Played as a 4-3 DT at Michigan, mainly in a 3 technique. Received AP All-American 1st team honors his final season. He is a little bit undersized and will likely have to gain some weight when he gets in the league.

Athletic Ability is great, shows explosion out of his stance, great balance, very quick for a player that size. Good Mental Processing, easily can tell run or pass, quick to understand direction of the play and is not usually fooled by play action, quick to recognize screen plays. Great Competitive Toughness, he’s a player that loves to put a hit on his opponent, he would crawl to make the tackle, if he falls – he will get up and still make the tackle, works very hard to get off his blocks. Good Play speed, faster than the average DL, quicker than fast, he even has some closing speed to chase down a scrambling QB. Good Play Strength, shows a lot of force vs a strong interior lineman, will win almost every time he is the first off the LOS. Good Pass Rusher, will force solid pressure consistently, either by a bull rush or by a quick move that allowed him to get free from his blocker. Good vs the run, won’t be pushed back, has the ability to blow up traps and counters, impressive at disengaging with his block to make a hit on the RB. Good use of hands, powerful hands, again his quickness is in his hands too. Good gap leverage, good luck trying to make a gap when he is in the middle, closes the gap before it can be started.

There are not many negatives in Maurice Hurst’s game. He needs to add weight, could improve his lateral speed. He’s not going to be an elite pass rusher, not many moves to go off of, bend could improve. Hand placement could be better.

Overall, Hurst is a guy who will consistently make plays for whichever 4-3 Defense. He will be a player who could likely end up in the Pro Bowl a few times if he is in the right situation. I believe he will start day one for a team in a 3 technique.

Played in a mixture of 0 and 2 techs. Played Nose when Bama had 3 down linemen. Played a crucial part in the Championship game. His size is a will allow him to be considered in both systems, could be used as a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 DT.

Athletic Ability is good, better than most big men at lateral quickness, flexible hips, good overall balance. Good Mental Processing, focuses on the ball and identifies the play direction, recognizes screen before it develops, understands to drop back and try to swat the ball down if he is double teamed. Good Competitive Toughness, will chase down the opponent down field, not shy of the big stage. Good Play Speed, capable of being used for stunts, too fast for the average OL. Nice uphill speed for a DL. Great Play Strength, Wins almost every time. Rare to see him be pushed back, his strength would allow him to be a NT, has no problem bringing any player down to the ground. Good pass rusher, when matched up in one on one situations he could be very effective, would use his great use of hands that are strong and are consistently quick, his bull rush shows he could force consistent pressure on the QB. Good vs the run, his strength will allow him to be considered a run stuffer, really nice job at disengaging with his blockers and making an athletic move to get a hit on the RB.

His speed is above average, but his upfield burst does not always show that. Needs to be more consistent with how quick he is off the LOS and he tends to stand straight up, but he did improve during the later portion of the season. He needs to be quicker at recognizing a gap run, by the time he does recognize it the gap is already created for the RB. He has the potential to be able to close those gaps, but he just needs to see it better.

Overall, Payne has potential to be a good starter. I would like to see him as a 4-3 DT in a 2 tech., but he could play as a 3-4 DE as well. Should be a starter as soon as he enters the league.

Played NT at Washington. Very large Defensive Lineman in terms of both height and weight. Huge arms with large hands, large lower body.

Athletic Ability is great, a dancing bear, great balance for his size, agile, hip fluidity is impressive. Solid Mental Processing, one of the best defensive lineman at identifying his opponents’ weakness, will bull rush opponents with strength issues or evade a lineman who are slow. Good Competitive Toughness, fights through his opponents, consistent effort throughout the game, doesn’t give up on a play. Good Play Speed, one of the fastest DL, his elusive ability will allow him to get passed many average speed offensive lineman. Crazy how much closing speed the large prospect has. Great Play Strength, can stop a smaller RB at full sprint with one arm. Constantly creating havoc, requires a double team on majority of plays. Good Pass Rusher, with a good jump it’s almost a guarantee that he will end up in the backfield, has some bend, will win mainly from his bull rush. Good vs the Run, can contribute vs the off tackle runs, squeezes thru the gap preventing an OL to get frontside. Good use of hands, very strong punch, if first punch isn’t inside he will fight to get them inside, nice swipe move. Good Upfield burst, keeps his pad level low, faster to the point of attack than his opponent.

