Never know what gems teams find in these rounds. It’s amazing how many of these 2023 NFL draft selections exceed expectations to eventually become the building blocks of these teams for many years.







Never know what gems teams find in these rounds. It’s amazing how many of these 2023 NFL draft selections exceed expectations to eventually become the building blocks of these teams for many years.







The picks just keep on coming. Keep on checking here until we’re out of memory for all these third round 2023 draft selections pictures!











After the first three rounds, we can say that seeing many of The Top 25 in action last season that we saw many talented performers in action taken as 2023 draft selections in the first three rounds. Trouble is though that we saw a few teams among the best play, like Ohio State, camera problems prevented us from getting any good action photos. On the other hand, we captured some draft choices in action over the past few years playing outside the Top 25 like North Dakota State and Western Kentucky who the pros thought just as highly about. You never know. Check out the collection of photos below showing who we saw and some of our humble thoughts for what they are worth.





















Pro selections draw nearer as we approach the 2023 NFL draft from April 27-29. One note: I haven’t focused in this topic as much as I usually do. I am totally immersed this spring working on a new book I hope to publish in June well before the 2023 college season kicks off.
The working title is called, Fifty years . It will be based on my original book published in 2011, Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all! The new book starts with the adventures taken from the first book telling of the first time I attended a game played by every FBS team. Then, I “fast-forward” from there to basically the best of games I attended played by each FBS since. You will find I attended many great exciting and significant games played by every FBS team, all 131 and counting. So much great down to the last-minute action! Stories revel in players’ and coaches’ names you still recognize today, and others whose moments were fleeting, but still a significant part of their school’s gridiron history.
In Fast Forwards, I take liberty to analyze and give my opinions on the current status of changes currently impacting the great sport of college football. You may agree or disagree with what I say, but the main thing I’d like to do is create awareness of what is happening and the possible ramifications and possible alternative solutions for this great game in the future. These topics in some cases can be considered as what I determined to be the rising “ugly” side of college football.
In the end, I also present my “bucket list” – more from the fun side. Entering my sixth decade attending college football games every weekend (655 since 1979) when I started doing this religiously, I plan to continue doing this as long as I can. Games to attend, venues to visit, game action to enjoy, and great fans to meet! Watch for updates regarding Fifty Years very soon. Back to the 2023 NFL draft.
Today, we introduce Collegefootballfan.com’s Top Defenders seen in action eligible for selection! Over the last three seasons, we’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three that season, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action.
We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the mock drafts announced. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t always agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment and fantasy league selections.
We captured some of the best here. Surely some of these guys will be key pro performers for years to come. Four months and one day until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.









Pro selections draw nearer as we approach the 2023 draft from April 27-29. One note: I haven’t focused in this topic as much as I usually do. I am totally immersed this spring working on a new book I hope to publish in June well before the 2023 college season kicks off.
The working title is called, Fifty years . It will be based on my original book published in 2011, Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all! The new book starts with the adventures taken from the first book telling of the first time I attended a game played by every FBS team. Then, I “fast-forward” from there to basically the best of games I attended played by each FBS since. You will find I attended many great exciting and significant games played by every FBS team, all 131 and counting. So much great down to the last-minute action! Stories revel in players’ and coaches’ names you still recognize today, and others whose moments were fleeting, but still a significant part of their school’s gridiron history.
In Fast Forwards, I take liberty to analyze and give my opinions on the current status of changes currently impacting the great sport of college football. You may agree or disagree with what I say, but the main thing I’d like to do is create awareness of what is happening and the possible ramifications and possible alternative solutions for this great game in the future. These topics in some cases can be considered as what I determined to be the rising “ugly” side of college football.
In the end, I also present my “bucket list” – more from the fun side. Entering my sixth decade attending college football games every weekend (655 since 1979) when I started doing this religiously, I plan to continue doing this as long as I can. Games to attend, venues to visit, game action to enjoy, and great fans to meet! Watch for updates regarding Fifty Years very soon. Back to the 2023 draft.
Today, we introduce Collegefootballfan.com’s Top Receivers seen in action eligible for selection! Over the last three seasons, we’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three that season, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action.
We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the mock drafts announced. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t always agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment and fantasy league selections.
Regarding the receiving corps scouted, we’ve seen a few that sit atop many a pro teams’ 2023 draft wish lists. In this list, we include swift wide-receivers and big sure-handed tight ends who can also block. With the advancement of the professional passing games, NFL rosters can’t have enough of both available find the openings quickly and to step in to take over when a teammate goes down to injury
Here are some of the best, we’ve been able to capture at games we attended. Of all the positions played, this is where we think it’s the easiest to find good talent because there are so many good receivers among the college ranks. Again, we always find it fun to say, “we remember when…” before everybody else sees them play for the first time.
Check for updates until the 2023 draft for both our top offensive players and defensive prospects entering the draft on our respective pages. Among all our file photos, we may come across more after our initial reviews. Four months and seven days until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.








