2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Keion White





  • Keion White, 6-4/260

  • Defensive End

  • Georgia Tech


  • Keion White Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Quick edge rusher
  • Agility to dodge blockers
  • Good get-off
  • Closing speed
  • Nice ability to redirect
  • Pursuit defender
  • Plays with good leverage
  • Causes disruption behind the line of scrimmage
  • Chases running backs down from the backside
  • Consistent source of pass pressure in 2022
  • Regularly produces splash plays
  • Has some instincts and feel
  • Ability to bend around the corner




  • Weaknesses:
  • Lacks weight for the edge
  • Must get stronger for downhill runs
  • Needs to improve ability to shed blocks
  • Could stand to improve and develop more pass-rushing moves


  • Summary: White made it onto NFL teams’ 2022 preseason watchlist mainly from his 2019 season at Old Dominion, when he collected 19 tackles for a loss, 62 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, an interception and a pass batted. Old Dominion did not play football in 2020, and while White transferred to Georgia Tech for 2021, he missed the majority of the year with an injury. In 2022, White broke out in with 7.5 sacks and 54 tackles while playing for a bad team. White has received some postseason buzz and some first-round projections from the media, including NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah.

    As a pass rusher, the strength of White’s game is that he is very quick off the edge, possessing the agility to weave around blockers. He has a quick first-step and get-off to put tackles on their heels. White is good in space while being athletic enough to stand up over tackles or put his hand in the ground and rushing as a defensive end. White could be a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. In a 4-3 defense, he could play at right end.



    In the ground game, White could stand to improve his ability to shed blocks and break free after linemen get their hands on him. He also will have problems defending downhill runs coming straight at him due to his size. Hence, White will need to be part of a rotation. He needs to continue to develop some his pass-rushing moves for the NFL because he is too reliant on speed and athleticism.

    None of the sources WalterFootball.com spoke with from a number of teams had a first-round grade on White. All of them had him graded on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Perhaps there is a team that likes him enough to select him late in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, but most likely he is a second-day prospect.



    Player Comparison: Cliff Avril. White reminds me of Avril (6-3, 260). They are almost identical in size and fast edge rushers to hunt quarterbacks. Both players are light in the run game. Avril was a quality pass rusher over a solid NFL career, and if White pans out, I could see him being a pro comparable to Avril.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2023 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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