Handful of Iowa Hawkeyes among The Athletic’s top 100 2023 NFL draft prospects
There seems to be a national consensus of a few Iowa Hawkeyes and their rapid ascents up NFL draft boards. Their names continue to pop up among national news outlets and are growing in popularity as the 2023 NFL draft continues to approach.
Recently, The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler released his top 100 prospects for the 2023 NFL draft (subscription required). The three Hawkeyes on the list are no surprise as two of them come from one of the best defenses that Iowa has had and another is a talent that Iowa is famous for producing.
Check out which Hawkeyes are among the top 100 NFL draft prospects, their rankings, and where they could be expected to hear their name called when their dreams of playing in the NFL come true.
Lukas Van Ness, DE
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking: No. 18
Iowa’s biggest riser of the draft season is Lukas Van Ness. The defensive end is a prototype for the size and speed NFL teams look for. He will very likely hear his name called in the first round.
I received plenty of “Who?” responses when Lukas Van Ness cracked the top 25 in my November draft board. And, no, Van Ness wasn’t a starter for the Hawkeyes this past season, but he did play starter-level snaps and led the team in tackles for loss (11). He plays with the explosive power of a grizzly bear. – Brugler, The Athletic.
Sam LaPorta, TE
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking: No. 61
Iowa’s all-time receptions leader at the tight end position finds himself primed to be the next Hawkeye tight end to make a splash in the NFL. Joining George Kittle, Noah Fant, and T.J. Hockenson, LaPorta will be off the board in the first few rounds.
Jack Campell, LB
Syndication: HawkCentral
Ranking: No. 73
Iowa’s Jack Campbell finds himself lower on this list than he probably should after the 2022 season he put up. The All-American and Butkus Award winner continues to be a bit underrated and time will show what he brings to the table. Campbell should hear his name called in the second or third round.
Other Hawkeyes in the draft
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Two other Hawkeyes that are also waiting to hear their name called when the draft rolls around also hail from the defense. Those two members are cornerback Riley Moss and safety Kaevon Merriweather. These two held down the back end of an elite secondary and will look to do the same at the next level.
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