It’s that time of year again as we draw near to the pro draft coming up on April 27-29. Today we introduce Collegefootballfan.com’s Top running backs seen in action eligible for selection! Over the last three seasons, we’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three that season, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action.
We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the mock drafts announced. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t always agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment and fantasy league selections.
Regarding our stable of running backs scouted, we’ve seen a few that sit atop many a pro teams’ wish lists. In recent years though, it seems RBs have lost the luster they used to have. Other positions such as offensive tackles, EDGE rushers, shutdown DBs, and long WRs take precedence in value over runners. At the collegiate level, we don’t see many who dominate an offense as in the past, especially with read/pass option schemes. However, at the pro level, that offense leaves such QBs more prone to injury.
Pro-style offensive strategies rely more now than ever on those running backs who can pick up the short, tough yards in situations to keep drives alive. There’s still that sudden burst needed when the receivers spread that secondary apart to open up more running room. Don’t want to say that RBs are a dime a dozen, but there are a select few coming into the draft that will be sought to fill those needs make a difference at the next level. Always fun to say, “we remember when…”
Check for updates until 2023 draft for both our top offensive players and defensive prospects entering the draft on our respective pages. Among all our file photos, we may come across more after out initial reviews. Four months and 26 days until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.





It’s that time of year again to show Collegefootballfan.com’s Top offensive players seen in action! We’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games over the last three seasons. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action. We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the upcoming draft. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment.
We take great pride in seeing so many teams with great talent. During 2022 in particular, just among Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson on our schedule, we saw a lot of pro prospects. We enjoy watching not only what players will be selected and when on April 27-29, but we also look forward to which one’s go forward to have fantastic pro careers. Always fun to say, “we remember when…”
Check for updates until 2023 draft for both our top offensive players and defensive prospects entering the draft on our respective pages. Among all our file photos, we may come across more after out initial reviews. Six months and four days until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.