Could improve his gap leverage, does not close his gap he will rather watch where the RB is and not where he is going. He will take a moment to realize if it’s either a run or pass. Unlikely to accumulate a lot of sacks in a season, but he will force a lot of consistent pressure.

Overall, Vea will be a great starter in the league. Needs to play as a NT in a 0 or 1 technique. It would help him tremendously if he was not the best player on the defensive line. Giving him an opportunity for more one on one matchups would be crucial for his level of production.

4-3 DT at Florida, a lot of snaps were taken in a 1 tech, but also had time at 3. Great height and weight, slimmer waist, great upper body build, physically built frame.

Athletic Ability is great, depending on how well he performs at the combine, he could be considered elite, unbelievable quickness, agile, explosive hip power, fluid, moves very well and has lateral quickness. Good Competitive Toughness, consistent effort throughout the game, will chase down opponent. Great play speed, fast for a DL, with his speed it allows him to be moved around on sub packages, easily beats the average opponents in a speed battle, has the speed for stunts, closing speed. Good Play strength, has bull rush strength, wins consistently, good lower body strength, not a problem shedding blocks from good OL. Good Pass Rusher, going to force consistent pressure on the QB, shows solid bend, different moves on how to get in the backfield (Rip, Swim, Bull). Good vs the Run, holds his ground or will blow up the play, his strength usually requires a double team if the want to run his way. Great Upfield burst, very quick to the POA, consistently the first to reach the POA, stays low.

He still needs to understand how to use his abilities, needs to know his own strength better, better understanding of where the ball is, read the cut blocks quicker, identify screens. His hands are strong, but the placement needs to be more consistent, hands need to be more inside. Needs to recognize the trap/pulls quicker to really show his leverage.

Overall, Bryan has a lot of potential. The only problem is that he is still learning the game. It may take a season for him to fully understand and when he does… It’s going to be trouble for the league. I would like him to play more outside because he does not have the ideal girth to be considered a 4-3 DT, so putting him as a 3-4 DE would work in his favor.

The leading tackler for Stanford with 100+ tackles on the season. Primarily played as a NT in a 1 tech and a little bit in a 2. His measurables puts him on the border of being able to be a 3-4 NT or a 4-3 DT, if he wanted to be a NT then he would have to add some weight.

Athletic Ability is solid, has improved his quickness, shows balance despite dealing with a lot of contact. Great Mental Processing, understands the play direction and seems to always know where the ball is – not fooled by the play action. Good Competitive Toughness, shows consistent effort, competitive attitude, plays through major injuries – in the 2016 season he played through a torn PCL. Great Play Strength, holds his ground well in one on one matchups and vs a double team. Type of DL who can throw the average opponents around. Good Pass Rusher, his good hand use and overall quickness will allow him to get by the interior lineman. His swim move is very deadly, bull rush is noteworthy as well. Great Run Stopper, true run stuffer, will require a double team when running between the tackles, incredible timing of getting of the blockers and then making a hit on the RB. Good upfield burst, still improving, can tell a big difference now that he is healthy. Pad level remains lower than his opponent, quicker than average NT off the LOS. Good gap leverage, at a 0 or 1 tech he will not allow a gap to created at the POA.

His play speed may bring him down, he doesn’t have much closing speed and he will likely struggle with an elusive back. The PCL injury will be a concern for some teams, higher chance for re-injury. He doesn’t win vs Great to Elite competition. Needs to have better lateral movement. When he is tired, pad level will rise, and he will not be the same player as maybe the first half.

Overall, Phillips is a run stuffer who should fit as a 0 or 1 tech NT, but if he were to play in a 4-3 defense he should primarily be used in running situations. Phillips has the potential to be a good starter in the league.

Played as a 4-3 DT, mainly having a one-gap responsibility, but in sub packages he would move over to play more of a nose. Very large prospect, great height, his weight will put him in the mix for a NT position.

