The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Jaylen Twyman 2021 NFL Draft profile.
Position: Defensive Tackle
Size: 6-foot-2, 290 pounds
Class: Redshirt Junior
2019 Stats: 41 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, two passes defended
Twyman is yet another prospect who decided to sit out the 2020 college football season. He only played 21 games at Pitt, but is now preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Out of Washington D.C., Twyman was heavily recruited and chose to play for Pat Narduzzi at Pitt. Twyman redshirted his first season on campus. In 2018, he got his feet wet with 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in eight games played. He was one of the most improved players in the country in 2019, finishing the season with 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. The Panthers went 8-5 with a win over Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl to end the year.
Twyman has cited family as a reason to opt out of the 2020 college football season. He is currently projected to be selected within the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.
His greatest strength is his explosive athletic ability for his position. He has great body control and moves quicker than most defensive tackles. Unathletic interior linemen have a tough time blocking Twyman, so he can capitalize in the pros because of his speed and athletic ability.
He is one of the better pass-rushing prospects at his position in the draft. Twyman had an impressive 10.5 sacks as a redshirt sophomore and looked like he could have improved on that had his 2020 season happened. He has a great swim move and is good at finding ways to use his quickness to attack gaps to get pressure on the quarterback.
Twyman has a good jump at the snap of the ball. His quick first step allows him to get ahead on the play and makes his opponent reach to try to block him. With his natural quickness after this point, he can create penetration before offensive linemen can properly react.
He is undersized for an interior defensive line prospect. Twyman will need to add strength to hold up on the interior at the NFL level. If he can add 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, Twyman will be a much more well-rounded prospect and should be able to shed blocks easier. This will also help him become a better anchor and take on more blockers.
His run defense is just average at this point. He has good gap integrity, but his lack of strength limits him. Twyman needs to shed better, then show better pursuit on ball carriers. He showed the potential to be good against the run, but if he wants to be a three-down player, he needs to be better against the run.
Twyman needs to maintain good leverage throughout a game. His pad level can get too high, as he stands too tall. If he can keep his pad level low, he will be able to generate more power throughout a play. That, with the strength he needs to add, will make him a much more powerful player.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick-Second Round Pick
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