DeMarvin Leal NFL Draft Profile
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DeMarvin Leal Scouting ReportStanding at 6'4", weighing in at 290 pounds Leal is a versatile lineman that can play both defensive end or tackle. He has demonstrated the ability to play with his hand in the ground or stand up at linebacker position. His size to play inside at defensive tackle and has exceptional explosion to play defensive end. Leal possesses exceptional athleticism for his size, impressive change of direction and enough speed to be a problem as an outside rusher. His athletic prowess means that Leal can effortlessly lineup outside but work inside as a pass rusher. He has excellent length, which enables to be disruptive at the point of attack to cause problems in the ground game. He uses his arms to get up and disrupt the ball in the air. |
Areas for ImprovementIf Leal is to transition (as expected) to play defensive tackle in the NFL, then he may need to add a little muscle weight. Thankfully, he has the frame to do just that without impacting his athleticism. One area of improvement that Leal will need to work on is his ability to disengage from blockers. At present, he can be engaged for too long, reducing his odds of impacting the play. He needs to work on his hand usage to counter in these situations. Although Leal appears to have multiple moves at his disposal, he needs to routinely execute a better pass-rush plan. Putting together pass-rush combinations in a timely fashion will lead to more statistical production. At present, his sack numbers aren’t demonstrative of his potential to cause pressure. |
DeMarvin Leal Career at Texas A&MDespite missing spring ball with an injury, Leal looked to make an immediate impact in the SEC. The disruptive defensive lineman made his debut against Texas State, and it wouldn’t be long until he was racking up defensive statistics. He tallied his first full tackle for loss in a game against UTSA, where the Texas A&M defensive lineman generated 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a half-sack. In the regular-season finale against LSU, he secured his first full sack in addition to 4 tackles and a tackle for loss. In 13 appearances with seven starts as a true freshman, Leal recorded 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Although not earth-shattering numbers, the defensive lineman sat second on the team in quarterback hurries. His performances earned him the team’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award. Furthermore, his impressive strength witnessed on the field was rewarded with the team’s Freshman Strength Award. |
DeMarvin Leal NFL Draft Player ProfileYet, the Texas native only had eyes for home. Although he visited Alabama, his only other visits were to Texas and Texas A&M. Before his senior season, Leal announced that his recruiting journey found its final destination: College Station. On explaining his decision, Leal said: “The Aggie network, family environment, and that has been home since forever, really. And it’s SEC in Texas, you can’t beat that.” As the adage goes, if you can’t beat them, join them. However, before Leal did, there was the small matter of his senior high school campaign. Leal registered 83 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, 6 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in what would prove to be his most dominant season to date. Moreover, he flashed his disruptive ability with 6 pass breakups and a blocked punt. Earning an Army All-American invite and a spot on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Team, Leal headed to Texas A&M as the District 26-6A Defensive Player of the Year. |
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