The New Orleans Saints could use some help along the defensive line in the 2025 draft, and they'll be in a good spot to find it this week at the Senior Bowl.
Of the 12 players on Mike Detillier's watchlist for the defensive side of the ball, 12 are defensive linemen. The size won't disappoint.
With that in mind, here's who Mike D is hoping to get a good look at this week out in Mobile.
This is the second of a two-part series previewing prospects at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Click here for Mike D's watchlist on offense.
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KYLE KENNARD, DE, South Carolina
Measurables
- 6'3 3/4", 248 pounds
- Hand: 9 3/8"
- Arm: 33 3/8"
- Wingspan: 6'8"
OF NOTE
- Started college career at Georgia Tech
- Racked up 54 tackles, 11 tackles for Losses and 6 QB sacks, 2 FF
- Transferred to South Carolina in 2024..
super senior season
- 28 tackles, 16 tackles for losses and 11.5 sacks, 3 FF
- SEC Defensive player of the Year, consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski 2024 Award winner
- Super quick off the snap. Has a set nice of moves and counter moves to defeat his man. Knows how to use his arms & hands well to defeat his man. Smart and instinctive.
- Needs to upgrade his power skills and holding his ground better in run support
Draft projection: 2nd round, but pass rushers are a premium.
Senior Bowl is important to him.
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LANDON JACKSON, DE, Arkansas
Measurables
- 6'5 1/2", 273 pounds
- Hand: 10 1/8"
- Arm: 33 5/8"
- Wingspan: 6'10 3/4"
OF NOTE
- Started college career at LSU. Left after Coach O was fired and Brian Kelly took over. Transferred to Arkansas.
- 116 tackles, 28 tackles for losses and 16 sacks at Arkansas.
- Tall, lengthy DE who has learned how to use his strong hands and long arms well to get around larger OTs
- Quick off the snap and has learned how to use good leverage skills. Has upgraded his run support skills with added weight and strength.
- Has room to grow. Relentless in pursuit. Has a lot of the same traits. but looks like a bigger version of Trey Hendrickson.
Draft projection: 2nd round
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JARED IVEY, DE/DT, Ole Miss
Measurables
- 6'5 5/8", 283 pounds
- Hand: 9 1/8"
- Arm: 33 3/4"
- Wingspan: 6'9 3/8"
OF NOTE
- Started college career at Georgia Tech. Transferred to Ole Miss in 2022.
- Really came on strong in 2023 and 2024
- 46 tackles, 12 TFL and 5 1/2 QB sacks in 2023
- Most improved defensive player in the SEC in 2024
- 42 tackles, 11 TFL and 7 QB sacks, 3 pass deflections and 2 FF
- Has excellent size and growth potential
- Has a quick initial step off the snap and 1st rate closing speed
- Has some versatility due to his size and growth potential
- Plays a bit high but he has improved his run defense skills
- Needs some work on hand placement skills and the ability to counter move vs. his opponent
Draft projection: Middle to late 2nd round
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SAI’VION JONES, DE, LSU
Measurables
- 6'5 1/8", 289 pounds
- Hand: 10 1/8"
- Arm: 33 1/2"
- Wingspan: 6'9 1/2"
OF NOTE
- Tremendous athlete in football, track and basketball at St. James high school in Louisiana.
- Started at DT due to a lack of numbers inside at LSU in 2023, but a better edge player.
- Played very well at DE In 2024
- 40 tackles, 8 TFLs, 4.5 QB sacks and forced 2 fumbles as a senior
- Well coached at LSU under Pete Jenkins and Bo Davis.
- Outstanding athlete. Can run the field well
- Has a quick initial surge up the field as a pass rusher
- Needs some work with his hands and arms to get off of blockers quicker , but he’s improved in that area
- Solid in run support.
- Long armed and he gets those arms up quickly to deflect a pass. Has 1st rate leaping skills to deflect a pass.
Draft projection: 3rd/4th round
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SHEMAR STEWART, DT, Texas A&M
Measurables
- 6'5 1/8", 281 pounds
- Hand: 9 1/8"
- Arm: 34 1/4"
- Wingspan: 6'11 1/2"
OF NOTE
- One of the top HS recruits in the country as a prepster
- Could project to either DE or DT in the pros. Didn’t put up big numbers in college but he’s got great athletic skills and football potential.
- Super quick off the snap, has upgraded his ability to defeat his man at the point of attack.
- Has 1st rate closing speed to track down a QB or back
- Inconsistent, doesn’t play with great technique or hand placement at times
- Plays too high at times and blockers get under his pads and move him around.
- A bit of an enigma as a player because the talent is obviously there- but the production isn’t. Someone will fall in love with him.
Draft projection: Late first round
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CAM JACKSON, DT, Florida
Measurables
- 6'6 1/2", 339
- Hand: 9 3/4"
- Arm: 34 1/8"
- Wingspan: 6'11 1/4"
OF NOTE
- From tiny Haynesville High School in Louisiana.
