From Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon to Springfield’s Nick Broeker, 19 players with local or state connections were picked in the 2023 NFL draft. Here’s where they landed.
Day 1
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
1st round (No. 5) to Seattle Seahawks
A consensus All-American during his fourth season in Champaign, Witherspoon was the second defensive player drafted and the first cornerback off the board. The Pensacola, Fla., native had three interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 2022, didn’t allow a touchdown all season and had the nation’s best coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus.
“I’m energetic, physical. I’m a dog on the field,” Witherspoon told reporters. “I’m just very confident in what I do, passionate. I love to show my emotions out there on the field.”
It’s the highest an Illinois defensive back has been drafted and the highest the Seahawks have taken a cornerback under the Pete Carroll regime.
Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern/Maine South
1st round (No. 11) to Tennessee Titans
Many projections had Skoronski going to the hometown Chicago Bears, but they opted for Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright at No. 10.
Skoronski started at left tackle for the Wildcats for all three of his seasons but could move inside to guard in the pros. The Titans are rebuilding their offensive line after cutting left tackle Taylor Lewan and center Ben Jones to clear salary-cap space and losing right guard Nate Davis to the Bears in free agency.
“When he grabs people most of the time, they stop moving,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel told reporters about Skoronski. “So that’s really a good thing for an offensive lineman.”
Skoronski made first- or second-team All-Big Ten all three years in Evanston and became Northwestern’s first unanimous first-team All-American last season. He was the first recruit rated a five-star prospect by one of the major services to sign with the Wildcats out of high school.
Lukas Van Ness, edge, Iowa/Barrington
1st round (No. 13) to Green Bay Packers
While Van Ness is from Illinois, he told reporters he was in Wisconsin — at his parents’ home near Lake Geneva — when he got the news he will be a Packer.
“I couldn’t ask for a better result,” he said. “I’m so happy to be Packer. I can’t wait to get out there and wear that green.”
Van Ness played only two seasons for the Hawkeyes after redshirting in 2020 and never started a college game. But the former hockey player racked up 13½ sacks and 19½ tackles for a loss in 27 games.
“It’s just the Iowa way,” Van Ness told reporters. “I had two great fifth-year seniors in front of me who did the time and gave the years to the program.”
Day 2
Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa/Highland, Ill.
Round 2 (No. 34) to Detroit Lions
A John Mackey Award finalist and first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2022, LaPorta was the second tight end to come off the board. He will join a long line of former Hawkeyes tight ends to play in the NFL, including Dallas Clark, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant.
“I feel like I’m right up there,” LaPorta told reporters.
The native of downstate Highland, near St. Louis, had 153 career receptions for 1,786 yards to rank first and second, respectively, among Iowa tight ends.
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Round 2 (No. 35) to Las Vegas Raiders
Mayer was widely expected to be picked in the first round, and when he remained on the board, the Raiders traded up three spots to grab the first-team All-American and John Mackey Award finalist.
Mayer, who totaled 138 catches, 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns over the last two seasons, will look to replace Darren Waller, whom the Raiders traded to the New York Giants.
“It’s about coming in and keeping the tight end tradition that they have and winning as many football games as we can,” Mayer told reporters. “It’s why they drafted me, and I’m really excited to be a part of this organization.”
Isaiah Foskey, edge, Notre Dame
Round 2 (No. 40) to New Orleans Saints
Notre Dame’s career sack leader with 26½, Foskey joins first-round pick Bryan Bresee, a defensive tackle from Clemson, in beefing up the Saints defensive line.
“Me and him are going to be dominating in the front seven,” Foskey told reporters. “They can put me anywhere and they know that I’m a disruptive defensive end. I cause havoc.”
Quan Martin, S, Illinois
Round 2 (No. 47) to Washington Commanders
After drafting Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in the first round, the Commanders continued to focus on their secondary by picking Martin, who started 40 games in five seasons in Champaign.
He played both cornerback and safety for the Illini and projects as a safety or nickel corner in the pros. Martin had 64 tackles, 11 pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles last season en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors.
“Football just always came natural to me,” Martin told reporters. “Being able to play any position on the back end at any given moment in the game just shows my understanding of the game and my football IQ.”
Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State/Naperville Central/Metea Valley
Round 2 (No. 50) to Green Bay Packers
Reed — who celebrated his 23rd birthday Friday — was one of three pass catchers the Packers picked on Day 2 to help new starting quarterback Jordan Love, joining tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
“My girlfriend gave me some glasses. I got an Apple Watch,” Reed told reporters about his birthday presents. “But nothing tops this. This is all I ever wanted forever in my life.”
Reed transferred from Western Michigan after his freshman season, and in three years with the Spartans he totaled 147 catches, 2,069 yards and 18 touchdowns in 31 games.
John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota/Homewood-Flossmoor
Round 2 (No. 57) to New York Giants
Schmitz was the second center selected and will get a chance to replace Jon Feliciano, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.
The 24-year-old Schmitz played 57 games with 35 starts in five seasons with the Gophers and was a first-team AP All-American in 2022. He also made the Academic All-Big Ten team five times.
“The biggest thing I would say,” Schmitz told reporters of his game, “(is) the nasty, tough, grit factor, definitely.”
Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
Round 3 (No. 66) to Philadelphia Eagles
Brown is 2 minutes younger than his twin, Illini running back Chase Brown, but Sydney was first to be drafted when the Eagles grabbed him with the third pick of the third round.
The native of Canada led the Big Ten with six interceptions last season and also had 59 tackles and seven pass breakups while earning first-team all-conference honors. He started 50 games in five seasons for the Illini, and his 10 career interceptions are tied for eighth in program history.
Day 3
Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
Round 4 (No. 110) to Indianapolis Colts
Adebawore was expected to be a Day 2 pick after excelling at the Senior Bowl and combine. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior after recording five sacks and nine tackles for a loss. While he played mostly end for the Wildcats, many analysts project him to play inside in the pros.
Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue/Deerfield
Round 4 (No. 131) to Cincinnati Bengals
In his lone season in West Lafayette, Ind., after transferring from Iowa, Jones led the nation with 110 catches and set a Purdue record with 1,361 receiving yards while scoring 12 touchdowns. He was a first-team all-conference selection and second-team All-American.
Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue/Stevenson
Round 4 (No. 135) to Las Vegas Raiders
Four picks after his favorite target was selected, O’Connell became the eighth quarterback off the board, completing a remarkable journey from walking on with the Boilermakers back in 2017.
He finished his career as the all-time leader in completion percentage (66.7%) and passing efficiency (141.8) for one of the most renowned quarterback programs in the country, making 26 starts and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors each of the last two seasons.
Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern/Bolingbrook
Round 5 (No. 142) to Cleveland Browns
A two-year starter for the Wildcats, Mitchell rejoins former NU teammate and fellow cornerback Greg Newsome, whom the Browns drafted in the first round two years ago. Mitchell received All-Big Ten honorable mention after making 52 tackles in 2022 with 10 passes defended, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M/East St. Louis
Round 5 (No. 160) to Jacksonville Jaguars
Johnson was the No. 1 recruit in the state in 2020 in the 247Sports composite before becoming a two-time All-SEC selection in three years with the Aggies. He totaled 150 tackles, 13½ tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles in 21 games over the last two seasons.
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Round 5 (No. 163) to Cincinnati Bengals
Brown transferred from Western Michigan to join his twin, Sydney, in Champaign and became one of the most decorated running backs in Illini history. He was a Doak Walker Award finalist and second-team All-American last season, when he rushed for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns, his second straight 1,000-yard season. He topped 100 yards in a game 16 times, including nine in a row to open the 2022 season.
Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
Round 5 (No. 176) to Indianapolis Colts
Hull became the second Wildcat of the day to be picked by the Colts, joining Adetomiwa Adebawore. The 5-10, 210-pound Minnesota native totaled 1,922 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons and also caught 88 passes for 810 yards with four scores.
Jarrett Patterson, OL, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 201) to Houston Texans
Patterson made 46 starts over the last four years for the Irish, moving to left guard for his final season after previously playing center.
Nick Broeker, OL, Mississippi/Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin
Round 7 (No. 230) to Buffalo Bills
The 6-4, 305-pound Broeker made 36 career starts for the Rebels, playing both guard and left tackle. He didn’t allow a sack in 472 passing situations last year.
Associated Press contributed
()
