STRENGTHS: Massive body type with proportionate thickness, long arms and big hands … displays grown -man strength to bully blockers into the lap of the
quarterback … flashes pop and power in his hands to swipe down blockers or put them on their backside (NFL scout: “ Did you see the new Mario movie? When Donkey Kong pounds the snot out of Mario? It gave me flashbacks of Sweat’s film.”) … surprising quickness for his size with range to make plays downfield and at thenumbers … even when his base gets narrow, he can hold his ground versus double teams … has a knack for finding passing lanes (17 batted throws in his career; six in2023) … played eight career snaps on offense, including a 2-yard touchdown in the 2023 Big 12 championship game … has always been known for his smile and fun-loving attitude but adopted more of a locked-in mentality in 2023 (without losing his playful personality) … improved effort as a senior and benefited from the experience of defensive line coach Bo Davis, who previously coached with the Detroit Lions (2018-20) … leans on a close bond with his mother (“Without that woman,I wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things.”) … career bests in production in 2023, including his first blocked kick (extra-point attempt that was returned for two points).
WEAKNESSES:
Must keep his weight under control (NFL scouts say he played the 2023 season at “380ish” pounds) … high-cut and tends to play tall out of his stance …average get-off leads to early stalls … pass-rush skills are a work in progress and needs to develop move-to-move transitions … more consistent hand placement will reduce missed tackles … showed improved conditioning in his final season but was kept fresh (35.9 snaps per game) … improved maturity during the
2023 season but was labeled a “party animal” and “class clown” as an underclassman by NFL scouts, who also questioned his commitment to becoming the best player he could be …converted some doubters after adopting more of a professional mentality in 2023 but was arrested and charged with DWI, just weeks before the draft (April 2024).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Texas, Sweat was a mountain on the interior in former defensive coordinator Jeff Choate’s scheme. Known for immature tendencies as an underclassman, he returned for his super senior season in 2023 and made several key changes (on and off the field) that elevated the defense (first Texas player to win the Outland Trophy since 1977). With his powerful base, Sweat refuses to be moved and effortlessly controls the point of attack before shedding with urgency and range to finish. As a pass rusher, his hands and feet need to be more consistently synced up, but he can create knockback and collapse the pocket. Overall, Sweatmust continue turning the brilliant flashes into more consistency, but he is a rare athlete for his size, with the power and ingredients to be a dominant
