Mayer is a Top 15 prospect in this class. The Packers need playmakers on offense and Mayer has all the tools to carve out a long, decorated career at the next level. 

Dalton Kincaid, Utah

There are no Travis Kelce’s walking through that door. Kelce is a unicorn and when his career is over Kelce may be regarded as the greatest tight end to ever play the game. If the Packers want a discounted version of Kelce, Kincaid may be the off-brand version of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.

Kincaid is a gifted athlete with the quickness to threaten the seam and make plays vertically. That quickness and athleticism show up after the catch as well. 

Kincaid’s calling card is his ability as a pass-catcher. He’s able to create explosive plays with the ball in his hands. The thing that’s stood out about his game this season is his continued improvement as a blocker. He’s a well-rounded tight end that could step in from day one and give the Packers a dynamic playmaker.

“Kincaid is a well-rounded tight end that continues to improve in all areas,” Alex Markham, the publisher for UteNation.com said. “When he came to Utah, he was a pass-catcher. Now with three years in the system, he’s grown to be an effective run-blocker. He’s an every-down versatile tight end, you don’t need to take him off the field.”

Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State University

Kraft has natural pass-catching skills, with his reliable hands and body control. He’s able to catch the ball in stride and quickly turn upfield to become a YAC threat. The former high school running back has above-average athleticism for the position and it’s on display when he has the ball in space. 

Kraft is an exceptional blocker. At contact he keeps his legs driving and creates movement in the run game. 

The SDSU tight end is the complete package. He’s an explosive weapon in the passing game and he’s a sound blocker.

Darnell Washington, Georgia

Washington is a monster. At 6-7, 275 pounds, Washington is an imposing figure on the gridiron. The Georgia tight end enters championship weekend with 25 catches for 403 yards and one touchdown while playing in a crowded tight end room.

Washington’s strength is his ability as a blocker. He’s a people mover with his power and can overwhelm defenders at contact. Having him on the field is like having a sixth offensive lineman on the field. 

Washington was a high-school wide receiver and has natural pass-catching abilities. He has strong, reliable hands. When he gets the ball his size and strength make him a load to bring down for defensive backs. 

Luke Musgrave, Oregon State

Musgrave moves incredibly well at 6-6, 250 pounds. He has the speed (4.51) to threaten the seam. That speed for a man his size is a big reason why Musgrave was listed on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks list.

The Oregon State tight end has natural hands and is comfortable making catches in a crowd. With his size and quickness, Musgrave will be a mismatch inside the 20s. 

Musgrave is wired right as a run blocker and brings consistent effort on every play. Musgrave does a good job of staying on his block and sealing the edge. 

With his size and athleticism, Musgrave has all the tools to develop into a difference-maker at the next level.