C.J. Fite DT Arizona State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #99 SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.15 seconds (40%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #99 | |
| SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.15 seconds (40%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
79.5 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
|
59% |
| Pass Rush: |
|
58% |
| Run Defense: |
|
77% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#191
Position rank:
#28 (DL)
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| College Games: 38 College Snaps: 1469 | ||
247 RATING: 85/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Taron Vincent - Ohio State |
|
92% |
| JJ Pegues - Ole Miss |
|
87% |
| Brandon Cleveland - NC State |
|
85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Standing 6'2" and weighing 305 pounds, C.J. Fite earned District 6-3A Defensive MVP honors as a junior after terrorizing quarterbacks with 23 tackles for loss across just two varsity seasons. His combination of leverage and violence at the point of attack caught the attention of Arizona State's coaching staff, who secured his commitment as a consensus three-star recruit despite competition from other programs.Fite's transition to Tempe proved seamless, as the defensive tackle became an immediate contributor during his true freshman campaign in 2023. Playing 350 snaps - fourth-most among all true freshman defenders in the Pac-12 - he established himself as a run-stuffing force while recording 15 tackles and a fumble recovery. His 71.3 run defense grade ranked fifth nationally among all true and redshirt freshmen, announcing his arrival as a legitimate building block for the Sun Devils' defense.
The 2024 season saw Fite elevate his game to another level, starting all 14 contests during Arizona State's magical Big 12 championship run that culminated in a College Football Playoff appearance. His 30 tackles included four tackles for loss and two sacks, while his eight tackles for loss or no gain ranked fifth among Big 12 interior linemen.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Durable interior presence, logging 587 snaps across all thirteen games
- Stays square as an early-down run anchor, holding the point inside
- Holds the point with leverage, stacking blocks against Mississippi State
- Got home at Iowa State for an interior sack
- Comes to balance as a tackler and rarely gives ground on contact
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Offers little interior push on third down, rushes stalling after the first move
- Average timed speed caps the range and the closing burst
- Pressure totals stay flat, just two sacks across a full snap load
- Tackle finish is ordinary, with four misses on a modest total
Scouting Report: Summary
Fite is the kind of interior anchor a defense leans on for early-down snaps, a four-year Arizona State presence who played 587 reps across every game and carried the run front with leverage and square technique. The run defense is the strength of the file: he stacks single blocks, holds the point against Mississippi State, and stays balanced as a tackler in his area. There is real value in a player who simply does not get moved when the run comes at him.The pass rush is the obvious ceiling-capper. His pass rush is well below his run defense, the closing burst is ordinary, and the pressure totals stay low with two sacks on a full season of snaps, including one at Iowa State. He is not a player a defense turns to on obvious passing downs, and the average timed speed means he is not chasing plays down from the back side. The role is narrow but real.
The projection is a rotational run-down interior defender who earns a roster spot on early-down reliability and special-teams value rather than disruption. He has to win the run reps consistently to hold a job, because the pass-rush portfolio will not carry him. Late-round value lives in players who do one thing dependably, and the run defense is that one thing here.
How other scouting services rate C.J. Fite (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
254.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
24.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.