The defensive tackle position is one of the strongest groups in the 2025 NFL Draft. With around a dozen defensive tackles anticipated to be selected in the first two rounds in April, all attention will be on this group during the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Which defensive tackles are poised to make a significant impact?
Top DTs to Watch at the 2025 Senior Bowl
5) Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
Omarr Norman-Lott is a physical, prototypical interior defensive lineman. At 6’5” and 335 pounds, the Tennessee Volunteers defender showcases outstanding athleticism and enough flexibility to play all three downs in the NFL.
A former four-star recruit, Norman-Lott can demonstrate to NFL teams during the Senior Bowl that he has the translatable intangibles and the technique to be a Day 2 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
4) Alfred Collins, Texas
At 6’6”, 320 pounds, Alfred Collins is a domineering defensive tackle whose persistent power and hastened gap-filling will make him a promising nose tackle at the next level. The Texas Longhorns DT has elite strength capacity and punching hand placement to disengage blockers. His draft stock could seriously rise with a solid week in Mobile.
3) Deone Walker, Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats DL Deone Walker has already gained attention for his impressive size. At 6’5″ and 335 pounds, the defensive tackle ranks in the 100th and 99th percentiles for height and weight, respectively. Additionally, his arm length measures 34.5 inches, and his hand spans 10.6 inches, placing him in the 88th percentile.
Nevertheless, Walker didn’t take the steps expected of him through the 2024 college season. He was once projected to be an early first-round selection with the potential to land in the top 10. Now, though, the dominating tackle possesses supernatural athleticism, alien mobility, and monstrous size that NFL teams will need to take a chance on.
2) T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
T.J. Sanders has gradually risen on NFL Draft boards throughout the college football season, but he deserves more national recognition. That could all change pending a solid Senior Bowl performance where his quick first step, aggressive hand usage, and an arsenal of pass-rushing moves will be on display.
KEEP READING: 2025 NFL Draft DT Rankings
At 6’4” and 290 pounds, Sanders is a versatile defensive lineman whose bend, flexibility, and pass-rush prowess should appeal in one-on-ones.
1) Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Walter Nolen’s flashes are some of the best in the overall 2025 NFL Draft defensive tackle class. An incredible athlete with sudden bursts and sharp movements, the Ole Miss Rebels defensive tackle has significantly improved his technique and disruption capacity in Oxford. The 6’3”, 305-pound prospect now needs to showcase more consistency to secure a high selection in the draft.
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