Yhonzae Pierre LB/EDGE Alabama |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #42 PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.60 seconds (79%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.9 DOB: 10/13/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #42 | |
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.60 seconds (79%*) | |
| Age: 21.9 DOB: 10/13/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: |
86.4 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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59% |
| Pass Rush: |
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71% |
| Run Defense: |
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77% |
| Coverage: |
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61% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Mid
Overall Rank:
#45
Position rank:
#9 (LB)
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| College Games: 25 College Snaps: 708 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drew Sanders - Arkansas |
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77% |
| Trey Moore - Texas |
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77% |
| Jaishawn Barham - Michigan |
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73% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A five-star out of Eufaula, Alabama, and a cousin of former Crimson Tide linebacker Courtney Upshaw, Pierre was the No. 28 overall prospect and the No. 2 player in his state in the 2023 class, earning an All-American Bowl invite.He played sparingly behind a deep Alabama front before breaking out as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Working off the edge, Pierre led the Tide's young rushers with nine sacks and 45 pressures, adding 34 run stops and forcing three fumbles.
His loudest game came against Tennessee, where he posted two sacks and six pressures, and he forced two more fumbles in a separate outing against Missouri. The nine-sack jump was sudden for a player who had spent two years waiting his turn behind veterans. He finished with 38 tackles across fifteen games while rotating into a heavier role down the stretch.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Productive pass rusher, generating forty-five pressures and nine sacks
- Beat Tennessee for two sacks and six total pressures
- Led SEC edges in pressure rate, a high-volume disruptor
- Holds the edge against the run with thirty-four stops
- Pressured South Carolina seven times while logging five run stops
- Stripped three fumbles, converting pass-rush wins into takeaways
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tackling is a real flaw, with thirteen misses on the year
- Dips in coverage when dropped into space off the edge
- Pass rush trails the sack production, suggesting some splash
- Pad level climbs late, costing him the corner on long rushes
Scouting Report: Summary
Pierre is a high-volume pass rusher who led the SEC's edges in pressure rate, turning a quick get-off into forty-five pressures and nine sacks. He beat Tennessee for two sacks and six pressures, pressured South Carolina seven times while adding five run stops, and forced three fumbles, the kind of production that shows up weekly. He also sets a firm edge against the run with thirty-four stops, so the projection is broader than a pure speed rusher.The finish is the loud flaw. He missed thirteen tackles, a real number that has to tighten, his coverage dips when a scheme drops him into space, and his pass rush trails the sack count, which points to some boom-or-bust rather than week-to-week consistency. His pad level climbs late on long rushes, costing him the corner. The disruption is real, but the cleanup work is significant.
He profiles as a productive three-down edge who rushes with volume and sets the run, provided the tackle finish comes around, the difference between a starter and a rotational piece. The sack production and the motor are bankable, but the missed tackles cap the grade for now. He profiles as a Day 2 edge with starter upside, a disruptor whose floor rises the moment the finishing tightens.
How other scouting services rate Yhonzae Pierre (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
40.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
6.0
*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.