College Football

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 235

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 32 3/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.43

3-CONE: 7.06

SHUTTLE: 4.24

VERTICAL: 40.5"

BROAD: 9'10"

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POSITIVES

– Impressive athlete with good change of direction and fluid hips. Can mirror and match against running backs and tight ends in man coverage.

– Uses his hands well to help stay in phase when playing man coverage or get reroutes when playing underneath in zone coverage.

– Has the acceleration to click and close quickly.

– Good ball skills for a linebacker. Plays the hands from a trail position and has decent hand-eye coordination to get pass breakups when facing the quarterback.

– Can use his quickness to make offensive linemen miss at the second level.

– Physical at the point of attack when taking on run blocks and strong enough to get off blocks from tight ends and wide receivers.

– Speed helps him make plays in pursuit. Has the athletic ability to break down and make tackles in space.

– Has the agility and acceleration to be an effective looper in line games as a pass-rusher.

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NEGATIVES

– Needs to work for more depth when spot-dropping in zone coverage to tighten the windows between the second and third levels of the defense, especially in Cover 3.

– Struggles to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate throws in zone coverage.

– Not strong enough against the run to consistently get extension against offensive linemen. Will get pushed around a bit if he can't win at the point of attack.

– Not a violent block-shedder when working to get off blocks. Linemen with good grip strength can latch onto him.

– Has a habit of taking too shallow of an angle versus outside runs.

– High pad level. Likes to lunge and leave his feet when tackling, which will lead to misses.

– No pass-rush moves as a blitzer.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 72 TOT, 4 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 FF, 3 PBU

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NOTES

– DOB: June 14, 2001

– Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

– No. 29 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering this season: 6 percent body fat, benches 375 lbs, power-cleans 355 lbs, 35" vertical jump, 10'2" broad jump, high 4.3s in 40-yard dash (per Clemson's coaches)

– A 5-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 26 overall, No. 1 OLB, per 247Sports composite rankings

– 27 career starts

– Injuries: 2022 (Ankle, missed one game, aggravated it in ACC Championship Game, will miss bowl game)

– 2022 Honors: Third-team All-ACC, Butkus Award semifinalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist

– 2021 Honors: Second-team All-ACC (PFF), All-ACC Academic team

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OVERALL

Trenton Simpson put on about 10 pounds this offseason, per his school bio, but the extra weight didn't appear to affect his athleticism much (if at all). That's part of the reason why he ended up on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks" list and is one of the top linebackers in this year's draft class.

Simpson has always played with his hair on fire and has been physical at the point of attack against the run. Wide receivers and tight ends working to the second level had trouble blocking him, and the added strength helped him hold his ground and get some extension versus offensive linemen.

However, Simpson still has room for growth in those areas, as bigger and more physical linemen will still be able to push him around a bit in the NFL. He also struggles to get off blocks against the big guys.

Simpson's athleticism shines through when he plays man coverage. He's fluid and sinks his hips well to cover running backs and tight ends on shorter routes, and he has the speed to carry if they go deep.

That speed also comes in handy when he converges on the ball in zone coverage. However, he does struggle to find his landmark while spot-dropping, and he isn't great at reading the quarterback's eyes to anticipate throws, which will leave throwing windows open.

Schematically, Simpson would be best as a "Will" linebacker for a team that uses a lot of even fronts and man coverage. Down the line, he can probably mix in at "Sam," too, but he'll need to become more consistent with his angles on the front side of outside runs before he can make a full-time switch to that position. He also isn't a terrible fit in a zone scheme, but that will take some time and development, and he looks more comfortable in man.

Simpson is what a lot of teams are looking for in a modern-day linebacker. He could easily be a late Day 1 pick and the first linebacker off the board.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 43

POSITION RANK: LB3

PRO COMPARISON: Rashaan Evans

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 204

HAND: 9 1/2"

ARM: 32 3/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.51

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 41"

BROAD: 10'8"

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POSITIVES

— Alignment flexibility. Can line up anywhere, and SMU often moved him around the formation.

— Very good play strength. Does not get bullied versus press and knows how to muscle his way to advantageous positions at the catch point.

— Excellent hands and catch radius. Rare knack for finding the ball outside his frame and bringing it in safely. True ball-winner.

