T’Vondre Sweat

T’Vondre Sweat (NT) – Texas / Senior (5th year)

6’4-1/2”, 366 Lbs. (Combine) 

2023 Stats: 14 games, 45 tackles (18 solo/27 assisted), 2 sacks, 8 TFL, 4 PD  

{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tvondre-sweat-1.html}

Awards: 2023 Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year; 2023 Consensus All-America; 2023 John Outland Trophy

Measurables (Combine):

RAS: 4.10

Games Watched: 2022 vs. Oklahoma; 2023 @ Alabama; 2024 vs. Washington (Sugar Bowl)

PRO’S 

Fans will love NT T’Vondre Sweat — quick mammoth of a human being who plays with a very high motor and plays through the whistle.  A high-ceiling Nose Tackle who disrupts.  Not a lot of sacks — most NTs and iDL don’t get too many sacks — but he does penetrate quickly and disrupts.  Pushes the interior of the OL back into the face of the QB; consistently double-teamed in pass protection.  You’re not moving this guy in the run game — anchors very well, good lower base, very strong.  Solid use of hands, great rip move and keeps arms active.  Easily sheds blocks, and has no problem handling double teams in the run game.  Tall player who does a good job of keeping his pads low.

CON’S

Quick once he gets going, but not explosive off the line and not athletic.  Average lateral quickness in the run game.  Almost demands double-teams when pass rushing, but has a difficult time overcoming those double-teams.  But again, handles the double-team very well against the run and has no problem covering two gaps.  Most criticisms seem to be aimed at technique like his use of hands, but these don’t stand out to me as consistent problems and I really don’t see these as big deals because his combination of quickness, size, strength, balance, good anchor, and high motor are just so much that he’d already arrive in the NFL with, and he can improve on technique at the next level.  His floor is dominant run stopper, but I see him as an eventual 3-down NT.  Needs to develop more pass rush moves.

OVERALL 

Sweat and fellow Longhorn, Byron Murhpy II, were probably the best 1-2 punch at iDL in 2024 college season, and both should be gone no later than the second round (and don’t be surprised if both are gone in the late 1st) because of their ability to penetrate.  I’m eager to do a write-up on Murphy II because I’m unsure as of this writing which player I like more.  Sweat’s ceiling at NT is not easy to find, and I’d say even harder than finding a stud Edge.  I’m not saying he’s at Calijah Kancey’s ability to consistently penetrate and disrupt, but he’s much better than average and is a monster against the run — all at NT.  I strongly believe that his pass rushing ability can go next level in the NFL — reminds me of Dexter Lawrence with their play style and they’re basically the same exact size — 6’4″ and 340+ pounds — but not quite as athletic as Dex.  Dex came into the NFL as a no-doubt run stopper but questioned ability in the pass rush.  He’s no longer questioned in his ability to pressure the QB and I see Sweat’s ceiling as this type of player.

Completed by: Joe Knows (@JoeJ_Clark), 01/11/24