I came up with this list by just going down The Athletic’s top 300 prospects list, by Dane Brugler, and picking out the guys that really stood out to me from this past season of college football. The names I remember.

It’s not based on any sort of in-depth analysis or film study, but I watch a lot of college football, I see a lot of different players and hear a lot of different names, so when a guy’s name sticks with me, I take that as a sign he was doing something right. That’s where a lot of these guys on my list come from–they made a positive impression on me at some point.

• Give me Terrion Arnold over Kool-Aid McKinstry. I think Kool-Aid is good, but this is something I’ve been saying for the past 2-3 years: people overrate him because his name is Kool-Aid. Same way people overrate Chop Robinson because of his name. Fine players, but if their names were Jonathan McKinstry and Philip Robinson, would they have as much hype?
• Dallas Turner, on the other hand, has the perfect NFL name. I’m buying into him because of the name, and I’ll freely admit it. Best name in the draft.
• I don’t understand why people are so low on Jer’Zhan Newton, the defensive tackle from Illinois. Is it because he played for Illinois? Probably, but the dude is an absolute menace, and I think he’s the best interior defensive lineman in the draft. Whoever gets him is getting an absolute steal.
• Cooper DeJean is underrated because he’s a white cornerback. Dude has crazy athleticism, and not just for a white boy. If he slips to the second round, he’s a steal.
• Ladd McConkey: I really like him. Another guy whose athleticism gets overlooked because he’s a white boy. Underestimate him at your own risk, and please for the love of God, do not let the Chiefs get him.
• AD Mitchell: That story about how when his blood sugar is out of whack he is really hard to deal with, that worries me. I hope he can get that figured out. It would scare me away from drafting him even though I think he’s pretty good.
• Xavier Worthy: I know he’s super fast and some team is going to reach like crazy on him, but I actually thought he was pretty good before the record-breaking 40 time. He’s a bit small, though. I wouldn’t consider him in the first round but in the second, I’d give him a look.
• Keon Coleman: Most underrated receiver in this draft because he ran a slow 40. I think he’s a physical freak and somebody is going to get a really good receiver on the cheap with him.
• Mike Sanristil: I hate Michigan, of course, but I can’t help but like this kid. He’s under-sized, but he plays with so much heart and energy and aggression. He’s really smart, really heads-up–just a coach’s dream type of player. Whoever gets him will be incredibly happy with him for many years. He’s just one of those players I want on my team–brings exactly what you want in a locker room and on the field.
• Ricky Pearsall: For some reason, I think he’s going to be a decent receiver in the NFL. Any time I watched Florida he was always making grabs. I watch a lot of college football each season, and when a name sticks out to me, and I keep hearing the announcers call him out again and again, that’s big. You would think for a white receiver he’d be a Hunter Renfrow/Julian Edelman type, but no. Pearsall is a burner and a deep threat. 
• Mike Hall Jr.: Ohio State DT. A bit undersized for a defensive tackle but he’s going to cause havoc in the pocket. He’s going to be a steal of a pick.
• Chris Braswell: Alabama edge rusher, projected to go late second/early third. I think he got overshadowed by Dallas Turner, but Braswell is a heck of a player.
• Tyler Nubin: Safety from Minnesota. Projected second or third rounder, to me that’s too low. Very good football player.
• Ja’Lynn Polk: If you get him in the third or fourth round, you’ve done well. Overshadowed by Rome Odunze, but a really solid player.
• Braelon Allen: Wisconsin running back, he’s got a 4th round grade. I would be thrilled with him there. He’s a big, physical, punishing runner. I’d love to have him on my team and just hand him the ball in the fourth quarter to wear down the defense, chew up the clock and run out the game.
• Audric Estime: Same story with Braelon Allen. This is a big, big dude and nobody wants to tackle him. I love running backs like that. Give me a guy who can just battering ram a defense and break their spirit late in games.
• Cade Stover: Ohio State tight end. Really productive especially given that Ohio State doesn’t really feature the tight end. But he’s tough, physical and a very good receiver. Maybe not the best blocker but tight ends are asked to catch more than ever nowadays. He’s a guy I want on my team.
• Bucky Irving: I love the idea of drafting running backs in the middle to later rounds, and Irving is a guy who was really productive in college. I want a stable of running backs, and he’s a guy I’d like to have as part of that stable.
