2024 NFL Draft DL Prospects
#1
Jer’Zhan
dl
Newton
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
295
40 Time:
5.00*
Player Bio:
Jer’Zhan Newton first popped onto the scene in 2020 after playing in all eight games, and starting two, during a COVID-shortened season. Since then, he’s been a consistent force on the defensive line for the Fighting Illini. Last season, he led the Power 5 in pressures among interior defensive linemen, as well as making multiple season award lists.
#2
Leonard
dl
Taylor
Height:
6’3″
Weight:
305
40 Time:
4.79*
Player Bio:
Leonard Taylor first burst onto the scene in 2021 as a true freshman for the Miami Hurricanes. A five-star prospect out of high school (according to 247Sports and ESPN), Taylor quickly proved his worth, finishing tied for the team lead in tackles for loss. Last season, his stats and production grew slightly, but should take a big jump this year as his role on defense increases.
#3
Kris
dl
Jenkins
Height:
6’3″
Weight:
285
40 Time:
4.84*
Player Bio:
In 2020, Kris Jenkins committed to the University of Michigan as a consensus three-star prospect. He saw limited time during his freshman season, where he earned scout team honors and appeared in the game against Wisconsin, but did not redshirt. The following season, Jenkins saw more playing time, making four starts and appearing in every game that season. Kris Jenkins started every game in 2022 for the Wolverines, which was a breakout year for the defensive lineman. For his play in 2023 as a senior, Jenkins earned second and third team All-Big Ten honors.
#4
Byron
dl
Murphy II
Height:
6’1″
Weight:
300
40 Time:
5.10*
Player Bio:
As a freshman in 2021, Byron Murphy II made one start for the University of Texas Longhorns, but appeared in all 12 games, where he finished with 15 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, and 2 sacks. Murphy II continued to show dominance on the football field as a sophomore in 2022, where he finished with 26 total tackles, 3 for a loss, and 1 sack. However, the breakout year came in 2023 as a junior, where he finished with 29 total tackles, 8.5 for a loss, and 5 sacks. His play earned him an invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
#5
Michael
dl
Hall Jr
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
285
40 Time:
4.90*
Player Bio:
Michael Hall Jr first saw significant playing time in the 2022 season, after redshirting as a true freshman in 2021. He finished the season with 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Had breakout games against Notre Dame, Arkansas State, and Michigan State. He suffered a shoulder injury that plagued him throughout the year, but if he can remain healthy, the sky is the limit in 2023.
#6
Brandon
dl
Dorlus
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
290
40 Time:
4.85*
Player Bio:
Brandon Dorlus joined the University of Oregon Ducks in 2019, as a consensus three-star recruit out of high school. He saw some playing time as a freshman and sophomore, but didn’t pop onto the scene until the 2021 season as a redshirt sophomore. He finished that season with 25 total tackles, 7 of which were for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. Dorlus showed much of the same in 2022 and 2023, which has earned him three straight seasons with first or second team All-Pac 12 honors.
#7
T’Vondre
dl
Sweat
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
355
40 Time:
5.15*
Player Bio:
T’Vondre Sweat began playing college ball at the University of Texas in 2019, where he played in every game as a freshman. Sweat played in every game during the 2020 and 2021 season, but didn’t have a breakout season until 2022 as a senior. It was then that he made 9 starts for the Longhorns, finished with 30 total tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 player. He utilized the extra year of eligibility from the 2020 season, where he won the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the top interior lineman, and was invited to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
#8
Ruke
dl
Orhorhoro
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
295
40 Time:
4.85*
Player Bio:
Ruke Orhorhoro first saw playing time as a freshman for Clemson in 2019, where he appeared in nine games for the Tigers. The following season, Orhorhoro suffered an injury in the season opener against Wake Forest, which significantly limited his playing time. However, over the next three seasons, he finished each season with over 20 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss per season, and 11.5 total sacks. He’s also earned multiple second and third team All-ACC honors.
#9
Shemar
dl
Turner
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
295
40 Time:
4.85*
Player Bio:
Ruke Orhorhoro first saw playing time as a freshman for Clemson in 2019, where he appeared in nine games for the Tigers. The following season, Orhorhoro suffered an injury in the season opener against Wake Forest, which significantly limited his playing time. However, over the next three seasons, he finished each season with over 20 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss per season, and 11.5 total sacks. He’s also earned multiple second and third team All-ACC honors.
#10
Maason
dl
Smith
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
300
40 Time:
4.79*
Player Bio:
Maason Smith first burst onto the scene in 2021 as a freshman defensive lineman. He appeared in the first game of the 2022 season, but was injured during a celebration, which forced him to miss the rest of the season. He enters the 2023 season as one of the top defenders in the country.
