With two players being selected last year, will any of the 2023 Nevada NFL Draft prospects hear their names called this year? Let’s examine the credentials of their top prospects with our Nevada scouting reports.
Nevada 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Dom Peterson, DT
Strengths: Five-year starter at Nevada who was a constant presence in opposing backfields. Fires off the snap with an explosive first step, plays with excellent pad level, and gets leverage on opponents. Moves relatively well and gets momentum going up the field.
Displays good change-of-direction ability, chases the action hard, and works to make plays. Resilient, holds his ground against double-team blocks, and is impossible to move off the point. Agile with the ability to slide off blocks and get to the action.
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Weaknesses: Must develop more moves with his hands. Easily out-positioned or rerouted from plays. More of a first-step lineman and struggles against the run.
Overall: Peterson was productive in the five years he played at Nevada, totaling 55.5 TFLs as well as 20 sacks. He’s an explosive one-gap defensive line prospect who offers possibilities as a 3-technique lineman, yet Peterson must improve his playing strength.
Toa Taua, RB
Strengths: Consistently productive ball carrier who is also a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield. Shows great vision, patiently waits for blocks to develop, and effectively uses them all over the field. Works to set up defenders, displays quick footwork in a small area, and bounces around opponents to pick up positive yardage.
Will pick and choose his way through the trash, quickly cuts back in a small area, and squeezes through the open lanes. Runs with authority, gets a lot of momentum going, and breaks tackles to pick up yardage off initial contact. Quickly gets into pass routes, tracks the pass in the air, then extends his hands and adjusts to grab the ball from the air. Outstanding blocker who sees the blitz and squares into defenders to disrupt their angles of attack.
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed, struggles beating defenders into the open field, and cannot run to daylight. Runs straight into piles at times.
Overall: Taua is one of the more underrated RB prospects in this draft. He’s productive carrying the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield. He’s not super athletic, but he does everything well enough to make a roster as a third-down back or situational runner. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Taua surprises in camp this summer and makes an NFL roster.
