Darius Alexander, Toledo: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Alexander was a three-star recruit from Wayne High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. in the class of 2019

Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander possesses the traits to win in the run and pass game with his burst and power. Alexander received a Day 3 grade because of his inconsistencies, but he should rise throughout the 2025 NFL Draft process thanks to his athleticism and physical profile.

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Darius Alexander, IDL Toledo: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Sixth-year redshirt defensive tackle from Fort Wayne, Ind.

Background: Alexander was a three-star recruit from Wayne High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 2,508 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 2,347 for On3.com. Alexander was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked recruit for ESPN with no star rating or grade out of 100. He lettered three times in high school. Alexander earned All-State honors twice and won the Summit Athletic Conference Player of the Year award. As a high school senior, he amassed 87 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, ten sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Alexander tallied 97 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble, and five passes defensed as a junior.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2024 Duquesne game

Awards: 2023 Third Team All-MAC, 2024 Second Team All-MAC

Pros: Freaks List inclusion, thick throughout frame, broad frame, arm length, quick off the line, pries up the guard’s pad level, drives impressive power through his hands, flashes of pop in hands, walks offensive linemen into the pocket, uses elongated steps and euro steps to soften the lineman’s shoulder, push-pull-swim, club-swim, swim move, spin move, long-arm move, value shooting gaps in the run game, splits and slips double teams, resets the line of scrimmage vs. the run, arm extensions create separation for him in the run game, powerful upper frame to stack and shed single blocks, quick to redirect from blocks and pursue the ball, gets hands in passing lanes consistently

Cons: Sometimes late off the line, get-off slowed significantly late in games, high pad level, limited instant-wins as a rusher, limited pass rush arsenal, inconsistent deployment of a pass rush plan, spin move is slow and awkward, active hands lack purpose, hand placement fails to maximize length, allows linemen into his frame too often as a pass rusher, offers nothing as a pass rusher when double teamed, high pad level makes it easier to displace him, caved in by down blocks, easily blown out of his gap by double teams, timing dropping anchor in the run game, ends up on the ground more than he should

Overview: Alexander primarily aligns at 3-tech, 2-tech, and 2i with some time spent at 1-tech. He appeared on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List for The Athletic this year. According to Feldman, Alexander bench presses 400 lbs., reaches 20 miles per hour on the GPS, and jumps 30 inches in the vertical. Alexander is thick throughout his frame, which sports long arms and broad shoulders. He gets off the line quickly, which allows him to generate some immediate penetration. The Indiana native sometimes gets off the line late, and his quickness slows significantly late in games. He plays with a high pad level but still wins the leverage battle by using his hands to pry up the offensive lineman’s pads. Alexander drives impressive power and pop through his hands. He has the power to bull rush offensive linemen into the pocket and force the quarterback off his spot. He uses euro steps to soften the guard’s shoulder and make splitting the B or A-gap easier. His pass rush plan includes swims, push-pull-swims, club-swims, long-arms, and spins. Alexander generates only a few instant-wins as a pass rusher because of his limited pass rush arsenal and inconsistent rush plan. His spin move is mechanical, and his hand usage is unpolished. The sixth-year prospect’s active hands are weapons when put to good use, but they often lack purpose. He fails to maximize his arm length because of poor hand placement that allows offensive linemen into his frame. Despite his large frame, Alexander offers value as a gap-shooter in the run game. His high pad level makes him easy to displace, but his quickness and relentless vertical push help him split and slip through some double teams. Down blocks displace him, and double teams blow him out of his gap. He tries to anchor late after already losing gap integrity. Alexander’s high pad level contributes to him ending up on the ground more often than he should. When faced with single blockers, Alexander uses his power to reset the line of scrimmage and disrupt the play in the backfield. The All-MAC selection’s powerful arm extensions help him stack and separate from run blocks to quickly redirect and pursue the ball. Alexander consistently gets his hands in passing lanes to swat throws down.

Overall, Alexander is an athletic marvel with stretches of dominant and inconsistent play. He doesn’t make the most of his traits and is still developing his pass rush arsenal. Alexander needs to refine his hand usage and play with more gap discipline in run defense. He can win quickly with penetration or gradually with power.

Role & Scheme Fit: Penetrating 3-tech in an even front

Round Grade: Mid Fifth Round

Size: 6'4", 310 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 11-29-24