• Ben Sinnott: Kansas State tight end, really played more of an H-back role. This dude is going to get drafted by the Chiefs in like the 4th or 5th round and he’s going to become a fan favorite in KC. He’s not like some Travis Kelce heir apparent, but he’ll be good for a few catches here and there. Really solid piece–he’s a guy I’d want on my side.
• Ray Davis: Kentucky running back. Had that one huge game against Florida, and that’s the only reason I’m high on him. But still, he stuck out to me this season.
• Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: Athletic has him listed as the 123rd ranked prospect in the draft, which would make him a 4th or 5th round pick. I know he’s under-sized, but the fact that he’s got the pedigree, his dad played in the league for a long time. I’d take a flier on him.
• Zak Zinter: Michigan guard. Suffered a brutal leg injury in the Ohio State game this year and missed the rest of the season, but this guy was their best offensive lineman prior to it, I believe. It was a tibia and fibula fracture, and I know nothing about medical stuff but I thought those are the kind of injuries that while gruesome, you can completely recover from. Maybe I’m wrong. Athletic has him at 131 right now so clearly the league has devalued him significantly due to those injuries, but I thought he was going to be a good NFL player before the injuries. Maybe worth a shot later in the draft as an upside play as a bet on him recovering fully.
• Tory Taylor: Iowa Punter. He’s like the best punter in college history or something, right? I’m a big fan of punters, I think they are unsung heroes who have a major impact on games in terms of field position. Give me the best punter in the draft, no hesitation. I’ll take him in the 5th round.
• Johnny Wilson: That freakishly tall 6’7” receiver from Florida State. Athletic has him at 137, I will absolutely take him there. I’m not expecting him to catch 100 balls a season, but shit, put that guy in the redzone package and let him go up for it over a 6 foot cornerback. Why not?
• Cam Hart: Notre Dame cornerback, #147 on Athletic’s list. I thought he was really this year and maybe lacks in the speed department, but he did well against Marvin Harrison Jr. I’ll take him.
• Cody Schrader: Missouri white boy running back. One of those dudes that played a shitload in college, maybe too many miles on his legs but he’s a great story. He transferred up from a Division 2 program and wound up as the first team All SEC running back this year and a consensus All American. In the 5th or 6th round? All day. I’ll take him.
• Jaheim Bell: Florida State TE. A little on the shorter side but I think he’s a good football player, tough, hard to tackle. Just plays the game the way I’d want a guy to play. If he’s a bit undersized, whatever. You can find a role for him.
• Marist Liufau: Notre Dame Linebacker. I thought he was pretty good last year. Athletic has him ranked 199, so clearly he’s got some flaws. But from what I saw of him, he’s a guy I’d want on my squad. He’s violent and energetic.
• Ainias Smith: Texas A&M wide receiver. I thought he was really good this past season so I was surprised to see him down at 217, but it turns out he’s 5’9”. So he’s undersized, but he has amazing burst, twitch and quickness. I would love this guy as a punt returner, or just a general weapon that you find a way to get the ball in his hands somehow. Was one of my favorite players in 2023, and I would absolutely scoop him up in the later rounds if he was available. He’s just dangerous.
• Johnny Dixon: Penn State CB. Very handsy and physical corner. I was surprised to see him down at 230, I think he can play.

A common thread for a lot of these guys, especially the later round players: they’re not going to be perfect prospects. That’s why they’re available later in the draft to begin with. A lot of these guys are undersized and that’s the big thing. But personally, I don’t care. I saw these guys play, they stood out to me, and I just straight up thought they were great football players.

I want great football players on my team. I want guys who are Good At The Game of Football. If they’re a little small, whatever. They’re going to have heart, and they’re going to have a chip on their shoulder. I want that. I want guys with something to prove.

I came up with this list by just going down the Athletic top 300 prospects list and picking out the guys that really stood out to me from this past season of college football. The names I remember. It’s not based on any sort of in-depth analysis or film study, but I watch a lot of college football, I see a lot of different players and hear a lot of different names, so when a guy’s name sticks with me, I take that as a sign he was doing something right. That’s where a lot of these guys on my list come from–they made a positive impression on me at some point.