AlanHarmon.net

The 2023 Chargers NFL Draft had 3 players from TCU, one player from USC, and a Quarterback? What is that all about.....

Round 1 - Quentin Johnston (Wide Receiver - TCU)

Johnston was the second-highest rated recruit that long-time head coach Gary Patterson signed during his 20 years at TCU. The four-star prospect flipped his commitment from Texas before signing day and made an instant impact with the Horned Frogs, garnering honorable mention All-Big 12 platitudes, leading the team with 487 receiving yards and ranking fifth in the FBS averaging 22.1 yards per catch (22 receptions, two TDs; 3-3-1.0, two TDs rushing in nine games, six starts). Johnston missed three games with a knee injury as a sophomore but was still a first-team all-conference selection after again leading his squad with 634 receiving yards and six scores (33 receptions, 19.2 per). He topped TCU in receiving (60-1,069-17.8, six TDs) in 14 starts as a junior while the team made its run to the national title game, landing first-team All-Big 12 notice for the second straight season.

Round 2 - Tuli Tuipulotu (Edge - USC)

Tuipulotu was a third-team All-California selection his senior year at Lawndale High School, grabbing the eye of USC recruiters. Of course, they already knew the Tuipulotu family, as Tuli's brother, Marlon, played on the defensive line for the Trojans before going to the NFL. His cousin, 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, was the 2020 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at USC and another cousin, Fili Moala, played on the defensive line at USC and in the NFL. Tuipulotu started three of the team's six games in 2020 (22 tackles, 2.5 for loss with two sacks) and then broke out as a first-team All-Pac-12 Conference player and USC's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2021 with a team-high 5.5 sacks in 12 starts (48 tackles, 7.5 for loss, two forced fumbles). He became a star in 2022, receiving first-team Associated Press All-American status, being named a finalist for several national awards as well as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award after leading the country with 13.5 sacks and ranking second with 22 tackles for loss among his 46 total tackles (he also posted three pass breakups and two forced fumbles) in 14 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Round 3 - Daiyan Henley (Linebacker - Washington State)

Henley was the City MVP for the LA Coliseum league champs his senior year at Crenshaw High School before matriculating to Reno to play receiver at Nevada. After two seasons playing off the bench on offense (8-103-12.9, three TDs in 12 games in 2017; 9-129-14.3 in 13 games in 2018) and returning kicks (19-439-23.1 in 2017; 5-111-22.2 in 2018), coaches moved Henley to linebacker. He played in four games as a reserve in 2019 (five tackles) before suffering a season-ending injury. Henley started six of nine games played for the Wolf Pack in 2020 (49 tackles). He became a key defender in 2021, leading the team with 103 tackles (three for loss), four interceptions (with four pass breakups) and three fumble recoveries to garner second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors. Henley transferred to Washington State for 2022 and excelled, garnering first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors as a linebacker and second-team accolades for special teams after leading the Cougars with 106 tackles and tying for the team lead with 12 tackles for loss (with four sacks) and three forced fumbles in 12 starts. He opted out of the L.A. Bowl to prepare for the draft.

Derius Davis (Wide Receiver - TCU)

Davis was ranked among the top 50 cornerback recruits in the country out of West Feliciana High School in Louisiana, leading his team to a state title as a senior and also winning the state title in the 200-meter dash. Since arriving at TCU in 2018, he has contributed on offense and special teams. The explosive playmaker scored twice on just eight receptions (104, 13.0 per) as a true freshman and also returned one of his two punts for a touchdown (2-80-40.0; also 6-78-13.0 kick returns). Davis started two of 12 appearances during his sophomore campaign (11-151-13.7 receiving: 3-18-6.0 rushing; 2-22-11.0 kick returns). Big 12 coaches voted him honorable mention all-conference as a return specialist in 2020 after he ranked fifth in the FBS with 14.5 yards per punt return and tied for the FBS lead with two punt return touchdowns. That season he caught 15 passes for 209 yards (13.9 per) and a score in nine games (two starts). Davis was a second-team all-league selection in 2021 as a returner after ranking seventh in the FBS with 29.6 yards per kick return (16-473, one TD; also 9-92-10.2 punt returns). He also started six of 12 games played on offense (36-518-14.4, one TD receiving; 10-42-4.2 rushing). Davis was named the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Year in 2022, tying for the FBS lead with two punt return TDs, ranking second with 840 combined return yards (28-572-20.4 kickoffs; 18-268 punts) and fourth with 14.9 yards per punt return. He was also an honorable mention all-league selection as a receiver (42—531-12.6, five TDs), playing in 14 games with 10 starts. Davis finished his TCU career as the school's all-time leader with five punt return scores and tied the team record with six total return touchdowns.

Jordan McFadden (Guard - Clemsen)

The South Carolina Offensive Lineman of the Year at Dorman High School as a senior redshirted in his first year at Clemson, playing in three games as a reserve for the national champions. McFadden played in 14 games as a reserve and on special teams in 2019. McFadden played well enough in 12 starts at right tackle in 2020 to earn honorable mention All-ACC notice from league coaches. He was a second-team all-conference selection for his play in 13 starts at left tackle in 2021 before winning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the league's top blocker in 14 starts on the blindside in 2022.

Scott Matlock (Defensive Tackle - Boise State)

Matlock’s father, Doug, and mother, Lisa, passed away before Matlock reached high school. He lived in foster care and eventually moved to Homedale, Idaho, where he won all-state notice as an offensive lineman his senior year. Matlock moved to defense with the Broncos, playing in two games as a reserve his redshirt season (one tackle) and playing in 12 games off the bench in 2019 (two tackles). He garnered honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honors as a seven-game starter in 2020 (22 tackles, 4.5 for loss with two sacks, two blocked kicks). Matlock was a second-team all-conference pick in 2021, leading BSU with 8.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks (among 41 tackles, also blocking another kick) in 12 starts. He repeated that honor in his final season (49 tackles, six for loss with 2.5 sacks in 13 starts).

Max Duggan (Quarteback - TCU)

Duggan was a star quarterback at Lewis Central High School, winning the 2018 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year award and receiving four-star recruiting grades. He started 10 games for the Horned Frogs as a true freshman (181-339-53.4%, 2,077 yards, 15 TDs, 10 INTs passing; 130-555-4.3, six TDs rushing in 12 appearances). Team doctors found a heart abnormality during a standard exam in 2020 but he had surgery and returned for the season. He started nine of 10 games in 2020 (146-240-60.8%, 1,795 yards, 10 TDs, four INTs) and led TCU in rushing (116-526-4.5, 10 TDs). Duggan missed two games with a foot injury in 2021, starting 10 contests his junior campaign (145-227-63.9%, 2,048 yards, 16 TDs, six INTs passing; 105-352-3.4, three TDs rushing). He did not start the 2022 opener for TCU but took over as the starter after Chandler Morris sustained an injury in the opener. Duggan led the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff, throwing for 3,698 yards and 32 TDs against eight INTs (267-419-63.7%; 137-423-3.1, 9 TDs rushing). Duggan was the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, a second-team Associated Press All-American and winner of the Davey O'Brien (named after the former TCU star) and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards as the nation's top quarterback. The Heisman Trophy runner-up ranked ninth in the FBS with 4,121 total yards and tied for sixth with 41 total touchdowns.


Originally From: https://www.chargers.com/draft/