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Every year there are prospects who slip through the cracks.

Players who weren’t invited to the combine, didn’t get to play in any premier all-star games, and go undrafted before becoming quality NFL players.

As someone who puts together a spreadsheet of over 2500 players each year, I have tons of sleepers I could mention.

I’m not talking players who will be drafted in the 5th round. These 2023 NFL Draft deep sleepers all have the following in common:

• Did not attend the NFL Combine
• Did not attend the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Game, or NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
• Did not attend a Power-5 school their final season
• Is not included in most 7-round mock drafts
• Have not received extensive hype otherwise

Not all of these players will turn into stars, as some never get a fair opportunity. But I’ve nailed a few of these picks before, and I assure you that every player on this list deserves a shot in the NFL.

You’ll notice that most of these players are from small schools, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Below are just 10 of my favorite deep sleepers in this draft class.

 

Deep Sleepers List

Dresser Winn, QB, Tennessee-Martin (FCS)

Let’s start with my favorite sleeper QB.

Leading with what’s most important: He’s a 6’3″ 215 pound pocket passer with legitimate NFL arm strength, and an ability to throw off platform.

Winn was a multi-sport athlete in high school, with division I attention as a baseball player before committing to play football at his hometown school.

Despite getting playing time as a true freshman back in 2017, Winn proceeded to deal with a few injuries that kept him out of the lineup.

When he finally put together a full season as a starter this past season, he led UT-Martin to their second consecutive conference championship while putting up a decent stat line of 2904 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 61% completion rate.

He shows solid athletic ability, a powerful frame, great leadership, and a quick, natural throwing motion with a high release point.

While there are certainly things to work on with consistency and pocket presence, his arm talent can legitimately compete with the QBs who threw at the NFL Combine.

Arms like that aren’t easy to find, and he’s definitely worth giving a 90-man roster spot to see what he can do.

 

Caleb Sanders, DT, South Dakota State (FCS)

Caleb Sanders is a DT prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 8.91 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 178 out of 1618 DT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/C3giRHOLDx pic.twitter.com/NJPEd7mxK0

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 11, 2023

If you watch FCS football, you should know Caleb Sanders. Frankly I’m really surprised he hasn’t received more attention.

As a 1st team FCS All-American and multiple time All-Conference selection in the best conference in the FCS, Caleb Sanders produced at an extremely high level throughout his career.

The easiest way to describe him might be to call him the Calijah Kancey of the FCS.

Despite being undersized for an interior defensive lineman at 6’1″ 287 pounds, he has an incredibly quick first step and is like blocking a bar of soap. Impossible to grab and keep in front of you.

He proved his athletic ability at his pro day, running a 4.99 400 yard dash, with 31 bench reps (would have been 2nd best among iDL at the combine), a 35.5″ vertical (would have been best among iDL at the combine), and a 7.27 cone drill (also would have been best among iDL at the combine).

Sanders shows a strong understanding of leverage and is able to keep his eyes on the football while bending well around edges and staying low.

Along with his 42.5 career tackles for loss and 20.5 career sacks, one of the best things about Caleb Sanders is his knack for finding ways to win.

He helped South Dakota State finally complete a championship run this past season, and was a 3 time state football champion in high school. Not to mention his state championship as a wrestler.

While Sanders doesn’t necessarily look the part at first glance, he is a consistent disruptor from the interior with impressive quickness and a lot of experience.

 

Liam Anderson, LB, Holy Cross (FCS)

SOURCE: The #Patriots, among other teams, have expressed interest in Holy Cross LB Liam Anderson.@liam_andersonn is a former QB, a Hula Bowl invitee and is one of many Crusaders gaining NFL interest. pic.twitter.com/gZOgYo4aGJ

— Ethan Hurwitz (@HurwitzSports) December 20, 2022

Liam Anderson has a legitimate NFL frame at 6’3″ 230 pounds, with a diverse skillset and impressive testing numbers.

The 5th year senior was a key piece of Holy Cross’ conference dominance, helping them win 4 conference championships.

Over the past two seasons, Anderson combined for over 150 tackles, 28 TFLs, 10 sacks, 9 passes defended, and 4 interceptions.

He matches the production with a 4.55 40 yard dash, 33.5″ vertical, 128″ broad jump, and 7.12 cone drill, all of which would have been average or better compared to the linebackers at the NFL combine.

His football IQ is obvious, and at the HULA bowl he showed a nice ability to diagnose plays and take proper angles into his tackles.

What you’re left with is a linebacker with the size, athleticism, intelligence, and leadership of NFL linebacker, plus productivity and winning experience.

I thoroughly expect Liam Anderson to make a 53 man roster in his career, and once he gets there he’ll be an efficient player.

 

Xavier Malone, WR, Henderson State (D2)

I have no idea if an NFL team has noticed Xavier Malone or not, but if he gets a chance an NFL team will be very happy.

