Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the Big Ten. Welcome to a list of the Northwestern 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 Northwestern 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 Ten Draft prospect series will run beginning Nov. 14 and will run for the next week, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the Big Ten’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Monday, Nov. 21. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
BIG TEN TOP 20 PROSPECTS: Overall Big Ten Top Prospect List
BIG TEN EAST PROSPECTS: Indiana | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
BIG TEN WEST PROSPECTS: Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota| Nebraska | Northwestern| Purdue| Wisconsin
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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. However, 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. That strong undrafted free agent everybody forgot about ends up making the NFL and flourishing.
Below is a look at the Northwestern 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. When they do, we’ll update the lists below.
NORTHWESTERN TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Adetomiwa Adebawore (DE)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th round or HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: 86 TOT, 61 solo, 25 AST, 6 PD
THE TRUTH: According to Draft Scout, Adebawore is likely a 7th round pick or an HPFA but could go as early as round five. They make note that he has “bulked up some” and is “almost the size of a defensive tackle.” At 6’2″ and 280 pounds, their statement seems legit. In 2021 he played twelve games with thirty-six total tackles and has a covid year left.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Malik Washington (WR)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: 110 REC, 1,270 yds, 11.5 avg
THE TRUTH: Draft Scouts don’t have many notes on Washington. However, they do say that he had a number change from #14 to #6. He clocks in at 5’8″ and 192 pounds. He totaled 51 yards in seven receptions in the game against Duke on 9/10/22. Originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia, Malik Washington could possibly be an HPFA according to Draft Scouts’ input on the Northwestern Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: A.J. Hampton Jr. (CB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: 103 TOT, 82 solo, 21 AST, 18 PD
THE TRUTH: Draft Scouts note that Hampton is a 2022 recheck with a lower body injury last season. This caused him to sit out for five games. He is 5’11” and 180 pounds and played twelve games with forty total tackles in 2021.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Vincent Picozzi (OG)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: /
THE TRUTH: Vincent Picozzi is a double transfer who is 6’4″ and 310 pounds. There are few notes, though Draft Scouts say that he “downgraded to tryout.” A previous player for Colorado State, Picozzi has landed a spot on the list of Northwestern Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Taishan Holmes (DT)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: 30 TOT, 12 solo, 18 AST
THE TRUTH: Draft Scouts say that Holmes is a “2022 recheck” who is a transfer that “could start in 2022.” He is 6’2″ and 312 pounds and made his debut with Northwestern on 8/27/2022.
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