2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Tackle

8/19/23: Smith was a dynamic freshman for the Tigers in 2021, and the former five-star recruit made an instant impact for them, recording four sacks and 19 tackles. There was a ton of hype coming from LSU that he was poised to have a monster 2022 season, but he suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against Florida State and missed the year. The 6-foot-5, 298-pounder has excellent size and length with the upside to build on his fantastic debut. Smith could break out and dominate in 2023.

8/19/23: Newton made his debut in the covid-shortened 2020 season, recording 1.5 sacks, 23 tackles, one forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for a loss. In 2021, Newton made his presence felt with three sacks, four tackles for a loss and 50 tackles. He was even better for the Fighting Illini in 2022, recording 5.5 sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, 62 tackles, 11 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

Against the pass, Newton is an impressive speed rusher. He is athletic and twitchy at the point of attack with a burst to fire his gap. Utilizing developed strength and active hands, Newton will slap hands off of him and use his speed to dart past blockers. He has a real burst to close, and there is no doubt that Newton is a fast interior rusher.

In the ground game, Newton is strong and tough at the point of attack. He plays low and can hold his ground. The question that team sources have about Newton, and a clear answer may not be provided in 2023, is if Newton can hold up well when going against mass being that Newton has a short, stocky, sawed-off build.

8/19/23: Hall got off to an impressive start for the 2022 season, showing speed and playmaking ability at the point of attack. While Hall (6-2, 290) is a little light, he is fast off the ball with the ability to fire his gap. He recorded 19 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2022, but looked like he was just scratching the surface of his potential.

8/19/23: Orhorhoro recorded 23 tackles, five passes batted and four sacks in 2022. He was a solid rotational defender for the Tigers. Orhorhoro took advantage of the opportunity of Bryan Bresee going out with injury in 2021 to have a solid season. Orhorhoro totaled 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks that year. While Orhorhoro might be a rotational backup, NFL teams like his potential and have him with a favorable projection entering his junior season.

8/19/23: Sweat is a massive nose tackle who is a beast at the point of attack in the ground game. He had his best statistical year in run support in 2022, recording 29 tackles. Sweat totaled 22 stops total in each of his previous two seasons. He is a big, powerful, strong man who can cause disruption at the point of attack and also generate a push in the pass rush. Off the field, team sources say Sweat a good kid but has some issues with lethargy and likes to party. Sweat possesses a big-time skill set and upside to develop.

8/19/23: Taylor flashed some potential as a freshman in 2021, racking up 24 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a pass broken up. In 2022, he recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Taylor has upside and talent, but his desire is the question. Some sources say he could go as high as the first round or as low as the fifth round depending on how hard he plays and works.

8/19/23: After spending a couple of seasons as a backup, Jenkins earned a starting spot in 2022 and had a strong debut with 54 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two hurries. It would help Jenkins to ramp up his pass-rush production in 2023. Jenkins is the son of former Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

8/19/23: After a few quiet years at South Carolina, Burch had a breakout year in 2022, recording 60 tackles with 3.5 sacks. He then transferred to Oregon for 2023. If Burch builds on last season’s performance, he could be a riser for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: In 2022, Davis totaled 32 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two passes batted. He displayed some quickness and athleticism. If Davis were a little taller and longer, he would be rated higher. Over the past three seasons, Davis flashed some ability for the Tigers. In 2019, he had an excellent debut with 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two passes batted. He has not played to that level since then. After recording two sacks and 13 tackles in 2020, he recorded 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2021.

8/19/23: Mills flashed the past two seasons with three sacks in 2021 and 3.5 in 2022. He improved his tackle total from 16 to 24, but he needs to produce more as a senior to rise.

8/19/23: Dorlus was a solid defender for the Ducks in 2022, recording 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defended. He totaled 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks in 2021. For the NFL, Dorlus could stand to add some more strength.

8/19/23: Lovett flashed in 2021 with 28 tackles and two sacks. In 2022, he was held back by injury and only played in six games, recording 10 tackles with a sack and forced fumble. Lovett looked heavier in 2022, and that seemed to have cost him some explosion off the ball. Lovett needs to put together a productive senior year to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Nasili-Kite flashed some pass rush-ability for Maryland in 2020 and 2021, recording four sacks in each of those seasons. In 2022, he recorded one sack and 26 tackles. Nasili-Kite transferred to Auburn for the 2023 season. If he rushes the passer well in the SEC, he should be a riser for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Brinson was a rotational backup for the Bulldogs in 2022, recording 12 tackles and a sack. If Brinson produces more pass rush as a senior, he has the potential to rise as the 2024 NFL Draft nears.

8/19/23: In 2022, Stackhouse was a solid gap plugger and run defender for the Bulldogs, recording 33 tackles, but zero sacks. He needs to show more pass-rush ability in 2023 order to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Jackson played at Memphis in 2022 with quality production for a massive nose tackle. He recorded 41 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss. It would help Jackson to show the ability to create some push in the pass rush to be more than a run-stuffing nose tackle.

8/19/23: Rogers was a rotational contributor at Kentucky before transferring to Auburn for his senior year. With the Wildcats in 2022, he recorded 36 tackles and .5 sacks. Rogers needs to show more pass-rush ability with the Tigers.

8/19/23: Smith has the talent upside to rise in his final season if he can produce more for the Crimson Tide. In 2022, he notched 20 tackles and a sack.

8/19/23: Eboigbe was a rotational backup in 2022, just like he was over the previous three seasons. Eboigbe is a projected starter who needs a season of big production to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Payne has a skill set with talent, but he has not earned consistent time for Alabama. If Payne plays up to his potential, he could be riser.

8/19/23: Cross flashed some interior disruption for the Fighting Irish during the past two seasons. Cross totaled five sacks over that span with 33 tackles in 2022 and 22 in 2021. For the NFL, Cross is extremely undersized. He lacks the height and length to move to defensive end and is very underweight to play defensive tackle. He needs to add mass and strength to compete versus NFL offensive linemen.