Ethan Downs, Edge Oklahoma: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Downs was a four-star recruit from Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Okla. in the class of 2021
Oklahoma defensive end Ethan Downs has one of the best motors in the Big 12. However, he’s still developing his pass rush plan and will likely forgo the 2024 NFL Draft to return to school in 2024.
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Ethan Downs, Edge Oklahoma: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Junior defensive end from Weatherford, Okla.
Background: Downs was a four-star recruit from Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Okla. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 174 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 207 for On3.com. Downs was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals. ESPN ranked him 148th in the nation with an 83 grade out of 100. Downs wrapped up his high school career with 238 tackles, 18 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. He also rushed for 1,250 yards and 16 touchdowns and totaled more than 1,000 receiving yards to accompany 15 receiving touchdowns. Downs was the District 4A-1 MVP as a senior when he amassed 50 tackles, four sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery on defense. As a junior, The Oklahoman selected him as an All-State player when Weatherford went 12-2 and reached the Oklahoma 4A State Championship Game. Downs was a MaxPreps Sophomore First Team All-American as a tight end in his sophomore season. He also lettered in track and field, winning the 2019 Oklahoma 4A shot put title with a throw of 51-3 and claiming third place in the discus with a throw of 141-1.
Injuries & Off-Field: N/A
Awards: 2022 Second Team All-Big 12
Pros: Loves to talk trash and get into it with opponents, room to add mass to frame, arms appear to meet thresholds, explosive first step, capable of sudden & explosive movement, fits hands into offensive lineman’s chest, violent upper body, physical upper body to pop and bounce off linemen at contact, power in hands popped vs. Texas’ guards (2023), punishes tackles for oversetting by firing through the B-gap, long lateral steps to exchange gaps, spins back into the action, spin move, double-handed swipe, powerful club move, rip move, long-arm move, snatch-rip, tosses tight ends, closing speed, relentless pursuit of the quarterback, flashes of stacking and shedding at the point of attack, separates and redirects to the football, sheds blocks well, blew up and overpowered Ja'Tavion Sanders washing him down the line (2023), sniffs out screens, motor runs hot
Cons: Occasionally late off the line, pass rush plan is underdeveloped, lacks diverse set of hand counters, doesn’t chain together moves and counters, spin move can be slow and mechanical, doesn’t win quickly as a pass rusher, lacks power to play through the lineman’s frame consistently, bull rush dies out, struggles to revive rush after it is stopped, doesn’t display elite bend, primarily won against tight ends vs. Texas (2023), questionable reads in run defense that lead to him being sealed, inconsistent play strength to set the edge and hold the point of attack, offers nothing against double teams
Overview: Downs primarily aligns in two and three-point stances as a 5-tech for the Sooners, but he occasionally takes some snaps as an athletic mismatch as a 2 or 3-tech. He also gets opportunities as a wide-9 rusher. Downs loves to talk trash and get into the faces of opponents. He has room on his frame to continue adding mass. Downs lacks elite arm length but appears to meet the necessary thresholds. He has an explosive first step and is capable of sudden and explosive short bursts. Downs fires his hands into the offensive lineman’s chest. He has a violent and physical upper body to pop and separate from linemen on first contact. The junior punishes tackles for oversetting by firing through the B-gap. He takes long lateral steps to exchange gaps. Downs’ pass rush arsenal includes spin, rip, club, and long-arm moves, along with a double-handed swipe and snatch-rip. His closing speed, motor, and relentless pursuit of the quarterback make him a high-effort player. The former four-star recruit shows flashes of stacking and shedding at the point of attack but can become more consistent in this area. He sheds blocks and redirects to the football well for a third-year player. Downs is a physical mismatch for tight ends, which he easily overpowers. Unfortunately, a significant amount of his production in 2023 has come against tight ends instead of linemen. Downs is occasionally late off the line, making it difficult for him to win around the edge. The Oklahoma native has an underdeveloped pass rush plan and lacks a diverse set of hand counters. He doesn’t chain together moves and counters often, and his spin move is still a developmental weapon. Downs lacks the power to play through a lineman’s frame consistently, and his bull rush stalls. He struggles to revive his rush after it is stopped. The All-Big 12 selection lacks elite bend, further limiting his upside as a rusher around the edge. He makes questionable reads in run defense that lead to him being sealed. Downs still needs to improve his play strength to hold the point of attack.
Overall, Downs is a hard-working defender who has already developed a solid foundation for rushing the passer and shedding blocks in the run game. However, he still needs to improve his play strength and should begin expanding his pass rush plan to include more counters and advanced moves. Downs is a candidate to return to school and raise his stock for 2025.
Role & Scheme Fit: 5-tech in a 3-4 scheme
Round Projection: Fifth Round
Size: 6'4", 265 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 11-16-23