Iowa DL Lukas Van Ness declares for 2023 NFL Draft

Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness has declared for 2023 NFL Draft. He announced the decision on his Twitter page:

Forever a Hawkeye. pic.twitter.com/ilORHrsa28

— Lukas Van Ness (@lukas_vanness) January 3, 2023

Van Ness enters as easily one of the most productive underclassmen pass rushers at the high-major level. He accumulated 12.5 sacks 18.5 tackles for loss over just two seasons playing with the Hawkeyes and was a star member of their elite unit on that end of the field this season.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.