— Good bully-ball style YAC-earner. Plays with good strength and balance, with just enough speed.

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NEGATIVES

— Average or slightly below-average burst and acceleration. Not going to threaten CBs at the line of scrimmage.

— Not a clean, agile route-runner. Wins more with size and strength.

— Average elusiveness in space. More of a ball-carrier who runs past or through defenders than around them.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 96 REC, 1,355 YDS (14.1 AVG), 10 TD

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NOTES

— DOB: April 22, 2000

— 33 career starts

— 2022 Honors: second-team All-American, first-team All-AAC

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OVERALL

Rashee Rice is a ball-winner. Though he isn't quite a giant at 6'2" and 203 pounds, he plays with great strength and fascinating coordination both in his upper and lower body.

Rice is nimble enough to stop on a dime and turn to leap for the ball, but he also has the length, hand-eye coordination and soft hands to bring in any pass, no matter how far he has to reach or contort his body. He's always at an advantage when the ball is in the air.

Rice is effective with the ball in his hands, too. He may not have true home run speed or explosiveness, but he has enough of it for a player his size.

Rice mostly wins with strength and balance as a runner, showing the ability to fight off tacklers and trudge forward for extra yards to move the sticks and occasionally spring himself free for a chunk gain. SMU even found use for Rice on jet motion plays and screens because of his ability with the ball.

The concerns with Rice are all about play speed. He will never get bullied off his route stem at the line of scrimmage, but he doesn't typically burst off the line and torch the cornerback straight away. Rice isn't the cleanest route-runner, either. He isn't clunky or uncoordinated, but he doesn't have the bend and burst to be one of the better separators in the NFL.

Rice is a high-end No. 2 or a low-end No. 1 akin to San Francisco's Brandon Aiyuk. His ability as a ball-winner on the outside would be welcome on any team. For more creative teams, Rice's bully-ball YAC skills and alignment flexibility will make him a nifty weapon to move around the formation.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 62

POSITION RANK: WR6

PRO COMPARISON: Brandon Aiyuk

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 330

HAND: 11 1/4"

ARM: 33 7/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 5.31

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: 4.81

VERTICAL: 23.5"

BROAD: 8'5"

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POSITIVES

— Massive frame and build with good length and a wide base to engulf defenders.

— Very good play strength to reestablish the line of scrimmage in the run game and anchor in pass-protection.

— Excels in the power-run game, uprooting defensive tackles on down blocks and double-teams as the post and drive man, routinely creating vertical and lateral displacement.

— Uses his frame, length and power to create cutback lanes in the zone-run game by covering up and widening defenders further than they want to go.

— Reliable processing skills to key, diagnose and handle basic line games and stunts.

— Eats the bull rush and can anchor quickly when squared up against power rushes.

— Plays with a nasty demeanor and consistently looks to finish defenders throughout games.

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NEGATIVES

— Tends to lean and not keep his head out of blocks when isolated against sub-package rushers rather than maintain proper posture and patience, leaving him vulnerable to losing quickly.

— Can be a tick late releasing off combo blocks, causing him to be tardy to pick up quick-trigger linebackers.

— Shows mediocre agility on the move and struggles to adjust his track when necessary, leaving him susceptible to missing his target in space on the second level and on pulls.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 11 starts at right guard

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NOTES

— Named AP first-team All-American, becoming the first Gator offensive lineman to achieve the distinction since Mike Pearson in 2001.

— Former 3-star prospect out of St. Helena College and Career Academy in Greensburg, Louisiana

— Started 35 games over three seasons at Louisiana before transferring to Florida in 2022. Finished his career with 46 starts

— First true freshman offensive lineman to start at Louisiana since 2004

— First-team All-Sun Belt in 2021

— First-team All-SEC in 2022

— Never allowed a sack during his college career (over 3,000 snaps)

— Decided to skip his team's appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl to prepare for the draft

— Invited and accepted his invite to the 2022 Senior Bowl

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OVERALL

O'Cyrus Torrence is a four-year starter inside Billy Napier's multiple-run scheme with 46 career starts inside at guard during his time at Louisiana (2019-2021) and Florida (2022). He has a massive, hulking build with a thick midsection, solid arm length and massive hands.

