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Breakout Candidates at the 2023 NFL Combine – 5 Sleepers to Watch

Breakout Candidates at the 2023 NFL Combine – 5 Sleepers to Watch

After posting my predictions for who will dominate the 2023 NFL Combine, I noticed most players were already established as top prospects.

As someone who loves sleepers, I also wanted to highlight 5 sleepers who aren’t getting much attention at the moment, but probably will be after the combine.

Keep in mind that the NFL Combine is invite-only, and all 319 players who accepted invites are fairly well known within NFL scouting circles.

These 5 players may be known, but few fans realize just how athletic they are. These guys are also currently outside the top few round of the draft, but could see a big push going forward.

 

5 Sleepers at the NFL Combine

Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn

Owen Pappoe is one of the most underrated players in the draft, and is set to shine at the Senior Bowl.

Pappoe reminds me a ton of Brian Asamoah who was an early 3rd round pick last year primarily due to his sideline-to-sideline speed. Yet Pappoe definitely has Asamoah beat in terms of speed. In fact he probably has every 2023 linebacker prospect beat in that regard.

At a reasonable 6’1″ 225 pounds, Pappoe has been clocked at fast as 4.32 in the 40 yard dash, a time which would beat out Shaquem Griffin (4.38), Micah Parsons (4.39), and Isaiah Simmons (4.39) by a significant margin if he’s able to replicate it at the combine.

Pappoe is also expected to perform well in other measurables, with a max bench of 435 pounds and a 40″ vertical.

Despite receiving a Senior Bowl invite, Pappoe didn’t get the opportunity to wow scouts as he dealt with an injury. Instead of playing through the injury, he decided to focus on getting 100% healthy for the combine.

He’s knows this is his make or break time as a draft prospect, and is thoroughly expected to dominate the weekend.

 

DJ Johnson, Edge, Oregon

DJ Johnson finally took a step forward this year as a 6th year senior.

Oregon has been patiently waiting for the 6’4″ 270 pound edge rusher to settle in at a position and put everything together, and he put up a respectable 39 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 6 sacks this season after posting just 11 tackles and 2 TFLs in 2021.

Johnson has a bit of an excuse to be a late bloomer at the position, as Oregon had transitioned him to tight end in 2020, where he put up 113 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 7 games.

While the defensive tape hasn’t been too consistent, the athletic measurables will be great for Johnson.

He’s been tracked at a max GPS speed of over 22mph, which is ridiculous for someone of his size. He also has a 455 max bench, and a big broad jump.

Johnson has been sort of a forgotten man in this deep 2023 edge rusher draft class, but has a chance to push himself into the top 100 if he’s able to back up the reports of his athleticism.

 

Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota

Terell Smith has an interesting career path despite never transferring.

He opened his career as Minnesota’s top corner to begin his true freshman season in 2018. He played very solid football all season, but it wasn’t enough to earn him his starting spot back the next year.

Smith played in just 5 games the next season as the team’s 5th cornerback, the least he could possibly play without being eligible for a redshirt. Instead of transferring, he stuck with it.

2020 was the exact same story, but he stayed at Minnesota again.

2021 he began the year as a starter, but played less as the year went on. Still he stayed at Minnesota.

In 2022, everything came together. Smith was one of the highest graded cornerbacks in the entire nation, and he has the physical traits to be an even better pro than he was college player.

At 6’1″ 210 pounds, Smith has a very strong build with good arm length and quick feet.

He’s also one of the fastest corners in the class, with low 4.4 speed and verified 21+ mph GPS times from the East-West Shrine Game.

The physical outside corner is one of the most slept on players in the entire class, with plenty of room to improve.

 

Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia

The weak passing game for West Virginia didn’t do Ford-Wheaton any favors this year, and he’s been waiting for his chance to really show what he can do at the NFL Combine.

With a very long and strong frame and 6’3″ 225 pounds, Bryce Ford-Wheaton has the speed to take the top off of a defense. He’s expected to run in the high 4.3s, and is reported to have a 40″ vertical, 128″ broad jump, 4.0 20-yard shuttle, and 6.68 cone drill.

Very few players will have his combination of size and athleticism.

He has the strength to play very physical, with underneath quickness to turn into a great route runner.

 

Hunter Luepke, FB, North Dakota State

Hunter Luepke is the lone fullback to have received a combine invite, and is expected to show that he has the athleticism to be a full on running back if needed.

The 6’1″ 235 pound halfback helped his team to 3 FCS National Championships in his 5 year career, and was one of the most dangerous offensive weapons on a deep NDSU offense each of the past 3 years.

Luepke absolutely fits into the rare “Kyle Juszczyk mold” of fullbacks, where he can do absolutely anything you need him to. A big time blocker, good hands, great body control, and good athleticism as a runner.

He’s likely going to run in the mid 4.5s for his 40 yard dash, along with good performances in the bench, vertical, and broad jumps.

His impressive flexibility and body control with be on full display in the positional drills, showcasing what he learned from his days as a 3 time state champion wrestler.

Many fans probably don’t expect much of the fullback position, but there’s a reason only 1 was invited this year. Because it just isn’t fair to compare anyone in this class to the versatility and athleticism of Luepke.

 

 

Of course there are plenty of other guys who could end up dominating the combine, that’s part of the job of the event!

If you have an additional NFL Combine sleeper or breakout candidate, let me know in the comments below!

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