- Verbally committed to LSU but changed his mind and signed up with Memphis
- Massive DT transferred to Florida in 2023
- 69 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 pass deflections and 1.5 sacks for Gators
- Huge man inside. Can clog up the inside running lanes and tie up multiple blockers
- Forklifts interior OL into the lap of a QB
- Solid inside pass rusher
- Heavy and must get in better condition
- Needs work with his pass rush techniques & hand usage
- Engine runs hot & cold. He is a load to handle when in shape and focused
Draft projection: 3rd/4th round, but Senior Bowl will have a strong impact on his stock one way or the other
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WALTER NOLEN, DT, Ole Miss
Measurables
- 6'3 1/4", 293 pounds
- Hand: 9 1/4"
- Arm: 33 5/8"
- Wingspan: 6'7 1/2"
OF NOTE
- Was considered the top defensive player in nation coming out of high school. Rated with Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter as the one of the top 2 prep players in the nation.
- Heavily recruited, signed with Texas A&M
- Played and started 2 seasons for A&M before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024
- Dominant junior season. 48 tackles, 14 tackles for losses and 6 1/2 QB sacks
- Constantly double teamed all year.
- 1st team consensus All-American and 1st All-SEC in 2024. Came out early for 2025 draft.
- Super quick, energetic, fast starter who has superb closing speed to backs and QBs
- Has learned how to use his arms and hands well to defeat opponents, physically has gotten stronger
- Can dominate vs the run and inside as a pass rusher.
Draft projection: First round, my 17th rated overall player who could dominate Senior Bowl practice sessions
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CARSON SCHWESINGER, LB, UCLA
UPDATE: Carson Schwesinger opted not to attend Senior Bowl
OF NOTE
- Former walk on at UCLA.
- Had an unreal 2024 junior season
- 136 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 pass breakups and 2 INTs in 2024
- 1st Team All-American and 1st team All Big-10
- Great football instincts, rarely takes a false step to the football, sure open field tackler
- Relentless in pursuit and takes good angles
- Drops back well in pass coverage spots
- Reads the eyes of a QB very well
- Has seen extensive work on special teams
- Needs to physically get stronger but he’s the best off-ball LB in the draft class of 2025
- Most improved defensive player in the nation
- Has a lot of similarities to former A&M and current Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper
Draft projection: 2nd round pick
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TREY AMOS, CB, Ole Miss
Measurables
- 6'0 3/8", 195 pounds
- Hand: 9 1/8"
- Arm: 32"
- Wingspan: 6'5 3/8"
OF NOTE
- Played QB and CB at Catholic HS in New Iberia
- Signed on with UL, played three seasons for Ragin’ Cajuns
- Transferred to Alabama in 2023 and was a reserve CB. Transferred to Ole Miss in 2024.
- Excellent press/cover CB. Physical with WRs and tries to throw them off their routes quickly.
- Does well mirroring WRs downfield, will try and bait a QB into throwing his way
- Has good size to match up with taller WR’s at the NFL level.
- Average open field tackler. More of a grab and hold-on tackler. Must be careful to not be too physical with WRs at the pro level and turn them loose after 5 yards.
- Needs to physically get stronger. Teams will love his man to man press coverage skills.
Draft projection: 2nd round
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MAXWELL HAIRSTON, CB, Kentucky
Measurables
- 5'11 1/4", 179 pounds
- Hand: 8 7/8"
- Arm: 31 1'2"
- Wingspan: 6'4"
OF NOTE
- Comes from an athletic family where numerous cousins have played college football and basketball
- Has started the past two seasons at CB for Kentucky
- Ballhawk with 6 career INTs and he brought back 3 for TDs
- Has very good size and he is very smooth with his backpedal techniques
- Finds the ball quickly in flight
- Times his leaps just right to get his hands on a football
- Fluid in the hips. Plants and drives hard to the football. Needs to physically get stronger to upgrade his open field tackling skills and his “press” coverage skills.
Draft projection: late 1st/early 2nd. I think very highly of Hairston and I have him as my 24th overall player
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ANDREW MUKUBA, S, Texas
UPDATE: Andrew Mukuba opted not to attend Senior Bowl
OF NOTE
- Born in Zimbabwe
- Tremendous football player and track athlete running the sprints/long jump/triple jump
- Picked Clemson over Texas and LSU during the recruiting process
- Started as a true freshman at Clemson, ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Played and started three seasons at Clemson
- Had 69 tackles, 4 tackles for losses and 5 INTs in 2024 at Texas
- Andrew has a very thin build, but he’s a ballhawk
- Excellent range and reads what’s breaking down and happening in front of him quickly
Times his jumps correctly to make a play on the ball
- He is a very willing player in run support, but he needs to physically get stronger to hold up at the pro level. Needs to develop into a better wrap up tackler, but he sticks his nose in there in physical situations
- Really excellent in the coverage part of the game
Draft projection: Late 2nd/early 3rd round
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CALEB RANSAW, S, Tulane
Measurables
- 5'10 7/8, 196 pounds
- Hand: 9 1/2"
- Arm: 31"
- Wingspan: 6'2 3/4"
OF NOTE
- Played 3 seasons for Jon Sumrall at Troy
- Transferred to Tulane in 2024
- Versatile guy who plays well upfront in the box and also has played the nickel spot
- Comes up quickly in run support. Good open-field tackler and has 1st rate football instincts. Hard hitter.
- Smart and rarely out of position. Tough guy out on the field. Much better in zone coverage spots than in man to man situations.
- Has above average foot speed & quickness
- All eyes will be on how Caleb holds up in man to man situations in Mobile
Draft projection: 5th/6th rounds
This is the second of a two-part series previewing prospects at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Click here for Mike D's watchlist on offense.