Ourlads' Draft Preview Top 32

As a Corner:Two year starter, Suwanee, GA. Transferred from Jackson State after his freshman year in 2022. First team All Pac 12, and first team consensus All-America at multiple positions in 2023. Former five star recruit who's an incredible two way athlete playing elite wide receiver and corner. Polished zone corner playing outside he shows awareness seeing multiple threats and the quarterback. Plays hard corner or deep outside with ability to close out overlapping zones and break on the throw from a distance. Effective hard corner technique playing up to flat while underneath intermediate routes. Excellent ball skills he can get to the ball with a burst, closing a tight window. Can be physical with two or off hand jam depending on release. In press man his stiff off-hand jam can ride and disrupt a receiver on an outside release. He will overextend at times. He also shows a soft reactive press and has discipline to keep his focus on the receiver. In off coverage shows a shuffle pedal to maintain cushion and can easily flip his hips to stay in phase on vertical routes. Can be physical in run support but will occasionally give up yards after contact.

As a WR: Three-year starter, Suwanee, GA. Spent one season at Jackson State to play under Head Coach Deion Sanders before following him to Colorado in 2023. SWAC Freshman of the Year and all-conference in 2022. All-America in 2023 and winner of the Paul Hornung Award. A credible two-way threat who projects to the upper echelon of prospects at two positions. Has played over 600 snaps offensively. More than just a gadget player. Explosive burst out of his breaks as both a route runner and ball carrier. Has the vision and anticipation to separate in a hurry. Top gear is enough to outrun anyone in pursuit. Easy moving hips with fluidity. Flexible, but mobile joints support his jerky, snappy movement patterns. Excellent strength in contested situations with a toughness trait that is tough to come by. Does not play receiver with a fully refined skill set. Will round his routes at times. Will be a tricky situation to maneuver if he wants to play both ways at that size.

Two year starter, Detroit MI. First team All-Big Ten and first team All-America in 2023. Former five star recruit with a remarkable combination of size, length, and athletic skill. Johnson is experienced in multiple coverage and technique and is polished in all aspects of corner play. He’s adept at outside corner in zone concepts along with hard corner and press and off-man. In off coverage he shows a smooth pedal with ability to maintain cushion and time lateral and turn and run to stay in phase through the entire route tree. Has the speed to cover deep. Excellent vision to see threats and the quarterback, he easily reads and adjusts to route concepts. He’s rarely out of position. As a hard corner shows a flat foot read into a two-hand jam to re-route a wide receiver. Can be physical and ride a receiver to the sideline. Quick to plant and drive with the ball in the air, he shows ball skills at the catch point and wins most 50/50 battles. Physical in press he can jam, trail and mirror route cuts with smooth reactions to stay in phase. Tackles well but will miss on occasion. A little inconsistent with ball locate in phase and at times will sneak a peek trailing and lose a step.

Three-year starter, Waimanalo, HI. All-Pac 12 in addition to All-America honors in 2023 after setting a program record with 1,402 yards. The highest rated high school recruit to ever sign with the program. An accomplished high school volleyball player. Shows a high level of concentration and coordination when attacking the ball in the air. Easy body control gives him ideal timing when extending. Plays with the toughness trait that is hard to teach. Excellent post-catch movement and strength to break tackles and create more production on his own. Has mightily improved speed while also putting on 30 pounds since high school. A true threat to all levels of the defense that rarely lets one hit the turf if he gets his hands on it. Will have a hard time separating as a route runner with high-hipped frame. Shows some tightness and does not have the explosive trait as a runner or leaper.

Two-year starter, Jacksonville, FL. All-Mountain West and an All-American in 2022. A power-packed frame with above average thickness below the waist. Dense build that carries a lot of weight while maintaining all the quick twitch and explosive traits to win with movement. Sudden jerks and reactions to tacklers combined with creativity and vision make him a big play threat every time he touches the ball. Can alter his path at the snap of finger. Will transition his weight with fluid hips and explosive change of direction. Confident and decisive to work between the tackles and out in space. Coordination and body control show up as a receiver as well. Fumbled six times in 2023. Running style leads to extra hits and will lose track of tightness of ball-to-body through traffic. Will cut himself off at times rather than taking what the defense gives him and looking for the cutback.

