2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Isaiah Raikes, DT, Auburn

Isaiah Raikes plays with good pad level and maintains good gap integrity on the Auburn defensive line. Hula Bowl scout Timothy Lemmons breaks him down as an NFL Prospect in his report.

Player Data

Name, Jersey #	Isaiah Raikes, #22
School (Code)	Auburn University (ALAU)
Class Yr	rSr
Height, Weight	6005e, 320e
40 Yd Dash	5.36e
Position/Depth	DT 1st
Honors/Captainship	2023 Team Captain (Texas A&M)
Season Viewed (yr)	2023
Games Watched	FLMI, ALAU, TNUN, SCUN
Scout Name / Date	Timothy Lemmons, 9/7/2024

Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)

2023	12 G, 1 GS, 7 Tkl, 17 Tot Tkl, 3 Tfl, 1 Sck, 1 FF,
2022	12 G, 3 GS, 10 Tkl, 17 Tot Tkl, 1.5 Tfl, 0.5 Sck
2021	12 G, 1 GS, 4 Tkl, 8 Tot Tkl
2020	6 G, 1 Tkl

Player Summary:

Isaiah Raikes is a 5th year senior who played in 42 games for the Aggies (Texas A&M 2020-23) before entering the transfer portal and spent the spring with USC before transferring to Auburn before the start of the 2024 season. Raikes has been primarily used as a package player, specializing in run-stopping situations, which has limited his number of starts. He has experience playing multiple positions along the D-Line 1, 3, and 5-techs. Compact build, below-average height, good weight, moderate length. He shows above-average get-off with good short-area quickness and lateral movement for his size. His COD is average, and his balance and play speed are moderate. Against the run, Raikes is a gap-sound defender who excels at maintaining his assignments, using good pad level and strength to stop the run. He has a solid football IQ, showing an ability to diagnose plays early, fighting off blocks, and making tackles. He can be susceptible to double teams, which sometimes cause him to get washed out of plays. On outside zone runs, Raikes struggles to keep up with faster plays but demonstrates good effort and pursuit. As a pass rusher, Raikes shows an above-average get-off and burst. However, if he doesn’t win immediately, he lacks a variety of pass-rush moves and the strength to consistently overpower offensive linemen. He tends to focus on disrupting passing lanes with knockdowns rather than pursuing the quarterback for sacks. Raikes displays above-average pad level and UOH.

Scheme Fit:

1 Tech 4-3 Defense

Power Statement:

Overall, Raikes is an above-average player who excels against the run. He is strong at the POA with good hand usage, making him a reliable run defender. While he isn’t particularly effective as a pass rusher, he does flash moments of burst off the line of scrimmage. Raikes is best suited as a package player, primarily contributing on early downs as a run stopper, particularly in 1st and 2nd down situations.