Dane Brugler's The Beast 2025

[*Synric*]

The Beast is finally here.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6259709/2025/04/09/nfl-draft-2025-the-beast-pdf-version/


Character concern for Walter Nolen mentioned is changing schools.

Quote:BACKGROUND: Walter Nolen, the oldest of three boys, grew up in the Memphis, Tenn., area with his parents (Walter Jr. and Yolunda). He started playing football at age 5 and developed an immediate connection with the sport. Nolen continued playing in Pop Warner and middle school and started to gain attention on all-star teams. His younger brothers (Warren and Waylan) also have futures in college football. Warren Nolen was a three-star recruit in the 2025 class and signed with Arkansas State as an interior of f ensive lineman.

Walter Nolen started out at Olive Branch High in northern Mississippi. As a freshman, he was part of a varsity team that won 12 games (he also competed on the powerlifting team). Nolen had his breakout season in 2019 as a sophomore defensive lineman (92 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles). He earned first-team all-metro honors and skyrocketed up the recruiting rankings. With the spotlight on him, Nolen transferred midway through his sophomore year (Feb. 2020) to IMG Academy, the football powerhouse and boarding school in Bradenton, Fla. However, he returned home to the Memphis area after just four months (June 2020), because of his mother's desire to have him close to home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before his junior year, Nolen enrolled at St. Benedict at Auburndale, a Catholic school in Memphis, where he was coached by Marlon Walls, who had played defensive line at Olive Branch and Tennessee (2009-13). But St. Benedict managed only two wins in 2020 and fired Walls (former Memphis tight end Joey Magnifico replaced him). For his senior season, Nolen transferred to Powell High, which is 10 miles north of Neyland Stadium and the Tennessee campus. Despite joining the team late, he helped Powell to a 13-2 record and the 2021 5A state championship. Nolen finished his final season with 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and six forced fumbles, which earned him several state and national awards, including Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today. He also played basketball at St. Benedict.

A five-star recruit, Nolen was the top-ranked defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class (one spot ahead of Mykel Williams) and the No. 1 recruit in Tennessee. He finished as the No. 2 recruit nationally, behind only Travis Hunter. During the spring of his freshman year, Nolen impressed at several camps and earned his first of f er from Tennessee, followed by of f ers from Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri and Ole Miss (April 2019). The of f ers continued to pour throughout his breakout sophomore season, and it was clear that Nolen would have his choice of colleges. The summer before his senior season, Nolen announced a final five of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee, but a month later, Texas A&M shot to the top of his list. He ultimately committed to head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies in November 2021 and headlined the famed "best recruiting class ever," which included eight five-star signees (five on the defensive line).

After two seasons in College Station, following Fisher's dismissal and defensive line coach Elijah Robinson's move to Syracuse, Nolen entered the transfer portal. He was the third-ranked player in the portal and committed to Ole Miss in December 2023. Nolen skipped his senior season and entered the NFL Draft. He accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS:
● Explosive first step with equally explosive hands
● Has initial movements to cross face, shoot gaps and live in gaps
● Weaponizes length to stab and flashes a twitchy slap/arm-over move
● Relies on get-of f quickness as his source of power to create push at contact
● Rangy athlete for his size, with the secondary quickness to finish behind the line of scrimmage
● Quick to find his balance to react to the ball carrier and get him on the ground
● Strong tackler in close quarters (rarely missed tackles)
● Able to plant his post leg and hold his own against doubles
● Plays hard, and his ef f ort doesn't see major dips snap to snap
● Production improved each season — finished top three among FBS interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss in 2024 

WEAKNESSES:
● Can do a better job staying square when moving laterally down the line
● Reacts first and reads second, leaving him out of position at times 
● Rush plan is based more on activity than cohesion
● Improving his lock-out will help keep his eyes elevated to find the football
● Personal foul on the 2024 Arkansas tape for extracurricular ef f orts
● Disappears on some tapes; averaged only 2.7 pressures per game in 2024
● Attended six dif f erent programs over the last seven years, so interview process will be crucial to his final grade

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Ole Miss, Nolen played three-technique tackle in defensive coordinator Pete Golding's 4-2-5 base scheme, occasionally lining up over or outside the tackle. A consensus top-five recruit out of high school, he played two mediocre seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Oxford, where he had his best season in 2024, joining Patrick Willis as the only consensus All-Americans from the front seven in school history. 


