Cure Bowl 2022: Top 3 2023 NFL draft prospects to watch

1. Zakhari Franklin, WR, UTSA

Like his teammate Joshua Cephus, wide receiver Zakahari Franklin has been one of the more productive wide receivers in the country over the last two seasons. Franklin has 187 receptions with 26 touchdown receptions over that span. He has NFL size at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds. Most importantly, Franklin rarely misses when the ball is thrown in his direction.

Cephus could be one of the steals in the draft. He is a combination of traits (size, speed, playmaking ability) and production, a rare combination in today’s game. Cephus has good top-end speed, running a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash with the ability to change direction and make defenders miss in the open field.

Cephus is an aggressive perimeter blocker, making him a plus in the run game. He accelerates off the line of scrimmage with an excellent first step and is a polished route runner. Cephus does not separate from good defensive backs, which will be an issue for him at the next level. However, his ability to use his feet and polished route running should compensate for that.

Cephus plays bigger than his size, but he could stand to add another 15-20 pounds at the next level. He’ll also have to work on being more aggressive with his hands, not letting the ball get into his body.