Ole Miss’s Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC.

Welcome to a list of Ole Miss’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.

Our series will run beginning Oct. 31 and run for five consecutive days, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the SEC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Friday, Nov. 4. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.

SEC TOP 25 NFL PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Overall SEC Top Prospect List

SEC EAST PROSPECTS FOR 2023:  Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Mizzou | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt

SEC WEST PROSPECTS FOR 2023:  Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU | Mississippi State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M

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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. 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 the NFL and flourishing.

Below is a look at Ole Miss’s Top 5 Draft Prospects and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. For now, we’ll go strictly with seniors, as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare earlier yet. Though when they do, we’ll update the lists below.

Ole Miss’s TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS

NO. 1 PROSPECT

NAME: Nick Broeker (OG)

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 2nd or 3rd round

CAREER STATISTICS: 2022 Midseason All-American (ESPN, Sporting News)
2022 Midseason All-American Second Team (The Athletic)
2022 Outland Trophy Watch List
2022 Rotary Lombardi Award
2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
2022 Preseason All-American Second Team (Athlon)

THE TRUTH: Most scouts have him as an early round pick that will be starting guard in the league and could be pushed out to tackle if needed. He needs to get stronger, not only in the pass game where he tends to get overwhelmed with a bull rush, but also in the run game where defenders get off his blocks too quick. The best part of his game is his feet. Broeker has very quick feet that help him get out of his stance to pass, block, and beat defenders to the gaps for run blocking.

NO. 2 PROSPECT

NAME: Jonathan Mingo (WR)

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 3rd or 4th round

CAREER STATISTICS: Mingo has played and produced all four years at Ole Miss. He has 91 catches for 1,571 yards and 11 touchdowns. This year, his senior year, has been his best with 664 yards, 30 catches, and 4 touchdowns so far.

THE TRUTH: The production is a little low for the skill set. He does struggle getting off the press and doesn’t have the top end speed to get vertical. Get him the ball and he makes plays. He is 6’2, 225 lbs, and runs like a running back. He has sure hands and is a very hard runner to bring down. His ceiling in the NFL, think Deebo Samuel with the ball in his hands. I think he would be a hell of an addition to any team’s wide receiving core.

NO. 3 PROSPECT

NAME:  Deantre Prince (CB)

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 4th or 5th  round

CAREER STATISTICS: 2022 Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team. In his three seasons at Ole Miss, after transferring from a Junior College, Prince has put up good stats. He has 98 tackles with 69 of them being solo tackles. Prince also has 24 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 5 interceptions.

THE TRUTH: He will be an absolute steal in this draft. He has the measurables at 6’0, 185 lbs, and runs a 4.5 forty. Deantre has great ball skills and unbelievable foot speed and great quick twitch movements needed to be a starter in the NFL. If you look into the tape it is inconsistent; but if you dig deeper, it is all there for him to be a long time starter in the NFL.

NO. 4 PROSPECT

NAME: Miles Battle (CB)

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th round

CAREER STATISTICS: In his career he has 46 tackles with 26 of them being solo. Battle has 15 pass deflections and 2 career interceptions. He also has 7 career catches.

THE TRUTH: He seems to lack some basic football instincts on plays and can get lost. The upside on this man is tremendous, though. He has great measurables at 6’3, 205 lbs, and runs a 4.3. You can’t teach that size and speed. You can coach up tackling and awareness, which he will need. You draft him on what could be. And what could be is a great man to man cover corner, shutting down half the field.

NO. 5 PROSPECT

NAME: A.J. Finley (FS)

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th round or High Priority Free Agent

CAREER STATISTICS: He has 227 career tackles with a 122 of them being solo. He also has 13 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles. 8 interceptions and 1 career touchdown.

THE TRUTH: He is always around the ball, which is awesome. The down side is, he isn’t the best tackler. That may be due to his wiry frame. If he can prove that he can in fact tackle and do it consistently, he is making an NFL roster. All he does is get around the football and make plays. As a coverage safety, he shows the ability to stay hip to hip with most wide receivers and force interceptions or passes deflected. Finley can stay out with any tight end and shut them down for the game.

If A.J. can prove he can tackle he legit may be the steal of the entire draft. He is an absolute ball hawk and steal in the late rounds.