Who are the top defensive line prospects at the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl? Here’s a glimpse at the interior defensive line group and which 2023 NFL Draft prospects have the most to prove in Mobile.
Top 2023 Senior Bowl Interior Defensive Linemen NFL Draft Prospects
1) Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
Keeanu Benton is already one of the highest-rated defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl, but even he has plenty to prove in Mobile. He’s a dense 6’4″, 315-pound lineman with nose tackle capabilities who was dominant down the stretch for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2022.
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Benton’s run defense is phenomenal. He’s a stack-and-shed master with outrageous strength. What evaluators will watch in Mobile, however, is his pass-rushing ability in one-on-ones. Benton has violent hands and the necessary burst, but consistency will be key.
2) Byron Young, Alabama
Alabama will be well-represented in the trenches at the Senior Bowl this year. On the offensive side, tackle Tyler Steen and interior lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. will be present. And on the defensive line, veterans Byron Young and DJ Dale will hold down the fort.
Dale is an intriguing prospect in his own right, but Young has a higher ranking on the 2023 NFL Draft board. Already, Young is a high-level run defender. His stay at the Senior Bowl will allow him to showcase his pass-rushing upside, something he gave bright flashes of in college with his athleticism and torque.
3) Keion White, Georgia Tech
One of the biggest riser candidates heading into the 2023 Senior Bowl is Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White. He’s still a sleeper in the context of his counterparts. But he has perhaps the most to gain from getting his talents in front of NFL evaluators in Mobile.
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White is a 6’4″, 286-pound wrecking ball with explosiveness, lateral agility, and awesome power across alignments on the defensive front. He can play at 3-tech or move outside the tackle, and his athleticism and motor make him a menace in pursuit, as evidenced by his two seasons with 14 or more TFLs.
4) Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
The 2023 NFL Draft class is flush with hybrid defensive linemen who can play from both interior and EDGE alignments. Adetomiwa Adebawore falls within that category. But of that group, he has one of the most compelling combinations of explosiveness, proportional length, and functional strength.
Adebawore put up five sacks and nine tackles for loss this past season. But each week, it felt like the box score didn’t do his impact justice. He’s a constant disruptor on the line, whose high-end traits allow him to consistently generate pressure downhill. One-on-ones will be big for him.
5) Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
Just as the Senior Bowl is a place where big names converge and clash, it’s also a place where lesser-known small-school prospects can prove themselves against top-tier competition. That’s the opportunity that Bowling Green’s Karl Brooks will have.
Brooks is quietly one of the most intriguing defensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s a 6’4″, 300-pound defender who can rush from 3-tech or on the edge. And he was insanely productive with the Falcons, tallying 27.5 sacks and 46 tackles for loss across five seasons.
Other Interior Defensive Linemen To Watch
- Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
- Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina
- Dylan Horton, TCU
- Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State
- Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State
- Cameron Young II, Mississippi State
- DJ Dale, Alabama