Torrence wins using a combination of sheer size, a strong center of gravity and a high-level ability to generate and absorb force in the run and pass game. He is an adept gap run-blocker who excels covering up defensive tackles, resetting the line of scrimmage and creating displacement vertically and laterally on down, base and double-team blocks.

Torrence has the necessary blend of power to create instant movement and uproot defenders when needed, with the strength to strain, sustain and steer them out of rush lanes. He flashes the balance and body control to absorb contact on the move when he catches defenders square down the midline of his frame, and he has the grip strength to stay attached against shed attempts. However, he will get top-heavy, leave his feet behind and lunge at fast-flowing, twitchy defenders that work across his face.

Torrence does a nice job staying inside-out on pass-rushers, showing the patience to maximize his size and not get overaggressive with his hands. That forces rushers to work around or through his frame.

Torrence has firm, powerful strikes and does a nice job relying on his inside hand to widen rushers. He also has the invaluable ability of bracing through his core and anchoring quickly to stymie the bull rush. He's a quick processor with alert eyes to anticipate line games and stunts while being a force of nature when uncovered, routinely caving in adjacent rushers to clear the pocket.

The one area of concern is against high-level 3-techniques and sub-package rushers that can get him isolated with wide alignments and make him play in space. That negates his strength and power.

Overall, Torrence has starter-level size, play strength and power, with the right demeanor to be a potential impact starter at guard in most schemes. Ideally, he would plug into a run and play-action focused offense that incorporates a healthy mix of gap concepts to suit what he does best and maximize his physical traits and skill set.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player/Round 2)

OVERALL RANK: 51

POSITION RANK: IOL5

PRO COMPARISON: Larry Warford

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 180

HAND: 9 1/8"

ARM: 31 5/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.43

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 38"

BROAD: 11'2"

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POSITIVES

— Has very good length. Bends well while staying low in stance.

— Shows a smooth and controlled pedal with fluid hips to flip and run.

— Has very good reaction out of breaks with great closing speed when the ball is in the air.

— Gets his head around quickly to locate the ball when in phase and has very good ball skills and timing to disrupt the catch.

— Physical player who does a good job of setting the edge and is a willing tackler who gets the ball-carrier down.

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NEGATIVES

— Doesn't always trust his eyes when breaking. Footwork can get wide at times, causing him to jump into break.

— Inconsistent with sinking of hips out of breaks. Can come off to be lazy with technique at times, allowing separation at the top of routes.

— Can be too handsy downfield at times. Often uses a slingshot to get back in phase, which is called multiple times.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 11 GM, 27 TOT, 1 TFL, 6 PBU, 1 INT

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NOTES

— DOB: Dec. 21, 2000

— 2021 All-SEC second team

— 19 games started

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OVERALL

Cam Smith is a long-armed athlete with a lean frame, with the ability to add more weight. He's a lockdown defender who can play in a zone scheme but excels in man coverage. Within the schemes, Smith has shown himself to play from both press and off alignment. Although he has played a majority of his snaps from the open shuffle technique, he has demonstrated a smooth pedal, quick transitions and fluid hips to open and run.

A long strider, Smith has the speed to run with most receivers, although he can fall a step or two behind some of the more electric players he has matched up against. He has good short-area quickness but can give up some ground out of his breaks due to slower transitions. When out of his breaks, Smith has displayed a very good burst and closing speed with the ball in the air. He has instincts to locate and attack the ball while also showing great timing to break up passes. Though he has aligned in the slot at times, he is best when out wide.

When playing the run, Smith has good aggressiveness and physicality, especially when taking on blocks. He uses his hands to set the edge while also disengaging from blocks. Though he is a willing tackler who comes up to support the run, he tends to ankle-bite and dive at the legs of ball-carriers without wrapping up. Due to this style, he has missed a few tackles this season.

Ultimately, Smith is an exceptional athlete who is regarded as one of the best man cover guys in this draft. His inconsistency in tackling will be one of the biggest knocks against him. With that said, he will be one of the earlier cornerbacks selected, with a chance to compete early for a starting job.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 46

POSITION RANK: CB6

PRO COMPARISON: Sean Murphy-Bunting

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 5'9"

WEIGHT: 184

HAND: 9 1/8"

ARM: 29 1/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.51

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: 4.32

VERTICAL: 33"

BROAD: TBD

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POSITIVES

— Fluid player with loose hips. Shows very good twitch to get out of breaks and drive on receivers. Has the speed and movement skills to run with receivers downfield.

