2021 NFL Draft Prospects: Nose Tackles

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2021 nose tackle prospects available for the 2021 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2022 prospect. ** – denotes 2023 prospect.

This page was last updated Feb. 21, 2020. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Marvin Wilson, NT, Florida State
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 317.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.60.
   Projected Round (2021): 1-3.
   2/21/20: Wilson totaled 44 tackles with five sacks, four passes defended and a forced fumble in 2019. He was a disruptive presence, showing pass-rushing potential, strength, quickness and athleticism. Team sources said they were projecting Wilson to the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft had he decided to skip his senior year, but if he improves in 2020, he could be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
   
   Wilson had a decent 2018 season for the Seminoles as their best interior defender. On the year, he totaled 42 tackles with 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two passes batted and 4.5 tackles for a loss.





2. Jay Tufele*, NT, USC
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 305.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.22.
   Projected Round (2021): 1-3.
   2/21/20: In 2019, Tufele was a disruptive presence for USC, totaling 42 tackles with 4.5 sacks and a pass batted. His run defense was improved, and he looks like he has upside to improve as an upperclassman. After redshirting in 2017, Tufele made an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2018, racking up three sacks with 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a blocked field goal. Tufele has the upside to grow and be better as he gains experience.



3. Tedarrell Slaton, NT, Florida
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 343.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.60.
   Projected Round (2021): 2-3.
   2/21/20: Slaton recorded 29 tackles with two sacks and a pass defended in 2019. He played well to close out the regular season, but he was wise to go back for his senior year. Slaton did not produce a big stat line for the Gators in 2018, but the big nose tackle caused a lot of disruption and plugged a lot of gaps at the point of attack. He totaled 21 tackles with two for a loss on the year. Team sources have remarked how Slaton jumped out at them and was impossible to ignore while grading the Gators’ 2019 NFL Draft prospects. For the NFL, Slaton projects as a heavy nose tackle.



4. Mustafa Johnson, NT, Colorado
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 290.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
   Projected Round (2021): 2-3.
   2/21/20: Johnson totaled 28 tackles with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2019. He came up with some big plays to help Colorado pull off a comeback win against Nebraska. Johnson is undersized but quick at the point of attack.
   
   Johnson broke out in 2018 with 7.5 sacks. He added 73 tackles and 17.5 tackles for a loss as well that season while showing the upside to get better as an upperclassman.





5. LaBryan Ray*, NT, Alabama
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 292.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
   Projected Round (2021): 2-3.
   2/21/20: Ray recorded nine tackles with a sack and forced fumble during his 2019 season. He went out of the lineup in September because of a foot injury that required surgery. He was wise to return to Alabama for 2020.
   
   While Quinnen Williams was the star of the Alabama defensive line in 2018, Ray flashed at times for the Crimson Tide and had some nice moments that year. Ray totaled 39 tackles with six for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two passes batted for the season. Ray could take on a bigger role as a senior and has upside to rise.



6. Naquan Jones, NT, Michigan State
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 339.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.40.
   Projected Round (2021): 3-5.


7. Levi Onwuzurike, NT, Washington
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 290.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.11.
   Projected Round (2021): 3-5.




8. Nyles Pickney, NT, Clemson
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 300.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
   Projected Round (2021): 7-FA.


9. Brandon Pili, NT, USC
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 325.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.43.
   Projected Round (2021): 7-FA.

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