2023 NFL Draft: Here are seven Cincinnati Bearcats who could be selected this week

It is doubtful the University of Cincinnati football team will surpass last season's record of nine NFL draft picks, but you could see several Bearcats flash across your screen as you watch the affair Thursday through Saturday from Union Station in Kansas City.

As many as seven who sported a C-Paw on their helmet could hear their name called and several more could nail down free-agent opportunities by the end of the weekend. While the Bearcats didn't rack up 13 straight wins like they did in 2021, they still had enough talent to finish 9-4 featuring some talent that caught the eyes of numerous pro scouts.

Here are seven Bearcats that have attracted the attention of various NFL teams:

1. Ivan Pace Jr.

Listed at UC as 6-foot, 240 pounds, Pace measured 5-feet-10 1/2 -inches and 231 pounds at the NFL Combine. He still roams the field and hits with authority as evidenced by his performance at the Senior Bowl where he was named Linebacker of the Week for the National team. At UC's Pro Day, he had a vertical leap of 35" and did 22 reps at 225 pounds on the bench. NFL.com scores him at 5.84 which equates to being an average backup or special teams player.

The NFL Mock Draft Data Base projects him as a fifth-round pick. Many teams need linebackers including the Detroit Lions where he's drawn comparisons to similar-sized Malcolm Rodriguez. The Washington Commanders lost starter Cole Holcomb, so they could be in the market, as could Buffalo who lost Tremaine Edwards. The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah calls him "one of the best blitzing linebackers I've seen". USA Today's Touchdown Wire lists Pace as a top-eight linebacker among prospects. Pace had Zoom meetings with the Titans and Eagles and visited the Bengals in person.

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"I felt like I already had that game in me," Pace said of transferring from Miami's RedHawks for one season at UC. "I've also had that mentality that I'm good enough to play anywhere. That's the main reason I transferred to come to Cincinnati and my brother (Deshawn) was here too. I could've went somewhere else, to a bigger Power Five program and played there but I came here to show those things and ball out with him."

2. Tyler Scott

The 5-foot-10, 177-pound Scott could be UC's highest-selected player after hauling down 54 passes for 899 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and had a vertical leap of 39.5". At UC's Pro Day he lowered his 40 time to 4.32. Scott has met with the Titans, Rams, Saints, Patriots, Browns, Packers, Bears, Giants and Raiders.

Other possibilities include the Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Ravens and Falcons. Atlanta needs speed and that would reunite him with Desmond Ridder. The Bengals could also be a suitor as Scott's swiftness is a valuable commodity. NFL.com gives him a 6.35 rating projecting him as a future starter. The NFL Mock Draft Data Base has him as third-round pick, while the Draft Network ranked him at No. 71 which would also fall in round three. The latest ESPN draft shared by Mel Kiper and Todd McShay had Scott at No. 86 by the Baltimore Ravens.

"We had a lot of great guys and especially in our 2021 season, we had a Jim Thorpe Award winner in Coby Bryant on one side and the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in Sauce Gardner on the other," Scott said of his Bearcat proving ground. "We also had Bryan Cook who was a second-round pick, so there were so many great players in the secondary to compete with. They have all helped me with my game."

3. Tre Tucker

Tyler Scott's friend from the Akron area and former UC teammate roomed with the 5-foot-9, 182-pound Tucker at the NFL combine where Tucker ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and had a vertical leap of 37.5". Tucker caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns during his time as a Bearcat and averaged 24 yards on kickoff returns. He also lowered his 40 time at UC's Pro Day to 4.32.

His NFL.com ranking is 6.11 which is in the good backup potential to be a starter range. The NFL Mock Draft Date Base puts him as a sixth-round pick. Tucker could draw interest from his Northeast Ohio team, the Browns, as well as the Bengals, Falcons, Steelers, Seahawks, Eagles, Patriots, Rams, Saints, Packers, Titans and any team looking for a speedy receiver. Tucker has talked to all 32 teams and could have a special teams presence.

"They had me catching punts," Tucker said after his Pro Day. "There is obviously value there, it's important. It only adds to my game. One of them (scouts) said when you can contribute on special teams and run routes the way that you do and you're fast, you'll play in the league for a very long time."

4. Josh Whyle

It's a bullish tight end market for the 6-foot-6 1/2-inch, 248-pound Whyle who could interest the hometown Bengals who are in the market. Whyle ran a 4.69 40-yard dash and had a vertical leap of 33.5" at the NFL Combine. At UC's Pro Day he caught passes in front of the Bengals brass from last year's UC starter Ben Bryant.