Three-year starter, East St. Louis, MO. First team All-SEC in addition to All-America honors in 2023. Stocky frame that can play through contact like a running back. Well-developed lower body meshed with a mental toughness trait that creates a menace for tacklers to deal with. Strong and stable movement patterns that play low to the ground, promoting extra contact balance after the catch. A tough ball carrier to drag to the ground. Has experience both from the slot and on the outside. A playmaker in every sense of the word. Has scored touchdowns as a pass catcher, rusher, and returner. Has shown shaky ball security habits that will need to be tightened up. Success from the slot far outweighs his production as an outside alignment, questioning his ability to run the entire route tree.

Two year starter, Bryan, TX. Transfer from Purdue. Second team All-Big Ten in 2023. Powerful edge defender with length and upper and lower body mass. Versatile player with ability to line up from a wide 9 to a 3 technique. Used mostly on the edge he has played from both a two and three point stance. Shoots his powerful hands into blockers at the snap and can hold the point, stack and shed. Adept at setting the edge versus the run as well as sifting inside to make plays along the line. Excellent on inside line stunts with quick penetration into a gap. As a pass rusher he has a variety of moves including an outside and inside spin move. He turns speed to power coming from a wide alignment and also shows a push pull into a move such as an arm under and various chops to get free. He’s effective adjusting to oversets and can be extremely hard for tackles to keep him out of the backfield. Sometimes gets too tied up with a tackle and is stuck on the line. There is inconsistency and some quiet streaks during games.

Three-year starter Jefferson, GA. First-team All-America last season and 2022 Freshman All-America. Won the national championship with Georgia in 2022. A do-it-all player with alignment versatility to play safety and nickel; sparingly outside at cornerback in specific coverages. An excellent athlete who makes plays all over the field. Notable instincts and processing speed to read concepts and take away multiple routes at once over the top. Great range in one-high and two-high schemes. Sticky in man coverage with impressive technique and excellent hip fluidity to carry receivers across the field with limited separation. Strong jams in catch-man with his physical play-style, and plays through the receiver’s hands to break up passes. An asset in run support who is more than willing to fill a gap and make tackles with good form. Possesses a light frame that could create minor strength deficiencies at the next level. Blue chip player.

Three year starter, Phoenix, AZ. Freshman All-America in 2022 and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2023. Athletic corner with fluid hips and stop-start quickness. Solid length and a tough demeanor on the outside. Played boundary corner in cover two and three concepts along with various man coverage. In off-coverage often used a press and bail into a lateral run. Quick feet allowed him to stay in phase up the field with an easy turn and run versus a deep route. As a hard corner shows a stiff jam and flips his hips to stay under intermediate routes and break up on the flat. Good awareness to see multiple threats. In press man can ride a receiver and lock him out on the sideline with a physical off-hand jam. Excellent mirror ability he reacts to cuts and rarely gets out of step. In trail technique he’s disciplined to keep his focus on the receiver and stay with multiple cuts. He can get his hand in the basket from a trail and there’s giving very little window to throw in. Sudden reacting with the ball in the air. Run support is an area to improve.

Three year starter, Monroe, LA. A 5-star high school recruit, out of Neville, LA high school. The highest rated offensive tackle prospect in 7 years. Freshman All American. All SEC in 2023. Big bodied, long armed and experienced left tackle. Two -year starter. Hand placement is outstanding. Bent knees provides low center of gravity, occasionally will get caught leaning forward. Will make defensive lineman “run in place”. Good strength within the framework of defensive lineman. Feet are excellent in switching against line stunts. Patient in anticipation of D-line move, will create a pile of D-line. Is conscious of where quarterback pass set is. Excellent in passing off line twists. Film, at times, looks like a highlight tape. Absorbs the “wide 9” technique. Slow to set in a good way, stays behind his long arms. Sinks his hips against the bull rush. A very sound technician, makes “em run in place”. Good upfield footwork on zone blocking. Gets to the second level and absorbs the linebacker. Strong movement on down blocks. Can be susceptible to arm over because of body lean, can occasionally set a bit deep.