With his length and surge of f the ball, Nolen creates immediate force and can be a play-wrecker with how quickly he penetrates gaps (the type of leverage that creates holding calls). He doesn't rely on just quickness to win, but there are inef f i ciencies in his attack, especially when he is late to read the play. Overall, Nolen has areas of his game that require maturing, but he flashes big-time disruption in his initial burst and fast, physical hands to regularly af f ect the backfield action. He will be attractive for NFL teams looking for an active gap-shooter with high-end upside.

 GRADE: 1st-2nd round (No. 31 overall)

[*Synric*]

Dane does mention something about James Pearce Jr.

Quote:BACKGROUND: James Pearce Jr. was raised in the Charlotte, N.C., area and started playing football in youth leagues. He grew up a fan of Cam Newton and played mostly of f ense until switching to the defensive side of the ball in middle school. Pearce attended Zebulon B. Vance High, which was renamed Julius L. Chambers High before his senior year. After the program won the 4AA state title in 2019, Pearce it to a 10-1 record as a junior and another state championship — he had a pair of sacks in the title game win over Rolesville. As a 210-pound senior, Pearce logged snaps at nose tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and safety, and he posted his most productive season (28.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and three defensive touchdowns, including a strip sack in the playof f semifinals). He helped Chambers return to the 4AA state title game in 2021, where it fell short against Cardinal Gibbons. Pearce earned all-conference honors and was selected to the 2021 Carolina Bowl All-Star Game. He also played basketball in high school.

A four-star recruit, Pearce was the 21st-ranked edge rusher in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 5 recruit in North Carolina. A late bloomer on the recruiting trail, he received his first scholarship of f er as a junior from Charlotte (March 2021). Pearce added of f ers in the following weeks from Louisville, Missouri, Oklahoma, Syracuse and UCF. Several more SEC programs entered the mix during Pearce's senior year, including Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Somewhat unceremoniously, Pearce signed with the Volunteers and was the top-ranked recruit in head coach Josh Heupel's 2022 class. He was a pescetarian over his first two seasons at Tennessee. After three years, Pearce skipped his senior season and entered the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS:
● Tall, athletic build and long arms
● Explosive first step with fast hands and feet to escape blocks
● Gains ground in a hurry to beat tackles to corner
● Chop/rip hands are heavy and help pry open blocker's shoulder
● Rushes to depth of the pocket and works back toward the ball
● Converts speed to power because of immediate acceleration, regardless of the angle
● Shows basic understanding of steps to af f ect the tackle and create two-way go opportunities
● Downhill speed tests reaction quickness of interior blockers guarding A-gap
● Shows general idea of how to use hands in run game
● Productive — ranks top 10 in school history with 19.5 career sacks  

WEAKNESSES:
● Lean, leggy player but has inconsistent bend at top of rush
● Tight through hips, limiting smoothness of redirects
● Fly-by rusher — misses plays in backfield because he's out of control
● Always looking to time up snap, which will backfire at times (flagged for of f sides five times in 2024)
● Pad level is inconsistent and gets him in trouble in run game
● Solid play strength but can be neutralized by powerful blockers who cinch him up
● Streaky lock-out and tardy getting of f blocks to influence the play
● Arrested on traf f i c charges (speeding, driving on suspended license, failure to present insurance) after a stop (Dec. 2023); all charges later dismissed
● Interview process will be crucial (NFL scout: "I want to be convinced that he loves this.")

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Tennessee, Pearce played the LEO position in defensive coordinator Tim Banks' scheme, primarily lining up out wide. Despite being in and out of the lineup (35.5 defensive snaps per game in 2023; 35.7 in 2024), he led the Vols in sacks and tackles for loss as both a sophomore and junior. His 107 pressures over the past two seasons ranked No. 1 in the SEC (No. 6 in the FBS).

Although not a technician, Pearce is a fast, linear athlete who can win races to the edge or collapse the pocket with force behind his extended, upward levers (23 percent pass rush win rate in 2024, second best in the FBS). He was steady with his ef f ort against the run in college, but more will be needed of him to hold up against NFL competition. Overall, Pearce is upright and frenetic in his play style, but his blend of explosiveness and power creates consistent disruption as a pass rusher. He shows promise in the run game, too. If he works to maximize his talent, he will be a productive pro.

GRADE: 2nd round (No. 36 overall)

[*Synric*]

I'll add more after work for people that don't have an athletic subscription.

Any names specifically.