#11
DeWayne
dl
Carter
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
298
40 Time:
4.97*
Player Bio:
DeWayne Carter joined the Duke Blue Devils out of high school in the class of 2019. As a freshman, he saw action in three games, where he finished with 1 total tackle against Alabama. He saw his first start during the 2020 season, finishing with 11 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 total sack. He was a full-time starter and team captain from 2021 to 2023, finishing with over 30 total tackles per season. He had a breakout season in 2022, where he ended up with 36 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. For his play on the field, DeWayne Carter earned an invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
#12
McKinnley
dl
Jackson
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
325
40 Time:
5.15*
Player Bio:
McKinnley Jackson has seen playing time each year he’s been on campus at Texas A&M, going all the way back to the 2020 season as a freshman. He earned SEC A–Freshman team honors for his play during the 2020 season, where he finished with 13 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. The 2022 season was the best of his collegiate career, finishing with 37 total tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks. In early-December, Jackson announced that he would be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
#13
Braden
dl
Fiske
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
305
40 Time:
5.10*
Player Bio:
Out of high school, Braden Fiske committed to Western Michigan University. He saw action in a few games as a freshman in 2018, but maintained his eligibility through a redshirt. From 2019 to 2022, Braden Fiske only missed one game, the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl in the 2019 season. His best year was the 2022 season, where he finished with 59 total tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss, along with 6 sacks. In late-November, Fiske accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
#14
Justin
dl
Eboigbe
Height:
6’4″
Weight:
292
40 Time:
4.90*
Player Bio:
Justin Eboigbe was an Alabama commit in the class of 2019. As a true freshman, Eboigbe made two starts, while seeing playing time in 10 games. He was a reserve player during the 2020 and 2021 season, finishing with 19 total tackles each year. He was poised for a bigger role on the Crimson Tide defense in 2022, but suffered a season-ending injury after four games. Eboigbe had a breakout season in 2023 as he returned from injury, finishing with 64 total tackles, including 11.5 tackles for a loss, and 7 sacks.
#15
Tyler
dl
Davis
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
300
40 Time:
5.03*
Player Bio:
Tyler Davis is a four-year starter at defensive tackle for the Clemson Tigers. Made 13 starts as a true freshman, which was the most by a defensive tackle in school history. His three All-ACC selections are tied for the most in school history, tied with Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, and William Perry.
#16
Mekhi
dl
Wingo
Height:
6’0″
Weight:
295
40 Time:
4.90*
Player Bio:
Mekhi Wingo spent his first season of college ball at the University of Missouri. where he finished with 27 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception. However, after his freshman season, Wingo entered the transfer portal, finding his way to the LSU Tigers. In his first season with the Tigers, Mekhi Wingo nearly doubled his production, finishing with 46 total tackles, including 6 tackles for a loss, and 3 sacks. Mekhi Wingo suffered a groin injury in the 2023 season opener, which he was able to manage for 6 weeks before he underwent surgery, which accounted for a loss of production in the stat line for him.
#17
Keith
dl
Randolph Jr
Height:
6’5″
Weight:
305
40 Time:
4.95*
Player Bio:
Keith Randolph Jr joined the University of Illinois in 2019 as a true freshman. He played in four games that season, which preserved his redshirt. Randolph Jr played in five of the eight games that Illinois played in 2020, finishing with 8 total tackles. Keith Randolph Jr first started to see starting playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2021, where he made seven starts in ten appearances. His best year at Illinois was the 2022 season, where he finished with double-digit tackles for loss. He has accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
#18
Darius
dl
Robinson
Height:
6’5″
Weight:
296
40 Time:
4.85*
Player Bio:
Darius Robinson chose the University of Missouri out of high school, committing to the Tigers as part of the 2019 class. He saw action in five games as a true freshman, finishing with 1 tackle. His workload increased slightly in 2020, making two starts in seven games. He was plagued by injuries in 2021, but managed to play in ten games, making six starts. His starts increased to ten games as a senior in 2022, where he finished with 35 total tackles, including 5.5 for a loss. The 2023 season was a breakout year for Robinson, where he finished with 43 total tackles, including 14 for a loss, and 8.5 sacks.
#19
Gabe
dl
Hall
Height:
6’5″
Weight:
295
40 Time:
4.95*
Player Bio:
As a true freshman in 2019, Gabe Hall saw action in eight games for the Baylor Bears, but missed six games following an injury. He redshirted in 2020, having only appeared in one game for the Bears. Hall returned in 2021 and made an impact on defense, finishing with 18 tackles, including 7 for a loss, and 5 sacks. His breakout season came in 2022, where he finished with 37 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks.
