2021 NFL Draft: Darius Stills flashes brilliant next-level upside

Darius Stills is an exciting 2021 NFL Draft prospect who has fantastic upside at the next level.

West Virginia interior defensive lineman Darius Stills had a big game against Baylor on Saturday and needs to be taken seriously as a 2021 NFL Draft prospect. In the 27-21 win for West Virginia, Stills piled up 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He was a consistent disruptor in the middle of the field and major reason for the Mountaineers’ big win on Saturday.

As we dig into Stills’ game as a next-level prospect, it is easy to see his upside. Listed at 6-foot-1, 285 pounds, Stills is undoubtedly undersized as an interior defensive lineman. That being said, his ability to shoot the gaps and penetrate through the middle is incredibly impressive.

Stills is extremely quick off of the ball and shows natural ability when penetrating through the line of scrimmage. He is an extremely tough and aggressive player who is always playing with a hot motor and shows impressive pursuit for an interior player.

Stills is small, but he makes the most out of the size that he has

While his lack of side on the inside is a bit concerning, Stills does a great job of staying low and consistently playing with leverage. Stills also shows extremely strong hands and impressive natural power at the point of attack. He is never going to be known as a power player on the inside, but Stills can undoubtedly hold his own.

With his obvious ability as a one-gap penetrator, Stills undoubtedly has major upside as a 2021 NFL Draft prospect. He is an exciting big-play interior defensive lineman who can make a consistent impact both against the run and as a pass rusher.

We do not often see top-tier defensive prospects coming out of the Big 12, but Stills is undoubtedly a tremendous player who should continue to see his 2021 NFL Draft stock rise. Keep an eye on Stills as the college football season continues to unfold.