Barryn Sorrell, Texas: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Sorrell was a three-star recruit from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, La. in the class of 2021

Texas Longhorns’ star Barryn Sorrell is buried in a deep edge rusher class. He projects as a Day 3 depth piece in the 2025 NFL Draft with some rotational value. Sorrell could carve out a nice role for himself in the league if he develops a consistent pass rush plan.

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Barryn Sorrell, Edge Texas: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Senior outside linebacker from New Orleans, La.

Background: Sorrell was a three-star recruit from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, La. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 682 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 684 for On3.com. Sorrell was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 76 grade out of 100. He originally committed to Northwestern before flipping to Texas. Sorrell played tight end as a freshman and sophomore before moving to defensive end. During his junior season, he posted 44 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble. Sorrell was a 5A All-State honorable mention in 2020. He earned Second Team Louisiana All-State honors from MaxPreps and was a High Great American Rivalry Series scholar-athlete. Sorrell was on the All-District 9-5A First Team and earned a 5A Academic All-State selection.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big 12, 2023 Honorable Mention All-Big 12

Pros: Special teams experience on punt return and field goal block units, Freaks List inclusion, burst off the line, turns speed into two-armed bull rush, attacks the tackle’s hands, combative hands, two-handed swipe, swipe-rip, long-arm move, chains a long-arm into a club, rip move, push-pull move, chops and clubs, cross-chop, spin move, swim move, some very powerful clubs, punishes oversetting tackles with B-gap counters, closing speed to hunt down mobile quarterbacks, plays low to win leverage battle vs. run, stacks and peaks run blocks with two-handed punch before using rip move, good hand placement to access the tackle’s chest, speed to threaten runs as a backside defender, defends RPOs well, good motor

Cons: Lacks 33-inch arm length, quickness off the line varies, pad level as a pass rusher pops up quickly, underpowered against some offensive tackles, bull rush dies out vs. stout linemen, needs to work counters off long-arm once bull rush stalls, stalled by tight ends in pass pro for too long, lacks elite bend to turn the corner, forced up and around the pocket at the top of the arc, incomplete pass rush plan, lacks hand counters to revive rush, must capitalize on clubs with counters and secondary rush moves, size creates some limitations at POA, gradually walked off the line by linemen working vertically, offers nothing vs. double teams, easily driven out of plays by down blocks on 4-tech snaps

Overview: Sorrell primarily aligned as a 5-tech and wide-9 for the Longhorns in 2024 but also took some snaps at 4-tech and 4i. He made Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List for The Athletic in 2024. Per Feldman, Sorrell hit 19.4 miles per hour in a game in 2023 and has hit 20 miles per hour on the Catapult system. He bench presses 425 lbs., squats 575 lbs., and power cleans 355 lbs. Sorrell’s frame offers good mass for his size but lacks ideal arm length. He checked in with sub-33-inch arms at both the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Sorrell showcases decent burst off the line, but his initial quickness varies. His pad level rises quickly, exposing him to harsh punishment. Sorrell turns speed into power for a two-armed bull rush but finds his rush dying out against stout linemen. He must add counters off his long-arm and other bull rushes to keep his attack going. The senior attacks the offensive linemen’s hands and deploys cross-chops, clubs, push-pulls, spins, swims, swipe-rips, and two-handed swipes. He channels impressive power into his clubs and punishes oversetting linemen by attacking the B-gap. Sorrell lacks the bend to generate consistent pressure around the corner and finds himself forced around the pocket. He possesses a deep bag of rush moves but hasn’t mastered the process of assembling a pass rush plan down-to-down. The Louisiana native needs to deploy hand counters or secondary rush moves to capitalize on the openings created by his initial attack. His closing speed and motor make him a threat to run down mobile quarterbacks. He plays low at the point of attack but lacks the size to consistently anchor. Offensive linemen gradually displace Sorrell vertically, and he offers nothing against double teams. He uses a two-handed punch to stack run blocks before ripping past the lineman. His active and well-placed hands mitigate some of the concerns about his arm length. Sorrell threatens plays as a backside run defender and uses his mobility and pursuit speed to challenge RPOs.

Overall, Sorrell is an athletic defender with an excellent motor, but his limited bend, lack of power, and inconsistent pass rush plan make him project as an early-career backup. Sorrell will cut his teeth on special teams while trying to earn a larger role. He must elevate his game as a run defender to raise his floor and as a pass rusher to uplift his limited ceiling.

Role & Scheme Fit: Outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme

Round Grade: Mid Fifth to Early Sixth Round

Size: 6'3 1/4", 256 lbs. (NFL Combine)

Submitted: 09-17-24

Updated: 03-20-25