An undersized Division-II receiver, the 5’8″ 175 pounder is one of the fastest players in the draft class after being officially timed as a 4.35 40 yard dash at his pro day.

When you turn on his film, that speed definitely translates.

You’ll see a receiver who runs away from everyone, lines up both outside or in the slot, and effectively tracks the ball on his deep routes.

Some receivers are fast but not quick, but that’s not a problem. Malone has very quick feet underneath with nice body control and dangerous after-catch ability.

Despite his small size, he’ll surprise you with his contact balance and ability to fight through contact and secure a catch.

He’s also been successful as a gunner on special teams, giving him an additional use for NFL teams while he adjusts to the uptick in competition.

Check out the above traits comparison with Tank Dell, who’s expected to go in the 3rd round.

The obvious difference here is competition level, but Xavier Malone did everything possible against D2 competition. Malone recorded 1382 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, and also threw a touchdown pass. He accounted for 53.4% of his team’s receiving yardage, the highest percentage of any of my 355 wide receiver prospects evaluated.

Obviously there are places he’d need to improve once he makes the jump to the NFL, but the film matches the ridiculous testing numbers, and that should excite some NFL teams.

 

Dakota Allen, TE, Eastern Kentucky (FCS)

Eastern Kentucky @EKUFootball tight end Dakota Allen, invited to #Bengals local pro day, has Zoom meetings with #49ers #Lions #Raiders, interest from #Titans, per league source https://t.co/6Vpb47ShLn

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 8, 2023

After four years as a quarterback, Dakota Allen transitions to a tight end in 2021 and immediately became a 1st team all-conference player, before doing the same thing in 2022 despite only playing in 5 games.

Allen has prototypical NFL size at 6’4″ 244 pounds, and while he wasn’t able to run a 40 due to a knee issue, the tape shows fluid athletic ability in the open field.

Dakota Allen was on the Senior Bowl Watchlist to begin the season, and likely would have earned an invite to one of the main all star games had it not been for the knee injury halfway through the season.

On his way to totaling 353 receiving yards through less than 5 games this past season, Allen saw snaps lined up all over the field, being used as a walking mismatch.

He needs a lot of technique refinement as a blocker, but has a decent frame to learn the role. He also managed to put up 25 bench reps at his pro day, which would have ranked 1st of all tight ends at the combine.

He’s been on the field in private workouts and the knee seems to be close to 100%. Assuming he passes medical testing, Allen has a chance to be one of the steals of the draft class.

 

 

Chris Toth, G/T, Aurora (D3)

Every once and a while you’ll find a Division-III offensive lineman with NFL traits, and watching the highlights is always hilarious.

Toth would be a 2nd generation NFL player, and had the opportunity to showcase his talents at the HULA bowl.

His tape shows dominant athletic ability and strength, but it can be difficult to gauge considering most of his competition is nowhere close to Division 1 size or athleticism.

At the all star game he showed a solid anchor and ability to play inside or out, with enough size to potentially sticky outside. I’d expect him to move inside since his arms are just beneath the 33″ mark many teams look for.

Regardless of position, Toth can get out on screens, maintains good leverage, and matches his strength with a solid 5.10 40 yard dash and 31.5″ vertical in a 6’6″ 307 pound frame.

Aside from the athletic measurables, his tape will also show better hip fluidity and knee bend than a couple of players who received combine invites.

He plays very similar to Ben Bartch, who ended up being a 4th round draft pick out of Division-III St. John’s a few years ago.

I included a comparison with Nick Broeker above because Broeker is a former 5 star recruit who started from day 1 at left tackle, but will move inside at the next level. Toth compares favorably in terms of the physical traits, just to put his potential into some perspective.

 

Aidan Borguet, RB, Harvard (FCS)

Tons of video coming a bit later, but this is the only one you need to see right now. @aidanborguet_ put on a show in the bench press with 35(!) reps @HarvardFootball @Crim_Recruiting @newftbj pic.twitter.com/JAgn2PsJ7y

— Kevin J. Stone (@kstone06) March 9, 2023

Aidan Borguet’s name has started to pick up some steam recently, so I considered leaving him off the list.

But for those who haven’t heard of this draft sleeper, now’s the time before he gets drafted.

Borguet is a 5’8 1/4″ 205 pound running back from Harvard who put up solid pro day times of 4.58 40, 36″ vertical, and a 117″ broad.

More impressively, he put up 35 reps of 220 pounds, which would have been 1st all time among true running backs at the combine.

It’s not just a powerful upper body for Borguet, he has a powerful lower body as well and maintains a low center of gravity.

His running style and frame reminds me a lot of Mo Ibrahim, with better speed yet less experience.

He’ll need to work on his hands and hitting holes at the right time, but the Ivy Leaguer matches his intelligence with impressive athletic traits and big time production this past season.

 

Adam Plant Jr., EDGE, UNLV (FBS)

I didn’t expect to include any FBS prospects on this deep sleeper list, but I’ve been surprised by how little I’ve heard about Adam Plant from UNLV.

