DEFENSIVE SCOUTING REPORTS
SNS has been spending the first ten weeks of the college football season evaluating prospects from more than 120 college programs with the prospects from Power 5 conferences getting additional attention. The reports that follow are works in progress – the finalized reports will be uploaded into the SNS 2025 Scouting Report Database later this winter – and will be modified as additional games are analyzed. The scouting reports that follow are of some of the top prospects potentially available next spring. SNS has had the opportunity to evaluate these prospects several times, in many cases over the last two seasons. The stretch drive of the regular season that leads into the inaugural 12 team FBS playoff only figures to provide more clarification on the NFL potential of these draft eligible prospects.
NOTE – All draft eligible prospects (three years removed from high school) have until January 15, 2025 to declare for the April’s draft with an exception for players who participate in the FBS National Championship Game, who have until January 25. Players have until February 7 to withdraw their name from the draft.
The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Nic Scourton (#11) / EDGE / Texas A&M
Transfer from Purdue. Prototypical size and measurements for a 4-3 DE – good height, huge frame, desired mass and girth, and extremely long arms. Very quick-twitched and has a great first step. Plays with very good bend and a wide base. Very good athlete with light feet, loose hips, and good range. Hustles and chases plays with a great motor. Sets a tremendous edge and shuts down the outside run lane. Excellent burst to slice through the LOS and disrupt run plays – spends a lot of time in the backfield and records a lot of TFLs. Good hands fighter. Pushes the pocket with natural power. Excellent closing burst on the QB. Lacks much of a pass rush plan and needs to add some counters to improve his pass rush.
Donovan Ezeiraku (#6) / EDGE / Boston College
Tweener size – either a slightly undersized 4-3 DE or a big 3-4 OLB. Primarily lines up as a 4-3 DE in a two-point stance. Excellent initial quickness – can win with his first step. Relies on quickness and burst to generate pressure – displays the ability to bend, flatten, and close on the QB. Lined up at various spots along the line to find gaps and penetrate the LOS. Very good run and chase player who hustles from the backside. Good instincts and football intelligence. Lack of size and power can be exposed when ran at. Not asked to set the edge and body is not built for those responsibilities. Aggressive and crashes down the LOS when staying home would be the better play. Athletic enough to drop into coverage – light on his feet. Length is especially useful in coverage.
Ashton Gillotte (#9) / Louisville
Looks the part of a 4-3 DE with good height, an outstanding frame, and very good mass. Very large wingspan. Great first step at the snap – able to slice through the LOS and cause disruption in the backfield. Strong and holds the POA well. Powerful bull rush. Nice closing burst. Not overly elusive or quick and wins more with power than speed. Excellent effort in backside pursuit.
Deone Walker (#0) / IDL / Kentucky
Rare size – huge frame with incredible mass. Huge wingspan and natural strength and power. Consistently requires double teams and push the pocket with tremendous power. Does not play with great bend or leverage, allowing blockers to get underneath his pads – although his natural anchor makes it difficult to unroot him. Very light feet with excellent mobility – can work up and down the line and is effective on stunts and games. Very effective hands fighter who works to disengage from blocks.
Dontay Corleone (#2) / IDL / Cincinnati
Average height with an outstanding frame and mass. Plays with very good natural leverage. Extremely strong and powerful who is very difficult to unroot in short yardage situations. Requires double teams on a regular basis to move him in the run game. Not overly quick or agile but is not a statue either – active and forces the IOL to adjust due to working his feet. Long arms are not fully utilized – shoots hands but with little shock and generates limited movement. Limited pass rush ability other than a powerful bull rush.
Derrick Harmon (#55) / IDL / Oregon
Transfer from Michigan State. Possesses prototypical size with a great frame, length, and mass – looks the part. Plays with natural leverage and power. Strength requires double teams on a regular basis. Flashes a great first step. Can get skinny and slice through gaps in the LOS. Strong and can take the ball away from the carrier.
Deontae Lawson (#0) / LB / Alabama
Good frame and length with solid mass. Very light on his feet with outstanding sideline to sideline range. Instinctive and reads his keys well. Quick hands for knocking the ball out and causing fumbles. Smooth mover who can sidestep blockers and make the tackle. Good blitzer with an effective closing burst. Athletic and quick enough to handle RBs in coverage with enough size to handle TEs.
Danny Stutsman (#28) / LB / Oklahoma
Looks the part with the height, frame, length, and mass desired at MLB. Plays on the balls of his feet and has very good lateral agility and range. Needs to improve strength and power to thwart forward momentum of physical RBs. Very good instincts and is rarely fooled by motion, sets, or play action. Read and react skills need development – fills wrong hole too much in the run game. Stacks and sheds effectively.
Benjamin Morrison (#20) / CB / Notre Dame
Possesses NFL size – good frame, mass, height, and length. Average wingspan. Elite quickness, agility, and short area reaction skills. Fluid with loose hips and light feet – can stay in-phase with both speed and size down field. Very good burst. Plays the ball in the air like a WR. Excellent ball skills and leaping ability. Press technique needs work – gets off balanced and discarded by a strong WRs at the LOS. Improving his strength would aid his physicality and tackling – competitive tackler who falls off too many attempts. Good blitzer. Out for the season with an injured hip.
Quincy Riley (#3) / CB / Louisville
Transfer from MTSU. Good height, frame, mass, and length with a large wingspan. Smooth athlete with the hips and fluidity to stay in-phase with size or speed. Excellent closing burst on the ball or receiver. Physical tackler who can separate the man from the ball. Fundamentally sound tackler who breaks down well in space. Very good instincts and football intelligence. Very good leaping ability. Excellent ball skills - 14 career INTs.
Daylen Everette (#6) / CB / Georgia
Looks the part with NFL-desired height, length, and frame. Adequate mass. Extremely large wingspan. Very good football intelligence – knows how to bait QBs and hide intent. Excellent short area reaction skills required for tight man and ideal for zone duties. Very fluid with the skill set to be employed in man or zone. Very good ball skills.
Billy Bowman (#2) / S / Oklahoma
Adequate frame, mass, and length. Fantastic instincts and is rarely fooled in coverage or by play action. Physical, hard hitter who supports aggressively against the run. Reads keys extremely well and fills the alley hard. Good tackler who sometimes goes for the big hit and fails to wrap up. Excellent ball athlete with good hands. Excellent range. Very aggressive and sometimes finds himself out of position as a result in man coverage.
Malachi Moore (#13) / S / Alabama
Good size, mass, and length. Has experience as a slot CB and is playing a more traditional strong safety role this year. Breaks down well and gets into proper position to tackle the ball carrier. Very good range to play Cover 2. Physical tackler who crashes down in run support. Very good in zone coverage where he can watch the QB’s eyes and jump the route. Quality ball skills. Good leaping ability.
Andrew Mukuba (#4) / S / Texas
Transfer from Clemson. Average size and length. Extremely experienced with three-years of starting at Clemson before coming to Austin. Very good ball athlete. Excellent leaper. WR-level concentration on the INT (see INT v Georgia). Excellent range. Very nice closing burst on the ball. Reliable and secure tackler – brings pads on contact and delivers blows.
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