2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tonka Hemingway, DL, South Carolina

Player Data

Name, Jersey #	Tonka Hemingway, #91
School (Code)	SCUN
DOB, Class Yr	10/31/2000, 4th Year Senior
Height, Weight	6022, 285 lbs.
40 Yd Dash	4.98e
Position/Depth	DT/DE
Honors/Captainship	2020 Academic Honor Roll, 2021 Gamecock Toughness Award, 2021 Fall Academic Honor Roll, 2022 Harold White GPA Award, 2022 Fall Academic Award, 2022 Outstanding Student Athlete Award, 2022 Third-Team All-SEC(PFF) & 2022 Phil Steele All-SEC Second Team
Season Viewed (yr)	2022 & 2023
Games Watched	Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas & North Carolina
Scout Name / Date	Justyce Gordon, 09-25-23

Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)

2022	19 solo tackles (33 total), 8 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 PD & 2 FR in 13 games
2021	4 solo tackles (6 total), 0 TFL & 0 sacks in 6 games
2020	11 solo tackles (16 total), 1 TFL, 1 FF & 1 FR in 9 games

Player Summary:

Tonka Hemingway has performed in the classroom & on the field earning honor roll honors each year at South Carolina along with 2022 All-SEC Third Team honors by PFF and 2022 Phil Steele All-SEC Second Team honors. Hemingway possesses a very good size/frame that you look for in an interior lineman. Shows overall good pass rush ability, has a good up field burst/first step off ball, plays with active hands & possesses good ability to win with speed because of his get off and good toolbox. Overall, solid in run support as he displays good up field burst vs Zone & Gap, shows good physical strength at POA as well as solid stack-shed ability to disengage well. Hemingway displays a good motor as well when plays go away from him, shows willingness to hustle and play to the whistle. Plays with good awareness/backside discipline as well vs misdirection plays, shows good discipline to stay home. Adequate athleticism and agility as an athlete won’t overwhelm opponents with quickness as a pass rusher nor will he run sideline to sideline with skill position players. Even with good strength, Hemingway possesses marginal ability to win with power vs pass. Displays adequate gap leverage in run support, struggles to get off double teams/down blocks, often engages with shoulder instead of hands as well. Possesses adequate tackling ability between tackles, struggles to wrap & finish.

Scheme Fit:

5-Tech DT in a 4-3 scheme.

Power Statement:

Tonka Hemingway isn’t a flashy twitched up athlete that can bend and dominate with speed, but he makes up for it with a good first step combined with active hands and a good toolbox. I believe Hemingway will get camp invites and battle for the final few spots early on in his career, but he has the traits and potential to develop in a rotational piece used to get after the passer and provide depth for a team if put in the right scheme.