DJ on some of these prospects
Rank
23
4
Shemar Stewart
Texas A&M · Edge · Junior
Stewart is a long, dynamic and athletic edge rusher. He generates a lot of pressures but struggles to finish in the passing game. That’s why his low sack total (4.5 in three seasons) is misleading. He still impacts the game, even without major sack production. He has a very explosive first step and uses his long-arm move to run offensive tackles back to the passer. He bends well at the top of his rush for such a big edge defender. He has an outstanding closing burst once he clears the tackle. He does need to add more moves to his arsenal, but I guarantee defensive line coaches are going to be lining up to work with him. Against the run, he can easily set the edge and he has the speed to chase and make plays on the back side. I’m sure some will struggle to see past the limited sack total, but there is just too much talent here to fall into that trap.
Rank
24
1
Derrick Harmon
Oregon · DT · Junior (RS)
Harmon is a quick, disruptive defensive tackle with excellent instincts. As a pass rusher, he has quick hands to knock away the punch of opposing linemen. He also has a club/rip move that helps him collect early wins. He flashes an occasional bull rush, but I’d like to see more of it because it’s effective. Against the run, he’s very aware and avoids getting displaced by down blocks. He can anchor down versus double-teams and he excels at shooting gaps to disrupt and redirect runners. Overall, Harmon has a great feel for the game and can create a lot of havoc despite lacking an elite trait.
Rank
30
5
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Boston College · Edge · Senior
Ezeiruaku is a compact edge rusher with outstanding length, burst and production. In the pass game, he has a very quick first step and gets on top of blockers in a hurry. He excels at prying open the outside shoulder and cornering toward the quarterback. He has a full array of moves to complement his speed rush. He has won with a club/swim, inside counter, spin move and Euro step. He’s an outstanding finisher (16.5 sacks in 2024). Against the run, he needs to be more consistent using his length to stack blocks. He takes them on with his shoulder too often. He shows solid effort on the back side to chase plays. Overall, Ezeiruaku has an ideal body type to rush the passer, and he has all the tricks in his bag to win against good players.
Rank
34
1
Maxwell Hairston
Maxwell Hairston
Kentucky · CB · Junior (RS)
Hairston is a lean, athletic cornerback with ideal play speed and fluidity. In press coverage, he incorporates a one-hand jam before turning and carrying vertical routes. He has plenty of burst/speed. In off coverage, he likes to settle and catch receivers at the break point. He’ll need to play cleaner with his hands down the field at the next level. In Kentucky’s defense, he rolled back to play in the middle of the field versus certain formations/motions, but he was late to diagnose and react from that alignment. He’s willing in run support and is a dynamic blitzer. He was limited to seven games this past season due to a shoulder injury, which impacted his tackling. He had a very productive 2023 season (five interceptions) but wasn’t targeted much in the games I studied from this past year. Overall, Hairston offers an enticing blend of movement skills and production.
Rank
45
4
Nic Scourton
Texas A&M · Edge · Junior
Scourton is a thick/square edge rusher. He was a highly productive pass rusher at Purdue (10 sacks in 2023) before joining Texas A&M for the 2024 season. He has torque and power as a rusher. He also possesses a nifty inside spin and an effective chop/rip move to win one-on-one matchups. He doesn’t have elite get-off, but he shows quickness when redirecting. He is very stout/strong as a run defender and plays with effort. Overall, he lacks elite traits but he’s very instinctive, productive and tough.
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