— Shows good instinct in both the run and pass game. Very good vision in zone. Sees the threats in his area and reacts with anticipation.

— Outstanding hands when playing the ball. Shows good tracking of the ball and attacks it with his hands away from his body.

— Can be an elusive and feisty player when taking on blocks.

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NEGATIVES

— Lack of size can show up at times. Bigger blockers can latch on and cause a struggle for him to disengage.

— Speed in his backpedal can make him rock back on his heels, causing him to reach and grab.

— Ankle-biter at times when attacking bigger backs.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 24 TOT, 2 TFL, 1 SK, 6 INT, 12 PBU

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NOTES

— Started 31 games in his career

— Three-year starter

— 2022 Unanimous All-American

— 2021 Second-team All-Pac 12

— Fourth in Utah history in career interception return yards

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OVERALL

Clark Phillips III is an active, slightly undersized cornerback position with excellent movement skills. He has shown the ability to play in both man and zone coverage.

When playing man, he can play from press and off coverage. When playing press, he does a good job of mirroring the receiver, allowing him to declare their routes and quickly getting into his hip pocket. From off coverage, Phillips shows good tempo and leverage, showing off his foot quickness and twitch to get out of breaks and drive on the ball.

One of his most impressive attributes is his anticipation and ability to run the routes for receivers. Once out of his backpedal, he does a great job of becoming the receiver and attacking the ball, finishing the play with great hands and ball skills.

In zone, he displays similar traits while using his vision to sink under routes coming in and out of his area. Phillips does a good job carrying routes downfield, although occasionally, he can panic and grab or bump the receiver before the ball arrives.

When playing the run, Clark is an active player who isn't afraid to get into the mix. He does a good job of quickly reacting and setting the edge, often using his quickness to beat receivers, although there are times when he can get stuck on bigger receivers and have difficulty disengaging. He is also fearless when tackling but at times chooses to throw his body at the ball-carrier's feet in an attempt to tackle.

Overall, Clark is an outstanding cover corner who shows versatility at both the outside corner and slot positions. His ball-hawking tendencies make him an elite player and one that will be coveted at the next level. His size may be a question to play out wide, but his movement skills are more than capable of playing from the slot. He can be a Day 1 or early Day 2 selection.

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GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 25

POSITION RANK: CB4

PRO COMPARISON: Denzel Ward

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 264

HAND: 9 7/8"

ARM: 34"

WINGSPAN: 81 5/8"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.58

3-CONE: 7.28

SHUTTLE: 4.41

VERTICAL: 34"

BROAD: 10'5"

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POSITIVES

— Physical at the point of attack and takes on blocks with good leverage out of a two-point stance to help set the edge.

— Solid strength to win as a power rusher with a one-arm stab move or a bull rush, and he's shown a nice rip move as a counter off of the bull rush that he can win with if he starts working to get on an edge.

— Does a good job of working offensive lineman's hands as a pass-rusher.

— Has plenty of athletic ability to develop finesse moves down the line and has shown flashes of winning with a cross chop, hand swipe and ghost rush.

— Impressive agility to avoid losing ground as the looper in line games.

— Swipes at the ball and has a knack for getting strip sacks.

— Very instinctual against the run and can be hard to reach with his combination of agility and block recognition out of a two-point stance.

— Strong enough to get extension and hold ground against tackles.

— Hustle player who will factor into gang tackles down the field and get coverage sacks.

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NEGATIVES

— Slow run-pass transitions against play-action.

— Doesn't have a go-to pass rush move that can win with at the moment and doesn't have the speed off the ball to challenge offensive tackles vertically.

— Could make better use of the stem phase of a pass rush by getting upfield initially to give himself a two-way go and keep the tackle guessing.

— Adequate bend to turn tight corners and take an efficient path to the quarterback but lacks ankle flexibility.

— Needs to start working to get on an edge when bull-rushing.

— More passive against the run when working out of a three-point stance. Likes to stand up and see what the offensive line is doing instead of attacking and reacting.

— Lacks violence when trying to disengage and get off blocks and lets offensive linemen hang onto him.

