Playing in a linebacker room with arguably the LB1 of the class in Devin Lloyd, Nephi Sewell is often overlooked. However, the Utah defender should not be forgotten in the 2022 NFL Draft. He may not have the same name recognition as his defensive teammate, but Sewell owns a scouting report worthy of consideration.
Nephi Sewell NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Linebacker
- School: Utah
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 5’11 1/2″
- Weight: 226 pounds
- Wingspan: 71 3/8″
- Arm: 29 1/2″
- Hand: 8 1/4″
Nephi Sewell Scouting Report
If we rank NFL Draft prospects by their family heritage, story, and off-field character, Sewell would be high on boards. However, while intangibles are unquantifiably valuable, physical traits and game film matter most. At 5’11” and 226 pounds with 29″ arms, Sewell is undoubtedly on the smaller side of the position. In fact, he looks and plays more like a safety, which was his position for two years at Nevada before transferring to Utah.
At the 2022 NFL Combine, Sewell produced a 4.67 40-yard dash, 32″ vertical, 10″ broad, 7.01 three-cone, and 4.33 short shuttle. His performance culminated in a 6.09 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). However, his overall rating was heavily weighed down by his smaller stature. None of his numbers were incredible, but none were abysmal, either.
Sewell is an NFL-worthy talent. But as of right now, he is a late Day 3 pick at best. His size and length limit his run defense ability, likely keeping him off the field on early downs in the NFL.
While he may not be the most disruptive playmaker, Sewell can hold his own in zone coverage thanks to his instincts and range. He can be a nickel or dime linebacker in the league, but he might begin his career as a core special teamer. At his high end, Sewell flashes a skill set similar to Matt Milano. Milano was a fifth-round pick in 2017, and he came with better tape. Nevertheless, I believe Sewell is worth the investment in the sixth or seventh round.
Where Sewell wins
Sewell began his collegiate career as a safety at Nevada. His time in the defensive backfield has helped him in his role at the second level. He developed a good sense for taking angles downhill and owns an impressive feel in zone. In fact, he could play as a Tampa 2 “MIKE” thanks to his ability to carry crossers and posts downfield. Furthermore, Sewell closes out well in zone, eliminates checkdowns, and maintains leverage.
Sewell’s instincts and feel for the game are his calling cards. He routinely sniffed out screens and blew them up. Additionally, he often read and reacted to the play before his teammates. You can freeze-frame Sewell’s tape, and you will see him begin to move toward the ball while the rest of the defense is flowing the opposite way. The Utes LB quickly identifies read options and RPOs, holding proper positioning in throwing lanes.
The Utah defender is stronger than one would expect from his size, and he shows the willingness to mix it up in the box. He beat college guards on stunts due to his speed and routinely jumped inside of tackles after pressuring their outside shoulder. He keeps his feet moving after initial contact and occasionally flashed pop on hits. Sewell was stellar at bringing down ball carriers from the weak side, tracking them down before they could bounce out.
Areas for improvement
Much of Sewell’s areas for improvement stem from his size and length, but there are some mental aspects he can clean up. Specifically, in zone, Sewell can rely too much on reading the quarterback’s eyes. That allows him to jump toward passes before his teammates. At the same time, it allows opposing QBs to hold a read with their eyes only to attack Sewell over the top or on crossers. NFL signal-callers will cause him headaches with eye manipulation early on.
Moreover, the Utah LB is slow to react more than you would like. It’s not every rep, but there are plays where Sewell seems a tick behind the offense, leading to him giving up too much cushion or prematurely overlapping in zone. Additionally, he can remain flat-footed for far too long, forcing him to be too physical when the receiver is about to pass him.
Compounding the issue is his lack of pursuit speed. Once Sewell is behind his man, he struggles to regain ground. His lack of above-average change-of-direction ability doesn’t help. He can lose balance in the open field because of stiff hips and is susceptible to stiff arms by bigger ball carriers.
While his play strength is better than many give credit, Sewell won’t be able to play off the edge as much as he did for the Utes. He lacks the power to bull rush bigger tackles, doesn’t have quick, violent hands, and is unable to leverage run fits consistently. Off the edge, he can crash down a bit too hard, giving up contain.
Length limitations
29″ arms are tough to overlook at the linebacker position. Sewell is already shorter, and although he can stay hip to hip with TEs, he commonly loses the battle and can be pushed off at route breaks. Even against smaller receivers, his arm length limits his potential to break up passes at the catch point.
As a tackler, Sewell is a bit inconsistent. He showcases solid technique and tackling angles. But at other times, he dives at ankles or simply throws a shoulder. His arm length doesn’t help, as he can be left grasping at air on the hoof.