Three year starter, Detroit, Michigan. Third team All-America and first team All-SEC in 2023. Named a pre-season All-American and first team All-SEC in 2024. Walker is a massive interior defender with a rare combination of length, size and athletic ability. He’s lined up all along the Kentucky front playing 4i, 5, 3, and 1 technique as an interior defender. He’s also had reps as a wide 9 in a two point stance. While not his strength, he’s made some plays from that alignment in the pass rush. He plays with a high motor and makes plays with second effort. Quick and explosive at the snap he can penetrate an inside gap or split a double team with quickness and power. Excellent pass rusher, his hand placement and power is elite to separate from blocks and chase down quarterbacks. Uses a variety of moves and can counter initial move. Has a closing burst in the backfield and led the nation in pressures with 51. He also added 7.5 sacks. Excellent lateral ability to make plays all along the line against the run. Plays a little high at times and is inconsistent shedding straight up blocks.

Two year starter, Anaheim, CA. Second team All-American and first team All-Big Ten in 2023. Has played all along the Michigan front from 0 to 3 technique with some 4i and 5 technique as well. Powerful and massive he’s a former wrestler and plays with excellent balance attacking blocks. Quick first step and hands he’s adept at defeating blocks inline. Solid stack and shed in spite of less than ideal length. Graham plays with an incredibly hot motor and has agility to consistently make plays along the line. Normally plays with knee bend and maintains leverage for the most part. Makes plays with second effort and can chase across the field. Takes the shortest path to the ball and can make plays from inside to the alley. Excellent penetrating gaps he can create havoc in the backfield. As a pass rusher he shows a violent push pull into a move including arm under and over to escape. Can knock a blocker back with a bull rush. At times, long-armed blockers can stun him upright creating some delay escaping a block.

Three year starter, Humble, TX. First team All-Big 12 and second team AFCA All-America in 2023. Considered by many to be the top left tackle prospect coming out of college this season. Athletic prospect with excellent footwork and lateral movement skill. Solid base, excellent accelerating cut block. Attacks defensive line with a flat back and an upward rise. Takes the defender in the direction he wants to go…..and drives him past the ball carrier. Squares up on defensive lineman and plays with good strength. Comes off a double team to the linebacker extremely well. Outstanding footwork. Uses arm length as a cushion in pass protection. Adept at punch and mirror and can stay with athletic edge rushers and ride them out. Effective against counters. Will punch a little high and is a bit soft on the edge. Needs to more consistently finish plays. Has elite tools to work with.

Two-year starter, Katy, TX. All-SEC in 2023 after finishing second in the country in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Only threw the ball 285 times and transitioned to a new offense this season; the same system that molded Michael Penix into a first rounder last April. A dual threat quarterback who clocks in as one of the fastest players on the team, all positions. Couples that explosiveness with running back-caliber frame and power. Understands the nuances to angles and spacing when running with the ball. Has the kind of speed that is simply faster than the defender who is pursuing him. Protects himself from big hits. Knows how and when to get down to miss the meat of a hit. A successful and efficient downfield thrower. Has easy arm strength and shows the touch to layer the ball over defenders into the hands of his receivers. A developing passer with the requisite physical ability. Leadership traits are off the charts. Still appears to struggle as a pure pocket player. Fast to tuck and run rather than work through progressions. Release and ball placement are inconsistent and needs to continue on his path of cleaning his techniques up with both his arm slot and footwork.