— Not a forceful tackler and will lose ground after contact from physical running backs.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 45 TOT, 14 TFL, 11 SK, 1 FF

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NOTES

— DOB: Oct. 30, 2000

— A 4-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 211 overall, No. 13 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating.

— 25 career starts

— Notre Dame's career sack leader (26.5)

— 2022 Honors: Consensus All-American

— 2021 Honors: Third-team All-American (Phil Steele), first-team All-Independent (Phil Steele)

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OVERALL

Isaiah Foskey is an interesting projection because he has plenty of traits with his size, strength and athleticism, and he's been productive, surpassing several notable Notre Dame defensive linemen like Justin Tuck and Bryant Young in the school's record books. Typically, that'd make for a slam-dunk top-10 pick.

However, a lot of Foskey's sacks have come when he's either unblocked, is cleaning up from another pass-rusher winning or as coverage sacks, especially this past year. His impressive rushes have come in flashes versus being something he can consistently win with at the next level, and his stiff ankles are concerning for an edge-rusher.

That being said, if the Golden Domer tests well at the combine to confirm his athletic potential, he's a good enough power rusher and can develop a wider pass-rush arsenal down the road to still be a first-round pick. He might just have to wait a little longer to hear his name called on Day 1.

Against the run, there's a lot to like about Foskey's game. He's physical and strong to set the edge and hold ground against offensive tackles, and his instincts are impressive out of a two-point stance. The biggest issue is that he can look like almost a completely different player with his hand in the ground, which could limit his scheme fit.

Foskey is much better from a standup linebacker position. When he is in a three-point stance, it's almost like his natural inclination is to play from a two-point because he stands up and tries to see what's going on, essentially getting to a two-point stance post-snap. So, he'd be best as an outside backer for a team that uses odd fronts.

Notre Dame would occasionally drop him in coverage, so he has experience covering running backs, tight ends and the underneath zones to go along with the athleticism to carry that part of his game over to the NFL. He might not be "off the board" for even front teams, but he'll need the freedom to play from that standup position.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 53

POSITION RANK: EDGE10

PRO COMPARISON: Harold Landry III

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 248

HAND: 10 1/2"

ARM: 34 1/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: TBD

3-CONE: 7.57

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD: 10'6"

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POSITIVES

— Accelerates off the ball well and has quick run-pass transitions versus play action.

— Sets up his pass-rushing moves well during the stem phase by using a skip/hesitation step or stemming to the inside to set up an outside move and vice versa.

— Has a wide array of finesse moves to win around the edge like a cross chop, arm over and inside or outside stick moves.

— Solid at turning speed to power with a one-arm stab move; he can collapse the pocket against offensive tackles with a weaker base.

— Impressive change of direction, agility and quickness to be an effective looper on line games.

— Good bend to take an efficient path to the quarterback.

— Physical at the point of attack against the run and has solid strength and hand placement to help set the edge versus outside zone; also is hard to reach with his agility.

— Against down blocks, he gets his hands on the offensive linemen to disrupt their path to the second level.

— Recognizes and gets under pullers as the spill player in run fits.

— Has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks and is solid at engaging with offensive linemen and working around the block to escape without conceding too much ground.

— Snap-to-whistle type of player who takes good angles in pursuit and can factor into gang tackles down the field.

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NEGATIVES

— Struggles with consistency and accuracy with his use of hands as a pass-rusher; he'll often miss with his initial chop or needs to finish with a violent rip to get the offensive lineman off him and get a clean win.

— He'll lose contain against scrambling or running quarterbacks because he struggles to break down in the backfield and doesn't bring his feet with him when tackling.

— Lacks the strength to lock out offensive tackles as a run defender; he moves his feet backward and concedes ground to get extension instead of displacing the blocker.

— Will struggle to hold his ground against base blocks in the pros.

— Has a habit of stopping his feet on contact.

— Could afford to add some size and strength to help with his power moves as a pass-rusher and with holding up against the run.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 11 GM, 58 TOT, 8.5 TFL, 5.5 SK, 1 FF

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NOTES

— DOB: April 5, 2002

— A 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 84 overall, No. 6 WDE, per 247Sports' composite rating.

