Darius Alexander DT Toledo | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Darius Alexander DT Toledo
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/31/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.80 seconds (96%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | |
| Last Updated: 01/31/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.80 seconds (96%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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51% |
| Pass Rush: |
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74% |
| Run Defense: |
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82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#117
Position rank:
#29
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| College Games: 58 College Snaps: 2053 | ||
247 RATING: 79/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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Draft Profile: Bio
A standout from Fort Wayne's Wayne High School, Darius Alexander's path to the NFL draft showcases the journey of a small-school prospect ready to make his mark at the next level. The 6'4", 310-pound defensive tackle emerged as a force at Wayne High School, racking up eye-popping numbers including 87 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior. Despite earning All-State honors twice, Alexander flew under the recruiting radar as a modest two-star prospect before landing at Toledo.After redshirting in 2019 and getting his feet wet during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Alexander steadily climbed the depth chart through relentless work ethic and flashes of freakish athleticism. His breakthrough came in 2023, earning Third-Team All-MAC honors while anchoring Toledo's defensive front with 36 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 4.0 sacks. The momentum carried into 2024 where he earned Second-Team All-MAC recognition and landed on Bruce Feldman's coveted "Freaks List" after posting absurd testing numbers including a 400-pound bench press and 30-inch vertical at his size.
What started as a developmental project has transformed into one of the most intriguing interior defensive line prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Alexander's combination of explosive athleticism, raw power, and scheme versatility has scouts buzzing despite his small-school pedigree. His 4.80 forty time at 310 pounds puts him in rare company historically for defensive tackles.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Coiled spring explosion off the snap - fires out like he's been shot from a cannon and routinely beats guards' initial movement, creating instant havoc in the backfield
- Tank-like lower body generates devastating push when he maintains leverage - can drive single blocks five yards deep when he times his punch right
- Rare blend of mass and mobility allows him to hunt down screens and stretch plays - changes direction like someone 40 pounds lighter
- Laboratory-built frame with telephone pole arms gives him a built-in advantage when he shoots his hands properly into blockers' chest
- Brings legitimate scheme diversity after lining up everywhere from 0-tech to 5-tech - showed he can two-gap or penetrate based on assignment
- Natural feel for rushing lanes manifests in well-timed swim moves and arm-overs when he reads blockers' momentum
- Flashes an understanding of angles and leverage points - will set up guards outside before diving back inside to split gaps
- Special teams coordinators will love his kick-blocking potential - Times his jumps well and gets those mitts up to affect passing lanes
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Pad level is a constant battle - will pop up out of his stance and lose leverage especially when fatigued in longer drives, negating his natural power advantages
- Gets too focused on penetrating upfield and can lose gap integrity against zone runs - needs to show more discipline holding his ground against doubles
- Hand placement is inconsistent which allows offensive linemen into his chest too often - must improve initial punch location to maximize his length
- Pass rush plan can appear random at times rather than setting up moves - relies too heavily on pure athleticism rather than refined technical approach
- Motor runs hot and cold depending on situation - noticeably less explosive and impactful late in games when conditioning becomes a factor
Scouting Report: Summary
Darius Alexander is an intriguing interior defensive line prospect with impressive physical traits and significant upside. At 6'4", 310 pounds, he possesses a rare combination of size, explosiveness, and athleticism for the position. After a solid college career at Toledo, where he earned Second-Team All-MAC honors in 2024 and made Bruce Feldman’s "Freaks List," Alexander has shown the ability to generate immediate penetration with his explosive first step and raw power. His 4.80 forty time at 310 pounds and strength numbers, including a 400-pound bench press, are particularly impressive for a defensive tackle.While still raw technically, Alexander has flashed the ability to disrupt plays with his versatility, playing multiple positions along the defensive front. His pass rush is a work in progress, relying more on athleticism than refined technique, but he displays solid natural leverage and power when fully engaged. He’ll need to refine his hand placement and conditioning, as his motor can run hot and cold. However, with further development, he has the tools to develop into a strong rotational rusher early in his career and potentially a full-time starter down the line.
Darius Alexander percentiles vs other Defensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Darius Alexander (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
150.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
47.0
*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.