Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the Big 12. Welcome to a list of the Baylor Top 5 NFL Draft prospects for 2023, as seen by Draft Scout.
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar — the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City, Mo. from April 27-29. Starting today? We take a look at the Big 12 seniors, the class of 2023. Since we don’t know yet which underclassmen will declare? We’ll reconfigure the rankings when that happens, so be sure to revisit us.
Our Big 12 Draft prospect series will run beginning soon and will run for the next week, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the Big 12’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up afterwards. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
BIG 12 TOP 20 PROSPECTS: Overall Big 12 Top Prospect List
BIG 12 PROSPECTS: Baylor | BYU | Iowa St. | Kansas | Kansas State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | Oklahoma| Oklahoma St. | West Virginia
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So, we all know that not every team in the country has five surefire draft picks on it. Some programs do, especially in some of the more elite conferences, but the vast majority don’t have that many top-flight prospects. But, we also know that the definition “top-flight” doesn’t always pan out, and at the same time that strong undrafted free agent everybody forgot? He ends up making an NFL and flourishing.
Below is a look at the Baylor Top 5 Draft Prospects, and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. Again, for now, we’ll go strictly with seniors (c/o 2023), as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare earlier yet, though when they do? We’ll update the lists below.
BAYLOR TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Connor Galvin (OT)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 3rd round
CAREER STATISTICS: Galvin was the 18th offensive tackle coming out of high school before stepping on Baylor’s campus. He appeared in all 13 games during his freshman season in 2018 and he earned his first collegiate start against West Virginia.
Galvin would continue to see more game action as he stated in nine games during the 2019 season and started all games during a shortened 2020 season. In 2020, he would earn preseason accolades as he was listed as a preseason All Big-12 second team selection.
In 2021, Galvin would start all 14 games at left tackle. He would earn several accolades for his performance on the field as he earned an appearance on All-America First Team, AP All-American Third Team, Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team.
THE TRUTH: Galvin has seen his stock rise from the 2021 season to the present day. According to draft scouts, he would be viewed as a HPFA (High Priority Free Agent) to now being projected in the third round of the upcoming NFL Draft in 2023. Galvin has been a veteran on the Baylor offensive line and he has proven that he has all the intangibles to be a star at the next level.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Mark Milton (CB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA (High Priority Free Agent)
CAREER STATISTICS: Milton is a fifth-year defensive back and he entered the 2022 season with 50 career tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, five passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The star defensive back was a three-star coming out of high school. Milton would make his collegiate debut in 2018, but he would use his redshirt. He appeared in all 14 games during the 2019 season as he finished the year with seven total tackles and one forced fumble.
Milton would continue to add to his statline in 2020 as he compiled 17 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He would play in all 14 games for the Bears defense as he finished the year with a career-high in 26 tackles along with two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
THE TRUTH: Milton has been a force in the Baylor secondary and he will continue to rise on draft boards come next year. According to draft scouts, he is listed as a top-350 prospect heading into next year’s draft and is projected as a HPFA (High Priority Free Agent). A lot of NFL teams will be interested in Milton and he could even find himself sneaking into the late rounds of the NFL Draft.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Dillon Doyle (ILB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA (High Priority Free Agent)
CAREER STATISTICS: Doyle started his collegiate career at Iowa before transferring into Baylor. He would start in all 23 games for Baylor when he stepped on campus prior to the 2020 season. Doyle would pile on 172 career tackles, 11 career tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and one-career fumble recovery.
He would earn preseason and postseason accolades as he is a two-time All-Big 12 Honorable mention nominee in the 2020 and 2021 season. Doyle would add to his recognition as he was listed on the Preseason All-Big 12 team and the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team during the 2022 season.
THE TRUTH: Doyle has been a gamechanger for the Baylor defense ever since he transferred in from Iowa. He has had success at both destinations as both defenses have ranked at the top of college football. According to draft scouts, he is a high priority free agent, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he soars up draft boards with his performance during the 2022 season. Doyle has the tools to become the next draft middle linebacker in the NFL.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Ben Sims (TE)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA (High Priority Free Agent)
CAREER STATISTICS: Sims was a three-star recruit and ranked the 50th tight end in the country coming out of high school. He would begin his freshman campaign at Baylor during the 2018 season and he decided to use his redshirt.
He would appear in eight games before suffering a season-ending injury during the 2019 season. He would make his first collegiate appearance against Oklahoma during that season. Sims would see more game action as he finished the 2020 season with 14 receptions for 164 yards.
The veteran tight end would have a breakout season in 2021 as he started in 13 out of the 14 games for Baylor. He finished the 2021 season with 31 receptions, 361 yards and nine touchdowns. Sims with his nine touchdowns would be the most in program history by a tight end.
THE TRUTH: Sims has a knack of finding the endzone during his career at Baylor as he has been a go-to target to the Bears offense. According to draft scouts, Sims is currently listed as a top-350 prospect heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. He has a shot to continue to impress draft scouts and has the capability of climbing up draft boards. Tight ends are starting to become valuable end zone targets and Sims can be the next in line.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Jacob Gall (C)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA (High Priority Free Agent)
CAREER STATISTICS: Gall would spent the first four years of collegiate career at Buffalo before transferring to Baylor. During his time at Buffalo, he would play in 33 games with 13 starts. Gall was graded as the top left guard in Division 1 (91.5). He would be a part of an offense that ranked second in the nation in rushing yards per game (287.4)
During the 2021 season, Gall would start all 14 games at center. He was a part of the Baylor offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award.
THE TRUTH: Gall has led the way during his career and has become of the best centers during his collegiate career. According to draft scouts, Gall is listed as the first best free agent situation at Baylor. As a sixth-year senior he has shown that he can be a steal in the later rounds of the NFL Draft as he has shown that it is challenging to record a sack off of him.
