Gervon Dexter Sr. NFL Draft Overview
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6’6’’
Weight: 310 lbs
School: Florida
2023 NFL Draft: Gervon Dexter Sr. Scouting Report
Gervon Dexter Sr. hails from Lake Wales, Florida, located between Tampa Bay and Orlando. Growing up, Dexter was a star basketball athlete but also chose to play football in his junior year. After joining the team and dominating (18 sacks as a senior), he became a five-star recruit and the number three defensive tackle of the 2020 high school class. Despite universities heavily recruiting him for basketball, Dexter chose to pursue football out of high school.
Dexter had numerous offers from top schools, but chose to join Dan Mullen in Gainesville and committed to the Florida Gators. As a freshman, Dexter immediately became a cornerstone piece of the defense. He was a starter every year he played for Florida, including a start in three bowl games. He finished his university career with a solid resumé of 125 tackles (10 for loss), five sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. After foregoing his senior year at Florida, Gervon Dexter declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Strengths:
- Can overpower and bull rush blockers into the quarterback.
- Good athleticism and measurables for the position.
- Quick lateral burst when pursuing the run.
- Heat-seeker in the backfield.
- Flashes of dominance in nearly every game.
Weaknesses:
- Currently brings limited pass rush ability.
- Stands up out of his stance and plays too tall.
- Has difficulty with double team blocks.
- Doesn’t always bring a lot of force to the point of contact.
- Late off the snap far too often.
NFL Comparison: Chris Jones
Teams With a Need: Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints
Projection: Third Round
Bottom Line on Gervon Dexter Sr.
Gervon Dexter brings great traits and measurables with him to the NFL Draft. He is a powerful, athletic defensive tackle and showcases quick lateral bursts in the run game. Dexter can use this lateral agility when disengaging from the opposing blocker to swiftly close lanes and attack the ballcarrier. When facing one-on-one opposition, Dexter shows the capability to rip down set anchors and allow for these bursts. On pass downs, Dexter often looks to utilize his raw power to bull rush blockers into the backfield. When successful at getting into said backfield, Dexter does not often miss his targets. Whether a runner or quarterback, he shows great ability to pinpoint and execute tackles for loss and sacks.
With Dexter’s game, the main issue is an inconsistency in showcasing his abilities. He is often too slow off the snap with delayed first steps. In addition to late reactions, Dexter will sometimes hesitate before engaging, which leads to a lack of power in the initial contact. He tends to stand up out of his stance, which causes problems in his ability to disengage from blocks. His lateral quickness comes in small bursts, and he has trouble redirecting at times during a play. Additionally, there is not a lot of pass rush in Dexter’s game at this time. When his bull rush is unsuccessful, Dexter does not seem to have much else to else to offer. Often in these situations, Dexter will float around the line or focus solely on his matchup and ignore the rest of the play.
Overall, Dexter is an athletic defensive tackle that can pinpoint tackles and flash superior technique. He is currently a flashy player, not in an ostentatious way, but in the sense that he will jump off the tape for a few plays every game and become pedestrian for long stretches. It’s not exactly what you want to see given his pedigree and lofty expectations out of high school. Still, those flashes will be enticing for any team. Dexter’s traits provide him an opportunity to be a force at the next level if he can improve his motor and do away with these lulls of inconsistency. Currently, he projects as an above-average rotational player with potential to become a quality starter.
Main Image: Doug Engle / USA TODAY NETWORK
