Lukas Van Ness: A New Face in the First Round

Sometimes social media is a good thing, especially when someone brings up a new name for me to look at, Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness.

Who’s he?

He’s a 6-foot-5, 269 pound ball of energy and weight-room power who’s got one thing and one thing only on his mind; leveling the quarterback.

Van Ness is a Lukas come lately who started showing up on the NFL Draft Community’s first-round radar at the beginning of January, like a cluster of severe thunderstorms on a weather radar.

I can see why too, he’s in the mold of former Washington all-time sack leader, Ryan Kerrigan (95.5 sacks).

While I’m a little late to the party on this one, that’s only because I work 17+ hours a day on this stuff, seven days a week. There’s more prospects than time.

However, as they say, it’s better to be late than never, and I’ve never cared what the rest of the world says about a prospect anyways, the game film is my crystal ball.

Game film, game film on the wall…

So what does the game film say about Van Ness?

Wow.

I went back and looked at seven games in the 2021 and 2022 season.

Wow.

Every. Single. Snap. Van Ness. Brings. It.

In 2021 as a freshman he rotated in at defensive tackle, and right off the bat, the interior push he was getting was apparent.

Van Ness chomps at the bit pre-snap with one hand shaking, and his back foot looking like he’s getting ready to run a 40-yard-dash.

Coiled and ready to hammer the quarterback would be an accurate description.

He’s tenacious getting into blockers and he only knows one gear – – all out.

In 2022, he played inside some more, but he also got a shot on the edge, both with his hand in the dirt, and standing up.

That’s the moment I had to adjust my first-round board.

Pocket wrecker

While Van Ness gave it everything he had to give lining up inside, he clearly doesn’t have the lower body girth to play three-down bumper cars with the big boys.

Yes, phenomenal as a third-down interior pass rusher, but no, not as an interior run defender.

The lightbulb went off seeing Van Ness on the edge, putting offensive tackles on skates from both sides of the line.

He’s got that sleek aerodynamic pass rushing frame, complete with long arms, and he can bull rush like the tackles are holding up capes. While this Iowa defender is mostly no frills, he occasionally teases with a quick pull-and-go, swim or lightning fast head fake move to let you know, the best is yet to come.

Green Bay Packers

Van Ness would be a dream come true for Green Bay at No. 15.

This midwest pass rushing terror would stay close to home, while being able to get to know all the quarterbacks in the NFC North really well.

Van Ness fits their 3-4 (three down defensive linemen, and four linebacker) defensive scheme. With their weak side linebacker Preston Smith getting up there in years, and losing their pass rushing linebacker on the other side, Za’Darius Smith to Minnesota last year, this one makes too much sense.

If not Green Bay, Van Ness isn’t getting past Pittsburgh at No. 17.

Lukas Van Ness 6-foot-5, 269 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust Probability: Low

Projected by 16.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of February 10, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: Indiana, Michigan, and Penn State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 game film reviewed: Michigan, Iowa State, Ohio State, and Kentucky

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 33 tackles (17 solo, 16 assists) 7.0 sacks, (28 pressures nfldraftbuzz.com), 1 pass defended

2022 stats: 36 tackles (18 solo, 18 assists), 6.5 sacks (43 pressures)

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Muscular and lean high motor defender who’s always around the ball. Feisty. Versatile and smooth looking getting into defenders with excellent hand usage and explosive momentum at the point of attack. Can extend and lock-out keeping blockers off of him. Battles looking for the slightest area of vulnerability to take advantage of. Average at making quick pocket adjustments. Run game fighter who does whatever he can to make impact plays, but is limited by lacking pure brute strength to consistently shed in time.

Final words

This one moves the meter.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.