Boston College Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku Picks His Spots

Boston College Edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku was one of the more challenging evaluations.

Why?

2024 Stats

14 sacks

20 hits

26 hurries

No doubt, these are some good pass-rushing numbers.

My quandry came from watching the rest of his full body of work from the 2024 season. Sure, 80 tackles mixed in, including 21 tackles for a loss in the run defense department, are good too.

However, I know from experience that I need to steer clear of the prospects I find myself trying to talk myself into. And that’s what I found myself doing as the games were playing in front of my eyes.

Why?

He flashes the ability to put heat on the quarterback, and that’s worth the price of gold in the National Football League.

Then I kept coming back to his limitations, and I just couldn’t do it.

What limitations?

Ezeiruaku lacks power (he is anything but a bull rusher), and he showed above-average football speed within the walls of the pocket. Notice I said “decent.” I didn’t say great.

He also has a limited pass-rushing toolbox, and if his initial efforts didn’t work, he was done. Ezeiruaku does have a sweet signature “swim move,” but outside of that, he didn’t show much in the way of “pass rush moves.”

I can’t count how many times in my notes when he got stalemated.

That lack of top-notch “speed” also showed up on film when he was attempting to catch up to quarterbacks were were scrambling outside the pocket walls. In other words, he lacked enough juice to get to them in time.

What does he do well?

Ezeiruaku understands the art of leverage to the point that I wondered and researched if he had a background in martial arts. I couldn’t find any info that he has, but wow, he understands the art of leverage.

This prospect has a knack for attacking the most vulnerable spots in his opponent. Ezeiruaku knows how to bend the edge.

• Excels at getting under the offensive tackle’s pad level
• Understands how to get the offensive tackle turned sideways so he can get into the pocket
• Knows when to use that trademark swim move to get back inside and get pressure on the quarterback

Boston College also moved Ezeiruaku around, sometimes lining him up at middle linebacker and allowing him to free lance. Ezeiruaku also has great instincts, which allowed him to find some vulnerable gaps in that defensive alignment and get into the quarterback’s face.

Ezeiruaku wins with smarts.

Early day two talent

He’s good, but he’s not great, and his limitations concern me, considering he’s going up to the big leagues, where offensive tackles are just as big, if not bigger, and they are more savvy than anything he’s seen in college.

Another concern is the spike in production. He played in 12 games in 2024 vs. 13 games in 2023, but in 2023, he only had two sacks.

#6 Donovan Ezeiruaku 6-foot-2 1/2, 248 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 27.1% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 11, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film evaluated: FSU, Duquesne, Missouri, Michigan State, Western Kentucky, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse, SMU, North Carolina, and Pitt (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Senior Bowl: Day One and Day Two

Good fit: Browns, Giants, Patriots

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Solid athletic three-down prospect with long arms. Violent and methodical personality. Hunter mentality. Calculated. Strategic. Has a pass-rushing plan. Surges of energy. Average playing strength. Most comfortable coming off the right side of the defensive alignment. Quick first step and shows quickness at the back door of the pocket. Movements can get too exaggerated. Plays too small too much of the time. Above-average close and pocket adjust. Seldom uses headfake, ghost move, and spin moves. Below average “X” stunts. Inconsistent shedding run blocks. Hard-hitting run defender. Above average range.

Final words

Ezeiruaku will be a good No. 2 pass rusher, and he’ll be that 6-8 sacks a year guy for an NFL franchise.

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 is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.