Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/19/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 02/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 85.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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79% |
| Run Blocking: |
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82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Mid
Overall Rank:
#47
Position rank:
#11
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| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 2383 | ||
ESPN RATING: 74/100
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trey Smith - Tennessee |
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92% |
| Sean Rhyan - UCLA |
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89% |
| Thayer Munford - Ohio State |
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85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
From track and field athlete to potential NFL starter, Aireontae Ersery's journey is as fascinating as his imposing frame. The Kansas City native didn't start playing football until his junior year at Ruskin High School, where he balanced gridiron duties with impressive accomplishments in shot put, discus, and javelin. That raw athletic foundation caught Minnesota's eye, and the Golden Gophers' gamble on the three-star recruit has paid off handsomely.After a patient development path that included a COVID-shortened freshman campaign and a redshirt season, Ersery seized the left tackle position in 2022 and never looked back. Over the next three seasons, he started 38 consecutive games, showcasing steady improvement that culminated in a stellar 2024 campaign where he earned Second Team All-American honors and was named Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year.
His senior season highlights included a dominant performance against Penn State's Abdul Carter and several games where he anchored an offense that topped 400 total yards. Though he opted out of Minnesota's bowl game to prepare for the draft, Ersery's stock continued to rise with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, where he proved he could hold his own against elite competition.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Devastating power in the run game with heavy hands that can completely wash defenders out of plays - consistently created massive lanes in Minnesota's zone scheme
- Exceptional length and wingspan that he weaponizes effectively, keeping speed rushers at bay while maintaining leverage through the entire rep
- Natural anchor ability against power rushers, showing the core strength to absorb bull rushes without giving ground even against physical defenders
- Quick processor who diagnoses basic stunts and line games efficiently, showing good awareness to pass off defenders and maintain pocket integrity
- Explosive first step off the snap allows him to beat defenders to the spot in pass protection and create immediate movement in the run game
- Shows good timing and feel on combo blocks, understanding when to release to the second level while maintaining control of down linemen
- Nasty finisher who plays through the whistle and looks to bury defenders, particularly effective when pulling or leading in space
- Rare durability and availability, proving his toughness by starting 38 straight games at a physically demanding position
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Can play too upright in his pass sets, causing him to lose leverage battles against shorter, explosive edge rushers who get under his pads
- Strike timing needs refinement - sometimes late with his punch which leaves him vulnerable to quick swim moves and cross-chops
- Shows some stiffness when forced to redirect, lacking the fluid lower body movement to consistently mirror elite bend and counter moves
- Can get overaggressive in the run game, leading to balance issues and whiffed blocks when defenders use his momentum against him
- Complex blitz packages and delayed stunts can give him trouble, suggesting he'll need time to adjust to NFL-level protection schemes
Scouting Report: Summary
In a league that increasingly values mammoth tackles who can hold up in pass protection while still moving bodies in the run game, Ersery profiles as an intriguing Day 2 prospect with starter upside. His combination of size, power, and steady technical improvement suggests a player whose best football may still be ahead of him.The learning curve won't be gentle - he'll need to clean up his hand timing and improve his ability to redirect against counter moves. But his outstanding length, natural power, and proven durability make him an attractive option for teams running play-action heavy schemes that can maximize his strengths while his pass protection develops.
Look for Ersery to find a home in the second round, likely with a team that employs plenty of quick game and play-action concepts to help ease his transition. While he may need time to develop into a full-time starter, his physical tools and steady college progression suggest he could become a quality right tackle with left tackle flexibility in the right system.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Aireontae Ersery percentiles vs other Offensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Aireontae Ersery (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
38.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
8.0
*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.