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 BYU 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 afterward. 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 BYU Top 5 NFL 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.
Steve Connor AP
BYU TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Kaleb Hayes CB
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Hayes has played in 23 games with 59 tackles, and 19 pass break ups.
THE TRUTH: The 6’0 190 lbs cornerback from San Bernardino, California. His draft stock remains the same after transferring to BYU in 2021 and after missing some games this year with a concussion. Last season led the Cougars in pass breaks up and one of the 26 to play in all 13 games that season. This season apart of a struggling defense showed up and made some big plays and become one of the leaders to step up this season. He would be a great addition to any team as he can knock the ball out receivers hands any chance he gets.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: D’Angelo Mandell CB
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Mandell has played in 52 games with 78 tackles, one quarterback hit and four pass break ups.
THE TRUTH: This 6’0 192 lbs Cornerback from San Diego, California. He has been all over the field for the Cougars this year has shown some great stuff to the scouts. His draft stock has gone down but he has only played in nine games this year due to injury. Mandell also switched from Linebacker to Cornerback coming into this season. If he can play in the bowl game and get him one more game and also have a lights out night then I see him being a good addition to many teams.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Earl Tuioti-Mariner DT
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Mariner has played in 48 games with 49 tackles, three sacks and one quarterback hit.
THE TRUTH: The 6’3 288 lbs Defensive Tackle from Topeka Kansas. When on the field for the Cougars he has been a big help for the line. His stock is down after getting injured in September of this season. He played in all 13 games last season and had a career high in tackles with 25. The issue for him is staying healthy enough that an NFL team will want to keep him on roster. He would be a good addition to any line of any team if he can stay healthy and prove his worth.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Payton Wilgar OLB
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Wilgar has played in 45 games with 198 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, five quarterback hits, and 10 pass breakups.
THE TRUTH: The 6-3 235 lbs from St. George, Utah. His is a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy this one is given to the best former walk on. His is stock is down after being injured the last two seasons and playing limited snaps when he is healthy. A leader for this defense and great linebacker. He can go and be a great linebacker and add his talents to any team. Wilgar will join the already great BYU linebackers in the league somewhere.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Christopher Brooks RB
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Brooks with his time at California he played in 40 games had 1,734 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. While receiving he had 50 receptions for 345 yards and seven touchdowns. His time at BYU he has played in 10 games with 725 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Being a receiver he has 98 yards and zero touchdowns.
THE TRUTH: The 6’1 230 lbs running back from Oceanside, California. Brooks had a better career at California and also hasn’t done much for the Cougars except the last two weeks against some bad teams. He is also coming off a hamstring injury in October but even before that he didn’t have many yards.
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