Plant was a lot more highly recruited than the other players on here, having starting at TCU over other top offers from Oregon, USC, and Penn State.

This past season was his 3rd at UNLV, and Plant really put it all together. He totaled 62 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks in his all-conference campaign.

That level of production at the FBS level will always draw the attention of scouts, but what helps Plant is his legitimate NFL frame.

At his pro day, Plant measured 6’5 1/4″, 255 pounds, and had 33.5″ arms. His combination of size and length are prototypical for a 4-3 defensive end, with enough athleticism to see him translate his success.

Edge rusher is a position that relies heavily on physical traits, and Plant has plenty of those.

While the 40 time wasn’t anything eye popping, the film is full of high speed pursuits and chasing down screen plays.

Despite not existing on most mock draft simulators, Plant has all the traits of an NFL edge rusher and is just about a guarantee to get a spot on a 90-man roster, if not be drafted.

 

Jordan Jones, CB, Rhode Island (FCS)

Yet another HULA bowl participant, Jordan Jones of Rhode Island is a ball hawking corner with a powerful first step and enough size to stick outside.

He’s proven successful in both zone and man coverage, with a lot of versatility to play throughout the backend.

Jones keeps his eyes on the quarterback and has good ball skills for a DB, having totaled 6 interceptions and 28 passes defended over the past two seasons.

His production was backed up by an impressive pro day performance, putting up a verified 4.52 40, 37.5″ vertical, 131″ broad, and 6.97 cone drill.

He’s experienced on special teams, has decent length, and mirrors receivers well on the outside. He plays calm and collected, and has been a consistent force the past two years while earning All-America recognition.

His athletic traits are comparable to Mekhi Blackmon, who received a combine and Senior Bowl invite.

 

Phillip Grohovac, G, Western (Canada)

I don’t expect Grohovac to see time in the NFL, as he’ll be a 1st or 2nd round pick in the CFL draft and is only expected training camp attention from the NFL.

Still, his highlight tape is so fun I wanted to include him as a deep sleeper here instead of the honorable mentions.

As a 6’5″ 314 pound right guard, Grohovac has plenty of size and strength to get it done at the next level.

He’s a multi-year starter in the Canadian college ranks, with experience both outside and inside.

While he plays a bit upright with very tight hips, he plays with all out intensity 100% of the time and loves to lay huge hits.

Watch the highlight video, and you’ll see the first highlight (shown twice) is one of the most vicious legal hits you’ll see.

He opens up holes in the run game as well as you’ll find, and maintains a strong anchor in pass protection.

Unlike the other players on this list, I thoroughly expect him to go undrafted and start his career in the CFL, but you never know if his career might wind back to the NFL at some point.

 

Honorable Mention Deep Sleepers List

Here are some other deep sleepers that I wanted to mention:

Reece Udinski, QB, Richmond (FCS)

Jason Shelley, QB, Missouri State (FCS)

Mac Hippenhammer, WR, Miami-Ohio (FBS)

Sy Barnett, WR, Davenport (D2)

Cody Chrest, WR, Sam Houston State (FCS)

Garett Maag, WR, North Dakota (FCS)

Elijah Dotson, RB, Northern Colorado (FCS)

TJ Cole, RB, Ouachita Baptist (D2)

Trent Thompson, FB, UTEP (FBS)

Julian Hill, TE, Campbell (FCS)

Griffin Hebert, TE/WR/RB, Louisiana Tech (FBS)

James Bostic III, TE/WR, Ohio (FBS)

Anderson Hardy, OT, Appalachian State (FBS)

Matthew Vanderslice, OT/G, Northern Iowa (FCS)

Eric Abojei, G, Wyoming (FBS)

Matthew Weimann, C, St. Thomas (FCS)

TK McLendon, DT, Eastern Kentucky (FCS)

Spencer Waege, DT/DE, North Dakota State (FCS)

Trey Botts, DT, Colorado-Pueblo (D2)

Brian Holiday, DT, NW Oklahoma State (D2)

Jermaine McDaniel Jr., EDGE, North Carolina A&T (FCS)

Josh Johnson, EDGE, Campbell (FCS)

KD Davis, LB, North Texas (FBS)

Ryan Greenhagen, LB, Fordham (FCS)

Brandon Bouyer-Randle, LB, Connecticut (FBS)

Matthew Jackson, LB, Eastern Kentucky (FCS)

Ty Okada, S, Montana State (FCS)

Kedrick Whitehead, S, Delaware (FCS)

Morgan Vest, S, Northern Arizona (FCS)

Destin Talbert, CB, North Dakota State (FCS)

Anthony Kendall, CB, Baldwin Wallace (D3)

Brandon Barnes-Brown, CB, Fayetteville State (D2)

Devious Christmon, CB, Bethel-TN (NAIA)

 

Do you have a favorite deep sleeper in the 2023 NFL draft? Let me know in the comments below.