Two-year starter, Buford, GA. Spent two seasons at Alabama before transferring to Texas, a decision he stated was all about business. Came from high school with elite timed speed as a track athlete that translates well to the field. Sudden separation and the final gear to lengthen space between him and defenders is always a threat. Explosive trigger combined with the twitch to stop on a dime and change his direction without warning is a weapon. A physical, aggressive player who will lower his shoulder and run through contact as a ball carrier. Balance and control while moving at such a high rate of speed shows up in several areas. Understands nuances of route running. Plays the mind games to get defensive backs in the position he wants. Will bring both efficient and explosive traits to an offense. Lack of size and presence shows up in contested situations. Will get lost in a crowd. Frame may not support the way he plays at the next level.

Two year starter, Charlotte, NC. First team All-SEC in 2023. Plays the Leo or Sam on the ball outside linebacker spot in the Tennessee defense. He’s versatile aligning in both a two and three point and playing wide 9 down to 5 technique. He’s primarily a rush linebacker in the scheme but has been used to drop in flat coverage occasionally. With his length and athletic ability he’s been effective in that role. As a run defender he shows quick change of direction skill with speed to run a quarterback or ball carrier down across the field. As a pass rusher he’s primarily a speed to power player but flashes various hand swipes to complement his speed. He’s quick at the snap and can get a tackle off balance with initial charge. Has excellent speed and bend to get around the edge and has a burst to close. He will occasionally flash a quick out to in move to counter an overset. He’s not a consistently effective edge setter and teams have had success running at him. He has a thin lanky frame and a powerful blocker can move him out.

Three year starter, Baton Rouge, LA. Second team All-SEC in 2023. Starter at right tackle and part of an outstanding tackle tandem teaming with Will Campbell on the left side. Has played both guard and tackle and was efficient at either position. Excellent foot speed and strength at the point of attack. Has an exaggerated lead step, stays “behind” his pads with his strong upper body play. Quick puller which gets him quickly across the line of scrimmage, explosive straight ahead blocker when called upon. Tries to work defender’s hands down. He is a sound technician who will jolt defender's head back on impact. Clamps them with his strong hands. His good footwork allows him to get hip to hip with center or guard. Good flat backed blocker who will throw his hips out. Will run defensive linemen upfield past the quarterback's drop, is very conscious of where the quarterback is in proximity of his drop. Good footwork on kick step of pass protection. A hustler. Will appear to be confused from time to time, could come from playing multiple positions. This young man plays with a high motor.

Four-year starter, Dallas, TX. Began his career at Jackson State to play for his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders while spurning the likes of Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and Florida State. Winner of the Jerry Rice Award (Top FCS Freshman of the Year) in 2021. Transferred to Colorado in 2023 to once again, be coached by his father. A pure pocket passer who has made the best of a bad situation when it comes to pass protection. Smooth and repeatable over-the-top release that moves in cohesion with his lower half. Clean footwork sets him up well and he maintains his balance and control as he navigates traffic in the pocket. Has flashed enough speed to create and make plays with his feet. Has the arm talent to make every throw at a high level. Will get too lackadaisical at times, fading away as he releases the ball for no reason. Will try to guide the ball rather than throw it, leaving some zip to be desired. Has taken more sacks than necessary by holding the ball rather than moving in the pocket or hitting a check down. Needs to use his legs more to create when the pocket breaks down.

Two year starter, Powell, TN. Transferred from Texas A&M after the 2023 season. Former five star recruit, he was named first team Pre-Season All-SEC. Versatile defensive tackle he has primarily lined up as a 5, 4i, and 3 technique and can also play 0 or 1. Powerful and athletic he shows a quick first step and ability to shoot violent hands to attack and separate from blockers. Excellent anchor in the run game he rarely stays blocked with ability to stack and shed. He can split double teams with quickness and can penetrate in the backfield on stunts. Plays with consistent gap integrity with the ability to be disruptive. As a pass rusher he has enough juice to turn the corner coming off the edge and chase the quarterback down. He also flashed a quick out to in move against an overset. On the interior he can bull rush or stunt a gap. He shows an inside rip move and can stack moves to get free. Will occasionally get too high on a block and get stalemated. Some balance issues show up at times working off a block.

