4 Potential 2024 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Week 10 of the College Football Season
The midway point of the 2023 NFL season is fast approaching with Week 9 games being wrapped up this weekend.
As a result, we are just a couple months away from many teams turning their focus from 2023 to 2024 and the 2024 NFL Draft.
Hopefully, the Vikings will be able to hold off for a bit longer into January as they are in the middle of a heated playoff race, but soon enough, Minnesota will be looking to improve their team through this draft process. Here is a look at four of those potential draft prospects to keep an eye on in Week 10 of the college football season.
Texas RB Jonathon Brooks
The Minnesota Vikings have had struggles moving the ball on the ground throughout the 2023 season, and while it’s likely that Alexander Mattison will still be around in 2024, Minnesota would be smart to add some more help in the backfield.
Look no further than Texas, which has become something of an RBU over the past couple years. They sent both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to the NFL this past spring, and now, Jonathon Brooks could be next. As the lead back for the Longhorns this season, Brooks has recorded 144 carries for 923 yards and 7 TDs. He’s also added 22 receptions for 212 receiving yards and another TD.
With Quinn Ewers still out with a shoulder injury, Maalik Murphy is in line for another start at quarterback. Texas will continue relying on Brooks to lead their offense in a tough matchup against Kansas State.
Missouri LB Ty’Ron Murphy
The Vikings have gotten some superb play out of Jordan Hicks at the linebacker position this season. Still, he is set to hit free agency this offseason, so Minnesota could look to get younger at the position in 2024. We’ve seen some positive things from Ivan Pace in his rookie season, and Brian Asamoah could still step up next year, but some added insurance never hurts.
One option to monitor is Ty’Ron Hopper who has helped take the Missouri Tigers from one of the worst defensive groups in FBS ball to an above-average one over the past couple years. Because of this and a high-flying offense, Missouri is 7-1 and earned their highest CFP ranking in the program’s history this past week.
Hopper transferred to Missouri in 2022 and over his first season-plus with the Tigers, he’s put together 120 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 7 passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble. He’s been a do-it-all defender for Missouri and could be a strong add for any defense in the midde rounds of next spring’s draft.
For Misouri to get an upset victory over Georgia this weekend, Hopper will have play a huge role in slowing down the Bulldogs offense.
USC WR Brenden Rice
Jordan Addison looks like an absolute star already for the Vikings, and he’s shown capable of holding down the WR1 role in the absence of Justin Jefferson. You know what could make this offense look even more unstoppable, though? An addition of Brenden Rice, the son of legendary receiver Jerry Rice.
Throughout this season, Rice has become a terrific red zone threat for the Trojans, totaling 30 catches for 519 receiving yards and 9 TDs in the first nine games of the year. At 6’3″ and 210 pounds, he is capable of overpowering smaller corners on the boundary while also bringing breakaway speed to make big plays in the open field.
This weekend, Rice and the Trojans have a very tough matchup against Washington which could rejuvenate their hopes of a PAC-12 championship if they win.
LSU DT Mekhi Wingo
The Vikings could use some additional pass-rushing help in the middle of their defensive line, and the pipeline from LSU to Minnesota runs deep.
With that in mind, perhaps they go for an LSU defensive tackle for the second year in a row by targeting Mekhi Wingo. The lineman has put together 22 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks over seven games for the Tigers this season.
Wingo is capable of playing just about anywhere on the defensive line, though. He doesn’t quite have the length to be an NFL edge-rusher at 6’1″, but he has lined up at multiple spots for LSU this season and provides some semblance of versatility. This weekend, LSU will take on Alabama as they continue their bid to get into the SEC title game.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.