Athletic Ability is great, despite his very large size he moves well, shows explosion out of his stance, well balanced, his a.a. allows him to be considered either a 2 or 1 gap responsibility. Good Mental Processing, aware of run/pass, when he is double team in a passing situation he will try to knock down the pass at the LOS. Good Competitive Toughness, puts in great effort to chase down a scrambling QB, confident in his game. Good play Strength, wins vs the average opponents, destroys the average RBs – usually with one arm. Good Pass Rusher, shows a nice rip and swim move, better bend than some people think. Good vs the run, can’t run his direction because of his large size, understands how to blow up the trap plays. Good upfield burst, quicker off the snap than the average DL, explodes low into opponent. Good Gap leverage, size comes in handy, hard to create a gap his direction, may have to use a double or chip.  

He may move well for his size, but he still isn’t a fast prospect. Does not have closing speed, he will try his best, but it’s hard for him to reach his top speed. I’d expect him to win every matchup in terms of strength, but he will not and that may be a question of leg strength. He will show fatigue if he is on the field for a while, will stand straight up going into the POA. Needs to read the misdirection plays quicker.

Overall, Settle is an intriguing prospect. The athletic ability will allow teams to move him around on the DL. Teams who run a good amount of sub packages would be a good fit for Settle. I’d like him to be a NT, but a 4-3 DT in a 3 tech should work as well.

Played in all 4 years at Florida State, moves around a little on the DL. See him play nose for a 2 gap look, will play in a 3 tech sometimes. He is undersized compared to the average size of a DL at the next level. Short height and arm length, hand size is considered small. His weight makes up for it a little, wider than long, larger lower body.

Solid Athletic Ability, shows explosive power, balance is solid, lateral quickness needs some improvement – mainly in an Oklahoma Drill of sorts. Good Competitive Toughness, love his consistent effort, he is the type of player who is willing to dive to make a tackle. Great Play Strength, it’s too easy for him at times, he may not have the size, but his lower body frame gives him an advantage by having his pads lower than his opponent. Good Pass Rusher, has a multitude of moves, bull rush, swim move, and rip are some examples. Has some bend in his waist. Good run stopper, his wide body makes it tough for teams to run his direction, quality tackler too. Good Use of Hands, powerful hands, allows him to shed blocks easier. Good Upfield Burst, his low pad level and his ability to explode into his opponent is why he can win consistently at the POA. Good Gap Leverage, his strength is best shown here, hard for teams to run traps his way, unusual for a large gap to be created.

Still learning how to diagnose plays, he does recognize screens – but he must recognize them before they happen, he doesn’t seem to understand the stretch plays yet. Doesn’t have much closing speed, overall speed is not very useful in space. Struggles vs double teams, he may be wide, but his overall size is going to hurt him vs the large opponents who have great to elite strength. Hands need to be a little quicker, has lost to opponents who had quick hands with quality placement.

Overall, Nnadi is a solid prospect, he may have a disadvantage, but a good coach can see what he brings to the table. Give him a season to learn and he can be a quality back-up to a potential solid starter.

The Canadian was a former LB before becoming a DT. Played a lot of 3 tech in a 4-3 system. Has the physical tools to be a DT in the league, good height and weight, large hands, wider waist, thighs are large.

Athletic Ability is great, showed up at the combine, shows lateral quickness, explosive player, has suddenness, hips are fluid, his balance could improve in open space. Good Competitive Toughness, shows his motor, does not give up on a play. Good Play Speed, can be used as T-E stunts, shows closing speed – like the time he chased down a RB on a screen. Good Play strength, physically dominated the lower level competition in one on one matchups. Good Pass Rush, translates speed to power, showed some bend, if he was not double teamed it was likely he got in the backfield. Good vs the Run, teams would try early to run his way and quickly learned that was a bad idea, has good vision to find the RB and the lane he is taking. Good Upfield burst, not the first to be at the POA, but he is very consistent with his timing. Good Gap Leverage, strength will help close gaps, quick enough to beat the pulling guard.

A Raw prospect, still learning the position and how to diagnose certain plays, doesn’t seem to recognize the stretch plays. His use of hands is powerful, but placement can be more consistent. His competition was poor to say the least and it will be a big adjustment to the NFL.

