2023 Senior Bowl Preview: Edge Rushers
One of the most important events on the National Football League calendar is the Senior Bowl. Held the week after the conference championship games, it is the true beginning of the NFL draft cycle.
Not only do scouts and analysts like us get to see over 100 draft prospects in one place competing against each other, but it’s also an opportunity for analysts and personnel alike to get together and have discussions about a number of topics.
As we look forward to this year’s Senior Bowl, both managing editor Tyler Forness and columnist Matt Anderson will be there in person to break everything down.
We will be breaking down each position group and what to look for throughout the week. Here is the edge rusher position.
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive tackles
Interior offensive line
Interior defensive line
App State's Nick Hampton
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An incredibly lean edge rusher at 210 lbs, Hampton isn’t a guy you want on the line of scrimmage. Best suited in a wide-nine 3-4 edge role but he does it well. His length and flexibility paired with his speed allow him to attack the edge and bend with ease. There will be some concern with added weight he could lose some of what makes him special, but the traits are incredibly intriguing.
Army's Andre Carter II
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After speculation that Carter II wasn’t going to be allowed to play in the NFL, that got cleared up with a bill passed in the senate. He will be interesting from a value standpoint. He is a height/weight/speed profile right now while having played at a school that doesn’t have a program built for player development.
Arburn's Derick Hall
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Hall is going to be an interesting one to watch. There was a lot of inconsistencies with Auburn’s coaching staff which likely led to his underdeveloped pass rush arsenal. What he is good at is being a run defender. The profile is what will wow scouts during practice, as he looks like a guy who could go top 50 based on his traits.
Auburn's Eku Leota
Auburn Tigers leads Mercer Bears 28-7 at halftime.
A transfer from Northwestern, Leota is still relatively underdeveloped. At 6’4″ 250, he has the ideal size and athleticism in an edge rusher. His quick first step and power at the point of attack will help him but Leota is still incredibly raw.
Central Michigan's Thomas Incoom
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A transfer from Valdosta State, Incoom is a very productive pass rusher. At Central Michigan in 2022, he had 11.5 sacks, 13 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss. He has a relentless motor and a body already built for the NFL. He still needs some technique work, but the tools are there to be productive immediately.
Clemson's K.J. Henry
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Henry is a cerebral pass rusher that thrives against the run. Possessing ideal length, Henry thrives when he’s asked to play with power. What he lacks is ideal speed and bend to win off the edge. Likely to be a rotational player at the next level, Henry can be a difference maker in said rotation.
Florida A&M's Isaiah Land
Famu Vs Nc At 102019 Ts 796
Not to dissimilar to Hampton, Land is a slender athlete at the edge position. He has excellent speed and athleticism for the position. He needs both to add some weight and strength along with developing pass rush moves and counters, but Land is going to pop off the field with his raw tools.
Georgia Tech's Keion White
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White is going to be somewhat of a tweener but that won’t matter much when you see him on the field. He has incredible athleticism that pops on film. White can win on the outside and in the interior. One thing that gives you hope for his development is that White is new to the position.
Iowa State's Will McDonald IV
Ncaa Football Baylor At Iowa State
McDonald was hyper productive in 2020 and 2021 but production fell off this past season. Possessing the ideal size for the position, McDonald has a high motor and the athleticism to grow and develop as a pass rusher. Most of what he needs work with can be taught which is good for a high-upside pass rusher.
Kansas' Lonnie Phelps
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Phelps transferred from Miami OH this past season and kept up the productivity with the spike in competition going from 9.5 to 7.0 sacks. A player with good length for the position, Phelps combines a high motor with a high football IQ to win on the edge.
Louisville's YaYa Diaby
Louisville Vs Kentucky 2022 Football
A productive player for the Cardinals, Diaby spent time in the junior college ranks before he headed to Louisville. A player that generates excellent power, Diaby doesn’t quite have the bend you want from a premier edge rusher.
LSU's Ali Gaye
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Gaye has the prototypical size for the edge position but doesn’t have strong production numbers nor can he stay on the field with any sort of consistency. He had only 2.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss this past season. He will likely wow in individual drills which could spike his draft stock, but consistency will be a real concern.
Ole Miss' Tavius Robinson
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At 6’6″ and 265 lbs, Robinson has a great size profile nad pairs it with a great motor. One thing that will be interesting is how Robinson fits in at the next level. His frame is relatively lean and feels like he doesn’t have a true position. Finding that position will be key to maximizing his success.
Missouri's Isaiah McGuire
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McGuire was a three-star recruit that has developed into a consistent pass rushre for the Tigers. He has multiple traits that are enticing and his versatility to be either in a 4-3 or a 3-4 will also be a draw for teams.
Northwestern's Adetomiwa Adebawore
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Versatility is the name of the game for Adebawore. He’s played as a standup edge, 5T, 4i and 3T in his time with the Wildcats. That versatility has allowed him to develop a lot of different ways to win. The big question is what role is best for him? He doesn’t have the quickness profile to win consistently off the edge along with not having the size and strength to stay on the inside.
Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey
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When both Adetokounbo Ogundeju and Daelin Hayes left after 2020, Foskey stepped in and put together back-to-back double-digit sack seasons. He had less success than he did in 2021, but the explosiveness Foskey has is a true difference maker. He will likely be a first-round pick come April and he willdbe able to raise his stock in a deep edge class.
Oregon's D.J. Johnson
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Having started out at Miami in 2017, Johnson has had a long route to get to the Senior Bowl. During his career, Johnson has played both tight end and defensive end with a switch happening in 2020 then back to defense in 2021. His length and motor will serve him well early on as he continues to develop a consistent repotoire.
TCU's Dylan Horton
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A transfer from New Mexico, Horton pairs a hot motor with high athletic upside which makes him an intriguing prospect. He doesn’t have a great pass rush acumen or a production profile to lean on, but there are definitely tools to develop.
Tennessee's Byron Young
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From Dollar General to the Senior Bowl, Young has had quite the path to getting here. What he does bring to the table is drive, burst and competitive toughness. His ceiling can go a lot of different directions, but it is relatively capped with him sitting at 24 years old.
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