Xavier Carlton, Edge Cal: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Carlton was a four-star recruit from Modesto Christian High School in Modesto, Calif. and Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper, Utah in the class of 2020
California Golden Bears pass rusher Xavier Carlton led the team in sacks last season. The former Utah transfer offers exceptional arm length and room for physical development. He projects as a day three selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.
Xavier Carlton, Edge Cal: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Fourth-year junior outside linebacker from Modesto, Calif.
Background: Carlton was a four-star recruit from Modesto Christian High School in Modesto, Calif. and Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper, Utah in the class of 2020. He was the No. 268 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 197 for Rivals, and No. 232 for On3.com. Carlton played his first few high school seasons at Modesto Christian before attending Juan Diego Catholic. Carlton committed to Utah over offers from Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC, Washington and other Power Five programs. He transferred to Cal for the 2022 season. Carlton earned First Team All-State honors as a high school senior and earned invitations to the 2020 All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl. He finished his senior year as a team captain with 91 tackles, including eight sacks, on defense and 13 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns as a tight end, earning Class 3A All-State honors. Carlton earned First Team All-Junior State, Trans-Valley League Outstanding Defensive Lineman, First Team All-TVL, and Bee All-District honors as a junior at Modesto Christian. In his junior year, he amassed 81 tackles, including 14 for loss and 6.5 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries on defense to accompany ten receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, Carlton received First Team All-Sophomore State and All-TVL selections for tallying 81 tackles, including eight for loss and six sacks, and a forced fumble to go along with 14 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns. He has given back to his community by coaching youth football teams in California and Utah and conducting offseason skills camps for young athletes. His father, Demetrius, played on the 1989 Utah Utes football team. Xavier was born on March 18, 1999.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed time in 2023 spring camp with an injury
Awards: N/A
Pros: Special teams experience on the punt return, field goal, and field goal block units, room to add mass to his frame, appears to have above-average arm length, quick off the line, long-arm move, uses his long arms to get into the lineman’s chest, lifts linemen out of their stances
Cons: Age, penalized four times in 2022, lean lower half, not a dynamic athlete, tight hips, limited agility and change of direction, underdeveloped pass rush arsenal and block deconstruction, lacks the power in his lower body to maximize his long-arm move, pass rush derailed by minimal contact, can’t presently play through a lineman, very limited power profile, doesn’t have the speed or technique to capitalize on unbalanced linemen, doesn’t attempt to bend around the edge, plays with an elevated pad level that surrenders leverage, struggles with blocking tight ends, offers nothing against double teams, not quick enough to make plays as a backside run defender, displaced vertically in the run game, lacks the agility and change of direction skills to drop in coverage frequently
Overview: Carlton played more than 300 defensive snaps for the first time when he transferred to Cal. He primarily deployed at 5-tech in a two-point stance but also saw action in a wide-9 alignment. Carlton took some snaps in a three-point stance at 4-tech and occasionally reduced inside to a 4i role. He projects as an outside linebacker at the next level. The California native has long arms and room to add mass to his frame. He’s quick off the line and attacks the lineman’s chest. Carlton frequently turns to a long-arm move as he gets into the lineman’s pads and lifts the offensive player out of his stance. This move disrupts the lineman’s anchor and balance. Unfortunately, Carlton lacks the explosiveness and speed to capitalize. He’s not a dynamic athlete and only plays with limited agility, change of direction skills, and speed. He has a lean lower half and tight hips. The former four-star recruit lacks the power to play through offensive linemen, and his pass rush plan is derailed by minimal contact. His lower body stiffness prevents him from bending around the edge. Carlton is working with an underdeveloped pass rush arsenal and underdeveloped block deconstruction skills. He plays with an elevated pad level that surrenders leverage. The fourth-year junior struggles with blocking tight ends and offers nothing against double teams. He’s not quick enough to make plays as a backside run defender and is displaced vertically in the run game. Carlton will be 25 by the time he steps foot on an NFL field.
Overall, Carlton’s pass rush plan and block deconstruction technique are underdeveloped for a player who will turn 25 before the 2024 NFL Draft. He lacks the athleticism to threaten offenses with his raw tools. Carlton is in danger of going undrafted if he doesn’t take a significant step forward in 2023.
Role & Scheme Fit: Outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme
Round Projection: Seventh Round
Size: 6'6", 270 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 03-24-23