[Stewy]

(04-09-2025, 07:59 AM)Synric Wrote: The Beast is finally here.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6259709/2025/04/09/nfl-draft-2025-the-beast-pdf-version/


Character concern for Walter Nolen mentioned is changing schools.

If transferring around is his issue, then he has no issues.  He transferred ONCE in college, and for good reasons.  His HS transfers bother me not at all, because it's obvious football was his focus.  He was after upgrading his recruiting status and it worked.  So what if he wasn't interested in education?  He wouldn't be the first or the last.  Hopefully he isn't a complete "dumb" though.

[Hammerstripes]

(04-09-2025, 12:04 PM)Stewy Wrote: If transferring around is his issue, then he has no issues.  He transferred ONCE in college, and for good reasons.  His HS transfers bother me not at all, because it's obvious football was his focus.  He was after upgrading his recruiting status and it worked.  So what if he wasn't interested in education?  He wouldn't be the first or the last.  Hopefully he isn't a complete "dumb" though.

Agree.  In today's game, it's going to be rare to see a guy that only attends 1 high school and 1 college.  As long as he's trying to improve his level at each stop, there's no issue in my eyes.

[BFritz21]

I've been calling for Nolen for a while!

Safety class is weak, we can get a guard and end after the first, but Nolen will be a game-changer by getting a push and pressure from the tackle spot!

He'll make our ends' lives easier by calling for double teams and our corners' and safeties' lives easier by getting pressure on the QB and not allowing the receivers to finish their routes.

[*Synric*]

Omarr Norman-Lott is in for a top 30 visit and he is one of my favorite fits for the Bengals.

Quote:BACKGROUND: Omarr Norman-Lott was born in Sacramento, Calif., before moving to the San Diego area with his mother (Flora Norman) at age 2.
He signed up for flag football at age 7 and played on the of f ensive and defensive lines throughout youth ball. At age 10, his family returned to the Sacramento area, and Norman-Lott leaned on football as an escape from negative influences in his neighborhood. Once he started receiving college interest in high school, his mother sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in Vallejo, Calif., for a stretch to keep him focused on his future. He also trained as a boxer growing up and continued boxing as a junior and senior in high school. While enrolled at Arizona State, Norman-Lott became a bouncer at a local nightclub to earn extra money.

THE BEAST | BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 342 Norman-Lott attended Grant Union High in Sacramento County, where he was a three-year letterman on varsity. He played both ways on the defensive line and as an of f ensive tackle. As a junior, Norman-Lott emerged as a major recruit with 45 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles, helping Grant Union to the 2018 Division II state playof f s. The team struggled to win games during his senior season, but he still earned honorable mention all-metro honors in 2019 (45 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown).

A four-star recruit, Norman-Lott was the 34th-ranked defensive tackle in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 29 recruit in California. After his breakout junior season, he received an of f er from Arizona State (Jan. 2019). Norman-Lott had a connection to the Sun Devils: His main recruiter, defensive line coach Jamar Cain, is Norman-Lott's uncle (Norman-Lott was ring bearer at Cain's wedding). He was hosted on his campus visit by wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and developed a connection with the rest of Herm Edwards' coaching staf f . Before his senior season, Norman-Lott added of f ers from Arizona, Boise State, Texas A&M, USC and others but committed to Arizona State in October 2019. He was caught of f guard when Cain (currently defensive line coach for the Denver Broncos) opted to take a job as Oklahoma's defensive line coach after the 2019 season.
Norman-Lott didn't waver on his commitment to Arizona State, however, and was the 10th-ranked recruit in Edwards' 2020 class.
After his first two seasons, Norman-Lott entered the transfer portal in April 2022 to "explore his options" before withdrawing his name a week later. He again entered the portal after the 2022 season and committed to Tennessee. Norman-Lott has three pets: a cat (Goddess), dog (Bella) and calico ball python (Juju). Norman-Lott accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS:
● Compact ball of energy with massive, stif f hands
● Flashes upfield burst and lateral quickness to play in gaps
● Explodes from low position to leverage point of attack
● Will change line of scrimmage with his ability to roll his hips into contact and create movement
● Erases reach of blockers with fierce club/swipe moves
● Will break out jab and Euro steps to give blockers the slip
● Able to bench press himself of f bodies with upper-body strength
● Impressive redirect and range to chase down plays away from line of scrimmage
● Motor stays cranked
● Finished second on team in pressures in 2024, despite being a part-time player

