Quentin Johnston, Myles Murphy & More Must-Watch 2023 Draft Prospects on Championship Weekend

Just before conference games kick off, I want to take a look at some key players in each game that I'll have my eyes on this weekend. A big performance in a championship game always piques scouts' interests, so expect a lot eyes on these players.

As a reminder, you can find my top 10 rankings for every position here:

• Quarterback
• Running Back
• Wide Receiver
• Tight Ends
• Interior OL
• Offensive Tackle
• Edge
• Defensive Tackle
• Linebacker
• Cornerback
• Safety

Pac-12 Championship Game

Dalton Kincaid

Tight End, Utah

The Trojans and Utes have already faced each other in 2022 in a game that resulted in USC’s lone loss thus far. In that matchup, senior tight end Kincaid went off for 16 receptions, 234 yards and a touchdown. I'll be keeping an eye on how the Trojans scheme their defense to limit his presence in the pass game. If they don't make serious adjustments to their game plan, I won't be surprised if he tears USC's back seven apart yet again.

Kincaid is a physical tight end who’s an impressive athlete with the ball in his hands and he currently projects as a potential round 2 pick. He reminds me of Broncos rookie Greg Dulcich.

Jordan Addison

Wide receiver, USC

The reigning Biletnikoff winner and projected first-round pick started the season on a high-note prior to dealing with some injuries down the stretch. Now he’s back at his top form and performing as the primary target of Heisman frontrunner Caleb Williams. Addison is a technically advanced pass catcher who can create yards after the catch while being a solid threat at all three levels of the field. He will be a reliable target for a long time in the NFL.

Big 12 Championship Game

Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Edge Rusher, Kansas State

The big-time pass rusher is projected to be a late round 1 or early round 2 pick next April. He’s been a consistent force for the past couple of seasons and he has been able to improve from a technical standpoint. Anudike-Uzomah is still far from being a finished product but he has legitimate physical tools that could help him develop into a solid starter at the next level able to produce both in pass rush and run defense.

Quentin Johnston

Wide Receiver, TCU

Although he had to deal with multiple injuries throughout the season, even going so far as sitting out last week's regular season finale in order to have him in top form for the title game, Johnston has still been able to display flashes of greatness. 

In my opinion, he’s the best wide receiver prospect in the 2023 draft, as he brings to the table a near-perfect combination of size, athleticism, ball skills and dominance at the catch point. He will once again be the centerpiece of TCU’s offense in a matchup that could propel the Horned Frogs into the playoff.

SEC Championship Game

Kelee Ringo

Cornerback, Georgia

The former 5-star recruit could easily end up being the first cornerback selected next April as he possesses all the tools to become a big-time primary press-man corner in the NFL. Ringo has elite physical tools and he’s a tremendous athlete who can take on anyone. 

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Although he needs to refine his game from a technical standpoint, he’s gifted and fluid athlete with immense potential. He’ll be asked to cover a couple of different yet talented pass catchers in Kayshon Boutte and Malik Nabers.

Kayshon Boutte

Wide Receiver, LSU

Boutte was my top ranked wide receiver prospect prior to the season, despite the fact that he was still recovering from an injury that cut short his 2021 campaign. But as he got back on the field, the rare explosiveness and long speed he displayed prior to the injury have disappeared.

We don’t know if he hasn’t fully recovered yet or if those traits are just gone. This week’s matchup against Georgia’s secondary and potentially top prospect Kelee Ringo will be interesting for his evaluation. Seeing him putting together one of his signature pre-injury, game-changing plays would be just perfect.

Big Ten Championship Game

Mazi Smith

Defensive Tackle, Michigan

Despite facing a felony charge that could impact his draft stock, Smith is still eligible to play and he’ll be once against a key figure for the Wolverines. The rising interior defensive lineman has started to put his impressive raw tools together this season and produce. He’s definitely far from a finished product but his elite athleticism gives him a rather high ceiling as a prospect. We’ll see how the situation with his charge will proceed later on, but for now he’s someone to watch closely on the gridiron.

Aidan O’Connell

Quarterback, Purdue

Purdue doesn’t have many draft caliber prospects, so the only way to potentially pull off what would be a miraculous upset is to rely on the veteran signal-caller O’Connell. While he will most likely end up being a late round pick or an undrafted free agent, O’Connell has throughout his career displayed a solid arm and pin-point ball placement. 

He absolutely possesses the tools to be on a NFL roster. But without a miracle, he's probably going to end up on the wrong end of a one-sided affair against the Wolverines.

ACC Championship Game

Myles Murphy

Edge Rusher, Clemson

The Tigers went down against South Carolina last week as the offense once again wasn’t able to produce, but if Clemson still is in this position despite all the offensive struggles, it’s because of the defense and in particular, Murphy. He’s one of the top overall prospects in the 2023 draft as he brings to the table an impressive combination of physical tools and technical refinement. 

He’s a game-changer able to perform at a high-level on weekly basis without a dip in production. His ability to get after star quarterback Drake Maye will go a long way to determining who comes out on top of the showdown in Charlotte.

Josh Downs

Wide receiver, North Carolina

It will not be easy for the Tar Heels to pull off an upset, but with Drake Maye under center anything can happen. Josh Downs, one of the most underrated prospects in the draft who’s a borderline round one talent, will be once again Maye’s primary weapon. 

Downs is a speedster who’s effective at all three levels of the field while also being a sudden route runner and top deep threat who reminds me of T.Y. Hilton. If somehow North Carolina will get it done, it will probably be because of the lethal connection between Maye and Downs.