Defenses seeking inside tenacity have often turned to whoever is available at defensive tackle during the NFL Draft.
Braden Fiske is one of the top options in this upcoming rookie market. Thanks to his versatile skill set, the interior defender is anticipated to be one of the more intriguing prospects for his position group.
How Tall Is Braden Fiske?
Fiske stands 6’3″, making him ideal for a four-man front, especially if he lines up as a 3-technique tackle.
NFL franchises have often used height as a measuring stick when searching for the right personnel for their front lines, including interior defenders.
Any DT under 6’2″ is likely best suited for a nose tackle role. But with Fiske’s height, he’s perfect for lining up in the gap between the guard and center.
How Much Does Fiske Weigh?
Weight is another deciding factor in a player’s suitability to play on the interior. Weighing in at 297 pounds, is Fiske too light for an NFL defensive tackle?
The average weight for a defensive tackle is 314 pounds, meaning Fiske is nearly 20 pounds below that figure. Yet, he’s still drawing intrigue for his play during his college years.
How Old Is Fiske?
Since Fiske is a past NCAA transfer portal entry, he’s one of the older rookies for this upcoming class. He turned 24 years old in mid-January.
What School Did Fiske Go To?
Fiske is one of the few defensive tackles in this class who played for more than one program. He also comes with the “under-recruited” label.
MORE: Top DTs in the 2024 NFL Draft
The native of Michigan City, Ind., started out at Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a 2018 signing. He was Indiana’s 15th-ranked prospect by 247Sports as a three-star prospect.
Ultimately, Fiske took the leap of faith and entered the transfer portal. Now, the college football world knows him as a dominant force from Florida State.
Revisiting Fiske’s College Career
Fiske emerged as an immediate starter and contributor for WMU, playing a total of 42 games and pummeling offenses in the MAC.
He snatched 27 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 13.5 sacks, with the Broncos. Still, the nation ended up learning more about Fiske when he became a Seminole.
After installing himself as a starter at Florida State, Fiske responded by collecting 43 tackles (17 solo), including six sacks and nine total tackles for loss for an FSU team that went 13-0 in the 2023 regular season.
Fiske emerged as a fan favorite in Tallahassee by camping out in opponents’ backfields.
While the college football world knows him as a dominating trench defender for the ACC champs, Fiske told Andy Staples of On3 that he still claims both WMU and FSU as his schools. However, he revealed in the same interview that Notre Dame and USC had offered him to come over via the transfer portal.
“My two weeks [in the portal], my phone was blowing up,” Fiske said to Staples. “I ended up shutting my phone off so I could go to sleep. It’d be [going off] from 7 in the morning to 10 at night. But I get it, though, with the short time period you have [in the portal].”
Fiske added how when FSU head coach Mike Norvell came to his Michigan City home, they ended up having a lengthy staring contest before Norvell banged on his table pitching Florida State to him. Fiske ended up falling in love with Norvell’s attitude.
Fiske’s Potential in the NFL
In Fiske, NFL teams are looking at one of the more destructive forces available in this draft. His height and weight aren’t even considered his primary strengthes. It’s his wicked snap explosion once the ball moves.
Fiske showed his wheels by turning in an astonishing 4.78-second time in the 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine. He also brings powerful upper body strength and a motor after the snap, which was exactly what he showed on Saturdays.
Is Fiske considered first-round material? Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings graded him as a late-Day 2 to early-Day 3 prospect. However, Fiske’s motor is what will win over defenses needing trench enhancements.
“Choose whatever analogy you want. He’s got that dog mentality but takes it up a notch. He eats nails for breakfast. However you want to describe it, Fiske’s motor is unhinged. On every play, he simply wants it more than his opponent, and that can make the difference,” Cummings said.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Braden Fiske
Cummings cited Fiske’s lack of arm flexibility and bend as his flaws. But even without a first-round grade, Cummings thinks Fiske has future starting potential in the NFL.
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