Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC. Welcome to a list of the Vanderbilt Top 5 NFL Draft prospects for the 2023 class (underclassmen will come in when they actually declare), 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 running 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 in the 2023 class. 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 Vanderbilt’s Top 5 2023 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.
VANDERBILT TOP 5 2023 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS OF 2023 CLASS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Anfernee Orji, ILB
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th round
CAREER STATISTICS: 249 career tackles, 21 TFLs
THE TRUTH: A three-year starter at Vanderbilt, Orji has been nothing short of a stud during his career in Nashville. He has impressed the scouts, despite Vandy’s struggles, and don’t be surprised if he drifts upwards once he has a chance to impress in the spring of 2023. Day three may be a late April destination for him, but it may go higher.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Ben Bresnahan, TE
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Going into this weekend? Bresnahan has recorded 55 receptions for the Commodores, along with 616 yards and 4 TDs — and the funny thing? That’s really not his only role in the job description. He’s also been a solid blocker.
THE TRUTH: Bresnahan has been a starter since the CoVID season for Vanderbilt. He appears to be a guy that some franchises in the NFL are very interested in keeping an eye on.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Malik Langham, DT
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: 32 tackles, 2.6 TFL
THE TRUTH: Originally a Florida signee in 2018, he only played in two games with one tackle for the Gators. He transferred to Vandy in 2019 and didn’t see action. His career began to take off in his junior year (2020) when he played in all nine games, and last year he started in nine games. Langham is 6-foot-5, 310 pounds.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Matt Hayball, P
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Hayball is averaging 46 yards per punt, currently
THE TRUTH: Hayball is another incredible punting talent coming out of Australia. This year he had arguably his best game playing against national title contender Georgia — on the road — and Hayball averaged 49 yards per punt with a best of 59 yards. Keep an eye on this special teams gem.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Joseph Bulovas, PK
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Alabama transfer has been good on 41 of 56 field-goal attempts from 2018 to our current season. His long is 53 yards.
THE TRUTH: Bulovas came to Vandy after the CoVid crisis, and in his past two seasons he has hit 19 out of 27 field goals with a long of 53. He proved at Alabama he is a strong prospect.
