USC's Caleb Williams is the clear No. 1 NFL prospect in college football. But UNC's Drake Maye also could have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. What makes them so special?
ESPN spoke to a half-dozen scouts and a former NFL head coach, Marc Trestman, to get an early read on the 2023 quarterback class. There will be showcase games early, as Williams debuts in 2023 this Saturday against San Jose State. Maye's Tar Heels open in Week 1 against South Carolina and former top NFL prospect Spencer Rattler.
The best indicator of the talent of Williams and Maye is that multiple scouts said they'd have picked both of them No. 1 this year, ahead of the class that included Young, Stroud and Anthony Richardson. The real debate is where Williams ranks among top quarterback prospects of the last generation. His style is so improvisational and his body type a bit different than the old-school paradigm, which makes comparisons tricky. But scouts are fired up.
For many of the scouts, there was a sizable distance between them. One scout made an interesting point that for this to become a debate, it would depend on a coach and system. The scout who saw the battle as closest predicted it could go this way:"I think it'll be a battle, to be honest with you. You have to think about, it's not talent, it's what the coaches are comfortable with. They are obviously two completely different styles, so it's going to depend on what you want. is a more polished player and more NFL style. Caleb has the ability to make an off-schedule throw and make something out of nothing.
All of the scouts ESPN spoke to think highly of Williams but don't want to anoint him or link him to the best player in football.
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