2025 Senior Bowl: Defensive Line Preview

The 2025 Senior Bowl is underway and features a loaded and talented defensive line and EDGE group. Who are the best of the best in Mobile? Are there any sleepers that can rise on the boards after a great week of practices? Can anyone in the EDGE group stand out and distinguish themselves in a talent-laden class? Who are the next great interior defensive linemen?
The previous positional previews can be found below:
DL
American
1. Vernon Broughton | Texas
2. Alfred Collins | Texas
3. Cam’Ron Jackson | Florida
4. Omarr Norman-Lott | Tennessee
5. T.J. Sanders | South Carolina
6. Junior Tufana | Utah*
7. Shemar Turner | Texas A&M
8. Deone Walker | Kentucky
Top Prospect
Alfred Collins
Collins was the heir apparent to Titans’ rookie standout T’Vondre Sweat, and he could be more talented as a prospect. He has the height, weight, and length to succeed and is an excellent run defender. The former Longhorn improved his production every season as his role increased. Collins is a tenacious athlete who fights on every snap and has the technique to defeat blockers at will. With a good week, Collins could find himself in the first round. PFF gave him an 87.2 overall defensive score, the eighth-best in the nation.
Big Names
Shemar Turner
Turner projects well athletically, but the question of how much all-star teammates carried him will be answered this week. He improved upon his numbers every season, which is a good omen. He is listed below 290 pounds, so all defensive systems may not be for him. A system that deploys its interior defenders in a fast attack mode will be best for him. He will need to prove it against bigger blockers in Mobile.
Omarr Norman-Lott
ONL transferred to Tennessee from Arizona State before the 2023 season. He’s a great athlete with a lightning-quick first step and has underlying power. If he can harness his athleticism this week against slower blockers, he could cement a Day 2 selection with a possibility of the first round. Norman-Lott is the first Volunteers IDL to accept his invitation since 2023 by Byron Young.
Sleepers
Deone Walker
Walker is a prominent human being at 6’7 345. Can he translate his size and brute power into wins in Mobile against smaller offensive linemen? The former Kentucky Wildcat has underrated athleticism that could throw off some OL in one-on-one drills. He has the physical tools to dominate the proceedings in a crowded field of standout interior defenders. He could fly up the boards into an early Day 3 selection with a good week. He’s the first Kentucky IDL to participate since Zadarius Smith in 2015.
T.J. Sanders
Sanders is the latest in a recently long line of former Gamecocks interior linemen to make their way to Mobile. Previous South Carolina linemen in the last decade include Javon Kinlaw, Zaach Pickens, and Kingsley Enagbare. He’s a big-time athlete for the position and has been coached well. Sanders is undersized for the position. PFF graded him as the 31st-best interior defender with an overall grade of 82.4.
National
1. Darius Alexander | Toledo
2. Yahya Black | Iowa
3. Jordan Burch | Oregon*
4. Jamaree Caldwell | Oregon
5. Joshua Farmer | Florida State
6. Landon Jackson | Arkansas
7. Aeneas Peebles | Virginia Tech
8. Ty Robinson
Top Prospects
Landon Jackson
Interestingly, the Senior Bowl lists Jackson as a defensive lineman instead of EDGE, given his listed measurables. He’s a consistent producer, with 6.5 sacks during the past two seasons, and has improved his tackle numbers yearly. He also has the size to move up and down the line. Athleticism might be an issue against more nimble blockers, so that bears watching this week. He currently holds a Day 2 projection heading into Mobile. Can he hold onto it as arguably the best defensive line prospect at the 2025 Senior Bowl?
Jordan Burch
Burch is an exceptional athlete who can play on the interior and the perimeter with equal aplomb. He transferred to Oregon from South Carolina before the 2023 season. The former Oregon product isn’t the most athletic, and teams will pore over his medical file after his injury in 2024. He could be defined as a better Brandon Dorlus. Burch exploded for 8.5 sacks in just ten games last season. The Ducks’ defensive star has the physical tools to get drafted early on Day 3.
Sleepers
Darius Alexander
Alexander contributed significantly to the Rockets’ defense for four seasons before accepting his invite to the Senior Bowl. He’s one of the best interior defenders in the class and should do well during practices. PFF metrics hold him in high regard, with a 90.2 overall defensive grade and a 90.3 run defense score. He’s a top-tier run defender who controls opposing run games. He’s a fundamentally sound defensive tackle that should garner some Day 2 hype.
Jamaree Caldwell
Caldwell was one of the key cogs in the Oregon defense that led them to the Big Ten championship. He was the unheralded partner for fellow Senior Bowl invitee Derrick Harmon. An astute run defender, Caldwell scored highly in the run defense metric on PFF. He has had 8.5 career sacks on the ledger since his time at Houston. If he can have a solid 2025 Senior Bowl week, he could vault into the middle of Day 3.
