2024 Senior Bowl Preview: Defensive Line

The 2024 Senior Bowl is rapidly approaching, and over 100 prospects have the biggest on-field interviews of their careers. Once again, the Senior Bowl has a multiteam coaching setup, so these prospects must adapt quickly. Who will rise to the top and claim their place as early-round draft selections? Which prospects have a chance to improve their stock as sleepers? We’ll be looking at each position by the team they were assigned to in most cases. The defensive trench monsters get their star turn.

If you missed the previous positional previews, you can find them below

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Offensive Line

American

IDL

1. Jaden Crumedy | 6’4 311 | Mississippi State

2. Braden Fiske | 6’5 305 | Florida State

3. Marcus Harris | 6’3 295 | Auburn

4. McKinnley Jackson | 6’1 320 | Texas A&M

5. Jordan Jefferson | 6’2 316 | LSU

6. Byron Murphy II | 6’1 300 | Texas

7. T’Vondre Sweat | 6’4 346 | Texas

Big Name

Byron Murphy II

Murphy was the secret sauce behind the Longhorns’ standout defensive line. He’s a great athlete for the position and was used in various roles in the trenches, including in three-man fronts as an undersized NT. Teams will love his versatility and motor that just doesn’t quit. He has a lot of power in his hands as well to match his work ethic. He also possesses an arsenal of tricks as a pass rusher. Production improved yearly as his role grew, finishing with 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks as a senior. He’ll be an interesting watch as practice rolls on. He’s currently slated to be a Day 2 selection. PFF graded him with the second-highest overall score in the IDL class, with a score of 91.1

Top Prospect

T’Vondre Sweat

Who was the number one graded IDL in the class by PFF metrics? None other than Murphy’s teammate, Mr. Sweat. He finished his collegiate career with an overall score of 91.7. Sweat easily stands out in a crowd of supersized monster athletes at a listed 6’4 346. He has a case to be the best defensive tackle in the 2024 class. A very nimble and productive athlete with mean intentions on the field. His game’s main theme is power, as he possesses powerful hands and natural strength to ward off blockers and make the play. His size and athleticism make him scheme-versatile as a 3-4 nose or 4-3 defensive tackle. He could be in play for a first-round selection with a solid week.

Sleepers

Marcus Harris

Harris was a three-year starter at Auburn after transferring from Kansas. He was productive as a senior, posting 40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. His first two seasons were very effective, but he took it to another level in his last season on The Plains. Auburn’s defense used him in various roles in three- and four-man fronts, so teams will love his versatility. He’s a pretty good athlete for the position, and his effort level remains high consistently from the first snap to the last snap. He doesn’t have much power in his game, but he effectively searches for assignments and wins. He’ll need a good week to solidify himself as a potential Early Day 3 selection. Harris finished 2023 as the 23rd highest-graded tackle with an overall score of 82.4.

Braden Fiske

Fiske is a tremendous athlete who transferred to Florida State from Western Michigan for his final season. He was a FIND for Mike Norvell as he was an impact player on the line next to Jared Verse. The prospect turned it on late in the season, saving the Seminoles’ undefeated ACC title-winning campaign. He’s a fluid athlete who explodes off the snap with a great burst. Lateral quickness is a major plus. A sleeper that will likely rise up the boards once the offseason truly begins. He finishes his collegiate career with 191 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and 19.5 sacks.

Jordan Jefferson

No, this isn’t the son of a former LSU quarterback of the same name. Jefferson transferred to the Bayou Bengals after spending the first four years of his career at West Virginia. He was productive in his last two campaigns, producing 67 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks with six PBUs. An athletic prospect who can impact blockers with speed and quickness. Mr. Jefferson was a guy who freed up his teammates to make plays. He needs a solid week to have a chance to get drafted in the middle of Day 3.

EDGE

1. Chris Braswell | 6’3 252 | Alabama

2. Nelson Ceaser | 6’2 248 | Houston

3. Justin Eboigbe | 6’4 286 | Alabama

4. Cedric Johnson | 6’2 264 | Ole Miss

5. Darius Robinson | 6’5 291 | Missouri

6. Eric Watts | 6’5 270 | UCONN

Big Name

Darius Robinson

Robinson was a star for the surging Tigers’ defense, collecting 8.5 sacks among his 43 tackles as a senior. He’s a bigger EDGE at 291 pounds and has length for days, which he uses effectively. He isn’t the best athlete at the position, but he is serviceable in that category. There’s a lot of power in his hands to match the arm length to keep blockers from latching onto him. The productivity increased every season, so it’s a good omen. He’s primed for a big week if he catches any offensive linemen unaware of the power game. Run defense was a major asset of his as well. The former Mizzou EDGE star profiles towards being a rotational type at first before developing into a starter. He has the tools and experience in the best conference in college football to be selected in the first round or two.

Top Prospects

Chris Braswell

Dallas Turner gets all the hype, and deservedly so, but Braswell is a standout prospect in his own right. He’s undersized at 252 pounds, so all schemes may not be for him. A team like Baltimore or San Francisco could take him and let him cause havoc while he develops. He has good athleticism for the position and has been coached up in fundamentals like most Bama defenders are. A stout defender at the point of attack in the run game, he doesn’t give up much, even against bigger blockers. He is an explosive pass rusher who can vary his athleticism and power to throw off pass blockers. It was a productive 2023 that saw him more than double his numbers across the board with 42 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He can go as high as the second or third round with any luck next week.

Sleepers

Eric Watts

Watts was a consistent three-year starter for the Huskies but suffered a little dip in production as a super senior in 2023. He did enough to merit a Hula Bowl invitation that turned into a Senior Bowl invite after reports of a great week in Orlando. Watching him progress against bigger and better competition in Mobile will be interesting. Stay tuned.

