ARLINGTON, Texas – Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic alums sprinkled the 2023 National Football League Draft with 24 selections over the three-day event in Kansas City.
 
Three of the first four selections were Classic alums with Alabama's Bryce Young going first overall to the Carolina Panthers. His Crimson Tide teammate Will Anderson Jr., the Felix R. McKnight Defensive Most Valuable Player in the 86th Classic, went third overall to the Houston Texans. Florida's Anthony Richardson went fourth overall to the Indianapolis Colts.
 
Cotton Bowl Classic Most Valuable Players from the 87th Classic went in the third round – Tulane's Tyjae Spears (J. Curtis Sanford Offensive MVP) was selected 81st by the Tennessee Titans and his Green Wave teammate Dorian Williams (Defensive MVP) was chosen 91st by the Buffalo Bills.
 
Alabama led the way with eight Classic alumni drafted followed by Florida with four and Cincinnati and Oklahoma with three each.
 
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GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2023 NFL DRAFT
Round (Pick) Name, School – NFL Team
1 (1) Bryce Young, Alabama – Carolina Panthers
1 (3) Will Anderson Jr., Alabama – Houston Texans
1 (4) Anthony Richardson, Florida – Indianapolis Colts
1 (27) Anton Harrison, Oklahoma – Jacksonville Jaguars
2 (32) Joey Porter Jr., Penn State – Pittsburgh Steelers*
2 (33) Will Levis, Penn State – Tennessee Titans
2 (45) Brian Branch, Alabama – Detroit Lions
2 (53) Gervon Dexter, Florida – Chicago Bears
2 (54) Tuli Tuipulotu, Southern California – Los Angeles Chargers
2 (61) Brenton Strange, Penn State – Jacksonville Jaguars*
2 (62) Juice Scruggs, Penn State – Houston Texans*
2 (63) Marvin Mims Jr., Oklahoma – Denver Broncos
3 (70) Byron Young, Alabama – Las Vegas Raiders
3 (81) Tyjae Spears, Tulane – Tennessee Titans
3 (91) Dorian Williams, Tulane – Buffalo Bills
3 (95) Jordan Battle, Alabama – Cincinnati Bengals
3 (100) Tre Tucker, Cincinnati – Las Vegas Raiders
3 (101) Cameron Latu, Alabama – San Francisco 49ers
3 (102) Mekhi Blackmon, Southern California – Minnesota Vikings
4 (121) Ventrell Miller, Florida – Jacksonville Jaguars^
4 (133) Tyler Scott, Cincinnati – Chicago Bears
5 (137) KJ Henry, Clemson – Washington Commanders*
5 (147) Josh Whyle, Cincinnati – Tennessee Titans
5 (149) Sean Clifford, Penn State – Green Bay Packers
5 (150) Justin Shorter, Florida – Buffalo Bills
5 (167) Henry To'oTo'o, Alabama – Houston Texans
6 (203) Amari Burney, Florida – Las Vegas Raiders
7 (224) DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama – Atlanta Falcons
7 (247) Brayden Willis, Oklahoma – San Francisco 49ers
 
Along with the collection of Classic alums, a total of 64 players drafted competed in or was on the roster for at least a collegiate game played at AT&T Stadium:
 
Round (Pick) Name, School – NFL Team
1 (15) Will McDonald IV, Iowa State – New York Jets
1 (21) Quentin Johnston, TCU – Los Angeles Chargers
1 (31) Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State – Kansas City Chiefs
2 (35) Michael Mayer, Notre Dame – Las Vegas Raiders
2 (36) Estaban "Steve" Avila, TCU – Los Angeles Rams
2 (40) Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame – New Orleans Saints
2 (44) Julius Brents, Kansas State – Indianapolis Colts
3 (67) Drew Sanders, Arkansas – Denver Broncos
3 (71) Kendre Miller, TCU – New Orleans Saints
3 (80) DJ Johnson, Oregon – Carolina Panthers
3 (84) Devon Achane, Texas A&M – Miami Dolphins
3 (90) DeMarvion Overshown, Texas – Dallas Cowboys
3 (94) Michael Wilson, Stanford – Arizona Cardinals
3 (97) Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas – Washington Commanders
3 (98) Siaki Ika, Baylor – Cleveland Browns
4 (109) Dylan Horton, TCU – Houston Texans
4 (116) Colby Wooden, Auburn – Green Bay Packers
4 (125) Derius Davis, TCU – Los Angeles Chargers
4 (130) Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State – Jacksonville Jaguars
5 (157) Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford – Baltimore Ravens
5 (160) Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M – Jacksonville Jaguars
5 (162) Will Mallory, Miami (Fla.) – Indianapolis Colts
5 (168) Owen Pappoe, Auburn – Arizona Cardinals
6 (182) Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU – Los Angeles Rams
6 (188) Tanner McKee, Stanford – Philadelphia Eagles
6 (194) Keondre Coburn, Texas – Kansas City Chiefs
6 (197) Elijah Higgins, Stanford – Miami Dolphins
6 (199) Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Oregon – Baltimore Ravens*
6 (201) Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame – Houston Texans^
6 (205) Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State – Houston Texans
6 (207) Anders Carlson, Auburn – Green Bay Packers
6 (212) Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State – Dallas Cowboys
6 (216) Dee Winters, TCU – San Francisco 49ers
7 (221) Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M – Indianapolis Colts
7 (234) Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State – Los Angeles Rams
7 (239) Max Duggan, TCU – Los Angeles Chargers
7 (242) Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State – Green Bay Packers
7 (243) Jordon Riley, Oregon – New York Giants
7 (246) D.J. Ivey, Miami (Fla.) – Cincinnati Bengals
7 (249) Moro Ojomo, Texas – Philadelphia Eagles
7 (257) Alex Forsyth, Oregon – Denver Broncos
7 (258) Kendall Williamson, Stanford – Chicago Bears
 
*Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic or at AT&T Stadium
^Was injured when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic or at AT&T Stadium