Donovan Ezeiruaku 2025 NFL Draft Profile
School: Boston College
Hometown: Williamstown, New Jersey
Position: Edge rusher
Height: 6’2 ½”
Weight: 248 pounds
Arm Length: 34 inches (0.86 m)
Hand Size: 9 ¼ inches
Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches (0.9 m)
Broad Jump: 9’11”
3-Cone Drill: 6.94
20-yard Shuffle: 4.19 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps
Donovan Ezeiruaku 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Donovan Ezeiruaku saw his stock rise after a strong 2024 season, up into the top 50 on NFL Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s Big Board. He is projected to be taken with the No. 19 selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his latest mock draft. Ezeiruaku has experience playing with his hand in the dirt and being a stand-up pass rusher and presents a versatile portfolio for teams looking to enhance that position. He shows excellent bend to the outside shoulder as a pass rusher, with a bull rush and two-hand swipe moves, refining these skills this past season instead of relying mostly on athleticism. Ezeiruaku shows a willingness to get his hands dirty in the running game while showing gap discipline on zone reads. He is a bit undersized for the position, so he is susceptible to being taken out of the play if blockers can square him up.
Ezeiruaku, as a team captain, recorded 80 tackles, 20 ½ tackles for loss, 16 ½ sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass breakup in 2024. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, won the Ted Hendricks Award for the nation’s top defensive end, was named First-Team All-ACC, and was named First-Team All-American by the Associated Press.
Strengths
- Smooth body control that allows easy change of direction on an island.
- He greets blockers with impactful punches with long arms.
- Speed to get by blockers with his speed rush to get to the backfield.
- Play recognition always allows him to be in a position to make tackles, and his closing ability allows him to make tackles.
- He always leans forward on pass rushes, and his hands are always active.
- He has a portfolio of pass rush techniques that he is proficient at to keep tackles guessing.
Weaknesses
- When he works underneath the tackle, he loses contain on the ball carrier.
- When bigger blockers get an advantage over him, he will get engulfed out of the play.
- He needs to become stronger on the bull rush to collapse the pocket.
- He also needs to refine his pass-rush repertoire.
NFL Comparison: Yannick Ngakoue
Teams with a Need at the Position: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders.
Draft Projection: Mid-Late First Round
Bottom Line on Donovan Ezeiruaku
Donovan Ezeiruaku is a prospect who has experience playing in three- and four-man fronts. He is a bit undersized, which can get him engulfed by blockers at times, but he has the quickness, long arms, and technique that allow him to get off blocks quickly the majority of the time. Ezeiruaku’s hand movement with the long arms causes problems for opposing blockers when he rushes the passer or by setting the edge in the running game. He is also a disciplined player who is never out of position to make a play, which will allow his teammate to make the right play to stop the opposition. Ezieruaku is a player who will be a productive three-down player at the next level.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
