NFL draft 2024 College football coaches identify sleepers

Evan Mobley has huge block in final seconds as Cavaliers hold off Banchero Magic 104-103 in Game 5

When it comes to the NFL draft, we love to debate who should go No. 1, the quarterback draft order and which teams will trade up or down. We also love draft sleepers. These are the players who will hear their names called later on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft, but could end up being excellent pickups for the right NFL teams.

Although teams face pressure to make the right first-round selections, their real challenge comes with finding the value of each draft pool.

Rather than pick my own draft sleepers, I asked college football coaches, the guys who scouted and faced these NFL draft hopefuls, who they would pick. The result was 22 names. They provided comments (anonymously) on those they selected. For the purpose of this list, some coaches are identified by the roles they held during the 2023 season.

Let's get started.

Position rank | Overall rank Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 189 pounds 2023 stats: 65 receptions, 965 yards, 4 touchdowns, 14.8 YPC ESPN draft position rank: No. 10 wide receiver Overall rank: 44

Despite Florida's 5-7 record in 2023, there were some bright spots in Gainesville, including Pearsall. He had five or more receptions in eight of the team's first 10 games, recording two 100-yard performances and two others of 99 yards against SEC opponents. More than 63% of his receptions went for first downs, and he also averaged 11.5 yards on punt returns.

Coach's take: "You could always feel him and his route running and his ball skills," said a defensive coordinator who faced Pearsall. "I don't know what his testing numbers were, but if he has the toughness to play through contact, his route running and hand combination and quickness in and out of routes was legitimate NFL-caliber."

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.  

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 216 pounds

2023 stats: 4,903 passing yards, 36 TDs, 11 interceptions, 65.4% completions, 3 rush TDs

ESPN draft position rank: No. 6 quarterback

Overall rank: No. 50

Penix is certainly not a sleeper from a production or name standpoint, as he led Washington to the national title game and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last fall. After struggling with injuries at Indiana, Penix revived his career in two seasons with the Huskies, passing for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns, while completing better than 65% of his passes. The strong-armed lefthander seemingly can make every throw but must overcome concerns about his durability.

Coach's take: "He can spin that thing, he's accurate," a Pac-12 coach said. "I don't think he got enough credit for standing in until the last minute [before throwing the ball], because he didn't take a lot of sacks."

Washington defensive lineman Bralen Trice

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3 ½, 245 pounds 2023 stats: 7 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, 49 tackles, 15 QB hurries 1 forced fumble ESPN draft position rank: No. 3 defensive end Overall rank: 51

Trice is on the border of being a sleeper, as he appears in some mock drafts as a potential first- or early second-round pick. But he's also a bit of a tweener. ESPN's Mel Kiper lists Trice as his No. 6 outside linebacker prospect, even though Trice played end at Washington. He established himself as a premier pass-rusher the past two seasons, recording 16 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback pressures. Trice earned third-team AP All-America honors in 2023 and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2022 and 2023.

Coach's take: "He was absolutely showtime," an opposing coach said. A Pac-12 coach added: "He's got a motor that's different than other guys."

Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 176 pounds 2023 stats: 1,381 receiving yards, 81 receptions, 14 TDs, 17.1 YPC ESPN draft position rank: No. 11 wide receiver Overall rank: No. 52

Oregon has had several notable wide receivers, but none as prolific as Franklin was in 2023. He set team records for receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and 100-yard receiving games (8), while finishing second in receptions. Franklin earned second-team AP All-America honors and was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection for the Ducks. He stretched the field with 15 receptions of 30 yards or more, tied for second nationally.

Coach's take: "He's pretty good," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "He was just in a conference where there were 10 very, very good receivers. Maybe systematically because of how they were, he may not have gotten the highlights like other guys, but we knew he had skill better than other guys."

Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1 ½, 225 pounds 2023 stats: 5 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 53 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack ESPN draft position rank: No. 2 safety Overall rank: 56

Nubin might not be a true sleeper pick, as many project him to go in the top 50. But several coaches think he should be even higher after a season in which he earned second-team AP All-America honors and continued to show his playmaking prowess. Nubin set a team record with 13 interceptions -- he had three or more in each of his final three seasons -- and finished with 207 tackles (143 solo).

Coach's take: "Nubin is a f---ing star waiting to be born," a Big Ten coach said. "He was one of my favorite players in this league. He's a safety with cover skills. If I was an NFL coach and they're going to tell me he's Day 2, I think the kid's got something special. He'll be a steal in the second round." Added a Big Ten defensive coordinator: "You watch him on tape and he's never spooked. He was one of my favorites."

USC running back MarShawn Lloyd

Height/Weight: 5-foot-9, 220 pounds 2023 stats: 890 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns, 7.1 YPC, 11 receptions, 232 yards ESPN draft position rank: No. 4 running back Overall rank: 70

During the 2023 season, Pac-12 coaches noticed Lloyd and wondered why he wouldn't get more touches. He reached double digits in carries only four times and eclipsed 15 carries just once, despite averaging 5.7 yards per rush or better in eight consecutive games and recording a rushing touchdown in eight of nine games. Lloyd had 18 rushing touchdowns and 31 receptions in his final two college seasons at South Carolina and USC.

Coach's take: "He's going to be a good [NFL] player," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "He was a pain in the ass to prepare for, and he was faster than I thought he was going to be." A Pac-12 coach added of Lloyd: "He was dynamic."

Utah defensive end Jonah Elliss

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 248 pounds 2023 stats: 12 sacks, 16 TFLs, 37 tackles, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 3 pass breakups ESPN draft position rank: No. 5 outside linebacker Overall rank: 77

Elliss earned consensus All-America honors in 2023, when he was one of the nation's top pass-rushers before a season-ending shoulder injury. Despite missing Utah's final three games, he still led the nation in sacks per game (1.2) and finished fifth in total sacks. He moved from linebacker to defensive end before the 2022 season but projects as an outside linebacker/edge in the NFL, where his father Luther played defensive line for 10 seasons.

Coach's take: "They'll probably question his size, but he played so well," a Pac-12 offensive coordinator said. "I thought he was like a miniature Dwight Freeney. We had to make sure we knew exactly where he was." Added a Pac-12 coach: "I don't know what people look for but damn, he's really good."

Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 197 pounds 2023 stats: 48 receptions, 798 yards, 12 touchdowns ESPN draft position rank: No. 12 wide receiver Overall rank: 79

Wilson emerged as the top passing threat in a run-centric Michigan offense that helped the team to the national title last season. Despite a wiry frame, Wilson made contested catches in different areas of the field and had multiple receptions in all but two games. Wilson averaged 16.4 yards per catch, had touchdowns against both Ohio State and Alabama, and nearly doubled his receptions total from the previous two seasons (25).

Coach's take: "When you watch tape, you're like, 'Man, we're going to cover this dude up,' but that dude gets open against everybody," a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. "He's like super smooth, like Clark Kent. He goes out there and all of a sudden, he's dicing you up."

Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 197 pounds 2023 stats: 45 receptions, 559 yards, 5 TDs, 30 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD ESPN draft position rank: No. 14 wide receiver Overall rank: 82

McMillan not only played in a league filled with great wide receivers, but on a team featuring Rome Odunze and others. A knee injury limited him for almost the entire Pac-12 regular season, but he surged late with nine receptions for 136 yards in a league championship win over Oregon. McMillan also had 1,098 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2022.

Coach's take: "Rome Odunze was great, Ja'Lynn Polk was great, but McMillan was just as good as any of them," a Pac-12 coach. "He was hurt, and that's probably why he's not as talked about, but I wouldn't bet against that kid."

Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds 2023 stats: 676 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 49 receptions ESPN draft position rank: No. 4 tight end Overall rank: 98

Sinnott logged only three seasons on the field at Kansas State -- he redshirted in 2020 -- but left as one of the most accomplished tight ends in team history. Last fall, he had the most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns for a Wildcats tight end and finished his career in the top four for receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns. A Mackey Award semifinalist, he helped Kansas State finish 11th nationally in rushing.

Coach's take: "He's a good runner, he's a good blocker, he's a good pass-catcher, he seems like he's tough," said a coach who faced Sinnott. "You can use him as a tight end or a fullback. He's got a lot of position versatility and flexibility. We left that game and he kind of opened my eyes."

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright

Height/Weight: 5-foot-10½, 210 pounds 2023 stats: 1,013 rushing yards, 4 TDs, 7.4 ypc, 22 receptions, 141 receiving yards ESPN draft position rank: No. 5 running back Overall rank: 107

He didn't get as many opportunities as many featured running backs but made the most of them, leading the FBS in yards per rush among those with at least 120 carries. Wright finished second on Tennessee's single-season chart in yards per carry (minimum 100), trailing only Hank Lauricella (7.94 in 1951). He had six 100-yard rushing games, 35 carries of 10 yards or more and more than half of his yards (592) after contact. Wright earned second-team All-SEC honors last fall and led Tennessee in rushing in each of his final two seasons.

Coach's take: "He's really good, fast as s---," an SEC defensive coordinator said. "I think he's going to be a really good pro. It was just kind of a quirky offense that he was in."

Oregon running back Bucky Irving

Height/Weight: 5-foot-9, 192 pounds 2023 stats: 1,180 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 6.3 YPC, 56 receptions, 413 receiving yards, 2 TDs ESPN draft position rank: No. 6 running back Overall rank: 116

Irving established himself as a consistent, versatile piece of Oregon's offense the past two seasons. He put up similar rushing numbers in 2022 -- 1,058 yards, 6.8 yards per carry, five touchdowns -- and increased his production as a pass-catcher with 25 more receptions. A transfer from Minnesota, Irving was durable for the Ducks, starting 26 games and appearing in 27 during his two seasons in Eugene, and earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023.

Coach's take: "Super tough, smart, shifty, great acceleration, great decel, can catch the ball out of the backfield," a Pac-12 coach said. "He'll make it wherever he goes. He'll last a long time."

Minnesota tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6½, 260 pounds 2023 stats: 25 receptions, 239 yards, 2 TDs ESPN draft position rank: No. 7 tight end Overall rank: 125

Spann-Ford played sparingly in his first three seasons at Minnesota before starting the last three. He had his best season in 2022, when he led the Gophers with 42 receptions and finished second on the team with 497 receiving yards. Minnesota employed a run-centric offense with limited opportunities, but Spann-Ford had touchdown receptions in each of the past five seasons.

Coach's take: "He's huge so he's got a body that can block big bodies, but he's athletic," a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. "We had DBs on him and he still got get by them. We were like, 'This dude is dangerous.'"

Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 241 pounds

2023 stats: 39 receptions, 503 yards, 2 TDs, 1 rushing TD

ESPN draft position rank: No. 11 tight end

Overall rank: No. 155

Bell earned second-team All-ACC honors in his lone season at Florida State after transferring in from South Carolina. He started nine games and appeared in the first 13 for the Seminoles, and earned the team's offensive newcomer of the year honor. After recording 73 carries for South Carolina in 2022, Bell had a reduced role as a ball carrier for FSU but set career highs in both receptions and receiving yards.

Coach's take: "He's kind of a Swiss Army knife," an SEC coordinator said. "Tight ends that have flexibility and play in the backfield and who play special teams, they have a future in the NFL."

Clemson running back Will Shipley

Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 206 pounds 2023 stats: 827 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 5 YPC, 31 receptions, 244 receiving yards, 2 TDs ESPN draft position rank: No. 12 running back Overall rank: 172

Shipley was a bright spot for Clemson's offense during a stretch where the unit struggled to find consistent production. He contributed as a runner, a receiver and on returns, where he piled up 904 yards on kickoff runbacks. Shipley had 15 rushing touchdowns in 2022 and became the first ACC player to earn all-league honors at three different positions in the same season. He had 69 receptions in his final two seasons at Clemson.

Coach's take: "Very versatile, tough, he can do a lot of things," an ACC coach said. "He's a three-down back." Added an ACC defensive coordinator: "Shipley has special teams return value, but he has elite ball skills. He could be a guy that could catch 40, 50 balls in his rookie years and have production. That's where he stands out."

Boston College guard Christian Mahogany

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 314 pounds 2023 stats: Started at right guard for nation's No. 13 rushing offense, first-team All-ACC ESPN draft position rank: No. 10 guard Overall rank: 198

Mahogany started three seasons for BC, earning second-team All-ACC honors in 2021 and honorable mention in 2020. He came out of 2021 as a budding NFL draft prospect but tore his ACL in the spring and missed the 2022 season. Mahogany led an offensive line with four All-ACC selections, as Boston College rose from last nationally in rushing into the top-15.

