Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the ACC. Welcome to a list of the Syracuse’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 Syracuse 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 | Miami | North Carolina | Pittsburgh | Virginia | Virginia Tech
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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 Syracuse’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.
Syracuse’s TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Andre Szmyt (Kicker)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th round-HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Szmyt was the 2018 Lou Groza Award Winner for best kicker in the nation and is also Syracuse’s all time leader in points with 354. A two-time All-ACC and all ECAC selection, the strong legged kicker is the program’s all-time leader in field goal percentage with .823. He is undoubtedly one of the best kickers in SU history.
THE TRUTH: Szmyt has been excellent in his four-year career at SU and it’s very popular to see kickers getting selected in the latter rounds. He has a cannon for a leg and is normally a clutch kicker when called upon. Look for Szmyt to be a 7th round draft pick or a HPFA.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Isaiah Johnson (CB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Before he transferred to Cuse, Johnson originally played at Darmouth college in New Hampshire. Last year, he was third on the Big Green with 55 tackles in nine games played. The Michigan native also had one interception, six pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss.
THE TRUTH: Johnson plays better than his projections show. The 6′ 2″ 204 lb. cornerback came to Cuse behind another talented corner Garrett Williams who is out for the year, but is projected to be a high draft pick in 2023. If he went to Syracuse or a Power-Five team right away instead of Dartmouth, he would have probably been projected to be drafted. With only one-year of film at SU, the talented corner is projected to be a HPFA.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: CJ Hayes (WR)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: PFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Hayes played in only 26 games when he was at Michigan, but he did earn his bachelor’s degree in communication and was a three-time Academic All Big Ten honoree. He then transferred to Syracuse in January 2021.
THE TRUTH: The Michigan transfer is a big wideout who posses as a big red zone threat. He can go up and vertically catch the 50-50 balls and his game can be compared to Mike Evans. The 6’2″, 211 lb. Bowling Green native is projected to be a PFA, but don’t ignore his work ethic and high football IQ.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Devaughn Cooper (WR)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: PFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Cooper transferred into SU from UTEP and joined the team in preseason camp before the 2021 season. The receiver caught 21 passes for 199 yards in 2021. This year he has reeled in 19 passes for 241 yards and 1 td.
THE TRUTH: At only 5’11”, 185 lbs. Cooper makes up for his size with blazing fast speed. He ran the 40- time in 4.49 seconds and excels at catching vertical passes down field. He is also a smart young man as he is currently going for his Master’s degree in instructional design, development, and evaluation. Look for this explosive playmaker to be a PFA after the 2023 NFL draft.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Dakota Davis (OG)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: FA
CAREER STATISTICS: As a four-year starter on the interior for the Cuse O-line, Davis has been a road grater in creating running lanes for star running back Sean Tucker. He has made 24 starts in 39 career games played and was the first Orange player to earn ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week back in 2019 in a game vs. Duke. The big man is also a three-time ACC Honor Roll Selection.
THE TRUTH: At 6’5″, 335 lbs. Davis is a massive and athletic monster. With size and strength, Davis will maul defensive linemen like no body else’s business. He is also intelligent as he earned his undergraduate degree in health and exercise science. Now, the lineman is pursuing an MBA in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
2 Comments
Gotta go with the Szmyt Kicker
Dakota Davis! My Steelers could use an O-Line boost.