FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Illinois defensive lineman Keith Randolph.
2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Keith Randolph
Keith Randolph (DL – Illinois)
6-foot-5 | 305 pounds
Background:
Played sparingly in both 2019 and 2020, then started seven of ten games played the following year and finished with 42-5.5-4.0. Took over a full-time starting role the next year, enjoying his best season (53-13.0-4.5), before starting all ten games played this past year and posting 49-4.0-1.5.
Positives:
Three-year starter with very good size; carries his weight well and really looks the part of a pro defensive lineman. Tends to play the five-tech end on the team’s three-man defensive lines. Long-armed defender with good extension to lock out blockers when two-gapping. Has a solid anchor to hold the point of attack in the run game. Disciplined in his run fits. Pretty consistent about locating the football and flowing in the play direction. Length gives him a wide tackling radius within his range. Reliable tackler with some thudding power. Flashes a quick first step to put defenders on their heels early on passing downs. Has some lateral quickness and suddenness with his hands to swipe offensive linemen. Overall hand use as a rusher is relatively active, and shows an above-average motor on those downs; main move looks like his swim. Gets his hands up to contest passing lanes.
Negatives:
Could be taller than some even-front teams like on the interior of their lines. Doesn’t have the most consistent reaction times to the ball being snapped. Has some issues with his pad level; naturally tall, and tends to get upright out of his stance. Length lets him hold the point of attack, but doesn’t have a ferocious bull-rush to walk back linemen and reset the line of scrimmage. Range in pursuit is limited. Pass-rush approach is relatively basic; uses some different moves, but doesn’t seem to have a reliable go-to option. Too many plays where he ends up idling around the line when his initial move doesn’t work. Doesn’t have an extra gear to close when he gets a lane.
Summary:
A tall, well-built five-technique defensive end who has the lower-body strength and length to lock out blockers and hold the point of attack as a two-gap defender on early downs. As a three-year starter, does a good job of locating the ball and flowing in the run game, but his high pad level and lack of explosiveness can cause him to idle around the line of scrimmage on too many passing downs. Consequently, has the look of an early-down five-technique run defender in a disciplined two-gap front.
Projection: Round 6
More 2024 NFL Draft Prospects
Defensive Linemen
- Kris Jenkins (DL – Michigan)
- Tyler Davis (DL – Clemson)
- Ruke Orhorhoro (DL – Clemson)
- Jer’Zhan Newton (DL – Illinois)
- McKinnley Jackson (DL – Texas A&M)
- Byron Murphy II (DL – Texas)
- T’Vondre Sweat (DL – Texas)
- Maason Smith (DL – LSU)
- Mekhi Wingo (DL – LSU)
- Leonard Taylor III (DL – Miami)
- Michael Hall Jr. (DL – Ohio State)
- Braden Fiske (DL – Florida State)
- Darius Robinson (DL – Missouri)
- Justin Eboigbe (DL – Alabama)
- DeWayne Carter (DL – Duke)
- Laiatu Latu (DE – UCLA)
- Chop Robinson (DE – Penn State)
- Bralen Trice (DE – Washington)
- Dallas Turner (DE – Alabama)
- Chris Braswell (DE – Alabama)
- Brandon Dorlus (DL – Oregon)
- Gabriel Murphy (DE – UCLA)
- Adisa Isaac (DE – Penn State)
- Jonah Elliss (DE – Utah)
- Jared Verse (DE – Florida State)
- Nelson Ceaser (DE – Houston)
- Marshawn Kneeland (DE – Western Michigan)
- Austin Booker (DE – Kansas)
- Brennan Jackson (DE – Washington State)
- Javon Solomon (DE – Troy)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @draftexaminer.