From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Central Florida edge, Malachi Lawrence.
#51 MALACHI LAWRENCE/ EDGE, UCF (SENIOR) – 6040, 253 pounds
Combine Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Malachi Lawrence 6040/253 9 1/4 33 5/8 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.52 1.59 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’10” 40 N/A
The Good
— Good height and solid weight
— Experience on both sides of the defense
— Aligned mostly on the edge, but put a hand in the dirt as deep as the 2i position
— Very good burst and speed
— Good use of hands, including chops/swipes on speed rushes
— Effective speed to bull rush
— Pass-rush plan toolbox has a lot of moves in it
— Can set the edge with leverage
— Good motor to chase down outside the tackle box
The Bad
— Mental processing of run vs pass is a touch slow
— Ankles are tight, causing slipping around the arc when engaged with blocker
— Counters when pass rushing need improvement
— Struggles to get off of blocks when offensive player makes first contact
— Run diagnosing is adequate
— Drifts inside on runs his way, opening the outside
— Body positioning to set the edge is inconsistent
— Gets bounced around in traffic
— Not a strong two-gap player
— Lacks mass in his lower half
Stats
— 39 games/22 starts
— Career: 72 tackles, 47 solo, 28 TFL, 20 sacks, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 3 FF
— 2025: 28 tackles, 17 solo, 11 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 FF
— 2025: Tallied 40 pressures
— First Team All-Big 12 (2025)
— Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honorable mention (2023, 2025)
— One of four players in the FBS who recorded five or more sacks over the past three seasons
— 2024: Second on the team in sacks
— Shrine Bowl invitee
Injury History
— 2025: limited in spring practice due to unknown injury
— Versus Houston, left game after hard fall chasing the quarterback (November 2025)
Background
— Attended DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky
— Three-star recruit
— 10th-ranked recruit from his state
— Played outside linebacker and tight end
— First team Kentucky Class 6A all-District Three team at outside linebacker
— Medalist in the shot put in 2020
— Slimmed down from 270 pounds as a freshman
Tape Breakdown
Malachi Lawrence is an edge player with experience playing on both sides of the defense, either with his hand in the dirt or on his feet. He is of good height, with solid weight, good arm length, and solid hand size. He primarily lined up outside the tackle but was used everywhere from the 4-technique to out wide. Occasionally, he would even line up as the 2-technique, shaded to the inside of the guard.
Against the pass, from 2- and 3-point stances, he displays very good burst off the line of scrimmage. He can stress the tackles up the arc and uses his hands well. He uses multiple one and two-handed chops and swipes to clear the hands of the tackle to help him turn the corner on speed rushes. His motor is good when getting after the quarterback. On power rushes, he uses good pad level and hand placement to drive the blocker back into the pocket.
His pass rush plan is good, and he will throw a variety of moves, including a cross chop, speed to bull, stab, rip, spin, swim, and dip. Rarely did he rush to the inside of the tackle, but there was potential with spin and arm-over moves inside. On stunts and twists, he showed solid quickness as the looper.
He wasn’t used often in pass coverage, but it was usually a spot drop into the curl area. There is an effort to get his hands into passing lanes when the pass rush doesn’t succeed.
Against the run, he displays good pad level and hand placement on the edge. He will use a long arm and leverage to hold the tackle in place. From the back side, he displays solid pursuit. He is a good tackler and limits yards after contact.
When diagnosing the play between run and pass, he is a little slow. His ankles are tight turning the corner, and his feet will slip out from under him when he can’t flatten to the quarterback. His countering when the first move doesn’t work needs development. When he lets a blocker make the initial contact, he struggles to disengage from the block, even when going up against tight ends.
His mental processing of running plays is adequate, and it leads to him being out of position. On runs in his direction, especially against pullers, he drifts inside and gives up the edge.
Occasionally, he doesn’t get his hips outside in order to set the edge. Working through traffic, he gets bounced around a lot. He is not adept as a two-gap defender. He is more likely to try to dip around rather than stack and shed. Too much time was spent with him slipping or on the ground.
Conclusion
Overall, Lawrence is a good-sized player with experience on the edges of both sides of the defense. He is a better pass rusher than run defender at this point. His pass-rush plan has an assortment of moves, and he can win with speed or power. He uses his hands well and can put pressure on the offensive linemen quickly. Against the run, he plays with good pad level and hand placement and is a good tackler.
Areas for improvement include his overall diagnosing of plays, keeping blockers’ hands off him and improving his counters rushing the passer. Overall consistency in mental processing and positioning as an edge defender will improve his effectiveness against the run.
Lawrence can get after the quarterback, and his 1.59 10-yard split is right up there with the elite pass rushers. There is potential in his run defense. Hopefully, he can pull that all together. The best-case scenario is either an outside linebacker in an odd front or as the weakside defensive end on an even front. A 1-gap defense where he can use his burst to get into the backfield and gaps would be ideal. He may be a sub-package pass rusher initially until his run defense is up to speed.
For a player comp, I will give you Jalyx Hunt. Both had good explosion numbers and athleticism rushing the passer, with room to improve in block destruction.
NFL Projection: Day TwoSteelers Depot Grade: 7.8 (Spot Starter)Grade Range: 7.4 – 8.2Games Watched: 2025 – At Kansas State, At Baylor, Vs Houston, At Texas Tech, At BYU
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