Aeneas Peebles was the interior anchor of a strong Hokies defensive front and ended his college career with All-American honors. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, And Early 2025 Scouting Report Of Virginia Tech DL Aeneas Peebles
Measurables:
- 6’1”
- 290 lbs
Player Background:
Aeneas Peebles was ranked a Top-15 player in North Carolina and a three-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. Originally a Duke commit, he started his collegiate career with the Blue Devils by playing in 10 games his freshman year. He made three tackles in 88 snaps, adding 23 more to that total the following season. His first two starts came in 2021, racking up two sacks and three tackles-for-loss in 12 games.
He picked up another two sacks in all 13 games in 2022, forcing two fumbles and a pass breakup too. Peebles stepped up in a big way in his 2023 campaign, establishing himself as a dangerous DL. He tied for the team lead in TFLs with 8.5, picked up five sacks, forced another fumble, and broke up two passes. He entered the portal, transferred to Virginia Tech, and put in another solid season. His last collegiate year finished with three sacks and three PBUs with 30 tackles.
Accolades:
- Third Team All-ACC (2023)
- First Team All-ACC (2024)
- Third Team All American (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
A lot of positive things can be said about Peebles’ movement skills and overall burst off the line. He launches out of his stance and engages with the offensive line quickly enough to set them off their anchor. His speed is noticeably above average and he maintains it throughout the play. His constant drive lets him win reps with overpowering effort and he’s shown the ability to relentlessly attack.
Peebles works through his smaller stature and utilizes his low leverage to manipulate stiffer linemen. He has a running back-esque explosiveness through gaps and shoots into the backfield early and often. His feet are always violent when engaging with linemen, but he moves smoothly when rotating laterally.
Weaknesses/Cons:
He utilizes it well, but his size and lack of high-end power clearly hamper his overall ability to be an effective pass rusher against stronger opponents. Peebles’ swim move is his only legitimate move that works consistently, and his mediocre hand technique gets him stationary too often. Disengaging quickly and driving around blockers is a frequent issue as well, getting swallowed up at a high rate.
Peebles doesn’t recognize run plays quickly enough to overcome his size disadvantage, making him a liability at times. He’ll be 24 on draft day, highlighting a major issue with his perceived shorter longevity and incomplete profile. His lack of moves is a much more severe problem when his first move fails, setting him irreversibly off balance.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Peebles projects as a depth or rotational defensive lineman at the next level, with his ideal situation being a low-dosage option. His effort and initial burst could cause offensive linemen problems with the shock factor, letting him impact plays at the line. His age, frame, and current issues limit him from being a legitimate starting option. He could have a decent career as a depth DL to help round out a team’s front seven.
Prospect Grade:
- Mid 5th Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Vanderbilt
- 2024 vs. Rutgers
- 2024 vs. Miami
Main Photo: [Peter Casey] – USA Today Sports
