PFF: Florida's Princely Umanmielen Among 2024 NFL Draft Edge Rushers To Know
Photo: Princely Umanmielen; Credit: Alex Shepherd
Draftniks have turned their attention to 2024, beginning to preview next year's NFL Draft even though the 2023 selection ceremony was held barely over a month ago.
Although potential prospects have another dozen or so games to prove their worth to pro teams, certain returning college football players have already begun to make a case to hear their names called next April.
According to Pro Football Focus, Florida edge rusher Princely Umanmielen has warranted such attention. The rising fourth-year junior was named among PFF's ten draft-eligible edge rushers to know on Friday:
Umanmielen’s 88.1 pass-rushing grade over the past two seasons ranks fourth among returning Power Five edge defenders. The junior can do more than just get after the quarterback, as his 21 run-defense stops this year also stood top 10 among Power Five edge defenders.
Umanmielen, 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, took over a starting role in Florida's defense in 2022 at strong-side defensive end. Tasked with replacing the production of Zachary Carter, a third-round pick by Cincinnati earlier that year, Umanmielen tallied single-season career-highs with 39 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
In addition to his impressive run defense performance noted by PFF, Umanmielen also registered 27 quarterback pressures in 2022, good for the most on the team and 23rd-most in the SEC from any defensive position.
PFF also shared on Friday that Umanmielen is the Southeastern Conference's highest-graded returning edge rusher entering the 2023 season, with an 82.1 (out of 100) overall defensive grade from last year. Fellow Gators edge rusher Justus Boone ranks No. 7 in the conference, returning a 73.9 mark from 2022.
Umanmielen and Boone will be expected to start opposite each other on Florida's defensive front this season, under the direction of new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong.
Umanmielen was joined by the following prospects on PFF's list of 10 draft-eligible edge rushers to know ahead of the 2023 season:
- Jared Verse, Florida State
- Dallas Turner, Alabama
- Chop Robinson, Penn State
- J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- Bralen Trice, Washington
- Laiatu Latu, UCLA
- Jack Swayer, Ohio State
- Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
- Gabriel Murphy, UCLA
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