With an NFL.com rating of 6.14 he's in the area of a backup that could develop into a starter. He's currently a projected fifth-round pick by the NFL Mock Draft Data Base. In addition to the Bengals, the Packers and Dolphins could be looking for tight ends. Green Bay has former Bearcat Josiah Deguara on the roster with Tyler Davis, who have two touchdowns between them. Size-wise, he resembles a Tyler Higbee from the Rams. Former NFL quarterback/now analyst Chris Simms lists Whyle as one of the top five tight ends.

"My thought process is that I just want to go somewhere that's going to utilize me in the right ways," Whyle said. "Playing in the city that I've played all three levels of the game would be pretty cool. I want to be a part of a team that wants me and wants to win championships and Super Bowls."

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Whyle has trained for the draft in Santa Ana, California with the likes of Notre Dame's Michael Mayer (Covington Catholic) and Georgia's Darnell Washington.

5. Leonard Taylor

Taylor is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end who caught 69 passes for 697 yards and eight touchdowns over five seasons with the Bearcats. His best campaign was 2021 when he hauled in 28 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns.

Taylor's NFL.com rating is 5.60 which puts him as a bottom-of-the-roster/practice squad player. The NFL Mock Draft Data Base projects him as an undrafted free agent. That said, he could sneak into the later rounds for teams searching for a tight end. Taylor met with Dallas which likes his pass-protection skills and the fact that he's of similar build to Cowboys great Jason Witten.

He also met with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs who once plucked a pretty good tight end from the Bearcats in Travis Kelce. Taylor was at the NFL Combine and later worked out for the Bengals April 18.

6. Arquon Bush

At 6 foot and 187 pounds, cornerback Arquon Bush carries an NFL.com rating of 5.94 putting him in the range of an average backup or special teams player. Bush posted a 4.54 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and a vertical leap of 33.5".

The NFL Mock Draft Data Base projects Bush as a seventh-rounder. Bush could attract interest from the Raiders who could use some youthful defensive backs or the Bengals should they go a different direction from Eli Apple. Green Bay, the Giants, Commanders, Chiefs, Eagles and Seahawks are also among the teams looking at corners. Bush contributed all five seasons he was a Bearcat with 113 tackles and nine interceptions, including a pick-six. Bush participated in the Bengals Pro Day April 18.

7. Ja'Von Hicks

Safety Ja'Von Hicks has a 6-foot-2, 210-pound build and a 4.6 40-yard dash time. Currently, the NFL Mock Draft Data Base has him as an undrafted free agent. However, several mock drafts have him in the sixth or seventh round with interest from the Patriots, Bengals, Rams, Packers, Jaguars, Steelers and Saints. The Bills and Eagles are also among the squads looking at safeties. In five seasons at UC, the former Colerain Cardinal had 197 tackles and intercepted 10 passes, including a pick-six last season.

Hicks has trained in Fort Lauderdale during the off-season.

"I'm proud of myself," Hicks said of the process. "Wherever God takes me to that's where I go.'

Hicks admittedly was disappointed he didn't get an NFL Combine invite, but has since tried to use it in his favor.

"I guess it kind of put a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I feel like I've always been overlooked since high school, especially throughout the recruiting process. It just puts extra motivation knowing that I could have been out there performing with the guys that got invited. I've got faith in myself. I'm excited for the next step."

Hicks is represented by T.J. Ward, a former Broncos defensive back who played at Oregon. He was also among the Bearcats working out at Paycor Stadium April 18 for the Bengals.

The following Bearcats could either be drafted or receive a free-agent offer:

Jeremy Cooper

The 6-foot-2, 326-pound guard recently had a private workout with the Bears. He played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena in late January. Cooper was at the Bengals Pro Day April 18.

Lorenz Metz

Metz is a 6-foot-9, 316-pound specimen at offensive line. At UC's Pro Day, he ran a 5.3 40-yard dash and knocked out 26 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. Metz attended the Bengals Pro Day April 18.

Ty Van Fossen

Van Fossen looked buff at UC's Pro Day at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds. The linebacker excelled with a 35.5" vertical leap. a 4.68 40-yard dash and 18 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Van Fossen was among the invitees to the Bengals Pro Day April 18.

Jabari Taylor

Taylor is a 6-foot-1, 278-pound defensive end who ran a 4.87 40-yard dash at UC's Pro Day and did 21 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. He had workouts with the Bears and Bengals.

Charles McClelland

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound running back ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at UC's Pro Day with a vertical leap of 32". He was UC's top rusher last season with 849 yards and seven touchdowns along with 14 receptions for 116 yards. McClelland worked out for the Bengals April 18.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Where Cincinnati Bearcats NFL draft picks might land this week