Overall, Shepherd has potential, has the tools. Needs to understand how to use those tools to become a starter in the NFL. Give him some time and he can be a solid to possibly good starter in the league.

4-3 DT at Georgia, primarily used in a 3-tech, but moved around for sub packages. Has good height, may be little lighter than his listed weight, about average girth. Solid build all around.

Great Athletic Ability, moves very well for a DT, shows nice lateral movement, some quickness, could improve his balance – on the ground way too much. Great Competitive Toughness, high motor, wants to destroy his opponent any chance he gets, will chase down the ball carrier anywhere on the field, played through multiple injuries. Great Play Speed, for his size it is impressive how fast he can move in open space, he has surprising closing speed and acceleration. Good vs the Run, does not have much trouble making a tackle on a RB – even the larger backs.

He has had durability concerns, shoulder, ankle and knee injuries. Has been fooled by play direction, not always identifying the ball. His upper body strength is lacking compared to the average DT, he struggles to shed blocks and really doesn’t show much upper body strength when facing a strong OG. Did not have a single sack this past season, but he was close to getting a couple because of his closing speed. He is slow off the snap, one of the last ones to reach the POA. His strength does not give him much leverage from preventing gaps to be created/

Overall, Thompson is a solid prospect, his athletic ability is intriguing. If he could stay healthy and become stronger, maybe we could see him start down the road. Should stay in a 4-3 System where he only has a one-gap read.

Coming soon.

4-3 DT at NC State. Split reps with a couple other DTs. About average height and has the weight to match it, bulkier lower body, but has some build for the upper body, arm length is a little longer than average, hand size is average.

Good Athletic Ability, shows some quickness to the POA, some explosive ability, his hips are a little tight. Good Mental Processing, recognizes screens quick enough to make a play on them, aware of stretch plays, takes his chance when he sees an opening. Great Competitive Toughness, very high motor, will chase down RB down the field if needed. Good play strength, nice upper body strength that allows him to be solid at shedding blocks. Good run stopper, good tackler and reads the gap that the RB will take, nice job at setting a wall in the gap. Good Gap Leverage, his effort mixed with upper body strength, will create leverage, beats the frontside and down blocks.

Not known for his speed, not much if any acceleration. Should not be used for many stunts. Not a pass rusher, little bend if any, and his lack of speed limits his ability to get by OGs. His punches need to have more pop, at times he liked to play ‘patty cake’. Inconsistent Upfield Burst, will flash and time a snap perfectly and be the first to the POA with great leverage, but he is usually average or below average with his timing. Then he seems to stand up rather than explode into his opponent.

Overall, Jones is a solid DT. Would be a quality back-up because of his work ethic. Should stay as a 4-3 DT.

Brown played as a big end at Virginia. Played out of position. He is a tweener, has good height and has improved his weight. Great arm length with solid build, his lower body is heavy.

Athletic Ability is adequate, not a quick player, hips are tighter than fluid, change of direction needs to improve, his explosiveness could improve when he works more on his lower body. Good Competitive Toughness, love his effort, can make some plays purely form his motor. Good Play Strength, can physically dominate average guards, physical at the POA, easier for him to shed blocks. Good vs Run, nice grab and throw technique, a good tackler even against the big backs. Good Use of Hands, keeps his hands inside and has a great punch. Good Gap Leverage, can win vs average opponents when coming out of a 3 or 4pt stance, in 3 or 4i tech, leaning forward.

Not much speed, closing speed is below average and same with acceleration. Doesn’t have many pass rush moves, no real plan, bend isn’t there. They made him play outside when he should have been inside, sometimes he would be put out in open space and that is not his skill set. In a 2pt stance he is atrocious – pads are high, no real explosion, but in a 3pt stance he showed much better quality of burst. Unlikely to see him win vs an opponent on a head on matchup at the POA. Hands have been a little high at times, but not too bad.

Overall, Brown is prospect who will likely be a back-up in the league. He has a good senior bowl week, but there is a not a high ceiling for him. Brown best fits as a 3-4 DE.

Coming soon.