YaYa Diaby, EDGE Louisville: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Diaby was a three-star JUCO product from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga. in the class of 2020

Louisville edge rusher YaYa Diaby has the build and skill set to play 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. The former JUCO product will compete against the nation’s best college veterans at the Reese's Senior Bowl in a few months.

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YaYa Diaby, EDGE Louisville: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Senior defensive end from Atlanta, Ga.

Background: Diaby was a three-star JUCO product from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga. in the class of 2020. He previously attended North Clayton High School in College Park, Ga. where he failed to receive a star ranking from 247Sports upon graduating with the class of 2017. Diaby was the No. 41 JUCO transfer (three-star) according to 247Sports’ JUCO Composite board and No. 53 for On3.com. He was an unranked three-star JUCO product for Rivals. Diaby was an unranked three-star JUCO recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. During the 2018 season at Georgia Military College, Diaby amassed 19 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks in nine games. The following year, he totaled 58 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks, and a forced fumble in 11 games before joining the Cardinals. Diaby played varsity basketball and football in high school. He appeared on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for The Athletic. According to Feldman, Diaby has an 8'1" wingspan and tops out at 20.8 miles per hour at his peak speed. Feldman also credits Diaby with a 9'11" broad jump and being able to bench press 385 lbs. Diaby was born on May 30, 1999.

2021 Production: 13 games, 39 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 22 pressures, 1.5 sacks

2020 Production: 8 games, 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 14 pressures

Injuries & Off-Field: Battled an ankle injury in 2020, exited the Pitt game (2022) with an injury

Awards: N/A

Pros: Rarely penalized, carries 270 lbs. well, quick off the line of scrimmage, strength to maintain his trajectory while working through half-man rush, linear speed to contest outside runs and pursue carriers downfield, acceptable arm length and great wingspan, gets hands engaged early, tries to get his hands in passing lanes, foot speed, motor runs hot, some power in his large hands, physically overwhelms tight ends, works tackles upfield and redirects inside, changes directions well for his size, speed off the line to make plays as a backside run defender

Cons: Age, limited special teams experience on the field goal block and punt return units, high percentage of missed tackles in 2022, needs to stay lower coming out of his stance, lean lower half, ineffective on stunts, play strength leads to him being sealed or caved in against the run, doesn’t threaten the tackle’s inside shoulder off the snap, needs to trust his gut and commit to downhill rushes more, limited bend off the edge, doesn’t display an arsenal of pass rush moves and counters, sometimes struggles to disengage from offensive linemen, strength doesn’t consistently displace linemen, not twitchy or sudden

Overview: Diaby is unofficially listed at 6'4", 270 lbs. He applied pressure on roughly 8.49% of his pass rush attempts in 2021. Louisville frequently uses Diaby as a 4-tech in a 3-4 defensive front and even sometimes gives him snaps as a 3-tech lined up in the B gap. Don’t expect him to fill a similar role at the NFL level. Diaby’s lean lower half and lack of elite play strength make it more likely he plays 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker in the league. His speed off the line of scrimmage and ability to push upfield suggest the outside linebacker role would serve him best. Diaby is quick off the line of scrimmage and carries his weight well. He has the strength to maintain his trajectory while working through his half-man rush. Diaby displays the linear speed to contest outside runs and pursue carriers downfield. He has acceptable arm length and a large wingspan. Diaby engages with his hands early and packs some pop on first contact. He plays with good foot speed and a hot motor. Diaby’s best pathways to generating pressure right now are a one-armed bull rush and using his speed off the line to work tackles upfield before redirecting inside. There are instances where Diaby has a path to the quarterback but hesitates as he reads the action going on around him. These hesitations rarely helped him impact the play. He needs to commit to the rush on these plays and get after the quarterback. Unfortunately, Diaby is an older prospect with limited special teams experience and a lackluster pass rush plan. He doesn’t have many of the moves and counters pass rushers need in their bag. Diaby has a lean lower half, which hurts him against the run. His play strength leads to him being sealed or caved in against the run, and he struggles to avoid being displaced at the point of attack. The JUCO product shows limited bend off the edge. He is largely ineffective on stunts and doesn’t look to threaten the tackle’s inside shoulder off the snap. Diaby would benefit from keeping his pad level lower early in plays.

Overall, Diaby is an older prospect who lacks a clear pass rush plan, elite play strength, and bend, but he’s suffered from playing out of position on Louisville’s defense. The senior could be a better pro than college player if he goes to the right scheme. Diaby has some intriguing physical traits and should at least find his way onto a practice squad.

Role & Scheme Fit: Rotational outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme

Round Projection: Early Sixth to Late Sixth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 11-16-22