In each of the last two NFL Drafts, 65 SEC football players were selected. The Georgia Bulldogs led the way for the rest of SEC Football last year with 15 Bulldogs drafted.
Last year, the Big Ten was well behind the SEC with 48 players selected. Farther behind with 25 players drafted each was the Pac-12 and the Big 12. Among the Power Fives, the ACC limped to the Draft finish in last, with 21 players drafted.
Last year, the SEC was also the big leader in first-round selections with 12 former SEC football players chosen in the first round.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, the SEC is expected to dominate again. A loosely averaged projection for SEC first-round selections is 10-12. Most impressive is the strong possibility that in the first 14 picks on Thursday night, seven former SEC football players will be chosen. Alabama football fans are especially excited at the possibility that the first two names called on Thursday night will be Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr.
Perusing mock drafts published by sources with the most past success, a guess is every SEC team but two will have multiple former players drafted. The two are the Missouri Tigers and the Vanderbilt Commodores. Missouri may get a 2023 NFL Draft goose egg on the scoreboard. Vandy linebacker, Anfernee Orgi should keep the Dores from being shut out.
Six other SEC programs should have three, or in some cases maybe four, players drafted. Those programs are Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Kentucky. Mississippi State might get to three, but more likely the number for the Bulldogs will be two.
Five more SEC programs are expected to have big 2023 Draft performances. Tennessee, Florida and LSU should be in the range of 4-7 players drafted each.
Alabama Football and the Georgia Bulldogs will hit double-digits. Around a dozen is a fair projection for both programs.
Highest Round Projected by SEC Football Program
- Alabama Crimson Tide – With Bryce Young going No. 1 overall, the Tide will get at least three first-rounders and possibly four.
- Georgia Bulldogs – Four probable first-rounders with Nolan Smith leading the way for the Dawgs.
- Tennessee Vols – Depending on high Hendon Hooker is selected, the Vols should have one or two first-round picks.
- Florida Gators – Florida should have a first-round lock in Anthony Richardson.
- Kentucky Wildcats – The Cats should also be locked into the first round with Will Levis.
- Mississippi State Bulldogs – MSU might get the SEC’s highest second-round selection with Emmanuel Forbes (unless Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs goes even earlier in the second round).
- Arkansas Razorbacks – Drew Sanders has a good chance to be a middle second-rounder for the Hogs.
- South Carolina Gamecocks – CB Cam Smith is expected to be chosen in the second round.
- LSU Bengal Tigers – BJ Ojulari is a solid second-round pick for LSU
- Texas A&M Aggies – Neither Devon Achane nor Antonio Johnson should drop below the second round.
- Auburn Tigers – Derick Hall should be Auburn’s first pick in the third round, with Tank Bigsby coming later in the same round.
- Ole Miss Rebels – Lane Kiffin’s first player drafted will likely be Jonathan Mingo in the third or fourth round.
- Vanderbilt Commodores – As mentioned above, the Dores should have a seventh-round pick in Anfernee Orgi.
There will be many Draft surprises, but a lack of dominance by the SEC will not be one of them.