Book bait
Working title: Fifty years of Tales from the Tailgate: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly of College Football, 1972-2022 (and beyond)
“College football—what better way to spend an autumn afternoon?” That catch-phrase of ABC’s Chris Schenkel during the 1960’s always stirs memories of growing up watching NCAA football on television every fall Saturday afternoon. As a kid, I would tune into the games to not only witness the exciting action on the field, but to experience emotions from the sights and sounds surrounding the games – fight songs, drumbeats, school colors, cheerleaders, card sections, chants, feisty mascots, and passionate crowds – and I wanted to experience all of that in person someday.
After graduation from college in 1979, I’d eventually see half of the big-time teams play before the 2000 college football season began. As usual, I perused team schedules to check out what games I wanted to attend during the upcoming season. I realized that I could possibly see nine new teams I hadn’t seen before. After that, 50 more Division 1A teams remained to be seen in person.
Could such an unimagined goal be possible “to see ‘em all”? Could I actually get to see every 1A team play in person at least once in my lifetime? This was something that I’d love to do. It wouldn’t be easy based on time, some extra travel, growing responsibilities, and of course, money.
Granted, I would be focused on only one, sometimes two games on a Saturday or over a weekend, causing me to miss many televised games. For my passion, however, I’d be living and breathing the excitement, traditions, and atmosphere of at least one game being played somewhere. I’d read about avid baseball fans making trips to see as many Major and Minor League teams play in as many venues as possible on a tour across the country during the summer. Of course, limited to games played generally on Saturdays over four months, I couldn’t complete this objective in one season. Who could?
By no means did I have access to a private or corporate jet. Not in my wildest dreams would anyone want to hire me to cover college football for major some media outlet. Who would hire a business major whose college football experience comprised of the following: one season of 150-lb football where I never made weight; a season of transfer ineligibility spent running on a scout-team offense for a D-3 program (my frosh cohorts and I called ourselves, “Scout-team All-Americans” to offset the three days a week against the first-team defense); a year recovering from an ACL and menial meniscus injury self-inflicted during a spring, club lacrosse game ( I was elected team captain because I probably clobbered everybody in practice at last once); coming back from that injury in the best shape of my life two football seasons later; and eventually walking into the coaching staff meeting to say “screw this” after a scrimmage against Millersville State my senior year (my parting words were, “This ain’t Notre Dame!). I could not say I was a college football player, but I was definitely a college football “practicer”.
Though this vision to see ‘em all might take years, I knew doing this out of sheer desire would be an experience to savor. Also in 2000, with a wife and two young kids, I’d have to figure out how I could get them to buy into my plan cutting into quality, family time, and the household budget.
Also, realize my endeavor wasn’t to make it to every stadium across the country from my native New Jersey. That would be divorce no matter how saintly my wife may be. I had to pick and choose my games with a time-constrained plan in place. In addition to that, I was obligated to earn a living Monday-Friday.
Now in 2023 settling into retirement, looking back I wouldn’t have done this any other way. This turned out to be challenging enough, and I wanted to do this for my own personal enjoyment. Employment doing this would remove the fun and add pressure. To paraphrase that Navy ad campaign from years ago, “I didn’t need another job, I wanted an adventure.”
I developed plans looking at future schedules. Where and when could I drive to a particular game? There would be costs. How much? Could I afford to fly in some cases? Could I visit with friends, or find low-cost hotels? Could I get friends to travel with me, or go by myself? I desired to get this done, but I also wanted to have fun while doing it. Some close to me had doubts. Of course, I couldn’t have continued my “goal”, or maybe I should say “habit”, over the years without the blessings my wife. St. Laurie, as some refer to her, became the patron saint of college football widows.
For more than fifty years, attending college football games in person has provided me with memorable, fun-filled, rewarding experiences. Being able to share these “adventures” with other college football fans makes it all even more fun. This book starts fifty years ago on this surreal trip. It starts as a junior in high school and continues after retirement in a 42-year career as a Purchasing professional. Update: my ultimate college tailgate travel tour to see ‘em all continues into 2023 and beyond! Up to 676 games attended in all. It’s not over. The journey continues.
Regarding this adventure, some readers may find it dismal that I saw the majority of teams play for the first time against the likes primarily of Penn State, Army, Navy, or Rutgers. Others may think that I “cheated” by attending games at a close, neutral site like The Meadowlands. In those earliest years reported, travel was bound based on my starting salary. Earning $12,000 in 1979, my entertainment budget determined where I could afford to go and how much I could spend.
Of course, my football-focused budget called for tickets, beer, gas, parking, food, beer, and my just-developing game program library. Of course, that salary also financed a non-football budget. It paid for necessities like apartment rent, beer, utilities, a car payment, softball travels, groceries, and beer. Sometimes, I could actually afford to go out on a date. However, I’ve attended another 250+ games since writing the first book published in 2011. As the salary grew along with frequent flier points for business travel, my horizons for football travel expanded. I’ve now attended games at 78 FBS stadiums; 170 in all including neutral sites and lower division venues.
Later games played by many teams seen play the first time offered more significance than the original games attended. Rather than write another full story about another game attended, instead I include a “Fast Forward” epilogue to original chapters where I highlight that particular team’s sightings to closer, present-day experiences (Example: LSU’s first-game chapter reports a loss in 1981 to Notre Dame. In 2018, I watched QB Joe Burrow and LSU riddle Oklahoma, 63-28, at the CFP Peach Bowl on their way to the National Championship). I report that in the LSU chapter’s “Fast Forward.”
On the other hand, things are changing in college football. For better or for worse? I address that in these chapters. Back in the 80’s, SMU football got shut down for two years with the “Death Penalty” for illegal payments to student-athletes. Now, the NCAA instituted a policy titled “Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) supposedly for the benefits of athletes to make money in what is now basically becoming a major industry, literally of football factories. Many deemed policies to compensate athletes were necessary to cover living expenses.
Instead, this is becoming a “monster”. Schools now solicit contributions from supporters to be matched by corporate sponsors to raise NIL funds to entice the best talent. Was this the intent of the NIL policy? How is this different than what SMU did in the 80s to shut its program down? The NCAA, an “academic” institution, seems to have put little thought into any of this. I address issues like this as the “Ugly” in college football.
Back to the “Good” and the “Fun” of my book. In some cases, your favorite teams may have ended up on the “short-end” of the initial chapter. I have to say though that in most of those cases, I came up with a silver lining to shed a more positive light on your team’s personal history with me. But, consider this book follows a historical adventure on one fan’s passion to “see ‘em all.” It’s an adventure over time and distance.
I have two favorite teams (Penn State and Navy), but I didn’t commit to see them play every weekend. I wanted to visit different places, see different teams, enjoy unique game atmospheres, witness specific traditions, meet fans of different schools, travel different routes. Maybe you would’ve liked doing this yourself someday, but since you couldn’t, take this long, fun, unique journey along with me.
With my relocation from NJ to Tennessee for retirement, there comes a “bucket list”. It assures I will see games at venues still yet to be attended. Hopefully, this will not only draw people to my blog, collegefootballfan.com, but also provide me experiences for another book idea.
I have one outside the realm of seeing every team play, but it’s still based on my life-long experiences following college football. This updated edition of my original book offers a perspective of 50 years and many different places to enjoy a college football game on a fall, Saturday afternoon, or now even on a weekday night. Come along for a fun, interesting, unique ride.
But also, I have concerns about the future of this great American institution going forward. Will it change for the worse? Will it adapt for the better? I inquire for the benefit of us fans, not for players, schools, coaches, or media networks (too many TV timeouts we have to sit through). After recording fifty years as an avid fan of college football, I will summarize and address my hopes, concerns, and ideas as to where it all goes in the future. And please continue track all of my progress to “see ‘em all” on my website, www.collegefootballfan.com. In addition to my history, game reviews, and season previews, I write editorials in posts titled “Steveo’s Salvos”. Enjoy and ponder.


















