NFL Draft
12/2/24
5 min read
Donovan Ezeiruaku 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Boston College Eagles EDGE Defender
Height: 6020 (unofficial)
Weight: 247 (unofficial)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Trent Cole
Scouting Overview
Boston College Eagles edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku is the most NFL-ready-made pass rusher in the class of 2025. This is a dynamic athlete with a seemingly endless variety of pass rush counters who offers great motor and pursuit to the quarterback.
His ability to flatten corners, win with speed, counter inside, or force missed punches at first contact offers him a clear pathway to NFL success, and he should be considered an immediate contributor for his first NFL franchise.
Ezeiruaku is an effective run defender despite being modestly undersized for playing on the line of scrimmage. He has illustrated good instincts at the point of attack to complement his pass-rush arsenal.
2025 NFL Combine Results
TBD
Positives
- Tremendous variety of finesse and technical counters to create havoc off the edge as a pass rusher
- Twitchy first step and lateral agility to defeat blocks with initial quickness
- Illustrates good vision on the edge and instincts to cut under blocks or upfield to attack the running game
Negatives
- Natural anchor at the point of attack is not great due to his frame
- Is better playing around or through blocks than he is holding ground and setting the edge against outside run concepts that force him to widen his fit
- Ability to convert speed to power against NFL tackles may be hit or miss
Background
Ezeiruaku is from Williamstown, NJ, and played high school football for Williamstown HS. There, he participated in football and track and field, where he participated in discus, shot put, long jump, and triple jump. He was rated as a 3-star prospect (247 Sports) and was a multi-position athlete on both sides of the football field.
Ezeiruaku played tight end/wide receiver and defensive end/outside linebacker for Williamstown and received offers from several prestigious academic football programs, including Harvard, Villanova, and Vanderbilt. He ultimately committed to Boston College and played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2021.
Ezeiruaku would go on to lead the team in sacks and tackles for loss as a sophomore on his way to Second-Team All-ACC honors before assuming a full-time starting role for the program in 2023. He experienced a sack regression that year before bouncing back to lead the FBS in sacks during the regular season as a senior in 2024 (16.5) while also leading the ACC in tackles for loss (21).
Tale Of The Tape
This is an NFL pass rusher from Day 1. Ezeiruaku offers a bevy of counters ranging from a two-hand swipe, an inside spin, swim, rip, and dip, a euro-cross chop, ghost rush, long arm, etc. The pressure reel is an absolute delight to watch as he alters his steps, cadence, angles, and hands to constantly keep pass protectors off balance with how to frame him on the edge. He pairs it all with good flexibility to turn the corner and reduce his inside shoulder for minimal surface area and a good enough first step to punish heavy feet or lazy sets.
The body control throughout his initial charge is impressive, illustrating good balance and fluidity to attack creases and react in a flash to available space based on the levels of the protection scheme and the depth of his tackle. It all fits together for a very savvy and high-IQ rush plan that should be able to successfully leap to the NFL quickly.
If there are potential hiccups in the transition, functional power and length loom as the two biggest questions that could force a re-acclimation. Ezeiruaku is successful in timing his hand counters to force missed punches at first contact.
However, patient, long tackles at the NFL level could find success timing their stun and punching through his counters to offset his momentum and force him to restart his rush halfway up the arc. These instances pose a threat to his style of play on account of his lack of raw power, thanks to his stature.
As a run defender, Ezeiruaku holds his own thanks to his feel of pressure and ability to quickly diagnose opportunities to cross face or shoot upfield to derail the track of the back. This isn’t a “hold the point” defender, and asking him to fill such a role won’t afford him the best opportunities to be successful.
He has good leverage and good hinges to sit with low pads thanks to his frame, but the raw power and punch force aren’t present to consistently deconstruct tackles trying to overtake him at the point. He can, however, more than hold his own in these instances overtop of tight ends.
Most importantly, this is a player who finds production on top of his skill, thanks to his effort. His motor runs hot, and there are a number of second and third opportunities to peel back into the pocket after getting run upfield or otherwise work across the field on the backside of plays going away that allow him to play into more finishes than your typical defender would find.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Ezeiruaku projects best as a rush linebacker at the NFL level. Releasing from wide alignments and 2-point stances will afford him advantageous angles and space to set up his vast array of pass-rush counters.
With his stature and length, leaving him out of tight alignments will be best to allow his instincts and second-reaction ability to kick in and press to daylight off the edge. Additionally, he will have leverage baked into his run fits with these angles as well to help compensate for his lack of mass. A viable Day 1 starter.
Grade: 82.00/100.00, Late First/Early Second Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
