The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and, regardless of what the pundits say and predict at this time, only this coming season will be a reliable indicator of what teams chose significant contributors.
The Bengals, with a loaded veteran roster, were fortunately in a position of being able to draft the best possible player available at the 29th pick and selected Clemson DE Myles Murphy to provide depth behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. The Stripes further bolstered the defensive unit by picking up a DB from Michigan and a safety from Alabama.
Up north, the Browns didn’t make a selection until the third round as a result of giving up a king’s ransom last year to sign QB Deshaun Watson in the trade with the Texans. Cleveland’s first choice was WR Cedric Tillman from Tennessee followed in the next round by Offensive Tackle Dawand Jones, all 374 pounds of him from THE.
Meanwhile one of my favorite non-Ohio teams, the Colts, took (at least in my opinion) a huge gamble by making Florida QB Anthony Richardson the fourth overall pick in the draft. Lots of talent, unlimited potential but a starter of only 13 games in his college career he somehow reminds me of another QB selected in the first round by the Bengals back in the late ‘90s. Can you say Akili Smith? A one-year starter at Oregon, Smith never grasped the concept of signal-calling in the NFL and after three seasons and a 5-13 record as a starter faded into obscurity.
Mr. Irrelevant, the 259th and final pick of the draft was DE Desjuan Johnson of Toledo, chosen by the Rams. Trivia question number one—who was last year’s Mr. Irrelevant?
Trivia question two—name the two starting QBs in this year’s NCAA title game and what teams drafted them this weekend.
Have to feel sorry to some degree for Kentucky QB Will Levis. Highly touted and expected to be a high to mid first round pick he was left alone in the ready room in Kansas City (although he did surround himself with some good looking women!), failing to be chosen on the first night and heading home, being absent when selected in the second round the next day by the Titans.
A dark horse QB selection who might make waves in the next year or two? Fresno State’s Jake Haener chosen by the Saints in the fourth round, a heady player with adequate arm strength.
High school softball tournament draws were held Sunday and baseball seedings will be determined next Sunday as post-season play gets underway. Stay tuned to MyCountyLink.Com for all of the pairings and, as GHS softball coach Jerrod Newland says, “the path to Akron becomes clear”.
Speaking of high school sports Greenville’s boys tennis team is on a roll under first-year Head Coach Sam Bowers. Winners of eight straight matches the red-hot Wave are paced by Mason Pierri at first singles and Mason Middlestetter at second singles, both with 11-5 records as league tournament play looms with Tipp, Troy, and Butler atop the current standings.
Track league meets begin next week for all area schools with district meets scheduled for the week of the 15th. Good luck to all local teams!
Kathy and I spent most of the past few days watching two of our grandsons play baseball over in the Columbus area. Bennett’s 11U travel team participated in a large multi-team tournament at the Lou Berliner Sports Park, the nation’s largest ball diamond complex, just a few miles south of Downtown Columbus. Thirty-one diamonds with artificial turf infields and thousands of spectators, mostly parents and grandparents! Tripp’s 13U squad meanwhile played three league games in Licking County—long distance grandparenting but well worth every mile!!
Here are the anxiously awaited answers to the trivia questions. Last year’s final pick had quite a season as QB Brock Purdy, from Iowa State, led the 49ers to the NFC championship game before suffering an elbow injury in the first quarter of a loss to the Eagles. Finally, Stetson Bennett of Georgia was picked in the fourth round by the Rams while TCU’s Max Duggan went to the Chargers in round seven. Only time will tell if either has the impact that Purdy did last year!