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Despite the 2022 season ending in an overwhelming lop-sided, CFP blow-out, Collegefootballfan.com enjoyed its 43rd year attending 21 games in person. Congratulations to the Georgia Bulldogs (15-0) proving that they deserved the national championship this season. A great balance of talent and coaching on offense and defense under HC Kirby Scott put the Dawgs up where they belonged. Collegefootballfan.com got to see them play in one of their few struggles this season as they bested the Kentucky Wildcats on November 19, 16-6.
In the annals of our history, they are the 13th FBS champ we witnessed during their title run. We always seek the best games in competition. We did not attend the CFP finale in Las Angeles, but TCU disappointed many us in not challenging the Bulldogs as we hoped they could. A great season, 2022 finished with a “whimper” and not a “bang” for most college fans.
Our season overall provided us the opportunity to attend games played by eight FBS teams that finished in the Top 25. In addition, four other squads landed in the category of “Others receiving votes”. We did not see one team play in ESPN’s Bottom Ten! Probably a first for us. Among the final rankings, we watched these seven programs play during the 2022 season: No. 4 Ohio State, 44-31 win at Penn State; No. 5 Alabama a 55-0 win over Utah State; No. 7 Penn State wins at Purdue, 35-31, and at Auburn, 41-12; No. 13 Clemson win over Louisville, 31-16; No. 19 Troy at Western Kentucky, 34-27; No. 23 South Carolina win at Kentucky, 24-14; and No. 25 Texas win over Baylor, 38-27.

Among others receiving votes, these teams held their own: UTSA fell out of the Top 25 losing their Cure Bowl Game to Troy, but we saw them defeat Middle Tennessee, 35-17; Iowa shut out Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, 21-0; Louisville defeated a 9-3 James Madison squad in its first FBS season, 34-10; and as mentioned, Purdue fell at home to PSU in their home opener in a close one.
As for two FCS games we attended, all four schools finished with solid seasons. After we saw Samford beat SE Louisiana in a playoff game in OT, the Bulldogs finished at No. 7 and the Lions came in at No. 19. We saw Austin Peay knock of Eastern Kentucky, 31-20 in an early ASUN contest. Both received votes but fell outside the FCS Top 25.
In two other games ending in very competitive OTs we attended, we witnessed two extremes. As expected in their 123rd meeting, Army and Navy played in a familiar, defensive onslaught. The contest spilled into overtime for the first time in history. Army forced a Navy fumble at the one before kicking a field goal on their next possession to win, 20-17. At the Liberty Bowl in a comeback shoot-out between Arkansas and Kansas, in the third OT, the Razorbacks converted on their two-point conversion. A halfback option pass misfired for the Jayhawks and Arkansas took home the Trophy with a 55-53 win. “Wow!” was the best way to summarize that game.

