Interior Defenders - 2027 NFL Draft Preview

 

One year starter, Del City, OK. Has ideal length and mass for an interior defender. Plays nose tackle aligning as 0 technique but also plays 1 out to 4i techniques. Normally shows a quick get off with explosiveness attacking a block. Shows violent hands to stun and separate from blocks. Powerful lower body allows him to hold the point and clog running lanes. Flashes ability to re-direct off blocks and make plays along the line. Solid lateral mover he can get ball side leverage and make plays outside his gap. Consistently eats up single blocks and as a result draws and absorbs a lot of double teams. Collapse the pocket style pass rusher with a powerful bull rush. He also flashes a long arm move to escape a block. Could use more technique and polish as a pass rusher. Pad level is inconsistent and will creep up at times against a powerful blocker.

 

 

Two year starter, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Second team All-ACC in 2025. Plays 0 out to a 3 technique. Athletic interior prospect who combines a quick first step with ability to accelerate upfield to get penetration on gap moves. Shoots his hands and is adept at keeping offensive linemen’s hands off his frame. Shows enough power to hold the point against double teams and combo blocks. Effective on lateral moves and stunts with agility to re-direct off blocks. Keeps his feet moving and is consistent to get ball side leverage on blocks. Very difficult to reach block on zone schemes. Gets in on a lot of plays along the line. Flashes pass rush skill with the quickness to beat interior linemen on gap moves and flashes hand swipes and an arm over move to get free. Some inconsistency with pad level can get him locked up. Struggles at times with powerful athletic blockers stalemating him at the line.

 

 

Three year starter, Detroit, MI. Third team All-Big 10 in 2025. Has the size NFL teams covet for a run stuffing interior defender. Plays on the nose in a 0 technique out to 3 technique. Flashes snap quickness and can get penetration on gap charges. Has power attacking blocks and is consistent to hold the point and stack and shed single blocks. Flashes hand usage but relies mostly on power. Has solid lateral quickness and agility to make plays along the line. Collapse the pocket style pass rusher with upside for more. Shows a powerful bull rush and gets his hands up on the throw, creating opportunities to bat passes and disrupt the quarterback release. Struggles at times with double teams and combo blocks and can lose his pad level too easily. Hand usage is inconsistent and he will get too wide allowing blockers in his frame. High upside prospect.

 

 

Three year starter, Terell, TX. Second team All-Big 10 in 2025. Transfer from USC in 2025 after spending 2022 at Georgia. Has played mostly as 1, or 3 technique. Quick and explosive at the snap he has active hands to stack and shed. Normally maintains knee bend and pad level and can locate the ball to make plays inline. Flashes pursuit skill and can penetrate a gap to make plays in the backfield. He draws a lot of double teams both in the run game and rushing the passer. As a pass rusher he has relied on a bull rush as his main move and gets a lot of pressure that way on single blocks. He’s developing more technique with an improving arsenal of finesse moves. His motor tends to run hot and cold and there is some inconsistency versus double teams and powerful interior blockers. He can get stalemated and lose his pad level.

 

 

One year starter, Chicago, IL. Ideal length and height for an interior defender, Scott became a rotational option last year as a sophomore and flashed run stuffing ability. Normally plays from a 1 out to 3 technique and has the flexibility to move around the interior of the Miami defense. Athletic for his size he shows an incredible first step and uses his length to stack and shed inside. Has a strong punch getting separation with well placed hands. Normally holds the point against powerful blockers and double teams. Can be disruptive on inside stunts and has range to make plays outside his gap. Has pass rush upside with ability to collapse the pocket with a bull rush and a developing set of moves. Has been effective at times using hand swipes after an initial jolt. Still needs to develop more pass rush technique to go with his quick first step. Has some trouble with double teams. Has the upside of a quality NFL 3 technique.

 

LSU - 6030 / 298 | RS JR

 

Texas - 6030 / 330 | JR

 

Mississippi - 6023 / 309 | JR

 

Alabama - 6050 / 313 | RS JR

 

TCU - 6013 / 299 | SR

 

Alabama - 6047 / 290 | SR

 

Texas Tech - 6022 / 300 | RS JR

 

Georgia - 6040 / 320 | RS JR

 

Oklahoma - 6020 / 306 | JR

 

Ohio State - 6021 / 294 | SR

 

Indiana - 6000 / 302 | RS SR

 

Virginia Tech - 6017 / 290 | RS SR

 

USC - 6044 / 285 | JR

 

BYU - 6032 / 300 | RS SR

 

Notre Dame - 6010 / 288 | JR

 

Texas Tech - 6026 / 301 | RS SR

 

Texas A&M - 6010 / 311 | RS SR

 

Indiana - 6040 / 290 | JR

 

Mississippi - 6050 / 300 | JR

 

North Carolina - 6020 / 320 | RS JR

 

Florida State - 6037 / 285 | JR

 

South Carolina - 6030 / 308 | RS SR

 

Texas A&M - 6026 / 288 | SR

 

Michigan - 6050 / 328 | RS JR

 

Central Florida - 6045 / 362 | RS SR

 

Washington - 6030 / 315 | RS JR

 

Kentucky - 6035 / 302 | RS JR

 

Michigan - 6012 / 310 | SR

 

Missouri - 6033 / 307 | RS SR

 

Arkansas - 6020 / 300 | RS SR