Bo Nix is one of several Oregon Ducks whose NFL Draft stock is on the rise according to Mel Kiper Jr.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his updated 2023 NFL Draft rankings and the Oregon program was well-represented.
Kiper updated his top-25 overall prospect list and also provided newly-updated top-10 lists for each position.
One name on Kiper’s list of top-10 quarterbacks will undoubtedly pique the interest of Oregon fans. Bo Nix, the Ducks’ first-year signal-caller, landed at No. 6 in Kiper’s latest rankings.
When the season began, there were no notable draft analysts who had Nix among their 10 best draft prospects at the position.
But in his first season in Eugene, Nix has been one of the most productive players in the nation. Under Ducks’ offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, he is enjoying the best season of his career and has thrown for 2,221 yards on 20 touchdowns while passing at a 72.3% clip. He is also tied for the national lead among Power Five quarterbacks with 11 rushing touchdowns.
During Oregon’s Week 8 win over then-No. 9 UCLA, Nix threw for five touchdowns and thrust himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation in the process. At the moment, Vegas Insider lists Nix as having the sixth-best Heisman odds in the nation.
“I don’t think anybody can sit here and watch football right now and watch our quarterback play and tell me he’s not an elite quarterback,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said following the UCLA game. “This guy’s playing at an extremely high level. He makes great decisions for our team. You can’t watch a football game right now and say that guy’s not elite.”
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The five quarterbacks who Kiper Jr. has ranked ahead of Nix at the moment are Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis, Alabama’s Bryce Young, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Tennesee’s Hendon Hooker.
Stroud (No. 3 overall), Levis (No. 4), and Young (No. 5) all cracked Kiper Jr.’s top five.
Nix isn’t the only Oregon player who popped up in Kiper Jr.’s latest rankings.
Ducks’ senior Alex Forsyth came in at No. 8 on Kiper Jr.’s list of centers. According to Pro Football Focus, Forsyth has a pass-blocking grade of 89.6 on the season, which is the second-best in the nation behind BYU’s Connor Pay.
Oregon senior DJ Johnson is listed as Kiper Jr.’s No. 7 overall outside linebacker. Johnson leads the Ducks with six sacks on the season.
Noah Sewell, despite having a down season by his own standards, is listed as Kiper Jr.’s No. 3 inside linebacker. However, he has dropped out of the top-25 overall prospects list after landing there earlier this season.
Christian Gonzalez is listed as Kiper Jr.’s No. 4 overall cornerback. In his first season with the Ducks, Gonzalez has established himself as a lockdown corner and one of the top players in the Pac-12.
