2025 NFL Draft Week Coverage

[dbair1967]

Jay Toia, DT UCLA (13th rated DT)

STRENGTHS: ● Wide-bodied frame with proportionate thickness ● Eats up blocks with base power ● Able to stack and shed blocks when he plays with knee bend ● Solid vision to track the ball at the line ● Reads blocking scheme to anticipate running back's desired lane ● Physical hands and wrists to swipe/rip blockers of him as a passing-down rusher ● Number of third-down snaps doubled as senior and increased pressures from three in 2023 to 19 in 2024 ● Described as "selfless" by the UCLA coaches

WEAKNESSES: ● Mediocre lateral range when attempting to expand pursuit ● Inconsistent feel for anticipating and countering down blocks ● Pass-rush plan is based more on aggression than strategy ● Expected more out of his bull rush (never had multiple sacks in his college seasons) ● Leaves too much tackle production on the field ● Caught on video during freshman year screaming abusive language toward a group of people; Toia released a statement apologizing for the incident

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at UCLA, Toia was the zero-/one-technique in defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe's 3-3-5 base scheme. His production on paper doesn't jump out, but the tape shows a player willing to chew up blocks in the middle, freeing linebackers and ends to make plays. When he plays with consistent leverage, Toia is able to put down roots and shut down inside run lanes. However, he must continue to develop his instincts to create tackle opportunities, instead of just taking up room. Overall, Toia might not have the length or awareness to be a full-time two-gapper in the NFL, but he has a powerful base and physical hands to neutralize the point of attack. He projects as a scheme-versatile nose tackle

 

[dbair1967]

Phil Mafah, RB Clemson (25th rated RB)

STRENGTHS: ● Built like an NFL back with broad chest/shoulders and well-distributed mass ● Runs square to line with dense body type to absorb physical hits and remain unfazed ● Tacklers would be wise to trip up his legs — he will barrel through high tackle attempts ● Athletic feet for his size to press line, collect himself and make a sharp cut ● Uses patience at line to follow and set up blocks ● Nice job turning frame to adjust and pluck back-shoulder passes ● Fumbled just once on 237 offensive touches in 2024 ● Will square up or leave feet to get the job done in pass protection ● Laidback, genuine personality (NFL scout: "Love his positive attitude and always has a smile")

WEAKNESSES: ● Average speed and burst on the edges ● Runs high and makes himself a large target, which leads to extra contact with his own blockers ● Average flexibility hurts ability to sink and make tight direction changes ● Averaged fewer than 5.0 yards per catch in 2024 and had a pair of drops ● Limited over final month of senior season with a left shoulder injury (averaged only 2.4 yards per carry over the final five games of 2024)

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Clemson, Mafah became the Tigers' featured back as a senior in offensive coordinator Garrett Riley's balanced gap/zone run scheme. Although injuries caught up with him over the final month of the 2024 season, Mafah averaged 7.0 yards per carry in September and October, and his overall production improved each of his four seasons with the Tigers. Though he is more bulldozer than dancer between the tackles, Mafah patiently makes his reads to follow blocks and become a one-cut runner to open space. He will run through arm tackles and make some defensive backs look like speed bumps at the second level using his willingness to finish with physicality. Overall, Mafah is a big, strong downhill runner who lacks explosiveness to be a consistent perimeter runner but has the footwork and power to work between the tackles. He has the necessary skills to hold up his end of the bargain in a two-headed NFL backfield committee.

 

[dbair1967]

Tommy Akingbesote, DT Maryland (42nd rated DT)

SUMMARY: Olatunbosun "Tommy" Akingbesote (ah-KING-bah-so-tay) grew up in District Heights, Md., with his parents (Odun and Arinola). He saw himself as a basketball player before making the switch to football as a junior at Charles Herbert Flowers High, because that was his best chance at a college scholarship. A four-star recruit, Akingbesote received ofers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M and others, but he was locked on nearby Maryland because of the coaching staf. He was the second-ranked defensive lineman in Mike Locksley's 2021 class, behind Chop Robinson. Akingbesote carries most of his weight in his upper half, and he can dent the depth of the pocket with initial quickness of the snap. He made gradual improvements each season and has yet to play his best football, although he is still connecting the dots — and things won't slow down in the NFL. Overall, Akingbesote has unquestionable talent, especially for his size, but he was more of a cog in the machine than a diference-maker that jumped of the tape or the stat sheet

 

[dbair1967]

Dooms why you hating on Shavon Revel

 

[Doomsday]

Dooms why you hating on Shavon Revel

Seems like a lot more downside than I like.

 

[dbair1967]

Seems like a lot more downside than I like.

The ACL thing is worrisome for this season (although they claim he will be ready to begin training camp or right after it starts) but otherwise, the kid is a damn good prospect.

Would have definitely been a 1st rd pick had it not been for ACL tear.

 

[Doomsday]

The ACL thing is worrisome for this season (although they claim he will be ready to begin training camp or right after it starts) but otherwise, the kid is a damn good prospect.

Would have definitely been a 1st rd pick had it not been for ACL tear.

Just... overall durability. We don't have much invested in him though so we'll see.

 

[icup]