D2 NFL Prospects for 2024 NFL Draft

[KleShreen]

Here is a list of D2 players getting looks based on what I have compiled from talking to NFL connections and some names I liked enough to get a look based on what I saw.

Pos	First Name	Last Name	School
FS	Daniel	Mendoza	Adams State
RB	Gei'vonni	Washington	Ashland
OT	Blake	Larson	Augustana (SD)
WR	Kameron	Johnson	Barton College (NC)
QB	Brandon	Alt	Bemidji State
CB	Josh	Heyward	Benedict (SC)
FS	Quentin	Gaskill	Bloomsburg
FS	Major	Williams	Carson-Newman
DT	David	Olajiga	Central Missouri
WR	Max	McLeod	Colorado School of Mines
QB	John	Matocha	Colorado School of Mines
RB	Noah	Roper	Colorado School of Mines
OG	Jake	Edwards	Concordia-St. Paul
CB	Eli	Pittman	CSU-Pueblo
CB	Daniel	Bone III	CSU-Pueblo
FS	Cory	McLellan	CSU-Pueblo
WR	Preston	Smith	Davenport (MI)
ILB	Julius	Wilkerson	Davenport (MI)
DE	Deshawn	McCarthy	East Stroudsburg
CB	Shon	Stephens	Ferris State
WR	Xavier	Wade	Ferris State
FB	Ian	Hall	Ferris State
OT	Michael	Jerrell	Findlay (OH)
DE	Christian	McCarroll	Grand Valley State
TE	Michael	Harding	Hillsdale
TE	Cole	Laney	Indiana (PA)
WR	Derek	Lockhart	Indiana (PA)
FS	C.J.	Brown	Kutztown
DT	Andre	Jefferson	Lenoir-Rhyne
CB	C'Darius	Kelley	Lenoir-Rhyne
WR	Jelani	Baker	Limestone (SC)
WR	Drew	Dixon	Limestone (SC)
ILB	Landon	Honeycutt	Mars Hill
SS	Tristan	Rankin	Mars Hill
OT	Aiden	Williams	Minnesota Duluth
TE	Sam	Pitz	Minnesota Duluth
OT	Marshall	Foerner	Minnesota State-Mankato
CB	Trey	Vaval	Minnesota State-Mankato
DE	Maven	Kretche	Minnesota State-Mankato
DE	C.J.	Ravenell	Missouri Western State
OT	Keith	Russell	Missouri Western State
WR	TJ	Davis	Nebraska-Kearney
TE	Kevin	Foelsch	New Haven
RB	Corey	Watkins	North Greenville (SC)
DE	Curtis	Ryans	North Greenville (SC)
WR	DeWaylon	Ingram	Northern State
WR	Kashan	Griffin	Northwest Missouri State
TE	Carl "CJ"	Kiss	Notre Dame College (OH)
WR	Michael	Marshall	Oklahoma Baptist
TE	Devon	Garrison	Pittsburg State
CB	Rico	Payton	Pittsburg State
OLB	Dubem	Okonkwo	Pittsburg State
SS	Michael	Woolridge	Saginaw Valley State
WR	Jairus	Grissom	Saginaw Valley State
WR	Kyle	Sheets	Slippery Rock
OT	Grant	Smith	South Dakota Tech
RB	Gage	Porter	Southern Nazarene (OK)
WR	Anthony	Lowe	Tiffin (OH)
FS	Jermaine	Wimpye	Tiffin (OH)
DT	Branden	Spencer	UNC-Pembroke
CB	Willie	Drew	Virginia State
OT	Matt	Foster	Virginia State
CB	Dalen	Peeks	Wayne State (MI)
OT	Blake	Bustard	Wayne State (MI)
WR	John	Jiles	West Florida
QB	Byron	Jarrett	West Florida
DE	Demetrice	Lofton	West Georgia
RB	Wesley	Kennedy III	West Georgia
WR	Damon	Hickok	Western Oregon
CB	Tre	Morrison	Wingate (NC)
ILB	Jaquan	Edwards	Wingate (NC)
WR	RJ	Mobley	Winston-Salem State (NC)

Gage Porter as an RB is interesting. That would be fun.

