2023 Senior Bowl Scouting Preview: The Defensive Tackles (DT)
Leading up to Senior Bowl week, I do 15-30 minutes of scouting preview work on each prospect set to attend -- watching a couple game tapes and looking over some performance data, etc., and then I give each prospect a pre-event scouting grade for the NFL based on that brief look.
After we scout their performance at the Senior Bowl week of practices, drills, etc., we update the grades and comments and re-rank. We continue to go through the same process for the NFL Combine, as we build a study for 2023 draft prospects until we ultimately choose to do an even deeper study of certain prospects and publish a full scouting report and run our computer scouting models for numerical grades on over 600+ prospects for the NFL Draft.
This is a very brief look for me, as a scout, to start to build my data and scouting notes for the weeks and months ahead, and to be ready to focus in on certain prospects in Mobile that are jumping at me from the early preview. It's a first, sometimes second look (for me) at a prospect and their tape, actions, info and my impressions/grading can and will change as we go through the year long process.
After a January quick study, here are my impressions, grades, and ranking of each position (except O-Line, we'll look at OLs after the Combine).
The Defensive Tackles…
DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (Post-SB Grade: B, Pre-SB Grade: B+)
2022: 20 solo/16 asst tackles, 10.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks (12g)
6'3”/312
Projected 40-time: 4.9+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.4+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 100
Post-SB comments:
You could see the raw athletic talent in Mobile, but he wasn't giving the OLs as much trouble to block as I would have liked…not in the 1-on-1s or 11-on-11s. He was the end-all-be-all for some of the TV analysts covering this event, but I'll say he was a bit disappointing here (holding him to a higher standard).
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Pre-SB comments:
Great technique 4-3 DT. Very impressive hand work and agility to get by blockers in a flash. He also has size/power to push the line when squared up on/locked up with a blocker. How he's not a top 50 prospect already is a mystery to me. The Senior Bowl could do him wonders.
NFL Comp? = Christian Barmore…had Benton played in the SEC, he'd probably be top 50 overall already.
Highlight video: https://youtu.be/Y0mVK6CsZKM
DT/NT Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina (Post-SB Grade: B/B-, Pre-SB Grade: B/B-)
2022: 11 solo/30 asst tackles, 10.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks
6'3”/343
Projected 40-time: 5.1+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.5+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 225
Post-SB comments:
Man, for his size he can really move. Got winded/slowed down at certain points…but other times he was just a brick wall with legs pushing blockers backwards. When he was fresh, he couldn't be held in check.
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Pre-SB comments:
Clark can really move for a 345-pound guy. I thought he would be a big, boring plugger at DT. No…he's a really fluid do-it-all DT. He has acceleration and nimble agility, for his size.
NFL Comp? = Travis Jones (3rd-round pick DT for BAL last season, and 2022 Senior Bowl flash prospect)
DT/NT Siaki Ika, Baylor (Post-SB Grade: B-, Pre-SB Grade: B-)
2022: 10 solo, 14 asst tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 0.0 sacks (12g)
6'4”/350
Projected 40-time: 5.1+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.5+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 50
Post-SB comments:
Did not go to Mobile, in the end. He's a top 50 guy already, so he didn't need to. His output/numbers in 2022 don't give you a warm and fuzzy feeling.
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Pre-SB comments:
Quite the size…a legit NT/DT for the NFL. Not just size but the footwork for his size is quite nice. He's a Vita Vea wannabe, and that's not super exciting to watch (just a brick wall in the middle plugging up the line) but it's much coveted by the NFL, all NFL coaches want a guy like this to stop the run.
NFL Comp? = Poor man's Vita Vea…or normal-wealth man's Vita Vea.
Highlight video: https://youtu.be/gGZ5uQoBM74
DT Byron Young, Alabama (Post-SB Grade: C+, Pre-SB Grade: B-)
2022: 20 solo, 28 asst tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, 2 PDs
6'3”/297
Projected 40-time: 4.9+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.3+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 125
Post-SB comments:
Didn't flash much to me here this week. He's an NFL player, but I was hoping to see more speed/flash but I didn't…or I missed it. We'll see what happens at the NFL Combine.
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Pre-SB comments:
Guys this big shouldn't be able to move that fast…but this new era is spawning such great, big athletes. He has the tools to be a 1st-rounder but depending upon the Combine and questions on his 'motor' he may be a day two guy.