— Injuries: 2022 (knee, missed two games)

— 24 career starts

— Brother, Azeez, played at Georgia and was a second-round pick of the New York Giants

— 2022 honors: awarded LSU's coveted No. 18 jersey; first-team All-SEC; two-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

— 2021 honors: one-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

— 2020 honors: one-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

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OVERALL

BJ Ojulari went to LSU to forge his own path and break away from Azeez's shadow, but he'll end up on a similar journey as one of the best pass-rushers in this year's draft class.

An underrated aspect of the LSU product's game is that he varies his pass-rushing plan based on the opponent and has enough tools in his toolset to do so. For example, against Tennessee and Darnell Wright, Ojulari worked the edges more since Wright has a good anchor, but against Ole Miss, he relied more on turning speed to power against the Rebels' weaker tackles.

If he can improve his use of hands on his finesse moves and add some strength to be more effective when bull-rushing, Ojulari will be a dangerous pass-rusher in the pros. However, his effectiveness against the run is holding his draft stock back.

While the Tiger is effective against reach blocks/outside zone, on base blocks he concedes too much ground and will struggle to hold up at the point of attack against NFL tackles. Adding some mass will help there too, but he is very reliant on working around blocks right now, which is a risky play style.

Schematically, Ojulari might be limited to a stand-up outside linebacker role in odd fronts. He's just not big and strong enough to put his hand in the ground as a defensive end in even fronts right now. But if a team is looking for immediate pass-rushing help and is willing to be patient with him against the run, he's worth a mid-to-late first-round pick.

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GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 24

POSITION RANK: EDGE5

PRO COMPARISON: Jaelan Phillips

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 238

HAND: 9"

ARM: 32 5/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.39

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 41.5"

BROAD: 10'8"

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POSITIVES

— On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed.

— Works to get to square during the stem phase of a rush to give himself a two-way go and has a nice hesitation/skip move to win around the edge.

— Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves, especially if he can be more consistent with his use of hands. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area.

— Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge.

— When slanting against the run, he covers so much ground laterally that he doesn't have to tip it with pre-snap alignment. He throws off the offensive lineman's angle while simultaneously dipping his shoulder to reduce the surface area to block, getting the lineman off-balance so he can get penetration.

— Physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension and shed blocks from offensive tackles fairly easily. He's violent when shedding and has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks, too.

— Can set the edge versus outside zone or as the force player against pullers on power and counter.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base and is stronger than his 235-pound frame would suggest to hold his ground versus offensive tackles.

— Form tackler, good pad level, wraps up and runs his feet through contact. He's not going to miss many tackles.

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NEGATIVES

— His get-off is much slower and more deliberate on running downs, which makes it more difficult for him to win around the edge if the offense does pass and leads to a slower run-pass transition versus play action.

— Doesn't have a ton of power behind his bull rush and doesn't work to get on an edge to collapse the pocket against offensive tackles.

— Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves.

— Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. He could afford to push vertical more on the tackle to help sell the game.

— Could afford to add some weight to help him hold ground against base blocks from the bigger and elite NFL offensive tackles.

— Didn't look comfortable dropping into coverage. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 8 GM, 18 TOT, 7 TFL, 3 SK, 16 QBH

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NOTES

— DOB: Jan. 18, 2001

— A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 1 overall, No. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating.

— Injuries: 2021 (elbow, missed one game), 2022 (torn pec, season-ending surgery and missed every game after Week 9)

— Arrested for driving with a suspended license and speeding through a construction zone (misdemeanor) in January 2022, completed pre-trail diversion program in lieu of formal conviction

— 23 career starts

— 2022 Honors: Second-team preseason All-American (Athlon Sports)

— 2021 Honors: Two-time SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 3 and 9)

— 2019 Honors: Georgia's Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year

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OVERALL

For someone who is only listed at 235 pounds, Nolan Smith is a lot stronger than you'd think and is surprisingly a better run defender than pass-rusher. He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding.

Smith might have a tougher time holding up against the bigger and more physical offensive tackles at the next level with his lean frame, but he has plenty of room for growth to add 10 to 15 pounds.

He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. Long story short, he has very few flaws against the run and has the upside to be even better with some added mass.

However, he's certainly a run-first player, which has a distinct impact on his get-off in rushing situations. He's likely going to have trouble with pressure on first and second downs as he won't be able to win with speed getting off the ball so late and struggles to collapse the pocket as a bull-rusher.

