Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku has exploded onto the scene in 2024 and become an intimidating and productive defender. His nine sacks through eight games are among the most in the country and he has torn apart numerous offensives. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, and Early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report of Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
Measurables:
- 6’2
- 247 lbs
Player Background:
Playing High School football at Williamstown, New Jersey, Ezeiruaku was named a three-star recruit in the 2021 class. He got decent action in his first collegiate season with BC, totaling three sacks and four tackles-for-loss in 11 games. His mini-breakout came in 2022 and it was also his first year as a starter. 8.5 sacks and 14.5 TFLs cemented him as Boston College’s top EDGE and one of the ACC’s best.
His junior campaign was much quieter, still starting all 12 contests but only accumulating two sacks and 6.5 TFLs. His senior season has looked much closer to his sophomore, ascending to levels he had yet to come close to and looking like a premier NFL Draft Prospect.
Accolades:
- Second Team All-ACC (2022)
- Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Team (2023)
- Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Team (2024)
- Shrine Bowl Defensive Breakout Player of the Week (2024)
- Walter Camp National Player of the Week (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Ezeiruaku’s swim move is far and away his best asset and overall strength as an NFL Prospect. He shows nuanced body control when using it and can showcase a plethora of different looks before he uses it. He gets off the line well when attacking downhill and gains considerable ground before linemen can shift into position.
Ezeiruaku works tackles from numerous different angles and can set up various sequences to win reps. In the run game, he’s able to hold outside contains quite well and limits explosive bursts to the sideline. That skill also translates to holding ground at the line of scrimmage, rarely getting moved downfield.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Inspecting Ezeiruaku’s frame, his size leaves some room to be desired and his length is subpar. Oddly enough this sentiment is entirely flipped in his running style; a somewhat uncomfortable-looking lengthier movement that doesn’t conserve power. He also gets too vertical when given space and is left vulnerable to chip blocks. When moving downhill on pass rushes, he tends to sink too far down and often loses his anchor.
On straight bull rushes, Ezeiruaku will disengage too quickly and allow the OL to reset and counter his moves. He drifts for too long on extended run plays and at times fails to capitalize on the potential impact he can make. Moving in traffic yields a similar issue with too much hesitation and doesn’t move with intent. In coverage, his backpedal is choppy and is usually a non-factor on those plays.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Ezeiruaku has been one of the biggest media risers in this class at the midway point of the season. In a generally weaker class, he has a chance to get drafted considerably high and even sneak into Day 1. As a pro, his long-term outlook is more of a rotational pass rusher than a full-fledged game wrecker. A possible career path could be that of a consistently solid EDGE that catches on with multiple different organizations. His swim move will win him a solid amount of reps, but he needs to flesh out his technical abilities to develop into anything more.
Prospect Grade:
- Late 3rd Round
Film Exposures: 2024 vs. Missouri / 2024 vs. Florida State / 2023 vs. Florida State / 2023 vs. UConn
Main Photo Courtesy of Peter Casey – Imagn Images
