T'Vondre Sweat, IDL Texas: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Sweat was a three-star recruit from Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Texas in the class of 2019

Texas Longhorns interior defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat is a one-of-one prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. His power and closing burst are rare athletic tools for a massive lineman. Sweat will never be a sack artist, but he pushes the pocket and makes quarterbacks very uncomfortable.

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T'Vondre Sweat, IDL Texas: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year senior nose tackle from Huntsville, Texas

Background: Sweat was a three-star recruit from Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Texas in the class of 2019. He was the No. 605 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 660 for On3.com. Sweat was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. He was a 5A All-State selection for the Associated Press and was the District 10-5A II MVP in 2018. Sweat led Huntsville to a 12-2 record, including an undefeated 7-0 district title. He was a unanimous First Team All-District 20-5A selection in 2017 when he recorded 53 tackles and three sacks. Huntsville earned a share of the district title with a 6-1 district mark that season. Sweat was a First Team All-District 20-5A selection in 2016. He also played basketball in high school.

Injuries & Off-Field: Underwent shoulder surgery in 2021 for injury suffered in Alamo Bowl and missed time in the spring

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big 12

Pros: Thick and strong throughout frame, competitive pad level, explosive first steps at his size, plays through contact and keeps momentum headed upfield, too strong to control in a half-man relationship, active and heavy hands, hands pack some knockback, flashes of great hand placement to access the lineman’s chest, swim move, club-swim, long-arm move, double-handed swipe, developing spin move, powerful downward swipe to clear lineman’s hands, swats and swipes to counter lineman’s hands, turns shoulder and gets skinny to shoot gaps, excellent leg drive, gets his hands in passing lanes when he doesn’t get home, burst when the ball is in his sights, centers aren’t big enough to battle him, tossed around Andrew Raym and McKade Mettauer (2023), impacts multiple gaps when energized, stacks one-one-one blocks and easily holds the POA, vertically displaces linemen in the run game, beats the tackle or guard to their spot on down blocks, one-armed tackles, separates and redirects from blocks, hustles down the line to the football

Cons: Passable but not great arm length, unknown pro playing weight, size creates some physical limitations, hip stiffness and size prevents bend, fades as the game goes on, leg drive weakens in the second half, likely a pitch count player in the NFL, limited long pursuit speed, struggles to shift momentum and redirect suddenly, limited pass rush arsenal, more of a pocket pusher as a pass rusher, downward swipe accuracy, up and down pass rush reps late in games, Alabama limited his impact in the run game (2023), inconsistent vision into the backfield, guard-tackle double teams seal him inside, offenses can run through his gap thanks to double teams

Overview: Sweat primarily plays 0-tech, 1-tech, and 2-tech for the Longhorns. According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, he is 6'4 2/8" and 346 lbs. with 33 1/4-inch arms. Sweat has a massive, thick, and strong frame that absorbs and delivers power easily. Despite his size creating some physical limitations, including some hip stiffness and a lack of bend, Sweat plays with a competitive pad level. His first step is explosive for such a large lineman. The Texas native plays through contact and maintains his momentum when rushing upfield. He is too strong for offensive linemen to control or manipulate when he’s in a half-man relationship. Sweat’s hands are active, heavy, and pack knockback. He flashes great hand placement to access the lineman’s chest and set up his power moves. As a pass rusher, Sweat relies on swim, club-swim, and long-arm moves. He also uses double-handed and downward swipes and is developing a spin move. Sweat uses swats and swipes to counter the lineman’s hands. Somehow, he manages to turn his shoulders, get skinny, and shoot gaps. His excellent leg drive empowers his long-arm move and the counters he works off of it. Sweat is too powerful for college centers to battle one-on-one. He tossed around Oklahoma’s Andrew Raym and McKade Mettauer (2023). Sweat gets his hands in passing lanes when he fails to reach the quarterback. He shows off rare closing burst when the ball is in his sights. This burst and his size allow him to impact multiple gaps against the run. He stacks one-on-one blocks and easily holds the point of attack against single blocks. Sweat vertically displaces linemen in the run game and even beats the tackle or guard to their spot on down blocks. Sweat uses his powerful hands to separate and redirect from blocks. He hustles down the line to the football. Sweat’s playing weight could become a sticking point for NFL teams in the pre-draft process. He fades as games go on, his leg drive weakens in the second half, and he occasionally settles for sitting on blocks as a pass rusher. The All-Big 12 honorable mention will likely play on a pitch count in the NFL as a rotational, two-down player. Sweat’s size limits his long pursuit speed and range. He struggles to shift momentum and doesn’t redirect suddenly. Sweat needs to fill out his pass rush arsenal, but he will always be more of a pocket pusher than a reliable pass rusher. Despite Sweat’s size and strength, guard-tackle double teams seal him inside. Offenses run through his gap on double teams, and he struggles to overcome those blocks. There’s a chance Sweat is neither a viable pass rusher nor an elite run defender at the next level.

Overall, Sweat is a rare athlete at his size who pushes the pocket and makes the quarterback uncomfortable, but he doesn’t challenge double teams in the run game at a high level. Sweat’s flashes are as bright as any interior player in this class, but he fades late in games. His future NFL team might alter his playing weight to get more explosive snaps throughout the game.

Role & Scheme Fit: Early down nose tackle in an even front

Round Projection: Late Second to Early Third

Size: 6'4", 362 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 11-03-23