Justin Eboigbe, IDL, Alabama
Size:
Height: 6’4.5”
Weight: 297 pounds
Arm Length: 33 3/8"
Hand Size: 9 3/4"
Accomplishments:
First Team All-SEC (2023)
“Justin Eboigbe's combination of size, strength, and athleticism presents an opportunity for him to develop into an impactful interior defensive lineman in the NFL.”
Strengths:
Strength at point of attack
Alignment/scheme versatile
Technician against the run
Plays with good pad level/leverage
High motor
Concerns:
Pass-rush repertoire
Change of direction/ability to redirect
Film Analysis:
Justin Eboigbe is listed at 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds and possesses the physical tools and high motor wanted in a productive, potentially dominant interior defensive lineman in the NFL. The 2023 season was the showcase for Eboigbe's skills as a versatile alignment defensive lineman, which resulted in multiple disruptive plays in the run game and also finishing the season with seven sacks. He showed the potential for him to be highly impactful in both facets of the game.
As a run defender, Eboigbe has a quick first step combined with great strength, which results in power and the ability to knock offensive linemen back and reset the line of scrimmage. Against the run, Eboigbe can be a technician, consistently and effectively looking peek and shed offensive linemen. Eboigbe has great upper-body strength and strong hands, which allow him to consistently execute. Eboigbe can also use his quickness to shoot gaps to get backfield penetration which results in tackles for loss. In the run game, Eboigbe appears to be a mismatch in one-on-one situations and will garner the need for a double team at times to effectively block him.
Eboigbe's effectiveness as a pass rusher comes via his ability to use quick first steps to try and win around the edges and also his ability to effectively execute twists and stunts. At 290 pounds, Eboigbe is a good athlete who has range as a defender, which helps in his ability to get to the quarterback. Eboigbe also has a good motor which helps him be able to retrace and get sacks from quarterbacks trying to step up in the pocket and escape.
Eboigbe's biggest needed improvement as a player is his pass-rush repertoire. As of now, Eboigbe wins due to his natural power and athleticism but that could be stalemated by offensive linemen who anchor well and have good upper-body strength to stop him. To counter this, Eboigbe can benefit from working on developing different hand maneuvers and primary and counter moves to win in his pass rush. Adding a detailed pass-rush plan could place Eboigbe in a tier of truly impactful defensive linemen who are a threat to change games.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Texas (2023), LSU (2023), Georgia (2023), Ole Miss (2023), Michigan (2023)
