The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Houston EDGE Nelson Ceaser plans on taking full advantage. Ceaser recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Ceaser also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his pass-rush arsenal, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Ceaser better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Nelson Ceaser: To tell you the truth, I wrote down everything I wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the season. I wrote down getting that Senior Bowl invite on my list of goals. The agent I was speaking with at the time gave me a heads-up that I was going to be getting an invite. He called me about three days before I received the whole invite presentation with the Reese’s Senior Bowl box.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Nelson Ceaser: I was so excited about getting that invite. Seeing and believing it, it wasn’t until I was at practice leading up to our last game or second last game, our coaching staff presented the invite to me and Patrick Paul. It was a blessing. I’m so excited to compete in Mobile.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Nelson Ceaser: Me personally, I feel like I should be considered one of the top defensive ends in the 2024 NFL Draft. I’m going to Mobile to establish that. I’m not sure what it is that I haven't proved yet. I’m not sure if scouts have a level of competition questions. I’m not sure what it is. All I can do is control what I can control. I’m looking forward to proving that I can play with the best of the best in Mobile.
JM: How would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
Nelson Ceaser: I would honestly write down that my pass-rush arsenal is the best, or one of the best, arsenals in the entire 2024 NFL Draft. That’s how I feel. I can rush against guards and centers. I can rush, man. I can rush against offensive tackles. I can drop in coverage. I’m an excellent athlete. You can play me wherever on the field. You can play me at outside linebacker. I can play a number of different positions. I believe I bring a lot of value to a defense.
I think my biggest selling point is my pass-rush arsenal.
JM: Let’s go into more detail then. How would you describe your pass rush arsenal? What are some of your go-to moves and counters?
Nelson Ceaser: I can’t even really tell you. When I’m rushing, it’s more about having that natural feel. I watch a lot of film and get a feel for what offensive tackles like to do. I have to attack their weaknesses. Sometimes I try to set up my moves.
I recently learned the cross-chop move. Some people call it a different name, but we call it the cross chop. I like that move and I like the process necessary to set up that move. I can’t tell you all my secrets (laughs). I’m sure somebody can watch my film and figure it out.
I like the stab-single. I love selling an inside move. I like the bull snatch every now and then. I’d say my go-to move, the move I like to set up the most is the cross chop. It’s a quicker move that allows me to get to the quarterback faster. Once that move is set up and ready to be unleashed, I can get after the quarterback.
JM: You have a diverse arsenal. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL pass rusher, who would you choose and why?
Nelson Ceaser: I really like the way that Dallas uses Micah Parsons. I love how they give him an opportunity to rush on the interior. They use him all over the field. I love that. Don’t get me wrong, Micah Parsons is a freak athlete. But if you took his athleticism out of the equation and just focused on schemes, I love the way Dallas uses Parsons. I think I could have success in a similar scheme.
I really admire Parsons’ game. Von Miller is another legend. He’s been doing it for a minute. I’m just starting to catch up on Von Miller. He’s been playing since before I started watching football. Those are my two favorites. Micah Parsons and Von Miller. I like to watch Demarcus Lawrence on Dallas as well. Khalil Mack comes to mind.
JM: You had a career-high 9.5 sacks this season. You were one of the most impressive pass rushers in college football. What changed for you in 2023 that allowed you to take that step forward?
Nelson Ceaser: A lot of that success was about timing. I believe it was just my time, you know? I knew what I needed to do. I knew what I wanted for myself this season. I knew I wanted to achieve things I’ve never achieved before.
I attacked the offseason with that mentality. My mindset was that I needed to get it done this year. It’s your last year. I didn’t want to go back for another year. I had to step it up. I kept praying. I went out and executed the plan. That’s what I was saying about timing.
I had that experience under my belt now. I knew how to go about certain things.
JM: We saw that make a difference. So many great Houston defenders have been drafted throughout your time there. It was your time now. What did you learn from guys like Logan Hall and Payton Turner?
Nelson Ceaser: Believe it or not, I learned a whole lot from Derek Parish. I know a lot of people talk about Payton Turner and Logan Hall because they got drafted the highest out of most defensive linemen that come through Houston.
Personally, I learned a lot from Derek Parish. Payton Turner and Logan Hall were older than me. With Turner specifically, I only got to watch him play. I didn’t play with him. I honestly believe I learned the most from Derek Parish.
Parish was the type of guy who showed up to work every single day. I’m telling you, man. Derek Parish had a different mindset. That gave me something that I wanted to model myself after. I really admire Derek Parish. He showed up every single time ready to work. Every game, every practice.
That right there changed my whole mindset. I really admired Derek Parish. Payton Turner was a pro. I never got to play or practice with him because I was on the scout team. I saw him in the meeting room. If a coach called on Payton Turner to answer a question in the meeting room, he always had the answer. He attacked it. I wanted to learn from Payton Turner in that regard.
Logan Hall was a dog. He had that in him. I’m not sure how he played as a rookie, but he was a dog here.
JM: I got to know Derek Parish very well throughout the pre-draft process last year. I interviewed him like I’m interviewing you now. He’s a special guy and a special teammate. I’m not surprised one bit. Fun question before I let you go, Nelson. What’s on Nelson Ceaser’s pre-game playlist?
Nelson Ceaser: I only listen to gospel music. This is what I’m about to do for you. I’m going to my playlist right now. I believe the song is called “O Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship. I love that song.
If I want to add a little swag to the playlist, probably as I’m walking through the tunnel or to the stadium, I might play a little Gunna every now and then. For the most part though, I listen to gospel music when I’m trying to get my mind right in the locker room.
JM: We love that. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Nelson Ceaser?
Nelson Ceaser: I’m not sure what to expect. A successful Senior Bowl means I handled my business. I don’t know what people are expecting out of me and I try not to allow other people’s expectations to dictate my opinion.
If I go out there and dominate the way I know I’m capable of doing, if I’m affecting the quarterback like I know I can, I’d be happy with my performance. I know the chips will fall where they may. I’m excited for the opportunity. I thank God and Jim Nagy for this opportunity.
I’m thankful. It’s now up to me to prove to the entire scouting community that I’m one of those guys, man.