WEAKNESSES:
● Not a starter — averaged just 17.3 defensive snaps per game in 2024
● Always looking to jump the snap, which backfires at times (three of f sides penalties in 2024)
● Can be stalled, moved or uprooted once blockers get into him
● Loses angles in run game, leaving him late to shed or regain positioning
● Plays in overdrive and has trouble breaking down as tackler (unusually high 33.3 percent missed tackle rate in 2024)
● Highly penalized player — 12 flags over his two seasons at Tennessee
● Known as an emotional player and was part of a post-game altercation against Florida (September 2023); suspended for the first half of the following game
● Missed multiple games in 2022 and 2023 because of minor injuries

SUMMARY:
A part-time player at Tennessee, Norman-Lott was a subpackage three-technique in defensive coordinator Tim Banks' four-man front. Since he played limited snaps on the Vols' heavy-rotation defensive line (20th on the team in defensive snaps in 2024), his production volume doesn't jump out, but he led all FBS interior defensive linemen in 2024 in pass rush win rate (12.6 percent) and win percentage (18.9 percent).

Often the first defender to cross the line of scrimmage, Norman-Lott is a twitched-up big man with a diverse skill set to win one-on-one matchups with quickness, power or leverage. He uses sound hand/move fundamentals but leaves a lot of tackle production on the field and needs to play with better control.

Overall, Norman-Lott is an explosive disruptor and of f ers high upside for a coaching staf f that can harness his energy, although he will need to improve his undisciplined tendencies, especially in the run game. There is no doubt about his NFL talent, but his ability to handle more of a full-time role is a tricky projection.

GRADE: 3rd-4th round

[*Synric*]

13 total 1st round grades for @dpbrugler's THE BEAST this year:
1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 2 TEs, 2 OTs, 0 G/Cs, 4 edge, 1 DT, 1 CB

— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) April 9, 2025

[*ochocincos*]

(04-09-2025, 01:32 PM)Synric Wrote:

13 total 1st round grades for @dpbrugler's THE BEAST this year:
1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 2 TEs, 2 OTs, 0 G/Cs, 4 edge, 1 DT, 1 CB

— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) April 9, 2025

Interesting.

The DT with 1st round grade is...Nolen?
RB gotta be Jeanty.
WR is...McMillan? Or is Hunter being categorized as WR?
TE gotta be Warren and Loveland.
CB likely...Johnson?
Edge = Carter...who else?
OTs = Membou, Campbell?

[NATI BENGALS]

Donovan Ezeiruaku has really been growing on me. Is he on there?

[*Synric*]

(04-09-2025, 01:41 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Interesting.

The DT with 1st round grade is...Nolen?
RB gotta be Jeanty.
WR is...McMillan? Or is Hunter being categorized as WR?
TE gotta be Warren and Loveland.
CB likely...Johnson?
Edge = Carter...who else?
OTs = Membou, Campbell?

These are his first round grades with Jihaad Campbell being his first 1st/2nd at #14. I'd post the full top 100 but it's formated weird.

Quote:1 TRAVIS HUNTER CB1 Colorado 
2 ABDUL CARTER EDGE1 Penn State  
3 ASHTON JEANTY RB1 Boise State  
4 MASON GRAHAM DT1 Michigan 
5 JALON WALKER EDGE2 Georgia
6 WILL CAMPBELL OT1 LSU 
7 ARMAND MEMBOU OT2 Missouri 
8 TYLER WARREN TE1 Penn State 
9 SHEMAR STEWART EDGE3 Texas A&M 
10 MIKE GREEN EDGE4 Marshall 
11 COLSTON LOVELAND TE2 Michigan 
12 TETAIROA MCMILLAN WR1 Arizona 
13 CAM WARD QB1 Miami

[*ochocincos*]

(04-09-2025, 01:56 PM)Synric Wrote: These are his first round grades with Jihaad Campbell being his first 1st/2nd at #14. I'd post the full top 100 but it's formated weird.

Omg I had given up on the possibility of Mason Graham so much that I forgot about him entirely lol.

I really want to know how the heck Brugler is putting Stewart ahead of guys like Pearce and Green.

Green I think may have a bigger off-field concern than Pearce, as it's multiple s** assault allegations from back when he played at Virginia.
On top of that, Green 21.5 sacks past 2 seasons in the Sun Belt but Pearce 17.5 in the SEC.

[*Synric*]

(04-09-2025, 01:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I really want to know how the heck Brugler is putting Stewart ahead of guys like Pearce and Green.

