2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Auburn vs. Texas A&M

Texas A&M DE DeMarvin Leal

This game is worth watching simply for DeMarvin Leal (pronounced Lee-Al). He was a five-star prospect out of San Antonio, Texas, and the junior defensive end is projected to go high in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Many mock drafts have Leal going inside the top ten. It’s easy to see why. He offers a unique blend of skills, versatility, and athletic ability.

Physically, DeMarvin Leal is set apart from the rest of the defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s big (6’4” 290), strong, agile, and explosive. It also helps that Leal has long arms. His athleticism is unparalleled, as he had an interception and returned it 43 yards (just missing out on a pick six) in 2020 against Alabama.

Texas A&M has had Leal line up outside both down in a three-point stance and in a two-point stance standing up. He’s big enough that he could play inside if NFL teams wanted him to, as he has the strength to match up with guards and would likely have a quickness advantage over them. DeMarvin Leal can actually play the run too. His long arms and strong, quick hands allow him to engage blockers and easily cast them aside, setting himself up to make the tackle or blow up the play.

While playing the run is nice, it’s DeMarvin Leal’s pass rushing chops that have 2022 NFL Draft scouts intrigued. Through seven games this year, Leal already has 5.5 sacks, including three in his last three games. He’s shown the functional strength to consistently get home with a bull rush, and he’s shown some other moves like a spin and an outside-in move. Leal has enough speed and quickness that offensive linemen have to account for his outside rush, and this allows him to set up his other moves.

DeMarvin Leal has the physical tools that teams covet, and wherever he gets picked in the 2022 NFL Draft, that team should get a valuable and versatile defensive lineman that should improve their passing and rushing defense.