Edge - 2023 Ourlads' Draft Preview

Jon Cooper
12/14/2022 2:08PM ET

1. Anderson, Will*

Alabama  6040  243

Three year starter, Hampton, GA. Consensus All-American, Nagurski award winner and first team All-SEC in 2021. Has been a dominating force in Alabama’s defense as the “Jack” linebacker. Plays with a non-stop motor. Explosive first step he can beat an offensive lineman virtually out of his stance to turn the corner in the pass rush. Plays with natural knee and ankle bend and turns his quickness into power when engaging a blocker. Shoots his hands and can create immediate separation to get off a block. Changes direction quickly and can make plays chasing in space. His excellent lateral quickness in tight spaces puts him in position to make  plays all along the line.This makes him very effective on inside stunts. As a pass rusher he consistently wins with quickness and speed bending and squeezing to the quarterback. Shows an explosive inside counter move that puts him right in the quarterback’s face. Very few holes in his game but he lacks bulk and if a blocker gets in his frame he can get knocked upright. Should be a top five pick. 

 

2. Murphy, Myles*

Clemson  6050  275

Three year starter, Marietta, GA. Second team All-SEC in 2021. Murphy plays as an edge defender normally aligned in a three point stance anywhere from a four to a wide nine alignment. Plays with a high motor and natural knee bend. Quick at the snap his explosive get- off creates penetration on gap moves and power engaging blockers. He closes quickly and makes a lot of plays in the backfield. He uses his length and powerful strike to set the edge to separate and shed blocks. Tough to get around on the perimeter as he can chase to the sideline. Has enough short space agility to redirect inline to make plays inside.  As a pass rusher his quickness makes him effective penetrating a gap and working an inside stunt. He can also bull rush into an outside move using his hands and arms to rip over or under. He covers a lot of ground while maintaining his pad level. Adjusts well to quarterback step up. Some stiffness shows at times working the edge. Best fit is a 4-3 defensive end. 

 

3. Smith, Nolan

Georgia 6025  237

Two year starter, Savannah, GA. Smith plays from both a two and three point stance as the Sam linebacker in Georgia’s defense. Excellent run defender he can violently engage blockers to set the edge. Pursues with range on the perimeter and can make plays in space. Used to drop to the flat and cover backs on outside releases he normally finds the throwing lane as a zone defender. Adept at reading screens. Tackles with gather and finish, rarely missing a tackle. Consistently hustles in pursuit. As a pass rusher he shows a quick get off and flashes hand usage in pass rush moves. Decent bend to the quarterback he usually gets up field and is productive pressuring. He normally plays at the right pad level but at times a powerful blocker can knock him upright. He needs to develop more in the pass rush and turn pressures into sacks. He lacks the bulk of an every down defensive end and will likely fit in a 3-4 as a “Buck” linebacker.

 

4. Anudike-Uzomah, Felix*

Kansas State  6040  255

Two year starter, Kansas City, MO. First team All-Big 12 in 2021. Plays defensive end in Kansas State’s 3-3 base defense. Aligns normally in a five or wide nine alignment and has played upright at times. With extreme quickness at the snap he attacks blockers with strong hands coming from a powerful upper and lower body. Stuns and separates on the move and can quickly redirect off a block to make a play in line. Excellent short space agility gets him to a lot of tackles for a defensive lineman. He’s relentless in pursuit. As a pass rusher the same motor shows as his quickness and long strides gets him around the edge and bending to the quarterback. Shows a bull rush into and arm over or under and he can walk a tackle back to the quarterback, get off and make a play. Protection schemes have to account for him as he is difficult to single block. He could use some refinement in pass rush technique at the next level. That said his talent and NFL upside easily could put him in the first round. 

 

5. Carter ll, Andre 

Army 6062  255

Two year starter, Missouri City, TX. Plays outside linebacker in Army’s traditional 3-4 defense.  Carter has an imposing frame for an outside linebacker and is remarkably athletic for his height and length. Is a two way linebacker with pass rush and coverage skill. Shows a quick first step to engage a blocker and flashes strong hands to separate from blocks. Has excellent range in pursuit he closes quickly, gathers and finishes tackles. Playing zone coverage he gets depth in his drop with the ability to smoothly flip his hips to find the throwing lane. His length creates problems for quarterbacks on intermediate throws. Quick to break on the throw he’s made some big hits separating receivers from the ball. Extremely productive pass rusher his quick first step gets him into a variety of moves including a powerful arm under. Can bend to the quarterback and close. Also flashes an effective inside counter spin move. Not the best at taking on physical blockers on the edge he needs more consistent knee bend as he can lose leverage. Solid 3-4 outside linebacker prospect. 

 

6. Wilson, Tyree

Texas Tech  6054  270

 

7.  Foskey, Isaiah*

Notre Dame  6045  265

 

8. Ojulari, B J*

LSU  6030  250

 

9. Verse, Jared*

Florida State  6040 248

 

10. McDonald, Will

Iowa State  6040  230

 

11. Hall, Derrick

Auburn  6025   255

 

12. Morris, Mike*

Michigan  6060  276

 

13. Adebawore, Adetomiwa

Northwestern  6016  275

 

14. Harrison, Zach

Ohio State  6056  266

 

15. White, Keion

Georgia Tech  6042 283

 

16. Latu, Laiatu

UCLA  6040  265  

 

17. Tupuola-Fetui, Zion

Washington  6032  246

 

18 Baldonado, Habakkuk

Pittsburgh  6043  258

 

19.  Young, Byron 

Tennessee  6030  245

 

20. Henry, K J 

Clemson  6040  260

 

21. Wooden, Colby

Auburn  6050  284

 

22. McGuire, Isaiah*

Missouri  6040  275

 

23. Tyler,  Baron*

Tennessee  6050  260

 

24. Nchami, Durell*

Maryland  6040  260

 

25.  Tuipulotu, Tuli*

USC  6030  260

 

26 Hampton, Nick

 Appalachian State  6023  228

 

27. Gaye, Ali

LSU  6060  255

 

28. Cox, Brenton

Florida  6032  252

 

29. Jones, D’Anthony

Houston  6020  270

 

30. Trice, Bralen

Washington  6040  269

 

31. Mathis, Ochaun*

Nebraska  6050  260

 

32. Beal, Robert

Georgia  6035  255

 

33. Wheat, Tyrus

Mississippi State  6021  269

 

34. Jacoby Windmon

Michigan State  6017  240

 

35. Okie, Eyabi

Michigan 6044 242

 

36. Strachan, Jordan

South Carolina  6040  245

 

37. Leota, Eku

Auburn  6026  259

 

38. Thomas, Xavier

Clemson 6023  279

 

* Denotes Underclassman