For most college football athletes, hearing your name called on draft night is a dream that only few can accomplish. Not being selected in the seven rounds isn’t necessarily the end of some players’ journeys, however. Teams will take chances on undrafted free agents through rookie mini camps and offseason workouts to compete for a spot on the 53 man roster.
With that, these are the 10 rookies who are most likely to make final 53 man rosters this season.
Ronnie Hickman Jr., Safety, Cleveland Browns
Hickman joined the Ohio State secondary right at the height of COVID-19. His first season ended before it really began as he tore his ACL during his senior season of high school. As a freshman at THE Ohio State, he saw almost no playing time but recorded five total tackles before exploding onto the scene in his sophomore season as a Buckeye.
Year two, Hickman created 98 total tackles and recorded a sack and forced fumble to pair with two interceptions, one of which was returned to the house for six points. As a redshirt sophomore, Hickman played in 13 games for a total of over 700 snaps.
In what would be his final season in college, Hickman’s performance took a step in the wrong direction as he only recorded 53 total tackles, one sack, and one interception.
Ali Gaye, Defensive End, Houston Texans
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Gaye was born in Gambia and moved to the U.S. in 2011 at 12 years old. Having played soccer throughout his entire time in West Africa, Gaye didn’t find American football until he was in the eighth grade.
The massive 6’6, 265 lb. defensive end was a late qualifier who had a long path to Louisiana State University, but he also comes with a positive wingspan to pair with his great size. Gaye’s story is one that will be told every time there’s dead air and he’s on the field, but his great work ethic will make sure he stays on the field for his story to be told.
Gaye joins a young Houston defense that will give him an opportunity on the defensive line as he improved all three seasons at LSU.
Ikenna Enechukwu, Defensive End, Atlanta Falcons
Rice’s big body edge rusher joins Atlanta’s defensive line with 6’4, 264 lb. measurables. If he were a half step quicker and two inches taller, Enechukwu would have been a bonafide first round pick, even out of the mid-major Rice.
Enechukwu doesn’t have much in his bag in terms of moves, motions, or twitch at the line of scrimmage. However, because of his strength, he has a chance to bother linemen when he lands his punch.
Malik Heath, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
Heath joins Green Bay as a product of Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss offense. The big body receiver stands at 6’2 and 213 pounds, and he also learned and played under Mike Leach’s system in Mississippi State when he transferred in 2022.
Matt LaFleur won’t be able to confuse him if he tries. Heath has spent time under two future Hall of Fame college head coaches.
Despite not having elite speed or burst, Heath knows how to get open and create separation. He has enough frame strength to compete as a sturdy member of Green Bay’s offense after putting up 971 yards and five touchdowns at Ole Miss in 2022.
Jerrod Clark, Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Chargers
Coastal Carolina’s anchor on the defensive line is a mountain of a man. At 6’3, 334 lbs. with massive arms and a positive wingspan, Clark created 40 total tackles and three and a half sacks in his 2022 campaign. That’s from a guy who entered college as a 230 lb. tight end when he came to Coastal Carolina in 2020.
As Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic said, this is not your father’s big-bellied two-gapper.
Trey Dean III, Safety, New York Jets
The University of Florida’s Trey Dean is a big, powerful menace in the secondary. He is a safety with crazy agility at his size. The 6’2, 200 lb. safety feels like a potentially perfect fit with Robert Saleh’s scheme in New York.
According to one of his former Florida teammates, he was the Gators’ best trash-talker, which is an underrated skill on the NFL field (ala, fellow former University of Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson). Dean has the potential to make a name for himself in New York after creating 81 total tackles, a half sack, and four pass deflections in his fifth year with the Gators.
Keaton Mitchell, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens
The East Carolina University’s three year starting running back has insane speed plus a 38-inch vertical at just 5’7, 179 lb. Mitchell is obviously limited in the size department (pause). When he puts his foot on the ground and bounces to the outside like he likes to do, he’s a flight risk to break the sound barrier.
He’s gadgety in an already-run heavy Baltimore offense, but could be a lot of fun for the Ravens. Look for him to make his debut, should he make the 53 man roster, as a kick returner or punt returner on special teams where he could later develop into a Raheem Mostert type of running back if he can find his way into the league.
In his three seasons at ECU, Mitchell improved every statistical category year after year. He capped off his 2022 campaign for the Pirates with 201 carries for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground to pair with 27 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Holton Ahlers, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
Mitchell’s quarterback through his time at East Carolina University, Holton Ahlers was a hometown hero and a five-year starter for the program. Ahlers improved every statistical category year after year through his time at ECU, wrapping up his tenure at East Carolina as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (13,927), total offensive yards (15,373), passing touchdowns (97), and total touchdowns (122). He also established new AAC records for passing yardage, completions, and total touchdowns while earning MVP honors at the 2023 NFLPA Bowl and the 2023 Hula Bowl.
Ahlers was also one of the most prolific passers to ever come out of North Carolina, finishing his high school career ranked third all-time in state history in passing yards, second all-time in total offense, and third all-time for total touchdowns (201), including 75 combined scores as a senior.
If given a chance to make the Seattle roster, he will give veteran quarterback Drew Locke a run for his money for the QB2 spot should Geno Smith go down.
Tyson Bagent, Quarterback, Chicago Bears
Bagent has a case as the greatest quarterback in NCAA Division II history. Bagent finished his collegiate quarterbacking career with a very nice 69% completion percentage, 17,034 passing yards, 159 touchdowns, and 48 interceptions. He averaged over 300 yards per game in each of his four years starting at Shepherd University. Bagent’s 2021 performance earned him the Harlon Hill Award, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Award.
After his junior campaign was canceled due to COVID, Bagent picked up right where he left off the following year. In 15 games in 2021, Bagent threw for a whopping 5,000 yards and 53 touchdowns.
He’s patient with an incredible arm talent. He senses the rush and steps up to avoid defenders. He knows where his receivers are on the field and puts touch on the ball when necessary, sets up screen passes, and makes several difficult throws due to his arm strength.
If given a chance in Chicago, a franchise historically known for a lack of generational talent at the quarterback position, Bagent could show that his numbers are not a fluke — he is as advertised.
Eli Ricks, Cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are in a position to roll the dice on unproven players with talent and potential unmatched — that is Eli “Pick Six” Ricks. The cornerback looked like a future superstar at LSU as a true freshman in 2020, but unfortunately he all but disappeared after that. In 2022, Ricks transferred to Alabama for a fresh start.
At 6’2, 188 lbs, Ricks is worth the shot Philadelphia’s taking to see if the potential star might reappear. Thus far, he hasn’t however. That being said, if there’s a team that can revive Ricks’ career, it’s Philly.
