Elijah Roberts DE/EDGE SMU | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Elijah Roberts DE/EDGE SMU
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/26/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.76 seconds (66%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 09/26/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.76 seconds (66%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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60% |
| Pass Rush: |
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88% |
| Run Defense: |
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84% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#177
Position rank:
#44
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 1486 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 89/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colby Wooden - Auburn |
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91% |
| Cameron Thomas - San Diego State |
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89% |
| Austin Booker - Kansas |
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88% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Elijah Roberts, a 6'4" 278-pound defensive end from SMU, began his collegiate career at Miami as a four-star recruit in 2020. After three seasons with limited playing time for the Hurricanes, Roberts transferred to SMU for his senior year in 2023.
At SMU, Roberts started all 14 games, recording 37 tackles (21 solo) and leading the team with 10.0 sacks, ranking second in the AAC and 17th nationally. He posted a season-high 2.5 sacks against Rice on Nov. 4 and forced two fumbles during the year. Roberts tallied seven QB hits and had a season-best eight tackles in the bowl game against Boston College on Dec. 28.
Roberts earned All-AAC Second Team honors and was named to the DCTF All-Texas Second Team and Action Sports All-America First Team. His collegiate journey began at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he helped lead the team to a Florida Class 8A state championship. As a senior, Roberts finished with 31 tackles, eight TFLs, and six sacks, garnering attention from major programs nationwide.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional burst off the line allows him to consistently beat tackles and pressure the quarterback.
- Possesses the strength to set a firm edge against the run, anchoring well against offensive linemen.
- Displays active hands to disengage from blocks, using a variety of pass rush moves effectively.
- High motor player who pursues relentlessly from the backside and fights through double teams.
- Versatile defender capable of lining up at multiple spots along the defensive front.
- Demonstrated significant year-over-year improvement, indicating potential for further growth at the next level.
- Plays with leverage and pad level, allowing him to win one-on-one battles consistently.
- Flashes the ability to bend the edge and flatten to the quarterback on passing downs.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Limited production in first three collegiate seasons raises questions about consistency and competition level faced.
- Can struggle to disengage quickly when initially stalemated by powerful offensive linemen.
- Sometimes plays with high pad level, negating his natural strength advantage.
- Needs to develop a more diverse array of counter moves to be consistently effective as a pass rusher.
- Tackling technique can be inconsistent, leading to missed opportunities in the backfield.
Scouting Report: Summary
Roberts' skill set suggests he could find early success as a situational pass rusher while he develops a more complete game. His ability to play with his hand in the dirt or standing up adds value, potentially fitting as a base 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB in the right system. Teams will need to have a clear development plan to maximize his raw potential.While Roberts flashed dominance at the college level, his delayed breakout and limited sample size of high-level production will likely impact his draft stock. However, his combination of size, explosion, and motor make him a solid day-three prospect with upside to outperform his draft position.
How other scouting services rate Elijah Roberts (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
309.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
67.0
*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.