Senior, Williamstown, NJ
Position: Defensive End
Measurables: 6’2.5, 245 pounds
Draft Projection: Mid-late Round 1
Player Analysis:
It’s safe to say Donovan Ezeiruaku made the most of his senior season BC finishing second in the nation with 16.5 sacks and leading in pressures, single-handedly winning a few games along the way (or at least keeping the Eagles in it). The accolades rightfully came with it – an All-American, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and Ted Hendricks Award. From the Senior Bowl to the Combine, Ezeiruaku has only exacerbated his rise. He rated as the 2nd best defensive end across combine metrics and stood out across practices among the nation’s best. His speed (second in the 3-cone) and length in combination with a myriad of pass-rush moves have been lauded by many a draft profiler. Many have also raved about his dip and bend, his high football IQ, and high motor. As we saw all season, this man is relentless.
Current draft chatter shows Ezeiruaku as a more polarizing prospect. That’s a charged word, but as always there’s just some teams that have him high on their board, while others don’t value his traits as highly. The biggest concerns usually circle around his smaller stature and lack of power, and whether that translates as a three-down defender and warrants a first-round pick. One draft analysis interestingly referred to his almost having too many pass rushing moves, when power plays such a big role in the pro game. He may need to concentrate on a few of the many tools in his toolbox. That might take time to develop as he was able to lean on raw athleticism more in college. His landing spot and coaching will be pivotal.
Takeaway:
This is a very deep edge class, but Ezeiruaku has his fans, and not just among the Boston College faithful. There are more than enough folks around the league that will jump to take him in the first round. On top of that, this is a draft where there’s not as many first round grades being thrown around in the typical sense – leading to even more scenarios.
Ideal Fits/Mocks:
Projections tend to have Ezeiruaku in the back half of the first round, with some spillage into the top of the second. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers at #19 have come up a few times as one of the highest options. He would be a solid match for a team that prides itself on an elite defense. At #22 sit the Chargers, who let Joey Bosa go and are in need of an upgrade at edge rusher. Rumors are that their last BC first rounder Zion Johnson will be testing the waters at center this season, but they’re still happy with his selection. A row of teams from 26-29 in the Rams, Ravens, Lions, and Commanders are all candidates. The Ravens and Lions have dipped into the Boston College well these past few years and know the quality of person and player they’re getting. For the Ravens, he fits the prototype as a productive pass-rusher with “elite agility and a deep arsenal of moves”, while the Lions have a need to add more to their defensive front. The Commies are looking to revamp their defensive line and hosted Ezeiruaku recently. The SB winning Eagles also played host and are never out of the running to draft another defensive lineman, especially after a small exodus this off-season. He would be a steal in the early second, but we have to throw out the Patriots with Vrabel who would certainly know exactly what they’d be getting with Donovan Ezeiruaku.
The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 24th.