Elijah Roberts was one of the top defensive players on an SMU team that made the College Football Playoff, but how does his full NFL scouting report look?
Overview, Film Analysis, And 2025 Scouting Report Of SMU EDGE Elijah Roberts
Measurables:
- 6’4”
- 285 lbs
Player Background:
Elijah Roberts began his collegiate career with the Miami Hurricanes, committing to the program as a three-star defensive end in the 2020 class. The Florida native graduated from Columbus High School and was rated just outside of the state’s Top 50 recruits. He played in five games his freshman year with the Canes, accumulating four total tackles and a forced fumble. The following season was similar, playing in seven contests without a start.
His second year saw him making eight total tackles with 0.5 tackles-for-loss and a half sack. Roberts started one of his eight 2022 appearances, making nine tackles and another sack. He entered the transfer portal after the season’s conclusion and ended up at SMU before 2023. He was an immediate difference-maker, starting all 14 games and racking up 10 sacks, two FFs, and 12.5 TFLs. His final year of eligibility came in 2024, totaling another 7.5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs in 13 games.
Accolades:
- All-AAC Second Team (2023)
- All-ACC Honorable Mention (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Roberts is just a violent player in all facets of his game. He keeps his arms moving throughout the play, rarely letting them rest and continuously pushing forward. He’s tactically violent when he locks his arms out, knowing how to manipulate linemen in bad spots and taking advantage of them whenever given the chance. The story stays the same when he tracks ball carriers, hitting with massive force and launching himself into them whenever he gets the chance. His body contorts swiftly when re-establishing in space, rotating and attacking the play.
He identifies lateral moves well, rotating off of blockers and driving his weight toward rushers. Roberts’ hands shoot through gaps quickly out of four-point stances, positioning himself smartly against the run. He keeps his base aligned well when working through blocks and can stop and go quickly to accelerate into the backfield. He sticks his feet in the ground and drives into OTs chest when holding contain on run plays, breaking many up at the line. His knowledge of rotational momentum is impressive, using his weight well to rip down ball carriers.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Physically, Roberts is definitely a “tweener” whose teams will have to work harder to get into a consistent rotation. He’s not flexible or fast enough to be an edge rusher and lacks the strength to be a natural interior lineman. The speed aspect hurts him the most in the backfield and when tracking down ball carriers. He often fails to finish off plays or fully close out runs because of subpar straight-line speed.
His twitch off the line is definitely a part of his game that needs to be improved. His feet will occasionally get too choppy out of three and four-point stances, and he seems too indecisive and/or without a true pass-rush plan in early space. Roberts has to expand the number of technical moves available to him as a pass rusher, with his stiffness lowering his success as games progress. He has to identify plays quicker to become a three-down option, and his limited snaps at SMU bring his conditioning into question.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Roberts is a shockingly little-known prospect in the 2025 class and is much better than most of his projections say. His 2024 tape was fantastic, and he has the profile of an immediate starter with an impactful NFL future. His “tweener” nature will definitely turn some teams away from him, but a system that allows him to showcase his skills should benefit him greatly. He should be a solid rotational player at worst with a ceiling of being an above-average three-down starter very much in the realm of possibilities.
Prospect Grade:
- Mid to Late 3rd Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Louisville
- 2024 vs. Clemson
- 2024 vs. BYU
Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