Nelson Ceaser

The Houston product is one of the underclassmen invited to Mobile after a productive junior season that saw him have 43 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. He’s an intriguing invitation for the Senior Bowl as he fills in most teams’ height and length ideals. Could he have a good week that sees his stock skyrocket into Day 2?

National

IDL

1. DeWayne Carter | 6’2 309 | Duke

2. Tyler Davis | 6’1 305 | Clemson

3. Gabe Hall | 6’5 287 | Baylor

4. Michael Hall, Jr | 6’2 285 | Ohio State

5. Keith Randolph Jr | 6’3 297 | Illinois

Big Name

Tyler Davis

Davis has been a key contributor to the Tigers for a number of seasons. He’s one of the bigger names in the class and a good prospect with the tools to succeed in various systems. The size is somewhat of a concern, but not too much. He was part of a talent-laden Clemson defensive line that could feature several draft picks. A serviceable athlete who gets where he needs to go with some ability. He needs a solid week to elevate himself into the Day 2 range. PFF graded him as a top-15 defensive tackle with an overall score of 85.5. A concern is that he posted similar numbers in consecutive seasons, but the sacks dropped precipitously.

Top Prospect

Michael Hall, Jr

The latest and greatest prospect from the defensive line factory in Columbus. If not for the pair of Longhorns also in attendance, he would be among the best at his position in the class. Statistically, he was most productive as a sophomore. Hall has a great blend of lateral quickness and strength, along with hand usage, to get wins on most of his reps against blockers. He’s been well-coached in the fundamentals by iconic DL coach Larry Johnson, Sr. While the size is a tad concerning, the athleticism and IQ are the ace cards he can use to overcome the scheme limitations. If he can have a good week, he’s undoubtedly an early draft selection.

Sleeper

DeWayne Carter

Carter developed nicely as a prospect under the leadership of Mike Elko, who left for the Texas A&M job in December. He’s a good athlete for the position with a motor that won’t quit. Duke lined him up everywhere along the line, so the versatility is also there. He’s just the latest Blue Devils lineman to get some love from the offseason all-star circuit. He should do well in one-on-one drills. If he has a good week, he can boost his stock into the early part of Day 3.

EDGE

1. Austin Booker | 6’6 245 | Kansas

2. Brandon Dorlus | 6’3 277 | Oregon

3. Jaylen Harrell | 6’3 242 | Michigan

4. Adisa Isaac | 6’4 240 | Penn State

5. Brennan Jackson | 6’4 265 | Washington State

6. Marshawn Kneeland | 6’3 275 | Western Michigan

7. Laiatu Latu | 6’4 261 | UCLA

8. Braiden McGregor | 6’6 261 | Michigan

9. Javon Solomon | 6’2 245 | Troy

Big Names

Adisa Isaac

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but a promising Penn State EDGE is looking to make an impact in Mobile. Isaac is the latest in a long line of those types. He’s athletic enough for the position to make the necessary plays, but can he hold up long-term against bigger blockers? He led the team in sacks with 7.5, just ahead of all-everything linebacker Abdul Carter, a potential first-round selection in 2025. Isaac complemented Chop Robinson nicely with his pass-rush skills on the other side. He brings a lot of power to his game. Size could be an issue, as he’s listed at just 240 pounds. Scheme versatility is a plus, depending on the team he goes to. The former PSU EDGE needs a big week to get some hype going for him.

Jaylen Harrell

Speaking of program legacies, Harrell is attempting to follow in the footsteps of many former Wolverines trying their hand at the Senior Bowl. Like his Big Ten counterpart, he’s an undersized EDGE prospect who led the team in sacks. Harrell isn’t just a speed prospect, either. He has some power in his hands to complement his athleticism. The former Michigan Man was productive in his last two seasons as a starter, amassing 78 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He improved his numbers each season, so that’s a good sign.

Top Prospects

Laiatu Latu

Latu has an argument for being the best EDGE in the class and should be a high first-round selection. He has the deepest bag of tricks in his pass-rush arsenal and the power to back it up. The former Bruin posted 13 sacks, which led the team in 2023, an improvement on a stellar junior season. He also produced a whopping 21.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Well coached in the art of pass rush skillsets, it would be a shock if he didn’t do well in Mobile. PFF graded him as the top EDGE with an overall score of 96.3. He also had the top grade for pass rush and coverage by some margin.

Brandon Dorlus

Dorlus was a versatile chess piece used all over the Ducks’ defensive front and was impactful in various roles. Which only helps his case for teams as he makes his way to the league. He has the body type to hold up in a three or four-man front. He’s probably the best non-Thibodeaux Ducks EDGE to come out of Eugene in a long time, talent for talent. He possesses great lateral quickness and the footwork to translate his speed into actionable statistics. There’s no herky-jerky in his game; it’s a very well-put-together thought process as a pass rusher. Given that he is a listed 277, he must add a little weight to hold up in the run game. If he can have a good week, he can boost his stock into late Day 2.

Sleepers

Austin Booker

Booker is a prospect full of intrigue as he has only one productive season at Kansas after transferring from Minnesota. He’s also an underclassman who earned the invite on the back of an eight-sack season with his 12 tackles for loss. Seeing how he fares against older and more established linemen will be interesting. He finished 2023 with an overall score of 82.2, according to PFF.

Javon Solomon

Solomon is another undersized prospect at the position but has had immense production over his career, posting two double-digit sack campaigns. He finished 2023 with an impressive 16 sacks for Troy and had a great bounce-back season with 18 TFLs. He’s a great athlete with explosivity all over his game. He should test well at the Combine as well. A name to monitor as we move forward in the draft process. PFF graded him as the eighth-best EDGE with an overall score of 90.9.