Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the ACC. Welcome to a list of Miami’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects, 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 ACC Miami 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 ACC Draft prospect series will run beginning Nov. 7 and will run for the next week, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the ACC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Monday, Nov. 14. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
ACC TOP 20 PROSPECTS: Overall ACC Top Prospect List
ACC ATLANTIC PROSPECTS: Boston College | Clemson | Florida State | Louisville | N.C. State | Syracuse | Wake Forest
ACC COASTAL PROSPECTS: Duke | Georgia Tech | Notre Dame | North Carolina | Pittsburgh | Virginia | Virginia Tech | Miami
RELATED STORY: The Top ESPN 30 for 30 Shows in College Football — We Rank Them
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 Miami’s 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.
Miami’s Top 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO.1 PROSPECT
NAME: DJ Scaife (OG)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th round
CAREER STATISTICS: He plays.
THE TRUTH: The fifth-year senior out of Southridge High (FL) has spent his playing career at Miami bouncing between right guard and right tackle, but his size and skills fit better on the interior. He is a good run blocker but subpar in pass protection, as he lacks hip mobility. Scaife has a dense build with plants of mass, offering a wide-body, boxy build thay affords him natural leverage as a blocker.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Will Mallory (TE)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th round
CAREER STATISTICS: During his time at the University of Miami, Mallory has caught 101 receptions, for 1,377 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He’s also averaged 13.6 yards per reception.
THE TRUTH: This season, Mallory has quietly lead all ACC tight-ends in receptions and yards (28 rec, 371 yds) all while the Hurricanes offense continues to struggle. Mallory is an effective route runner, showing good burst off the snap, with a clean release. He still needs to add more mass in order to be an effective perimeter blocker, as his contested catching ability needs to improve.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: DJ Ivey (CB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: In his five seasons at the University of Miami, Ivey has 117 with 86 of them being solo. He has 10 passes defended, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 interceptions.
THE TRUTH: A former 4-star recruit, Ivey’s career hasn’t panned out with Miami as expected. He has been inconsistent all throughout his career, giving up big plays but then making big plays. Ivey has good length and an athletic build for his position, offering him upside as a high priority free agent.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Caleb Johnson (LB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: In his time at UCLA and Miami, Johnson has 114 tackles with 62 of them being solo. He also has 3 passes defended, 7 sacks, and 2 interceptions.
THE TRUTH: The former UCLA transfer has a prototypical build for a modern NFL MIKE linebacker, at 6’1 235 lbs. Johnson thrives in the run game, showing the ability to read the guards effectively along with his ability to stack and shed. As a pass-rusher, Johnson lacks a counter move in his rush. His speed is a concern to scouts, as he’s ran a 4.72 forty.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Mitchell Agude (DE)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Throughout his time in UCLA and Miami, Agude has 109 tackles with 58 of them being solo. He also has 3 passes defended, 7.5 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
THE TRUTH: Agude lacks the desired production as a pass rusher, but has an elite frame for his position at 6’5 245 lbs. Agude showcases the initial quickness which suggests he can win off the edge with more refinement as a player. His long arms allow him to engage blockers with ease, however a lack of bend concerns scouts about his role in the NFL. If a team picks him up and develops him, he can be a good pass rusher in the NFL.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
2 Comments
Pingback: Miami Vs. Pittsburgh Preview - Gridiron Heroics
Pingback: Clemson's Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects - Gridiron Heroics