Your guide to the Missouri Tigers football prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft
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The 2023 NFL Draft is upon us, and there’s no better way to celebrate the best players from the Show Me State than in Kansas City.
Here is a 2023 NFL Draft guide for all players affiliated with Missouri, both from a school and statewide perspective.
This guide charts prospects from the University of Missouri, other Missouri colleges and universities and prospects who are Missouri natives that played college football elsewhere.
Mizzou Tigers NFL Draft prospects
The Tigers’ pro day featured seven players working out in front of NFL scouts and evaluators. The biggest name on their minds was most likely edge rusher Isaiah McGuire.
MU fans need no introduction. McGuire was a warrior who played through injury last year and seemingly got better and better as he came into his own as a starter. He’s projected as a fourth-round pick, but don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the third if a slew of edge rushers go early.
The rest of MU’s prospects, however, depend solely on how other teams are grading them.
Martez Manuel, the Rock Bridge alum and former team captain, has ranged from being a fourth-round selection according to some evaluations to going undrafted, which isn’t always a bad thing. Being undrafted means Manuel would have his choice of where he would sign.
What makes Manuel valuable in this sense is his versatility. He played strong safety in 2021 in Steve Wilks’ pro-style defensive scheme and rotated to Blake Baker’s STAR position, which had an emphasis on tackling at the line of scrimmage, coverage and rushing the passer. That should earn him some attention.
DJ Coleman, who was at MU for one year after transferring from Jacksonville State, suffers from the same issue McGuire has: a deep edge-rusher class. Although Coleman was one of the more productive rushers for the Tigers last year, he’s projected as a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Age-related jokes aside, Barrett Banister’s experience could get him some attention. Especially as most of his game film includes him converting third downs. He and Kibet Chepyator could get looks as situational players with minicamp deals.
Two special teams players, Sean Koetting and Jake Hoffman, could earn minicamp deals and work their way up as specialists. Hoffman has a good chance as a long snapper, as he had a clean career at MU.
Other Missouri college prospects
Missouri State has a handful of players who are prospects. Jason Shelly headlines this group as the quarterback who has experience at multiple levels. Before his time as a Bear, he was at Utah and Utah State. His mobility could earn him some looks as an undrafted free agent.
One of the best prospects on the Bears’ defense is Kevin Ellis, who had nine tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks. Safeties Dillon Thomas and Kyriq McDonald are also productive defenders to watch from MSU, too. McDonald played at Alabama and Cincinnati before transferring to Missouri State and had 18 defended passes, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in three seasons (one was the shortened spring FCS 2021 season) in Springfield.
Missouri State also has wide receiver Ty Scott, who has 48 receptions for 674 yards and five scores. He averaged 14 yards per reception. Another receiver prospect who could earn some attention is Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Johnny King, who had 69 receptions for 797 yards and six touchdowns.
Division II also claims two prospects in Missouri Western edge rusher Arnold Crayton and defensive back DJ Stirgus. Stirgus tied for the team lead with five pass breakups and Crayton had two sacks with five quarterback hits last season. Both can earn a spot with a team after the draft and work their way up from there.
Missouri prospects at other schools
It doesn’t just stop with Missouri schools. Outside of Missouri colleges are players that are from Missouri but played college ball elsewhere. The biggest spotlight is on the players who hail from the greater Kansas City area.
Players like Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Adetomiwa Adebawore highlight this list as they’re most likely going to hear their name called the earliest. Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State, Lee’s Summit) and Adebawore (Northwestern, Kansas City) are projected as late first and second selections.
Others from the Kansas City area include defensive lineman Nnamdi Enechukwu (Rice, Kansas City), wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (Penn State, Lee’s Summit) and wide receiver Ronnie Bell (Michigan, Kansas City). These three are more than likely selections on Saturday between rounds four and seven.
There are also three from the greater St. Louis area: edge rusher MJ Anderson (Iowa State, St. Louis) cornerback Cameron Brow (Ohio State, St. Louis) and cornerback Art Green (Houston, Chesterfield).
The lone southern Missouri prospect is tight end Travis Vokolek (Nebraska, Springfield). Vokolek played the Y tight end position, meaning he was more of a receiver than a blocker. He recorded 656 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his career that spanned between Rutgers and Nebraska. He is currently graded as a priority undrafted free agent.
All-Missouri NFL Draft Big Board
EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
DT Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
EDGE Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan
CB Cameron Brown, Ohio State
DB Martez Manuel, Missouri
S Kyriq McDonald, Missouri State
EDGE DJ Coleman, Missouri
WR Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State
DB Dillon Thomas, Missouri State
The Star has partnered with the Columbia Daily Tribune for coverage of Missouri Tigers athletics.
