Projecting a 2023 NFL draft prospect to the NFL isn’t simply about looking at production from the 2022 season, as measurables and career bodies of work also come into play.
Still, it’s interesting to see when some of the best players in the draft had their best season in college football. Here, we look at the top 10 interior defenders on PFF’s big board and highlight their best season by PFF grade, adding some stats for context.
JALEN CARTER, GEORGIA
- Big board rank: 2/DI1
- Best PFF grade: 92.3, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 89.1
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 92.3
CALIJAH KANCEY, PITTSBURGH
- Big board rank: 13/DI2
- Best PFF grade: 91.8, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 92.4
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 80.9
BRYAN BRESEE, CLEMSON
- Big board rank: 20/DI3
- Best PFF grade: 73.5, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 82.0
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 63.4
MAZI SMITH, MICHIGAN
- Big board rank: 34/DI4
- Best PFF grade: 79.9, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 68.5
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 81.3
SIAKI IKA, BAYLOR
- Big board rank: 65/DI5
- Best PFF grade: 74.4, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 76.4
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 69.1
KEEANU BENTON, WISCONSIN
- Big board rank: 67/DI6
- Best PFF grade: 73.6, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 83.5
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 65.2
MORO OJOMO, TEXAS
- Big board rank: 85/DI7
- Best PFF grade: 90.6, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 84.1
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 91.4
KOBIE TURNER, WAKE FOREST
- Big board rank: 100/DI8
- Best PFF grade: 92.2, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 88.8
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 93.1
Jaquelin Roy, LSU
- Big board rank: 106/DI9
- Best PFF grade: 81.2, 2021
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 89.6
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 68.6
Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida
- Big board rank: 118/DI10
- Best PFF grade: 72.3, 2021
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 75.8
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 67.6
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