Three year starter, Kansas City, MO. Second team All-Big Ten in 2023. After seeing limited time his first two years, he earned the starter's role as a red shirt sophomore. Prototypical body type for the next level. This big man is mobile, with good feet and a good motor, he’s always looking for work. Very competitive. Excellent movement in zone scheme, slips up to the second level with strength. Has an excellent power base and is physical when defender is squared up on him. In pass protection he uses his length to create separation and normally stalemates rushers on contact. Flashes punch and mirror skill. Sometimes inconsistent in pass protection. Can get sloppy sometimes by overstepping to the play-side. Will sometimes get a little high in his pass blocking. Overall an excellent prospect at the next level particularly with his run blocking and pass protection abilities. Plays with a nasty disposition.

Three year starter, Austin, TX. Transfer from Florida after the 2023 season. Second team All-SEC in 2023. Umanmielen is an athletic edge defender who excels in the pass rush. He shows a very quick first step and incredible bend and squeeze coming around the corner working versus a tackle. He’s primarily a speed rusher who wins working around the edge and is effective against most tackles with speed and quickness. He flashes an inside spin move against oversetting tackles and shows a closing burst. As an outside linebacker he’s solid in flat coverage and can flip his hips to find the throwing lane. Shows agility and quickness reacting with the ball in the air. Can make plays in space with solid tackling skill. Excellent chase player with a closing burst. He can chase down athletic quarterbacks. Does not show a great power element to his game at this point. Tends to take a side rather than take on a blocker. He’ll need to be more versatile in his pass rush arsenal and not overly rely on pure speed in the NFL. Tools are there for a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Two year starter Gary, IN. Second team All-Big Ten in 2023. Quick and athletic Grant has ideal size for an interior defender. He’s played 0, 1 and 3 techniques and has the ability to align at any interior defensive line position. Comfortable playing one or two gap. He turns quickness into power with a quick first step and strong hand usage to stack and shed. Anchors well against powerful blockers and shows solid lateral movement working tracking a ball carrier inline. Can attack a gap and get penetration. Plays with a hot motor and pursues to the whistle often chasing downfield on pass plays. As a pass rusher has an array of moves including a bull rush, push-pull, arm over and under along with various hand swipes. Can bull rush into a move and quickly escape. Excellent closing burst chasing the quarterback. Still a work in progress in some areas as hand placement and pad level are inconsistent. He can get upright and knocked off the ball on occasion. Seems to run out of gas at times. Solid prospect with upside as an NFL rotation player.

Three-year starter, Southlake, TX. All-Big 12 in 2023. Spent one season at Ohio State where CJ Stroud was the number one. Transferred to Texas in 2022 where he started ten games and missed three games to injury. Changed his offseason nutrition and workout regimen in 2023, changing his body and adding more athletic movement traits to his arsenal. Excellent ball handler who fits in well with all of the misdirection, motion, and ball fakes within the Texas passing game. A natural-born thrower of the football who can spin it from any and all angles. A calm and confident leader of the offense. Does not get rattled easily. Will stand tall amongst pressure and traffic, keeping his eyes downfield. Knows to play on schedule, but can buy time for himself when needed. Durability is a concern. Small frame for the NFL and has missed multiple games four straight seasons as a starter dating back to high school. Footwork is not automatic and it leads to inaccurate throws. Deep ball success has wavered. Does not have a lot of throws where he puts it on a rope. Can tend to be a gimmicky passer.

Three year starter, Philadelphia, PA. First team All Big Ten in 2023 along with mention on several All-America teams. Versatile defender who has played off the ball and on the edge in the Penn State defense. He has been an effective chase linebacker with solid coverage skills. So far in 2024 he has primarily lined up on the edge to take advantage of his pass rush skill. As an off the ball linebacker Carter shows incredible reactions and quick change of direction. In chase mode he can quickly accelerate with a closing burst coming across the field. He can fill an alley from a distance and make a play before a ball carrier turns upfield. He displays solid cover skill dropping to underneath zones or matching a back. Has an improving pass rush arsenal with the ability to win with speed or stack moves. He has developed an effective spin move as a counter. Has an extra gear closing on a quarterback. Carter is inconsistent taking on blocks and tends to play high. He sometimes overruns tackles by not gathering allowing a cutback. Has Swiss army knife potential in any defense.