Sewell can carry routes downfield, but if teams attack him with speedier weapons, he will struggle to keep up. The potential is there to hold a deep zone from the middle linebacker spot, but it’s risky due to his dependency on watching the QB and less-than-inspiring top speed.
In run defense, Sewell is best chasing plays toward the sideline. He can get pushed around by looming blockers, thus forcing him into a passing-down-only role, especially in Year 1.
Sewell’s Player Profile
The Sewell family moved from American Samoa to Utah when Nephi was in eighth grade. Football has been a part of his life from an early age. And its meaning to him was never more pronounced than during his high school career. At Desert Hills High School in his hometown of St. George, Utah, Sewell was a standout.
As a sophomore in 2014, the future Utes LB racked up 48 tackles, 5 interceptions (2 TDs), 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries (1 TD) as a DB. He also shined on offense and special teams, rushing 22 times for 207 yards and 2 TDs. As a punt returner, Sewell took 20 attempts for 325 yards and 3 TDs, further showcasing his versatility. His play earned him first-team All-State and All-Region honors.
However, Sewell’s life on and off the field was about to take an alarming turn. In the very first game of his junior year, Sewell suffered fractured vertebrae in his neck, leaving him in a brace. And while that was difficult enough, doctors told him he may never play the sport he grew up adoring ever again. But Sewell didn’t give up on his passion. Instead, he channeled his motivation, allowed his body to heal, and returned to the football field in the third week of his senior campaign in 2016.
How did he do after a year off and nursing a neck injury? Oh, he just took over the backfield and rushed for 1,262 yards and 14 scores on 114 carries, helping his team to a 3AA state championship. In the final game of his high school career, Sewell rushed for 243 yards, the sixth-most in a title game in state history. He received first-team All-State and All-Region honors yet again, as well as 3AAA South MVP, crystallizing his legacy at Desert Hills and in the St. George community.
From Utah to Nevada and back to Utah
After his stellar senior season, Sewell was only labeled a two-star prospect. Still, he received offers from Washington State, Weber State, Dixie State, Southern Utah, and Nevada. But in the end, Sewell decided to join his older brother Gabriel at Nevada, where new head coach Jay Norvell was taking over. In fact, Sewell was Norvell’s first verbal commitment with the Wolf Pack.
After thriving on the offensive side of the ball as a running back, Sewell found his collegiate home on the defense as a safety. He immediately saw significant reps for Nevada, playing in all 12 games and making eight starts. He totaled 58 tackles (32 solo), 1 forced fumble, 1 INT, and 4 pass deflections while earning Nevada’s Hustle Award for his efforts on special teams.
Sewell saw similar production in 2018 as a starter in 11 games, but he entered the transfer portal after the season, stating he wanted to be closer to home. In December of that year, he committed to BYU but ultimately enrolled at Utah prior to the 2019 season.
Sewell’s career at Utah
Sewell had to walk on to the football team before earning a scholarship in fall camp. He switched to linebacker in head coach Kyle Whittingham’s system and quickly benefitted. In 2020 and 2021, Sewell generated 129 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 INTs, and 2 forced fumbles. For his play, he received back-to-back Pac-12 honorable mentions.
Sewell decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2022 NFL Draft with one more year of eligibility left. The Utah LB earned and accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he could further show his skill set to NFL personnel. He played well both in practices and the all-star game itself, particularly turning heads in 1-on-1s.
What they’re saying about Sewell
“He’s a phenomenal individual. He has an uncanny ability to get to the football. It’s something like I’ve never seen. He really, really understands offense and defense. He puts himself in great positions to make plays. He’s very productive. He’s not the biggest man in stature, but he does pack a powerful punch. He is physical.” — Utah linebackers coach Colton Swan
“Nephi has exceptional quickness. That’s really the strength of his game — his quickness and his lateral movement. He’s also a physical player that can hit you and deliver a blow.” — Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham
Sewell’s NFL Draft ascension
There is a lot to like about Sewell, but there is also a lot to be concerned about. As a likely Day 3 pick or priority undrafted free agent, the Utah LB can make a team due to his character and special-teams ability. But from there, it is up to him to showcase his coverage prowess and want-to against the run.
As mentioned before, I believe Sewell’s ceiling is as a Matt Milano-lite weakside linebacker. The current Buffalo Bills LB owns longer arms and better explosiveness numbers, but the two are similar physically.
- Milano (2017 Combine): 6’0 1/2″, 223 pounds, 32″ arms, 4.67 40-yard dash, 35″ vertical, 10’6″ broad
- Sewell (2022 Combine): 5’11 1/2″, 226 pounds, 29 1/2″ arms, 4.67 40-yard dash, 32″ vertical, 10″ broad
Sewell can build a niche in the NFL. He may have to work harder than most for it, but the last thing he will do is take his football career for granted.