Draft Notebook: All-Star circuit sets stage for stretch run

“The draft starts in Mobile”. That is a slogan used by folks at the Senior Bowl as the long-time event serves as the top draft showcase. However, there are some other big-time all-star games that have emerged. The NFLPA Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl are also key parts of the draft season. With each finishing this week, it’s time for the stretch run.

Over the next eight weeks, KSR will be jumping into the draft preparation leading to the last weekend in April when the 2023 NFL Draft occurs live in Kansas City. The Wildcats again have multiple potential draft picks and will be a popular program on national airwaves due to Will Levis’ potential top-10 pick status.

Our first Draft Notebook of the year will take a look back at Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Keidron Smith in the Senior Bowl while projecting draft ranges for all of Kentucky’s prospects before the next huge event arrives in March when players will travel to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine.

Let’s dive in.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. appears to be meeting expectations

Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a historic career during his five seasons in Lexington. The former low three-star recruit out of Greater Atlanta rushed for 3,643 yards at Kentucky with 23 total touchdowns. The 224-pound tailback has been one of the top rushers in college football over the last three seasons. That appears to be translating despite the lack of buzz.

After a week of practice, the Senior Bowl will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. ET on the NFL Network. During the game, Rodriguez will be honoring his mother who just passed away.

Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez Jr’s mom unexpectedly passed away on Jan. 11. She had Lupus. Awareness color is purple, which was also her favorite color. In tomorrow’s @seniorbowl, Chris will be wearing purple facemask loaned from LSU football. Incredible way to honor his mom. 💜💙 pic.twitter.com/ab0ZDTPSjS

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 3, 2023

Thoughts and prayers to Chris Rodriguez Jr. and his family for their loss.

Keidron Smith double dips

After spending four years at Ole Miss playing for Matt Luke and Lane Kiffin, Keidron Smith decided to spend his final season of college football somewhere else. The South Florida native entered the transfer portal looking for the chance to play cornerback again after a position change in Oxford.

Smith landed in Lexington and had a career year in 2022 playing over 750 snaps in Kentucky’s zone-heavy scheme at cornerback. The former low three-star recruit has great size at the position and impressed NFL organizations at the NFLPA Bowl last week. That performance earned Smith an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

This week in Mobile for Smith has been about getting in front of teams and showing that he can play cornerback at the next level. Kentucky’s starting field cornerback entered this process as a likely undrafted free agent but may have played his way into a pick on Day 3.

Early draft slot projections

With Levis pulling himself out of the Senior Bowl, only Rodriguez and Smith participated in the festivities down in Mobile this week. That has made this week somewhat quiet for Kentucky football prospects but things are expected to heat up over the next month.

Now feels like a good time to dig in on some expected draft ranges. After doing some digging this week, here is where I’m projecting each Kentucky player to land at this moment. Keep in mind that things can be very fluid during the draft process. The combine and Kentucky’s Pro Day will go a long way in determining projections before the draft arrives.

— Will Levis (top-10 pick): We all know that Kentucky quarterback Will Levis will hear his name on Thursday night in Kansas City. The only question is where will it be? The top of the draft order could see some shuffling if the Chicago Bears trade down from their No. 1 overall spot. The Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers could all be in the market for a QB in the top-10. It seems highly unlikely that Levis falls outside of the top-10 and being the No. 1 overall pick isn’t out of the question.

— Carrington Valentine (Round 3-5): No one off the Kentucky roster has a bigger draft variance than the cornerback out of Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller. Valentine was an early entrant into the NFL Draft after three years spent in the SEC with two as Kentucky’s starting boundary cornerback. In a small sample size, Valentine flashed the ability to be sticky coverage player in man schemes, but Kentucky didn’t have to ask him to do a whole lot of that. Valentine could really benefit from strong athletic testing at the combine and pro day. Cornerback is a premium position in the NFL and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if a good pre-draft process gets the cornerback into Day 2.

— Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Round 4): Kentucky’s star tailback is a bulldozer that can excel in both zone and gap schemes. However, there are questions about the value Rodriguez can bring as a pass catcher. That lowers his ceiling and makes the tailback a Day 3 selection at the moment.

— Keidron Smith (Round 7-UDFA): The fact that Smith got the call-up to the Senior Bowl says a lot. The tall cornerback is officially on the radar for some NFL organizations and a strong performance in meetings to go along with some good athletic testing could potentially get Smith into Round 5. For now, we’re going safe with the projection but the Ole Miss transfer has a great shot at being drafted.

— Undrafted Free Agents: Tyrell Ajian, Jacquez Jones, Tashawn Manning, DeAndre Square, and Jordan Wright

There is work to be done for these five other Wildcats who currently appear to be on the outside looking in at the moment. Jones, Manning, and Wright all joined Smith at the NFLPA Bowl where they got the chance to get some workout time in front of NFL personnel. Next up will be the Scouting Combine for some, but for others, Kentucky’s Pro Day will be their last chance to make a splash.

Three players I’m watching after the all-star circuit

This week is truly a showcase for the NFL Draft season. There are a few names on the radar, but this is the time we get to really dig in and determine who could be some quality finds on Day 2 and Day 3 in the draft. More than a few players have caught my attention.

Here are three players that I’ll be paying close attention to over the next month.

—Tyjae Spears (RB, Tulane): The AAC champion emerged as one of the best tailbacks in college football this season rushing 1,586 yards and earning an elite 90.2 grade from PFF. Spears also has real pass-catching value and has been flashing that this week at the Senior Bowl. Don’t be surprised if the Tulane product sneaks his way into the second round.

BREAKING: Tulane RB Tyjae Spears was named @seniorbowl Practice Player-of-Week in vote of NFL executives & scouts.📈#BestoftheBest #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/NzGlghAPfU

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 3, 2023

— Dawand Jones (T, Ohio State): After a strong first day at the Senior Bowl, the Ohio State right tackle withdrew from the event. Jones looks the part, but the measurables are out of this world. It’s going to be very easy to fall for the sheer size and athleticism combo. This is a sneaky candidate to crack the first round for a draft that needs some tackles to emerge.

— Zay Flowers (WR, Boston College): Things were ugly on offense for Boston College this season, but Flowers was able to produce 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. That should tell you a lot. The small wide receiver lacks size, but there is legitimate vertical weapon potential. The ACC product was one of the best players at the East-West Shrine Bowl and will hear his name called early on Day 2.