Four year starter, Phoenix, AZ. First team All-Big Ten and second team All-America in 2023. Freshman All-America in 2021. Has been a starter since his first game as a freshman in 2021. Battled through injuries in 2022 and came back strong in 2023. Has ideal size, speed and a physical presence on the field. Experienced in multiple coverage he is equally skilled in man and zone concepts. As a zone defender balances multiple routes and closes voids quickly in overlapping zones. Sees the quarterback and route progressions and is sudden to break with the ball in the air. As a man defender keeps his focus on the receiver and shows fluid movements reacting to route breaks. Easy turn and run he times transitions to stay in phase up the field. Usually plays a soft press in man coverage and has solid mirror skill. Can get a little grabby at times if beaten. Solid in run support he can take on stalk blocks and rarely misses tackles. Has had some trouble locating the ball in phase and ball production has been lacking. That said he’s shown improvement in playing the ball in the early going in 2024.

Three-year starter, Clayton, NC. First Team All-ACC in 2023 in addition to All-American honors. Built out of granite with elite weight room strength that translates well to the football field. Has a lower body that simply looks different. Does not give away speed despite that power-label. Has the top end burst and sustained rate of movement to run away from defenders. A prototype frame with the combination of raw power and speed that creates production alone. Will rip through cheap contact without any loss of momentum. Led the Power Five in yards after contact per attempt in 2023 (and was in a league of his own). Gets downhill in a hurry and knows to keep that foot on the gas as he approaches tacklers. Has caught over 90% of targets thrown his way and is a positive in pass protection. Needs to show more wiggle and success as an outside runner. Has had slight ball security issues earlier in his career.

Two year starter, Gooding, ID. First team All-Big Ten in 2023. Attended Gooding High School and was a three-time first team all-state player at tight end. For his career he totaled 235 receptions for 3,141 yards and 35 touchdowns, 3,493 all-purpose yards and 39 scores. The No. 1 player in Idaho. Good soft hands, great body control, big target. Solid blocking skill, sustains his block keeping his feet moving. Squares up on defender at the second level. Will go after those smaller defensive backs with his excellent feet. Huge threat as a receiver. Good route runner, doesn’t need to be attached. Appears just as comfortable attached or in the slot. Uses opposite hand to swat defender away. High points the ball, using his height to his advantage. Is a mismatch for outside linebackers. Finds the soft spot in the coverage. May lack ideal bulk for inline blocking and can be a little late on down blocks. Has the tools to be an elite NFL tight end.

Two year starter, Winston-Salem, NC. Transferred from Louisburg CC in 2022. Second team All-ACC in 2023. Tall somewhat high cut corner with length and athletic skill. Played multiple concepts including outside zone, hard corner cover two, press and off man. Adept at press man disrupting route various jam techniques at different levels. Will use a reactive press sometimes using a late jam on a vertical release. Also effective with an off-hand jam on an outside release or two hand jam to maintain leverage on inside release. In off coverage gives a big cushion but maintains position with an aggressive man turn as the route goes vertical. Has the speed to cover deep. Disciplined to keep focus on the receiver with mirror ability throughout the route. Is quick to plant and drive on balls in front of him. In zone concepts has good route recognition and can close voids in overlapping zones. Willing and aggressive in run support he makes some big hits and can defeat stalk blocks with strong hands. Will occasionally bounce off a tackle by not wrapping. Has some trouble in phase locating the ball and has given up some plays as a result. Suffered an ACL injury in practice and will miss the remainder of the season.

