Georgia Tech EDGE Keion White isn’t always mentioned among the top defensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he has the tools to go off the board near where they do this coming April. His scouting report below has all the details.
Keion White NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Georgia Tech
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’5″, 286 pounds
- Length: 34″
- Hand: 10 1/8″
Interestingly enough, White was a tight end when he began his career back at Old Dominion. His size and athleticism translated well at the position, but it translated even more effectively at defensive end.
White transitioned to DE in 2019 and ended up leading his team in tackles for loss with 19 that year. He was a second-team All-Conference USA honoree for his play and leveraged his performance into a transfer opportunity at Georgia Tech.
At Georgia Tech, White was similarly dominant at his peak. An ankle injury prevented him from showing it in 2021, but in 2022, White came back and logged 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss, emerging as a true game-changer on the defensive front.
White’s production certainly backs up his projection. But looking at the tape, he has the tools to take on a lasting role in the NFL as well.
Keion White Scouting Report
Strengths
- Long, dense athlete with an overwhelming wingspan and rare alignment versatility.
- Freakish athlete at his size with high-end explosiveness, foot speed, and agility.
- Extremely violent, heavy-handed rusher with elite power capacity and knockback force.
- Levies devastating long-arms with power, then stack rips and chops off initial exertions.
- Has shown the ability to torque through blocks on the interior and maximize power element.
- Brings elite play strength to the fold and can easily stack and shed and set the edge.
- Can use his length and strength to work across-face in run defense and pry open gaps.
- Has the agility and lateral freedom to use spin moves after offsetting blockers.
- Flashes very impressive hip flexibility and ankle flexion for his size.
- High-motor rusher who brings relentless energy and swallows up runners in pursuit.
Areas for Improvement
- Sometimes struggles to manage leverage and pad level through pass-rushing reps.
- Predominantly a power rusher at this point — can be more consistent with counters.
- Hands can be more controlled on the attack, and placement can be more precise.
- Sometimes loses balance upon initial extensions and can be more efficient on the rush.
- Can struggle to sustain acceleration while flexing ankles around the apex.
- 24-year-old rookie who will turn 25 next January.
- Has the athleticism to trail running backs in coverage but lacks technique.
Georgia Tech EDGE Keion White Current Draft Projection
One of many dynamic defensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft, White grades out as a top 50 prospect on my board based on pure traits.
There are other factors to take into account with White. He’s an older rookie who’ll turn 25 years old next January and has an injury history to note. But if teams are willing to take the risk, White has truly rare tools in his arsenal. It’s why he could end up being a surprise first-round pick.
At 6’5 “, 286 pounds, White is a unicorn with convention-crashing size and length to go along with near-elite explosiveness, agility, and dominating power capacity and strength. His ability to violently unleash into contact makes him a nightmare off the snap, and his power-rushing arsenal can overwhelm tackles.
Even at his advanced age, White has more room for refinement and efficiency as a pass rusher. At times, managing leverage through reps can be an issue. But already, White’s amalgamation of tools gives him alignment versatility in the purest form. He’s a goblin who can set the edge and rush at 5-tech or move inside to 3-tech and 2i, blasting open lanes with his traits.
For teams that crave alignment versatility and dynamic disruption capabilities, White presents a massive amount of appeal. Where he settles depends on his medicals and pre-draft showing. But he can be a dynamic defensive piece with rare positional flexibility and impact starter potential.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report on Keion White
Strengths: Athletic, explosive DE who began his college career at tight end. Explodes off the snap, effectively uses his hands, and plays with outstanding pad level. Agile, keeps his feet moving, and possesses an explosive closing burst.
Can flatten the edge, moves well laterally, and gets out into space to make plays. Has the ability to immediately alter his angle of attack, redirects to the action, and goes very hard. Covers a lot of area on the field. Quickly reads and diagnoses the action and immediately locates the ball handler.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t show great playing strength. Easily turned from the action by a single blocker. Played just four games the two seasons prior to 2022.
Overall: White began his college career as a tight end at Old Dominion, then moved to the defensive side of the ball and turned in a great campaign in 2019. He rebounded well last season after two years of inactivity and had three outstanding days of practice at the Senior Bowl.
White is athletic as well as explosive and comes with a great amount of upside, but he must improve his playing strength and stay healthy. If he’s able to build on his play from last season and the Senior Bowl, White offers starting potential for a variety of defensive schemes.