As one of the most decorated defenders in Boston College history, edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku has a significant amount of momentum heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.
With an All-American nomination to his name, will Ezeiruaku become the Eagles’ first defensive player selected in Round 1 since Luke Kuechly in 2012?
Donovan Ezeiruaku’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 247 pounds
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Boston College
- Current Year: Senior
Ezeiruaku’s Scouting Report
Ezeiruaku grew up in Williamstown, New Jersey and attended Williamstown High School. A three-star recruit coming out of high school, he committed to Boston College to play college football.
Coming into the 2021 season, Ezeiruaku played predominantly in a rotational role along the Eagles’ defensive line. He finished his true freshman year with 21 total tackles, three sacks, four tackles for a loss and 11 quarterback pressures.
An opportunity arose for Ezeiruaku as a sophomore, as he ended up stepping into the starting rotation in 2022. With an increased workload, he was able to improve his numbers to 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss. He finished the year as a second-team All-ACC player, tallying 35 pressures in the process.
Expectations were high for Ezeiruaku coming into the 2023 season, and while the tape was strong, his sack numbers weren’t all that flashy. He dropped down to just two sacks, though he did force two fumbles as a junior. He ultimately decide against declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, staying in school for his senior year.
Ezeiruaku’s production skyrocketed in his final year of collegiate eligibility. He placed second in the entire FBS with 16.5 sacks and placed third in the nation with 20.5 tackles for a loss.
He was a consensus All-American in 2024 and earned both the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Ted Hendricks Award, the latter recognizing him as the best collegiate defensive end in the country.
Strengths
- Possesses impressive length, especially for a smaller edge rusher.
- Sack production was fantastic in 2024, and the tape matches it.
- Determined edge rusher who plays with a high motor that helps him penetrate opposing offenses’ backfields.
- Quick off the ball with a very good first step and build-up speed.
- Range as a backside run defender is above-average.
- Long arms help him keep offensive tackles at bay when he’s engaged in contact.
- Agile speed rusher who has the mobility needed to serve as a consistent threat on stunts and inside moves.
- Flexible edge rusher who turns the corner well and has precise angles getting to the quarterback along the outside.
- Has a deep arsenal of finesse moves he can use to win at the point of attack like swims, cross-chops and rips.
- More often than not has a good plan of attack when he’s rushing the passer.
- Combination of quick hands with long arms and a good idea of how to use them make him dangerous.
Weaknesses
- Undersized edge rusher who’s shorter and on the lighter side for his position.
- Could struggle to fit as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end at the next level, hurting his schematic versatility.
- Doesn’t offer tremendous power in his game at this stage.
- Isn’t an edge rusher who’s going to consistently push the pocket backwards with power moves.
- Can get washed out by blockers in the run game because of his size.
- Doesn’t rush incredibly heavy-handed, meaning he doesn’t pack a strong punch when he initially jabs at offensive linemen.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Donovan Ezeiruaku certainly isn’t a “one size fits all” type of edge rusher, but if your team utilizes their edge defenders in a stand-up rushing role, he’s a name worth getting to know.
The sack production from 2024 speaks volumes, but Ezeiruaku’s tape is flooded with pro-ready technique. He uses his hands incredibly well to shed blocks and get to the quarterback, and he plays with a relentless passion when he’s chasing down the ball. His sack total doesn’t just consist of proverbial empty calories; he earned every bit of those 16.5 sacks.
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Because of his smaller frame, Ezeiruaku could struggle a little against the run early in his NFL career. That’s not to say he’ll always be a bad run defender, as he has the hand usage and the spatial awareness to work off of blocks and make tackles.
Rather, as he adjusts to the increased processing speeds the NFL has to offer, he could be at a physical disadvantage because he’s smaller than the average edge rusher.
As a stand-up outside linebacker in a base 3-4 system, Ezeiruaku has the potential to develop into a solid starter in due time. His size and lack of schematic versatility could knock him out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s a top-50 player in this year’s class.
All it takes one team to fall in love with him, and he could end up selected higher than the consensus.
