Arkansas offensive lineman Ricky Stromberg declares for 2023 NFL Draft
Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg revealed on Tuesday night that he will forgo his remaining eligibility to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Stromberg was a staple of the Razorbacks offensive line from his first year on campus in 2019. After the 2021 season, he earned second-team All-SEC honors. After the Hogs took down Ole Miss in Week 12, he won SEC offensive lineman of the week for his performance in his 43rd career start.
Stromberg is one of several Arkansas offensive linemen who could declare for this year’s draft, along with both guards, Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham. The trio from the 2019 class are all eligible but have another year of collegiate eligibility thanks to the COVID redshirt in 2020.
The senior lineman accepted his invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, the all-star game announced on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-4, 276-pound center was a three-star prospect coming out of Union (Tulsa) High School. He originally committed to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane before flipping his commitment and signing with the Hogs. He was the No. 35 IOL prospect and No. 8 recruit coming out of Oklahoma in the 2019 class, according to the On3 Consensus.
“To see his improvement over the last two and a half seasons has been dramatic,” Pittman said of Stromberg in September. “I think he’ll be a guy who can play in the NFL. And he’s tough, I think he’ll play for a long time.
“His knowledge of the game has certainly improved. Obviously, as he’s gotten older, his physicality – he’s very quick off the ball – understands defensive structures. And I really like him, wonderful kid and we’re certainly glad he’s on our team. He kind of runs that offensive line and has a lot of respect, not only from the coaching staff but from the players on the team.”
More on the 2023 NFL Draft
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.
Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. One hundred underclassmen gained approval for last year’s draft. Seventy-three of those 100 underclassmen received special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.
The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.