Ty French LB/EDGE West Virginia | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Ty French LB/EDGE West Virginia
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.57 seconds (85%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.57 seconds (85%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 64.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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62% |
| Pass Rush: |
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60% |
| Run Defense: |
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75% |
| Coverage: |
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65% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#456
Position rank:
#40
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| College Games: 49 College Snaps: 2640 | ||
247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Noah Taylor - North Carolina |
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59% |
| Amari Gainer - North Carolina |
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53% |
| Jordan Wright - Kentucky |
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52% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Ty French, a defensive end from West Virginia, has taken an unconventional path to the NFL Draft. Originally from Colquitt County High in Georgia, French began his college career at Gardner-Webb, where he quickly established himself as a dominant force on the defensive line. Over four seasons, including a COVID-shortened spring 2021 campaign, French amassed an impressive 239 tackles, 34.5 sacks, and 61 tackles for loss in 41 games.French's accolades at Gardner-Webb are numerous and noteworthy. He was a four-time All-Big South Conference First-Team selection, set school records for career sacks and tackles for loss, and was named the 2022 Big South Defensive Player of the Year. His performance also earned him consideration for the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS.
After a stellar 2023 season where he recorded 68 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 22.5 tackles for loss, French transferred to West Virginia for his final year of eligibility. This move to a Power 5 program gives NFL scouts a chance to evaluate his skills against higher-level competition, potentially boosting his draft stock.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super athletic - Made Bruce Feldman's 2023 Freak's List at #74. He Wrote: "He’s 6-3 and 240 and runs incredibly well.” Lamb landed the Georgia native, who arrived at Gardner-Webb in the COVID-19 year at 6-1, 216 pounds. French, who has long arms and good burst, clocked a 4.57 40 this offseason, squatted 585, power-cleaned 365, benched 380 and vertical-jumped 35 inches."
- Plays with leverage at the point of attack whether inside or outside. Keeps eyes in the backfield when inside; moves linemen to either side with strong hands.
- Long arms create natural leverage advantages, helping to compensate for lack of prototypical size when engaging offensive linemen.
- Twitchy edge rusher who consistently beats tackles off the snap, collapsing the pocket and disrupting offensive timing.
- High-motor player who refuses to quit on plays, often notching multiple pressures or cleanup sacks in a single series.
- Versatile defender capable of setting the edge against the run and dropping into short zones when schemed appropriately.
- Natural playmaker with a knack for creating turnovers and making impact plays in crucial moments of the game.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized frame for an NFL edge defender, potentially limiting his role and effectiveness against larger, more powerful offensive linemen.
- Raw in his technique against top-tier competition, often relying on athleticism rather than refined hand usage and counter moves.
- May struggle to anchor consistently against power run schemes, risking being washed out of plays by NFL-caliber offensive tackles.
- Limited exposure to complex offensive schemes could lead to a steeper learning curve in diagnosing and reacting to NFL play designs.
- Scheme-dependent prospect whose effectiveness may be limited to specific defensive packages that maximize his athletic gifts while minimizing size disadvantages.
Scouting Report: Summary
French embodies the modern NFL "tweener" - a player whose exceptional athleticism and production are at odds with his lack of prototypical size. His inclusion in Bruce Feldman's Freak's List underscores the raw physical tools that will have NFL scouts intrigued despite concerns about his frame. Finding the right scheme fit will be crucial for French's NFL success. Creative defensive coordinators will see a movable chess piece, capable of rushing from various alignments or even dropping into coverage. His freakish combination of speed and strength suggests untapped potential as a pass-rush specialist or hybrid linebacker. While questions remain about French's ability to be an every-down player at the NFL level, his athletic testing numbers and proven production make him an enticing developmental prospect.
Written By:
Eli Cooper (Big 12)
How other scouting services rate Ty French (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
631.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
74.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.