The college football season is right around the corner. Week Zero kicks off the 2022 college football slate with a game being played in Ireland between Northwestern and Nebraska. That’s the headliner of Week Zero.
Week Zero will also showcase five Mountain West Conference teams kicking off their season.
During the past three NFL Drafts, Brian Gutekunst has selected two players out of the Mountain West. Green Bay’s general manager traded up in the first round of the 2020 draft to select Utah State’s Jordan Love. In the 2022 draft, Gutekunst took Nevada wide receiver Romeo Doubs.
What players out of the Mountain West could Gutekunst target in the 2023 NFL Draft? Let’s take a look at eight Mountain West prospects that Green Bay fans should keep tabs on throughout the upcoming college football season.
JL Skinner, S, Boise State
Skinner wants to knock you into next week. The Boise State safety packs a punch and will be a tone setter for whatever team drafts him.
This past season Skinner recorded a team-leading 92 tackles. Skinner added seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections.
The Packers could look to add to the safety room early in the 2023 NFL Draft. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Skinner has the range and physicality to be a gamechanger in the backend of Joe Barry’s secondary.
“The hits he delivers are what get him on Sportscenter on a given Saturday, but it’s the well-rounded skill set that could make him valuable on Sundays in the near future,” Matthew Kenerly, the editor for Mountain West Wire said. “According to PFF, he played about as often in the box as he did further downfield and, at 6-4 and 220 pounds, is exactly the kind of rangy and physical prospect that entices NFL teams these days.”
Patrick McMorris, S, San Diego State
McMorris earned first-team Mountain West honors last season after recording 90 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and nine pass deflections.
The Aztec safety is a versatile playmaker that seeks out contact. He has a high football IQ and is always in the right position to make plays.
“San Diego State has had a knack for putting defensive backs in the NFL and McMorris might just be the next man up in that regard,” Kenerly said. “His knack for being in the right place at the right time helped him lead the team in interceptions last year from the AZTEC position, which is not an easy thing to do. It also speaks to his finely tuned instincts and…
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