NFL Comp? = Milton Williams
Video highlights: https://youtu.be/nchTHAVg7-8
DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green (Post-SB Grade: C+, Pre-SB Grade: B-/C+)
2022: 30 solo, 20 asst tackles, 18.0 TFLs, 10.0 sacks
6'3”/303
Projected 40-time: 4.95+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.5+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB comments:
Had a couple moments of promise, but overall wasn't memorable for me.
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Pre-SB comments:
Really moves well for 280 pounds. Worked as a 4-3 DE and a 4-3 DT -- and was successful at both. Could be a 3-4 DE in the NFL, or a 4-3 DT. You've got options and multi-faceted ways you can us Brooks at the next level.
NFL Comp? = Denico Autry
DL Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State (Post-SB Grade: C, Pre-SB Grade: n/a)
2022: 20 solo/36 asst tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 PDs (12g)
6'1”/307
Projected 40-time: 4.9+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.6+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 350
Post-SB comments:
Just looking at 1-on-1s, I thought he moved the best of all the DTs here. I have to go look deeper as to why he could be so quick and strong but did very little, output-wise, in college. But that can happen with DTs…especially if they get stuck in a 3-4 as the DT/NT.
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Pre-SB comments:
n/a, late add to the week.
NFL Comp? = Could be a (smaller) Roy Lopez-like sleeper (a guy we found and wrote about/reported about in 2021 and helped Houston get an instant impact starter as a rookie, out of nowhere…kudos to them).
DT/DL Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 12 sol/15 asst tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks (9g)
6'4”/285
Projected 40-time: 4.9+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.4+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
Post-SB comments:
He has some hope with his size/speed…could be a quick, smaller DT or a big DE in a 3-4. Seemed to prefer 3-4 DE style play. He dropped 10 pounds for this, so he must wanna be a 3-4 DE.
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Pre-SB comments:
Pretty nimble for 295+ pounds. Good motor. Played DE and DT in-games. Would be a 4-3 DT for the NFL more than a 3-4 DE. Solid but nothing special detected at first glance.
NFL Comp? = Lesser Ross Blacklock
DT Zacch Pickens, So. Carolina (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 22 solo, 20 asst tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 3 PD (12g)
6'4”/300
Projected 40-time: 5.0+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.9+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 125
Post-SB comments:
Boy, there were some moments in the 1-on-1s where he looked like he was shot out of a cannon. But ultimately, I just didn't see memorable moments from him this week. Quicker than I first saw ion the previews. Need to see his 10-20-40 yard dash times.
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Pre-SB comments:
Big and slow is not the way to enter the NFL Draft, son. I thought, from the tape, he might be 330+ pounds…but he's supposedly 305, which means he has a boat anchor attached to backside. Turned off almost instantly here.
NFL Comp? = Someone too slow to make it in this era of quick/fluid 300+ pound interior linemen.
DT D.J. Dale, Alabama (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 7 solo/10 asst tackles,, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
6'1”/302
Projected 40-time: 5.1+
Projected 3-Cone: 8+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
Post-SB comments:
Had a few 1-on-1 moments that caught my attention. Has some burst/power on occasion. Let's see if he bumps up some more after the NFL Combine.
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Pre-SB comments:
A non-impact, slow, big body DT just taking up space. Not excited by anything I saw here.
NFL Comp? = A forgettable DT on the fringe of the NFL, at best.
DT Cameron Young, Miss State (Post-SB Grade: D, Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 10 solo/27 asst tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack
6'3”/304
Projected 40-time: 5.0+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.75+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 250
Post-SB comments:
Didn't stand out to me. Not sure I can recall anything he did, or he left early or what.
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Pre-SB comments:
Standard issue big guy taking up space in the middle. Nothing special I saw…especially against Alabama.
NFL Comp? = Dominque Davis
DL Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma (Post-SB Grade: D-, Pre-SB Grade: D-)
2022: 10 solo/13 asst tackles, 10.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks
6'2”/293
Projected 40-time: 4.9+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.7+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 175
Post-SB comments:
Barely recall him being there, which is not optimal.
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Pre-SB comments:
A 'tweener' D-Lineman…too big/slow to be a DE, and too small to be an NFL DT. I don't see anything here for impact in the NFL.
NFL Comp? = Isaac Rochell
