Tonka Hemingway NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for South Carolina DL

Matt HolderApr 11, 2025

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 284

HAND: 9”

TOP NEWS

ARM: 33”

WINGSPAN: 80¼”

40-YARD DASH: 5.01

3-CONE: 7.36

SHUTTLE: 4.48

VERTICAL: 32"

BROAD: 9'4"

POSITIVES

— Good overall athlete for an interior defensive lineman. Earned a 9.46 RAS at the NFL combine.

— Quick off the ball, reacts to the snap well and has good acceleration out of his stance.

— Has the quickness and agility to beat offensive linemen across their face as a pass-rusher if he improves his use of hands.

— Flashed a solid arm-over move to win as a pass-rusher and defeat blocks in the running game when linemen lean.

— Can occasionally collapse the pocket with a bull rush with his combination of strength and a good get-off.

NEGATIVES

— Plays high and struggles to sink his hips to anchor against down blocks and double-teams.

— Often gets caught with his hands down as a run defender and gets stuck on blocks.

— Will miss tackles in the backfield or near the line of scrimmage because he lunges and doesn't bring his feet with him when tackling.

— Subpar accuracy with his hands as a pass-rusher.

— Lacks a pass-rush plan. Doesn't show any countermoves if his initial move doesn't work.

NOTES

— Born Oct. 31, 2001

— 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2024 (Undisclosed, missed spring practice)

— 2022 Second-Team All-SEC

— 2023 Second-Team All-SEC

— 2024 Third-Team All-SEC

— Four-time SEC Honor Roll

OVERALL

Tonka Hemingway is an impressive athlete whose quickness, agility and acceleration off the line of scrimmage stand out on tape. That gives him the potential to develop into a disruptive player in the NFL, especially as a pass-rusher.

However, Hemingway's hand usage in both phases of the game needs work, and his pad level becomes an issue in the running game. While those are fixable problems, he's a fifth-year senior who still has these technical flaws. He'll also turn 24 about halfway through his rookie season, lowering his ceiling.

Overall, the former Gamecock is worth taking in the later rounds of the draft, as he could develop into a solid rotational interior defender in the NFL due to his athletic potential.

GRADE: 5.7 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 274

POSITION RANK: DL28

PRO COMPARISON: Moro Ojomo

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder