2023 Small-School Prospects Part 2
Updated July 27, 2022
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter
@draftcampbell.
Every year on NFL teams’ preseason watch lists there are some small-school players with surprising early-round grades who end up being sought after prospects in the draft class. Previous players who were highly graded on the preseason watch list include Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn – Panthers second-round pick -, Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon – Chiefs second-round pick -, Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen – Bears second-round pick – and Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger – Patriots second-round pick. The 2023 NFL Draft could follow suit, and here are a few of the small-school players who received favorable grades entering fall training camp.
Appalachian State running back Camerun Peoples is a big power back who has a thick build and the strength to run through tackles. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder possesses imposing size for the next level. In 2021, he averaged 5.6 yards per carry for 926 yards and 14 touchdowns. He ran for 1,124 yards – a 6.7 average – and 23 touchdowns in 2020. It would help Peoples to show more receiving ability as a senior because he enters the 2022 season with only five career receptions. UT-Martin linebacker Eyabi Anoma flashed a skill set that impressed some advance scouts. After starting out his college career at Houston, Anoma had a solid 2021 season for UT-Marting with six sacks, 36 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. Anoma redshirted in 2019 and had to sit out 2020 because of NCAA transfer rules. Anoma could continue to rise if he has a big 2022 season and plays well at an all-star game, Coastal Carolina has a pair of prospects who were thought well of by advance scouts, quarterback Grayson McCall and cornerback Lance Boykin. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound McCall was a steady producer over the past three years, doing a fabulous job of limiting turnovers. In 2021, McCall completed 73 percent of his passes for 2,873 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions. He had a good season in 2020 as well, connecting on 69 percent of his passes for 2,488 yards, 26 touchdowns and three interceptions.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Boykin is a big cornerback and could also get consideration to move to safety depending on how he runs and if pro teams think he can tackle. In 2021, Boykin recorded 24 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up. McCall and Boykin will make the Chanticleers a must-visit program for scouts on the road this fall.