Green I think may have a bigger off-field concern than Pearce, as it's multiple s** assault allegations from back when he played at Virginia.
On top of that, Green 21.5 sacks past 2 seasons in the Sun Belt but Pearce 17.5 in the SEC.

James Pearce is ED7. Looks like Dane put an emphasis on guys with more 3 down upside.

1. Carter
2. Walker
3. Stewart
4. Green
5. Williams
6. Ezeiruaku
7. Pearce
8. Tuimoloau
9. Jackson
10. Burch
11. Sawyer
12. Scourton
13. Oluwafemi Oladeju
14. Umanmielen
15. Gillotte
16. Josaiah Stewart
17. Swinson
18. Sorrel
19. Sav'ion Jones
20. Tyrion Ingram Dawkins
21. Walker
22. Kennard
23. Elijah Roberts
24. Fadil Diggs
25. Ivey

[007BengalsFan]

(04-09-2025, 01:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Green I think may have a bigger off-field concern than Pearce, as it's multiple s** assault allegations from back when he played at Virginia.
On top of that, Green 21.5 sacks past 2 seasons in the Sun Belt but Pearce 17.5 in the SEC.

Marshall did play two Power 5 schools this year, ACC Virginia Tech and Big Ten Ohio State.  Green had 2 sacks against VT and 1 sack against Ohio State so he was getting sacks no matter who he played against including the #1 team in the country Ohio State.  I do have concerns with the assault claims plus Green is a little light for a DE so Im not sure how good he will be against the run in the NFL.

[*Synric*]

(04-09-2025, 01:55 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Donovan Ezeiruaku has really been growing on me. Is he on there?

Donovan Ezeiruaku Edge 6.

Quote:BACKGROUND: Donovan Ezeiruaku (Ezz-AH-rah-koo), the third of four boys, was born in Philadelphia to his parents (Sonyx and Cindy). The family later relocated to Williamstown, N.J. (20 miles south of Philadelphia). Ezeiruaku got his start in pee-wee football in Glassboro at age 7. He thought he wanted to play running back and receiver but discovered he had a knack for finding the ball and tackling, which led him to defense. Ezeiruaku also played basketball through middle school and into high school and competed in 7-on-7. 

Ezeiruaku attended Williamstown High, where he was a four-year varsity letterman and played both ways as a wide receiver and edge rusher. His role expanded as a sophomore, as he helped the team to an undefeated 12-0 record and the 2018 South Group 5 state championship. As a junior, Ezeiruaku led Williamstown to a 12-1 record and the second of its back-to-back state titles with 53 tackles and 7.5 sacks. His senior season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he finished with 47 tackles and two sacks in nine games, earning all-area honors. Ezeiruaku also played basketball as a freshman at Williamstown and lettered in track. He had personal bests of 17 feet, 5 inches in the long jump, 37-5 in the triple jump, 39-7 in the shot put and 80-11 in the discus. 

A three-star recruit, Ezeiruaku was the 132nd-ranked linebacker in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 23 recruit in New Jersey. He didn't have any recruiting stars following his junior season, but his recruitment started to pick up steam with of f ers from FCS schools Holy Cross, Stony Brook THE BEAST | BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 273 and Wagner, and Ivy League programs such as Harvard and Princeton. Ezeiruaku received his first FBS of f ers in May 2020 from Northern Illinois, Old Dominion and nearby Temple, followed by his first then-Power 5 of f ers from Boston College and Vanderbilt. He was unable to go on visits because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he took a chance and committed to Boston College and head coach Jef f Hafley. Ezeiruaku was the 22nd-ranked recruit (out of 26) in Hafley's 2021 class. He graduated with a degree (Dec. 2024). Ezeiruaku opted out of Boston College's 2024 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS:
● Bendy athlete with disproportionately long arms 
● Accelerates well around the arc with impressive body dip 
● Go-to move is a jab step with a slap/cross-chop to pry open the rush lane 
● Uses length to chop down and erase blocking hands
● Explosive laterally to sidestep and maneuver around roadblocks 
● Uses quick swim/arm-over moves to blow through tight end blocks
● Long reach helps him maintain space in the run game and stay detached on the move 
● Two-year team captain with strong football character
● Durable; started 36 straight games before opting out of the 2024 bowl game
 ● Led FBS in sacks per game (1.38) and took home the 2024 Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end 
● Tied Boston College single-season record with 16.5 sacks and joined Mathias Kiwanuka as the only players in school history to reach 30 career sacks 