The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. He sets up his stick moves well by getting to square and giving himself a two-way go, and he has the bend to turn tight corners when winning around the edge. Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department.

Schematically, Smith's weight might be an issue for an even-front team that's looking for a more traditional, hand-in-the-ground defensive end. But if a team thinks they'll be able to add size to his frame in their weight program, he's strong and physical enough as it is to get the job done. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off.

He could play as a standup outside linebacker on odd fronts, too. That's closer to how he was used in college, but he wasn't the best in coverage which could be an issue in that scheme at the next level. That being said, he does have good athleticism to flush that part of his game out.

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GRADE: 8.3 (Year 1 Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 13

POSITION RANK: EDGE3

PRO COMPARISON: Melvin Ingram

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'5.5"

WEIGHT: 298

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 32 1/2"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.86

3-CONE: 7.41

SHUTTLE: 4.38

VERTICAL: 29"

BROAD: TBD

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POSITIVES

— Good size for an NFL defensive tackle and doesn't carry much bad weight.

— Quick reaction to the snap and has good acceleration off the ball, especially on passing downs.

— When working finesse moves as a pass-rusher, he has impressive use of hands to clear the offensive lineman's hands to start the moves.

— He is swift when hand-swiping, and he works the blocker's hands after contact, too.

— He has a nice swim move with a tight arm-over to clear the offensive lineman.

— Also showed a good rip move and the potential to develop a push-pull move down the line. He has the upper body strength to control the lineman and enough hip mobility to clear his lower half.

— As the looper in line games, he has decent agility for a tackle to avoid losing ground when working laterally.

— Solid bend as a pass-rusher.

— He ties his hands to his feet well against the run, allowing him to get his hands up fast and make contact with the offensive lineman on his first step.

— When slanting, he has the initial quickness to throw off the blocker's angles.

— Has the upper body strength to gain control of the bock along with a wide base to hold ground in one-on-ones, and he's solid against doubles.

— He's decent in anticipating a second blocker coming, turning his hips into pressure and reducing the surface area for the second blocker to hit on a double.

— With his base and impressive balance, he can absorb contact against down blocks or when slanting to keep the offensive lineman on his hip and avoid getting washed down.

— When he does keep his hands inside, he is violent and strong to shed and get off blocks.

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NEGATIVES

— Has missed 12 games over the last two years with injuries and illnesses, which has stunted his development.

— Plays with high pad level and has a habit of standing up out of his stance.

— Wide hand placement invites offensive linemen into his chest and limits his extension. Might have shorter arms, too.

— Stops his feet on contact against the run.

— His pad level and wide hands diminish the effectiveness of his bull rush.

— When working a push-pull move, he needs to start the move earlier so he can get pressure. The ball is typically out by the time he wins with the move.

— Doesn't have a good pass-rush motor or plan. Doesn't throw a ton of counters and will stop rushing if his initial move doesn't work.

— Subpar tackling form, as he likes to tackle high and struggles to break down and bring ball-carries down in space, whether that's as a pass-rusher against an athletic quarterback or in pursuit as a run defender.

— Not very productive in college with 28 solo tackles (51 total) in 25 games.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 10 GM, 15 TOT, 5.5 TFL, 3.5 SK, 2 PD

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NOTES

— DOB: Oct. 6, 2001

— No. 14 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering the season; benches 435 lbs, power-cleans 330 lbs, dead-lifts 585 lbs; 30" vertical; 4.7 seconds in 40-yard dash

— A 5-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 1 DT, No. 1 nationally, per 247Sports composite ranking

— Absences: 2021 torn ACL (season-ending surgery, missed nine games), 2022 kidney infection (missed two games), 2022 illness (missed one game)

— 20 career starts

— 2022 honors: second-team All-ACC, Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist

— 2021 honors: third-team All-ACC

— 2020 honors: freshman All-American (several media outlets), ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-ACC

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OVERALL

Bryan Bresee is an interesting projection, mainly because of how the last two years have played out.

As a freshman at Clemson, he showed a lot of promise and traits that made it easy to see why he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the country. However, like most 18- and 19-year-olds making the transition from high school, he was still raw and needed to refine his technique.

That's what these last couple of seasons were supposed to be about for Bresee, but he has missed nearly as many games as he's played. That's prevented him from showing he can pair his physical traits with clean technique and likely made it difficult to iron out kinks in his game.