[GorillaTeacher]

Maybe Dubem Okonkwo is showing something on film that isn't as easily apparent on gamedays and stat sheets that we aren't really seeing. He didn't even get his first sack until week 10 this year.

[Matt Witwicki]

Maybe Dubem Okonkwo is showing something on film that isn't as easily apparent on gamedays and stat sheets that we aren't really seeing. He didn't even get his first sack until week 10 this year.

Fair point. In 2022 he had 15 TFLs..10.5 sacks..and then this drop-off. Seems weird at face value.

[GorillaTeacher]

I think part of it is that teams are getting the ball out a lot faster against us this year, and we have known since last year that he has a major tendency to get too deep on his rush and allow the QB to escape. He does have 10 hurries which is significantly more than anyone else on our team.

[newbaum turk]

Luke Jennings at Pitt really have a shot? My daughter graduated with him that would be cool.

[Josh Buchanan]

Gage Porter as an RB is interesting. That would be fun.

Agreed. I don't think he would be a passer. He will need to test well though.

[Josh Buchanan]

Maybe Dubem Okonkwo is showing something on film that isn't as easily apparent on gamedays and stat sheets that we aren't really seeing. He didn't even get his first sack until week 10 this year.

Suppose to be a good athlete. He will need to test well to get a shot. Not all names on my list will get a shot and there are a few who I could be missing. It will change a good bit over the next 3-4 months.

[Josh Buchanan]

I fully expect Virginia State CB Willie Drew to get a Senior Bowl and NFL Combine invite based on how he has played and the feedback I have gotten from talking with scouts.

[BulldogFan]

Trey Cahalan - C for Duluth should be on that list and Sam Pitz will be back at UMD next year. I believe he may have 2 more years of eligibility left, one for sure.

[Predatory Primates]

I think part of it is that teams are getting the ball out a lot faster against us this year, and we have known since last year that he has a major tendency to get too deep on his rush and allow the QB to escape. He does have 10 hurries which is significantly more than anyone else on our team.

The lack of a certain DT, with a crazy mustache, who drew lots of double teams isn't helping either. Teams can zero in on Dubem.

[GorillaTeacher]

The lack of a certain DT, with a crazy mustache, who drew lots of double teams isn't helping either. Teams can zero in on Dubem.

True. We don’t have the Zeke up the middle anymore. As whole positions group, they need to step up. Along with our OL.9

[Josh Buchanan]

Trey Cahalan - C for Duluth should be on that list and Sam Pitz will be back at UMD next year. I believe he may have 2 more years of eligibility left, one for sure.

I know the NFL look at Williams, Pitz, Bursch, Cahalan, Dati, and Johnson in the spring but Williams and Pitz have been the only two who have gotten positive feedback this fall from what I have heard. I was told Pitz could return but listed him since he has gotten some interest. I have seen many in his position change their minds so I was waiting until it was firm one way or the other.

[Josh Buchanan]

As expected, Willie Drew got a Senior Bowl invite.

https://x.com/seniorbowl/status/1724...715690382?s=20

[BulldogFan]

I know the NFL look at Williams, Pitz, Bursch, Cahalan, Dati, and Johnson in the spring but Williams and Pitz have been the only two who have gotten positive feedback this fall from what I have heard. I was told Pitz could return but listed him since he has gotten some interest. I have seen many in his position change their minds so I was waiting until it was firm one way or the other.

If Dati didnt have the injuries I think he would have had a shot. He was just starting to come back strong this year from his last ACL and then he gets it on the other knee. Tough break for him.

Also hope Pitz does come back to UMD and really commits this year and adds some mass in the offseason. When he goes 100% he is great and his hands are fantastic. Unfortunately he tends to take plays off especially if the ball isnt coming his way.

[BulldogFan]

As expected, Willie Drew got a Senior Bowl invite.

https://x.com/seniorbowl/status/1724...715690382?s=20

Awesome. Love seeing D2 kids getting shots.