Seeing many games (21) among many different teams (33) this season makes it difficult to put together our own All-American team. What we’ve decided to do instead this season is to just recognize Top Performances of each game. We don’t even call this a Most Valuable Player list. For each game, we recognize at least one player, players from either team, players from offense, defense, or special teams.
Game 635: Western Kentucky – WR Malachi Corley, 5 catches, 61 yards, 3 TDs; Austin Peay – WR Daewood Davis, 6 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD
Game 636: Penn State – DB Joey Porter, JR, 8 tackles, 3 break-ups, tight coverage – TE Brenton Strange, 2 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD; Purdue – WR Charlie Jones, 12 catches, 153 yards, 1 TD
Game 637: Alabama – QB Bryce Young, 18 for 28 passing, 195 yards, 5 TDs, 100 yards rushing, 1 TD – LB Will Anderson – 5 tackles, 1 TFL; Utah State
Game 638: Wake Forest – QB Sam Hartman, 18 for 27, 300 yards, 4 TDs; Vanderbilt – QB AJ Swann 8 for 11, 124 yards, 2 TDs, late in game
Game 639: Penn State – RB Nick Singleton, 10 for 124 yards, 2 TDs, long 54-yard TD – S Ji’Yar Brown, 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int return for 27 yards; Auburn

Game 640: Austin Peay – QB Mike Diliello, 17 for 33, 172 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 15 carries for 181 yards, 3 TDs; Eastern Kentucky – QB Parker McKinney, 21 for 36, 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 116 yards rushing
Game 641: UTSA – QB Frank Harris, 27 for 36, 4141 yards, 2 TDs passing, 2 TDS rushing. 3 INTs; Middle Tennessee – QB Chase Cunningham, 35 for 56, 368 yards, 1 TD
Game 642: Troy – WR Tez Johnson, 6 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD, 1 TD option pass for 10-yard TD; Western Kentucky – QB Austin Reed, 39 for 56, 406 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Game 643: South Carolina – RB Marshall Lloyd, 22 for 110 yards, 1 TD, 22 for 110 yards, 1 TD – PK Mitch Jeter, 32 -yard FG, 5 kickoffs for touchbacks – DT Tonka Hemingway, 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs, Fumble recovery to set up first TD; Kentucky
Game 644: Western Kentucky – QB Austin Reed, 32 for 49, 278 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT: Middle Tennessee

Game 645: Houston – QB Clayton Tune, 21 for 30, 261 yards, 5 TDs – WR Nate Dell, 8 catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs; Navy – LB Donovan Muti, 13 tackles
Game 646: Ohio State – WR Marvin Harrison, JR, 10 catches for 185 yards, long 37 – LB JT Tuimoloau, 6 tackles, 2 sacks, INT for TD; LB Tommy Eichenberg, 15 tackles; Penn State – WR Parker Washington, 11 catches, 179 yards, 1 TD
Game 647: Louisville – RB Tiyvon Evans, 10 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD, 71-yard TD- WR Tyler Hudson, 10 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD; James Madison- LB James Carpenter, 7 tackles, 3 TFLs
Game 648: Clemson – RB Will Shipley, 19 for 97, 1 TD run, hurdle for score – RB Phil Mafah, 10 for 106 yards, 1 TD: Louisville
Game 649: Georgia – RB Kenny McIntosh, 19 for 143 yards, 1 TD; Kentucky

Game 650: Texas – BiJuan Robinson, 29 for 198, 2 TDs – RB Roschon Johnson, 13 for 77 yards, 2 TDs: Baylor
Game 651: Louisiana – QB Chandler Fields, 16 for 26, 187 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; Texas State – RB Lincoln Pare, 28 for 221 yards 1 TD, 56-yd run and 67-yd TD run
Game 652: Stamford – QB Quincy Crittendom, 26 for 40, 314 yards, 4 TDs, 20 carries for 94 yards, winning TD run in OT; SE Louisiana – QB Cephus Johnson III – 19 for 30, 173 yards, 1 INT, 15 carries for 123 yards, 3 TDs
Game 653: Army DL Austin Hill, forced fumble at goal line in OT; Isaiah Morris blocked punt and DB Jabril Williams returned for 31-yard TD before halftime; Navy

Game 654: Arkansas – QB KJ Jefferson, 19 for 29, 287 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 14 carries for 130 yards, 2 TDs; Kansas – QB Jalon Daniels, 37 for 55, 544 yards, 5 TD passes, 2 INT, 14 for 21 rushing, 1 TD, 4 Liberty Bowl records
Game 655: Iowa – DB Xavier Nwampka, 7 tackles, 52-yard TD return – DB Dejean Cooper, 8 tackles, 14-yard TD return; Kentucky
With over 200 more games and eleven new FBS teams added since we published Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all, we’ve decided it’s time to update our adventures. We’ll update the old with the newest. The new edition will have new titles and be marketed differently than the original. We’ve got some publishing experience to help us so we hope top to expand our exposure and reach more fans beyond many of the faithful followers we have already. We hope to be getting it out by the middle of 2023 well before the upcoming season starts. Look for updates here for this and other offseason news. We’re already starting to piece together next season’s slate.
