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 Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim.
No. 11 TYLER ONYEDIM/ DT, TEXAS A&M (GRADUATE STUDENT) – 6034, 292 pounds
Combine/Pro Day Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Tyler Onyedim 6034/292 10 1/8 34 1/8 81 3/8
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
5.08 1.69 4.65 7.96
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’3” 32 24
The Good
— Good size and particularly good length
— Experience lining up from 0-tech to 7-tech
— Varies his pass rush plan
— Good hand placement and solid leg drive on power rushes
— Solid usage of chops and swipes versus blockers’ punches
— Good quickness as the looper to inside on stunts
— Can shoot gaps when he times his snap quickness correctly
— Good hand placement as a two-gap defender with solid shed
— Can set the edge on the outside
— Good tackler overall
The Bad
— Snap quickness is inconsistent
— Often late getting lined up
— Hand usage rushing the passer was inconsistent and not used on some rushes
— Marginal when countering if the first move was unsuccessful
— Loops to the outside were much slower and looser
— Poor versus double team easily giving up ground
— Slow to disengage from blocks
— Struggled to get over the latter blocks
— Motor was marginal, rarely giving chase outside or downfield
Stats
— 53 games/34 starts
— Career: 138 tackles, 55 solo, 20.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF
— 2025: 48 tackles, 18 solo, 8.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF
— 17 pressures in 2025
— 2021 to 2024 at Iowa State, 2025 at Texas A&M
— 2023: Honorable mention All-Big 12
— Earned Academic Big 12 recognition in each season at Iowa State
Injury History
— 2023: Exited the game versus Kansas State with an undisclosed injury
Background
— Played at Foster High School in Richmond, Texas
— 3-star prospect by all three recruiting sites (ESPN, 247Sports, Rivals)
— Three-year letterman and was an all-district selection as a senior
— Chose Iowa State over Boston College and Virginia Tech, among others
— Ranked as the 74th-best defensive tackle nationally by 247Sports
— Also played basketball in high school
Tape Breakdown
Tyler Onyedim is a fifth-year defensive lineman who is of good height and solid weight. He also has very good arm length and hand size. For the Aggies, he played primarily at the 3-/4i technique but was used all over the alignment from the 0-technique out to the 7-technique.
As a pass rusher, he varied his pass rush plan. He would try power rushes, including the bull and stab/long arm and speed rushes, including the chop-swim, spin, and club. On power rushes, he used good leverage, hand placement, and solid leg drive to get a push in the pocket. As the looper on stunts, he displayed good quickness looping inside. His initial hand usage on speed rushes was good, using chops and swipes to clear the blocker’s hands. He was better at shooting into gaps and trying to slip by blockers than engaging.
Against the run, when playing a two-gap scheme, he had good hand placement, displayed solid shedding one-on-one blocks, and set the corner when aligned on the edge. When playing in a one-gap scheme, he displayed good quickness into gaps to disrupt running lanes. As a tackler, he was good overall at limiting yards after contact and getting the ball carrier down.
His snap quickness is inconsistent. He was often late to get lined up and, at times, looked to teammates for information before getting into position. On loops to the outside, he showed adequate quickness. There were lulls in his pass rushes where he would essentially forget to use his hands and lead with a shoulder. His counters were marginal when his first move didn’t work.
His ability to disengage was marginal, and he was unable to recover when the blocker had the advantage.
He was consistently poor versus double-team blocks, showing no anchor.
His motor was inconsistent within the play and rarely chased full speed to the outside or downfield. Against lateral blocks, he struggled to get over the block.
Conclusion
Overall, Onyedim has experience playing up and down the defensive line and has good size and very good length. He has a varied pass-rush plan, good hand placement on power rushes, and effective chops on speed rushes. He displayed the quickness to get into the gap to disrupt plays. Against the run, he has played one and two-gap schemes and is capable of setting the edge.
Areas to improve include being consistent with his snap quickness, having a consistent motor, and countering when his first pass-rush move doesn’t succeed. Becoming more effective at disengaging and getting around blocks will help him, as well as improving against double-team blocks.
Onyedim has the size and versatility positionally to add depth to a defense. If he added 10-15 pounds of good weight, he might be able to fit as a defensive end in an odd front. However, I think his best fit would be as a 3-technique or strong side defensive end in an even front defense that plays a lot of one-gap schemes.
For a player comp, I’ll give you Rakeem Nunez-Roches. He profiled as a one-gap fit who could shoot gaps, who struggled against double-team blocks, and needed to improve on counters.
NFL Projection: Mid-Day ThreeSteelers Depot Grade: 6.6 (Pure Backup)Grade Range: 6.2-7.1Games Watched: 2025 – At Notre Dame, At Mississippi State, Vs South Carolina, At Texas, Vs Miami
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