Coach's take: "I was more impressed with him in person than I was on tape," an ACC defensive coordinator said. "He has a chance."

Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan

Height/Weight: 5-foot-9 ½, 193 pounds 2023 stats: 1,128 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 6.2 YPC, 21 receptions, 246 receiving yards, 1 TDs ESPN draft position rank: No. 15 running back Overall rank: 199

Jordan built his reputation as an all-purpose threat early on at Louisville, and had kick return touchdowns in both 2021 and 2022. He settled in more as a running back toward the end of his career, leading Louisville in rushing the past two seasons and earning first-team All-ACC honors last fall, recording five 100-yard rushing games.

Coach's take: "He's fast as hell," an ACC coach said. "I don't know what his 40 was, but on film he reminded me a lot of the kid [Jahmyr Gibbs] that was from Georgia Tech that went to Alabama and is playing really well for the Lions now. He had that gear."

Georgia running back Kendall Milton

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1 ½, 225 pounds 2023 stats: 790 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, 6.5 ypc ESPN draft position rank: No. 17 running back Overall rank: No. 211

Georgia likes to rotate its running backs, so Milton was never in a featured role but contributed throughout his four years and helped the team to national titles in 2021 and 2022. Milton was Georgia's leading rusher in its final five games last fall and won Capital One Bowl MVP honors with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns on only nine attempts against Florida State.

Coach's take: "His size and toughness impressed me, his ability to run as a four-quarter back," an SEC defensive coordinator said. "He's tougher in the fourth quarter than he is in the first. He has really good size. He's not going to be a first-rounder but he's pretty good."

Wake Forest safety Malik Mustapha

Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds 2023 stats: 80 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble ESPN draft position rank: No. 17 safety Overall rank: 226

After transferring in from Richmond, Mustapha had a productive three-year career for Wake Forest. He finished with 175 tackles, including 15 for loss, and contributed to takeaways with 4 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. Mustapha showed he's a strong open-field tackler, leading the team with 45 solo tackles in 2023 and finishing with 105 in three years.

Coach's take: "I always thought he was a really good player," an ACC coach said. "I don't know if size and how that will translate in coverage to the NFL, but I liked him."

Utah safety Sione Vaki

Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 210 pounds 2023 stats: 51 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 317 rushing yards, 2 rush TDs, 203 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs ESPN draft position rank: No. 19 safety Overall rank: 245

Vaki is among the more intriguing potential Day 3 prospects after he carved out a role on offense later in the 2023 season. He was a solid contributor in the secondary, finishing second on the team in tackles for loss and also solo tackles (37). Vaki also displayed his versatility by recording a sack and a receiving touchdown against Washington, and recording the highest rushing total (158 yards) by a defensive back in Pac-12 history against Cal. He played only two seasons with Utah after serving a church mission out of high school.

Coach's take: "That dude can start anywhere," a Pac-12 coordinator said. "They were releasing him out of the backfield, he was running it. He was a beast. I had a ton of respect for him."

Notre Dame linebacker JD Bertrand

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 235 pounds 2023 stats: 76 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 7.5 TFLs, 7 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 5 pass breakups ESPN draft position rank: No. 23 inside linebacker Overall rank: 280

Bertrand projects as either a late Day 3 pick or an undrafted free agent, but coaches think he will bring value to an NFL team. He's a two-time captain for Notre Dame whose overall performance at the school put him in the running for the Campbell Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy. Bertrand's all-around skills jumped out in 2023 as he led Notre Dame in tackles and finished second in quarterback hurries, pass breakups and tackles for loss.

Coach's take: "He's going to make an NFL team better," said a coach who faced Bertrand. "He maximizes his ability."

Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor

Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 257 pounds 2023 stats: 4.5 sacks, 9 TFLs, 7 QB hurries, 26 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 pass breakups ESPN draft position rank: No. 18 defensive end Overall rank: 286

McGregor was a late bloomer at Michigan, where he arrived as a top-35 national recruit in 2020 but didn't make his first start in 2022 and only became a full-time starter last season. He flashed his potential in 2022 before showcasing it last fall, when he tied for the team lead in tackles for loss and consistently pressured the quarterback. The key is whether McGregor will continue to ascend in the pro ranks.

Coach's take: "I loved him," a Big Ten coach said. "He didn't time out great, but he's a true pro."