Kingsley Suamataia, OT BYU: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Suamataia was a five-star recruit from Orem High School in Orem, Utah in the class of 2021

BYU left tackle Kingsley Suamataia is still building experience at his position, but he has the physical tools to be a long-term impact player in the NFL. Suamataia projects as a second round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT BYU: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt sophomore left tackle from Orem, Utah

Background: Suamataia was a five-star recruit from Orem High School in Orem, Utah in the class of 2021. He was the No. 36 recruit according to 247Sports (four-star), No. 23 for Rivals, and No. 20 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 97th in the nation with an 84 grade out of 100 (four-star). Suamataia transferred from Oregon to BYU for the 2022 season. He started on four consecutive Utah 5A State Championship teams at Orem. As a senior, Deseret News reported that Suamataia allowed zero sacks and recorded 70 pancakes. He was the 5A MVP in 2020. His uncle, C.J. Ah You, is an outside linebackers coach at Texas Tech who formerly played defensive end at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2007. Suamataia is cousins with the Sewell brothers, Nephi (Saints), Noah (Bears), and Penei (Lions).

Injuries & Off-Field: Dealt with a minor foot injury in 2021, suffered a minor injury against Wyoming in 2022, missed 2022 Boise State game, minor right leg injury suffered in the 2023 Kansas game

Awards: 2022 Second Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic), 2022 First Team All-Independent (College Football Network)

Pros: Experience playing right and left tackle, coaches claim he hit 21.5 MPH in 2022, different player from last year in a good way, added weight to his lean lower half from 2022 to 2023, broad shoulders on a box frame, appears to have good arm length, pancakes smaller defenders, lines up low in his stance, maintains a wide base, initial step looks faster in 2023 than 2022, outside linebackers struggle to play through his frame, upper body play strength, able to toss pass rushers, framing of blocks improved, improved hand usage in 2023, punches are impactful and pack some knockback, shoves defenders upfield and around the pocket, seamlessly able to open his hips and run with defenders before getting back into his slide, aggressive run blocking mentality, strength throughout frame to seal rushing lanes, people mover on down blocks, enough mobility to pull and lead block, blows away second level defenders, gets low in goal line situations and rolls through defenders, wrecking ball when he builds momentum

Cons: Committed six penalties in 2022, entered 2023 with under 700 career offensive snaps, wish he would mix up his pass set more often to keep the defenders on their toes, slow first step gives explosive edge rushers an advantage, footspeed and lateral agility die after he stops moving, pad level rises too quickly, must drop anchor sooner, carries hands too low, allows defenders into his chest, clamp should be more consistent, resorts to leaning at times in pass pro, doesn’t recognize stunts, awareness of stunts or additional rushers is still developing, could use more leg drive when working vertically in the run game, upper body gets over his knees when working downhill, not the best at mirroring defenders in space, should improve his use of landmarks in space

Overview: Suamataia played right tackle in 2022 before kicking over to left tackle in 2023. He’s an exceptional athlete who appeared on Bruce Feldman’s 2023 Freaks List for The Athletic. According to BYU coaches, he clocked in at 21.5 miles per hour last year. Suamataia looks even more physically developed in 2023 than in 2022. He added weight to his previously lean lower half to complement his broad shoulders and box-like upper frame. The redshirt sophomore appears to have good arm length. Suamataia lines up low in his stance and maintains a wide base throughout the play, but his pad level rises too quickly. His initial step looks faster this year. Outside linebackers struggle to play through Suamataia’s frame, and he frequently pancakes smaller defenders. The Oregon transfer’s upper body strength pops on tape. He’s able to toss pass rushers or control them thanks to improved framing. From a technique standpoint, he looks like a completely different player from last year, and that’s a good thing. His hand usage is also heading in the right direction. Suamataia’s hands were slower and more predictable last year, which made them easy to counter. Now, his powerful punches land with better placement and timing. They’re also quicker, so defenders don’t have time to dodge the pop they deliver. Suamataia’s inside shoulder was too soft in 2022, but now he does a better job protecting the B gap. The left tackle seamlessly opens his hips to run with defenders before getting back into his slide when he initially gives a step up the arc. He still needs to improve in several areas as a pass protector. Suamataia should begin mixing up his pass sets to keep defenders on their toes. His awareness often doesn’t reveal stunts or delayed blitzes, leading to easy quarterback pressures. Explosive or wide edge rushers gain a step against Suamataia’s first step. His footspeed and lateral agility die after he stops moving. The Utah native’s hands are very powerful, but he carries them too low, which allows defenders into his chest. He resorts to leaning on defenders at times and must drop his anchor sooner when facing a power rush. Suamataia has an aggressive run blocking mentality. He uses his strength to seal running lanes, displace defenders on down blocks, and blow away second level defenders when climbing or pulling. The former five-star recruit is a wrecking ball when he builds momentum. However, he could use more leg drive when working vertically in the run game. Suamataia struggles to mirror defenders in open space and sometimes gets over his skis when working downhill.

Overall, Suamataia is a quickly developing left tackle with the elite power and excellent physical tools to be a contributor as a rookie. His improvement from 2022 to 2023 is impressive. Suamataia still needs to improve many areas of his game, but that will come with experience.

Role & Scheme Fit: Left tackle in an inside zone scheme

Round Projection: Second Round

Size: 6'6", 325 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 10-05-23