WEAKNESSES: 
● Below-average height with a very light frame 
● Needs to get stronger in both his upper and lower halves to better match up against NFL linemen
● Doesn't have power in his hands to move blockers with a bull rush
 ● Needs to develop a more ef f ective low-side counter and when transitioning of f his long-arm move 
● Will have a tough time two-gapping
● Only average speed and struggles to close the gap in pursuit 
● Can shake him in the backfield; needs to stay under control breaking down in tight quarters 
● Occasionally lined up as a MIKE on third downs — but as a blitzer, not dropping or as a coverage player

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Boston College, Ezeiruaku was an outside edge rusher (left and right) in defensive coordinator Tim Lewis' 4-3 base scheme (lined up mostly as a stand-up defender, with 99.7 percent of his snaps coming wide of the tackle as a 7- or 9-tech). After leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss as a sophomore and junior, he became the 13th consensus All-American in school history as a senior and finished top three in the FBS in both sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (20.5). 

 As a pass rusher, Ezeiruaku is more "dip-and-rip" than he is a force player, with his natural feel for depth points and the dif f erent ways he uses jab steps and cross-chops to soften the corner. He can be overwhelmed at times against the run but flashes the length to get into an opponent's pads, lock out and stalemate at the point of attack, especially on the move. 
Overall, Ezeiruaku is a tad light for a stack-and-shed edge setter, but rushing the passer is his calling card, and he has the arc acceleration, body flexibility and long, active arms to break down the balance of blockers. He has NFL starter-level talent, and his tape says he is more than a DPR (designated pass rusher). 

 GRADE: 1st-2nd round (No. 22 overall)

[Goalpost]

The Ohio State running backs are talented and they remain interesting options to me.  We need to convert a third and one without Joe sneaking it all the time also. They are second rounders though.

[*Synric*]

(04-09-2025, 02:39 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: Marshall did play two Power 5 schools this year, ACC Virginia Tech and Big Ten Ohio State.  Green had 2 sacks against VT and 1 sack against Ohio State so he was getting sacks no matter who he played against including the #1 team in the country Ohio State.  I do have concerns with the assault claims plus Green is a little light for a DE so Im not sure how good he will be against the run in the NFL.

Green had a sack vs Ohio State but that was also his only pressure in that game. 

[Whatever]

(04-09-2025, 12:04 PM)Stewy Wrote: If transferring around is his issue, then he has no issues.  He transferred ONCE in college, and for good reasons.  His HS transfers bother me not at all, because it's obvious football was his focus.  He was after upgrading his recruiting status and it worked.  So what if he wasn't interested in education?  He wouldn't be the first or the last.  Hopefully he isn't a complete "dumb" though.

It's probably not just the transfers.  It's probably more the question as to why he transferred.  Since teams are literally taking him off their boards, it could very well be due to perhaps he was kicked out of school numerous times.  Lots of kids change high schools and colleges.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-09-2025, 02:35 PM)Synric Wrote: James Pearce is ED7. Looks like Dane put an emphasis on guys with more 3 down upside.

1. Carter
2. Walker
3. Stewart
4. Green
5. Williams
6. Ezeiruaku
7. Pearce
8. Tuimoloau
9. Jackson
10. Burch
11. Sawyer
12. Scourton
13. Oluwafemi Oladeju
14. Umanmielen
15. Gillotte
16. Josaiah Stewart
17. Swinson
18. Sorrel
19. Sav'ion Jones
20. Tyrion Ingram Dawkins
21. Walker
22. Kennard
23. Elijah Roberts
24. Fadil Diggs
25. Ivey

Mike Green offers more 3-down potential than Pearce?
I've seen Green more in the mold of Josaiah Stewart, a pass rushing OLB who could struggle defending the run against NFL OL.

[Essex Johnson]

(04-09-2025, 01:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Omg I had given up on the possibility of Mason Graham so much that I forgot about him entirely lol.

I really want to know how the heck Brugler is putting Stewart ahead of guys like Pearce and Green.

Green I think may have a bigger off-field concern than Pearce, as it's multiple s** assault allegations from back when he played at Virginia.
On top of that, Green 21.5 sacks past 2 seasons in the Sun Belt but Pearce 17.5 in the SEC.

Stewart is more of a 3 down DE , probably the best athlete of the bunch, sometimes nfl worries less about production in college vs having the athletic traits... I did read Stewart has the best average time to first pressure last season with 2.43 seconds so he can be very disruptive, needs to get better at finishing.