Aeneas Peebles
The former Hokies defensive lineman is among the class’s best and most underrated interior defenders. PFF ranks him very high with a 91.2 pass-rush score and 89.3 overall defense. He transferred to Tech from Duke and prospered into a star. Peebles is a prime-time athlete, which should show up immediately during the week’s one-on-one drills. He fits the mold of quick, undersized interior defenders that outshine bigger and slower blockers. If Peebles can have a good week, there’s no reason not to believe he will exit the 2025 Senior Bowl as the best interior defensive line prospect.
EDGE
American
1. Jared Ivey | Ole Miss
2. Sai’von Jones | LSU
3. Kyle Kennard | South Carolina
4. Jalen McCloud | Auburn
5. Nic Scourton | Texas A&M
6. Barryn Sorrell | Texas
7. Shemar Stewart | Texas A&M
8. Princely Umanmielen | Ole Miss
Top Prospects:
Princely Umanmielen
Umanmielen is a borderline first-round selection entering the week. He’ll be a first-round lock when he leaves if his speed and athleticism can hold up at his new weight (261). The former Florida transfer always had the talent but put things together in his final season in Oxford. He is a top-tier athlete with tremendous quick-twitch ability and a pass-rush arsenal to boot. In time, he could be a more bendy Harold Landry. PFF rated him the seventh-best EDGE defender with a 91.0 overall defense score.
Nic Scourton
Scourton was a highly coveted transfer from Purdue that heard from multiple Power 4 programs but chose A&M. He’s in contention for the second-best EDGE prospect in the 2025 class. After his transfer, the former Aggie fell off a tiny bit in production, but he has all the tools to succeed. He presents a total package of speed, power, lateral athleticism, and veteran know-how. If he has a good week, he could solidify a top-20 selection.
Sleepers
Kyle Kennard
Another Gamecock in Mobile? The Columbia to NFL train is well underway as Shane Beamer revitalizes the program. Kennard transferred to South Carolina after having a standout career at Georgia Tech. He truly broke out in 2024 with an impressive 11.5 sacks on his way to winning the Nagurski Trophy. While not a big-time athlete, he has a pass-rush arsenal to counter anything the blocker throws his way. Kennard won’t blow anyone away with speed or power; he’s just a steady Eddie, which is worth its weight in gold. He’s garnering Day 2 buzz heading into the festivities.
Jared Ivey
Princely U might have gotten all the publicity (deservedly so), but his teammate Ivey is no slouch, either. According to PFF, Ivey posted a better run defense grade (82.7). If he can stand out this week in Mobile, he could move into the early stages of Day 3. Interestingly, Kennard and Ivey can discuss the fine dining choices in Atlanta together in practice since they briefly crossed over at Georgia Tech.
National
1. Donovan Ezeiruaku | Boston College
2. Mike Green | Marshall
3. Jah Joyner | Minnesota
4. R.J. Oben | Notre Dame
5. Oluwafemi Oladejo | UCLA
6. Collin Oliver | Oklahoma State
7. Josaiah Stewart | Michigan
8. David Walker | Central Arkansas
Top Prospect
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Ezeiruaku may be the most talented Boston College EDGE prospect since the days of Harold Landry terrifying opposing blockers in Chestnut Hill. He’s an immensely gifted, toolsy pass rusher who can beat blockers in numerous ways. DE broke out in 2024 with 16.5 sacks, 80 tackles, and 21 tackles for loss. If he can have a productive week, he can move into the early stages of Day 2. PFF graded him as the 17th-best EDGE with a 90.2 overall defense score.
Sleepers
R.J. Oben
After a successful transfer elsewhere, Oben joins fellow former Dukie Aeenas Peebles in Mobile. While the statistics aren’t gaudy, he has the physical tools to become something special this week. He has plenty of athleticism and underrated strength to make a mockery of his blocking assignments. If he can parlay his gifts into a solid week, he could find himself in the middle of Day 3. Oben projects as a hybrid 3-4 pass rusher at the next level.
Josaiah Stewart
Stewart is one of the more underrated EDGE rushers in the class and brings a lot of interesting physical tools to the mix. He transferred to Michigan before the 2023 season, which ended up being the Wolverines’ national title season. The former Wolverine finished 2024 with 8.5 sacks, which gives him 30 overall in his career. He’s very technically refined, using strong hands and great lateral athleticism. Stewart’s excellent 2024 season resulted in him being graded as the fourth-best pass rusher by PFF’s overall defensive metric (91.2) and tied for first in pass rush (92.2). If he can continue his run of form, there’s a good chance he could elevate his stock into Day 2.
Joseph is a veteran writer of many publications past and present. He is a long-time Tennessee Titans fan and draft scout/analyst, along with writing about the league is a passion project. Mr. Yun has been credentialed to the Senior Bowl multiple times. Readers will find he brings the juice with a scout’s eye and analytical mind. Follow me on Twitter @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz for more good stuff!