All that being said, Bresee does have the rare combination of size, strength and athleticism to suggest he'll be better and more productive as a pro. He's strong enough to hold up against the run and nimble enough to create havoc as a pass-rusher. It's just a matter of staying healthy and how long it will take him to make the transition.

Schematically, Bresee would be best as a 2i- to 3-technique for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. He's not big enough to play as a nose tackle in odd fronts and could play as a 4i- to 5-tech defensive end, but that would be pushing it athletically, so teams running that scheme might look elsewhere for defensive line help.

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GRADE: 8.3 (Year 1 Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 14

POSITION RANK: DL2

PRO COMPARISON: Ndamukong Suh

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

The Bijan Robinson-less Texas Longhorns fell to the Washington Huskies 27-20 in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Thursday night, but quarterback Quinn Ewers still put together one of his best performances of the season.

The freshman completed 31-of-47 passes for a career-high 369 yards, in addition to one touchdown in the loss.

Typically, the Longhorns would have relied heavily on Robinson, their junior running back, but he opted to not suit up for the game and declare for the 2023 NFL draft as he's expected to be a first-round pick.

In 2023 and beyond, Texas is going to have to rely more heavily on Ewers to lead the offense, and he gave fans plenty of hope that he can be the guy moving forward, even with the upcoming addition of Arch Manning.

#Texas falls to Washington 27-20 in the Alamo Bowl.

Quinn Ewers throws for 369 yards and a TD in the loss. #HookEm

Some highlights from San Antonio: pic.twitter.com/2slHgV0jcC

— Adam Rossow (@AdamJRossow) December 30, 2022

Quinn Ewers outplayed Michael Penix Jr. pic.twitter.com/t16dP1WosM

— Kevin Ortiz 🅰️ (@kevinortiz) December 30, 2022

#QuinnEwers is trending! He made school records, showed leadership abilities, and has had bad days and good days. He's been a star QB for Texas this season and everyone is talking about it! #Longhorns #Quarterback #Football

— Why is it trending? (@ExplainMeTheTT) December 30, 2022

Quinn Ewers played well tonight. If actual #texaslonghorns fans can't see that then you're absolute morons. Yup.#alamo #texasvswashington

— Crispy Bacon Crypto (@baconmafia) December 30, 2022

Walking out of the Alamodome tonight with one thought — Quinn Ewers was pretty damn good tonight. He had few misfires in the first half, but he was pretty much flawless in the second half. Obvious he grew up a lot during bowl preparation.

— Todd Wills (@wtwills09) December 30, 2022

Quinn Ewers deserves better smh https://t.co/mPhAO5ROkl

— Jorge (@azteka2020x) December 30, 2022

https://twitter.com/JacobMajors2/status/1608713504730787840

https://twitter.com/rpedotti/status/1608706277475254273

https://twitter.com/DavisDenton50/status/1608704543050846209

Quinn Ewers played very well tonight. Should probably stop giving any attention to anyone who says otherwise.

— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) December 30, 2022

Sark is an incredible schemer and i still believe Quinn is the real deal. If you get receivers who can simply catch the football, Texas should win the Big 12 next year. #Texas #Longhorns #HookEm

— Quinn Ewers’ Heisman Trophy (@Wandering_USA) December 30, 2022

Quinn Ewers was 31-of-47 passing for a career-high 369 yards and a touchdown despite Texas only averaging 2.8 yards per rush. Ewers played winning football and looked improved over the last month. Important gains heading into the offseason.

— Wescott Eberts (@SBN_Wescott) December 30, 2022

Career-high 368 passing yards for Quinn Ewers on a night where the run game was nonexistent. He’ll be ready for 2023.

— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) December 30, 2022

Ewers, who reclassified from the 2022 recruiting class to the 2021 class, initially committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes out of high school. After riding the bench last season, he opted to enter the transfer portal, deciding Texas would be the best fit.

The 19-year-old had an up-and-down first season in Austin. Entering the Alamo Bowl, he had completed just 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,808 yards and 14 touchdowns against six interceptions.

Longhorns fans had questions about how Ewers would perform in the absence of Robinson, but Thursday's performance gave them confidence that he can lead the team to another winning season in 2023 without the star running back.