NFL Draft

4/24/25

2 min read

Kyonte Hamilton 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Rutgers Scarlet Knights IDL

By Kyle Crabbs

NFL Draft Lead
Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive lineman Kyonte Hamilton (48) against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Height: 6033 (verified)

Weight: 305lbs (verified)

Year: Senior

Scouting Overview

Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton projects as a developmental defender on the interior. In 2024, Hamilton made a significant leap in his play, finding more disruption and precision in his hand usage to deconstruct pass sets and create pressure.

Hamilton is a well-tenured player with enough functional athleticism to carve out a role in a defensive rotation. The stoutness of his play would ideally be developed to better prep him for run defending at the NFL level and offering some appeal for multiple fronts.

2025 NFL Combine Results

DNP

Positives

  • Nimble build with light feet for his stature to shift momentum or cross face
  • Wrestling background is apparent with body control when engaged with blockers
  • Growth with hand usage to drop hands and capture an edge

Negatives

  • Bit of a one-year wonder as a pass rusher despite significant playing time in 2022 and 2023
  • Often aligned in the A-gap without boasting the ideal extension and anchor to hold the point 
  • Lacks explosiveness as the rep builds to play through contact 

Background

Hamilton is from District Heights, MD, and played high school football for Georgetown Prep. He was a successful football talent who also collected accolades as a championship wrestler. He was ranked as a 3-star recruit (247 Sports) and signed with Rutgers after his senior season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As a true freshman in 2021, Hamilton played in all 13 games before assuming a starting role for the Knights in 2022. He would start 12 games that season while posting five starts in 13 games as a junior in 2023.

Hamilton’s best season came as a senior in 2024 when he logged 13 starts between tackle and end while more than doubling his career pressure totals. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten for his performance that season. 

Ideal Scheme Fit, Role

Hamilton projects as a bottom-of-the-roster defender as a rookie, but could be worth developing thanks to his wrestling background and athleticism. He’s best served as a developmental gap shooter unless he can develop better point-of-attack block deconstruction against the run. 

Grade: 69.50/100.00, Sixth Round Value

Big Board Rank: 226

Position Rank: IDL26

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Tags: 2025 NFL Draft, Kyonte Hamilton, NFL Draft

Kyle Crabbs

NFL Draft Lead

Kyle began his career as an independent NFL Draft analyst in 2013, founding NDT Scouting, a service that provided scouting reports and consultations for agencies. After several seasons, he transitioned full-time into the media. In 2018, Kyle became one of the original co-founding members of The Draft Network, where he served as Director of Scouting from 2019 to the spring of 2023. Kyle led a team of scouts during this time; coordinating both college & pro scouting programs. During this period, Kyle also contributed as a writer and analyst for outlets such as USA Today and Athlon Sports. Additionally, he is a prominent figure in TEGNA Media's Locked On Podcast Network, hosting the Locked On Dolphins podcast and co-hosting the Locked On NFL Scouting podcast. He now serves as The 33rd Team's NFL Draft lead, where he merges college scouting evaluations with a refined understanding of the NFL and team-building trends for every franchise.

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