Three-year starter, Steilacoom, WA. All-Big Ten three straight seasons. A threat in the return game as well. A smooth and abrupt route runner who plays to his running back-caliber frame. Balanced, sure mover who can play through contact both at the point of attack and as the ball is coming his way. Successful and reliable hands catcher who shows a natural, easy motion to bring in a pass and immediately turn upfield. Space and defender-aware. Has the feel and sixth sense to find open space. A friendly target in gotta-have-it situations. Will create on his own with the ball. A true threat from all alignments and through all levels of the route tree. Tracks the ball with balanced eyes and control. Productive career that will be near the top of the program’s record books. Does not separate vertically often due to a lack of that final gear. Will sometimes lose concentration and let easy ones hit the floor as he turns his attention north too quickly.

Three year starter, New Haven, CT. Consensus All-SEC in 2023. Was named Freshman All-SEC in 2022. Has the ideal frame for an interior blocker. This versatile interior lineman is explosive off the ball and will maul defensive tackles. Always looking for work, does an excellent job getting to the second level and can run down linebackers and backend defenders in space. On the power runs he pulls and squares up on linebacker squarely. Good lateral quickness, footwork is outstanding. This guard looks ready for the next level, right now. Gets his hands on you now, brings his feet and x’s out the defensive lineman. Keeps his back end and shoulder pads down, and rolls his hips through contact. Solid pass protection he uses strong hands and knee bend to stun a bull rush and reacts well to inside stunts and counter moves. Very well-schooled. Will aim too high at times and not get movement in run blocks, but he is an elite guard prospect.

Three year starter, Texarkana, TX. Transferred from LSU after the 2021 season. First team All-SEC in 2023. Jackson has the length teams are looking for on the edge to go with solid athletic ability. He is versatile and has lined up from a wide 9 all the way inside to a 0 technique. He’s explosive at the snap shooting powerful hands in to a blocker to create separation. Shows a violent stack and shed and can quickly get off a block and make plays inline or on the edge. Adept at holding the point. Huge tackle radius allows him to set the edge and limit perimeter runs. As a pass rusher he has a variety of moves using powerful hands on his get off. He has enough speed to turn the corner and chase. He also shows hand swipes and a bull rush into a move. He could use more consistent technique to increase production. He has a tendency to play tall at times losing leverage. Jackson is a high upside player who can fit as a 4-3 or 3-4 end that can kick inside in the nickel.

Two year starter, Marion, SC. Third team All SEC in 2023. Strong, athletic player with a hot motor. Sanders has the length and overall size teams are looking for in a versatile interior defender. Has played a 5, 4i, 1 and 3 techniques. He shows solid quickness at the snap and is quick to shoot his hands to control blockers. He’s adept at hitting gaps to disrupt running plays and uses excellent agility to make plays in line. His quickness, range and lateral movement allow him to chase down backs in the backfield. His initial quickness and speed creates speed to power in the pass rush and he gets consistent pressure pushing the pocket. He flashes hand swipes and counter moves but is inconsistent escaping a block to get to the quarterback. He needs to improve techniques to develop the ability to stack moves and consistently counter when necessary. He can have some trouble disengaging from powerful blockers and tends to get upright versus double teams. He’s an ascending player with the tools of an NFL starter.

Three year starter, Suwanee, GA. Consensus first team All-ACC in 2022 and 2023. Was one of our pre-season top five linebackers in 2023. Did not have as good a year as hoped and is back for his senior year. Instinctive, with extreme quickness in read and react. Plays with a non-stop motor. He’s sudden to change directions and shows sideline to sideline range in pursuit. Consistently out runs or rips through block attempts chasing to the perimeter. Disciplined read and react on run fits he can explode downhill. Quick at the snap as a blitzer he’s adept at avoiding blocks and chasing in the backfield. Normally gathers and squares up tackles and is excellent in space. Outstanding in coverage with vision to see and balance multiple threats. Sudden to break with the ball in the air he closes throwing lanes creating issues for quarterback reads. Has the ability to mirror a back and the speed to take an inside receiver up the field. Has some trouble with straight up blocks inline but has improved in 2024. He will take a bad angle at times and miss a tackle. Should be an every down linebacker in the NFL.