Calijah Kancey
Calijah Kancey  DL  Pittsburgh | NFL Draft 2023 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Calijah Kancey
Height
6-1
Weight
281
College
Pittsburgh
Position
DL
Class
Junior
Home town
Miami, FL
87.8/100
Player Rating
4
PositionRank (DL)
4.67
FortyYD Time
Sacks
7
Fumbles Forced
Tackles
31
Sol tackles
18

Calijah Kancey DL Pittsburgh | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Calijah Kancey DL Pittsburgh
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH
Last Updated: 03/27/2023
Draft Year: 2023
40 time: 4.67 seconds (91%*)
Age: 23.9 DOB: 03/01/2001
Measurables:
Height: 6-1 (10%*) Weight: 281 (42%*)
Hands: 9 1/8 (17%*) Arm: 30 5/8 (7%*) Span: 72 6/8 (1%*)
Forty: 4.67 (C) (91%*) Shuttle: 4.36 (P) (77%*) Ten Yard: 1.64 (C) (76%*)
Vertical: 33.5 (P) (73%*) Broad: 112 (P) (56%*)
Three Cone: 7.00 (P) (90%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH
Last Updated: 03/27/2023
Draft Year: 2023
40 time: 4.67 seconds (91%*)
Age: 23.9 DOB: 03/01/2001
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-1 (10%*) Weight: 281 (42%*)
Hands: 9 1/8 (17%*) Arm: 30 5/8 (7%*)
Span: 72 6/8 (1%*)
Forty: 4.67 (C) (91%*) Shuttle: 4.36 (P) (77%*)
10 Yard: 1.64 (C) (76%*)
Vertical: 33.5 (P) (73%*) Broad: 112 (P) (56%*)
3 Cone: 7.00 (P) (90%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 87.8 / 100
Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced
Offense Rating:
78%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Tackling:
56%
Pass Rush:
93%
Run Defense:
82%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 1st - Mid
Overall Rank: #20 Position rank: #4
College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1429
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
OVR Rank: #356 Pos Rank: #56 State Rank: #117
College Combine Results
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 86 Stars 247 RATING: 86/100
Ovr Rank: #66 Pos Rank: #118
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Drafted: ROUND: 1 - Pick Number: 19 (TB)
Draft Profile: Bio
Calijah Kancey from Northwestern High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. After high school, Kancey joined Pittsburgh.

After redshirting the 2019 season in 2020 Kancey saw action in 11 games and played a total of 398 snaps for the Panthers. He recorded 22 tackles, 4 assists, while adding 18 stops. As a pass rusher, he added 26 total pressures, which included 15 QB hurries, 9 QB hits, and 2 sacks on the season.

As a sophomore for the Panthers in 2021 Kancey played in 14 games and took part in 577 snaps for the Panthers. He recorded 22 tackles, 5 assists, while adding 26 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 38 total pressures, and 19 QB hurries, 10 QB hits, and an excellent 9 sacks during the year.

In 2022 as a junior Kancey played in 11 games and contributed on 454 snaps. He recorded 19 tackles, 4 assists while making 21 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 47 total pressures, which included a huge 30 QB hurries, 9 QB hits, and an impressive 8 sacks on the year.
Honors & awards
  • 2022 - American Football Coaches Association All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - Associated Press All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - Football Writers Association of America All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - Sporting News All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - Walter Camp All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - CBS Sports All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - ESPN All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - Pro Football Focus All-American (first team)
  • 2022 - College Football Network (CFN) National Defensive Tackle of the Year
  • 2022 - Bronko Nagurski Trophy Finalist
  • 2022 - Outland Trophy Finalist
  • 2022 - Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
  • 2022 - ACC Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2022 - First Team All-ACC
  • 2021 -First team All-ACC
  • 2021 - Third team Associated Press All-American
  • 2020 - Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Rivals and The Athletic
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Hugely productive and experienced one-gap defensive tackle - who has experience both at nose tackle and DT. Made massive19 sacks over the past three years from the inside
  • Kancey is strong enough in the lower body to hold up at the point of attack, and displays a good feel as a grappler in the phone booth, consistently getting blockers off-balance before sending them to the ground
  • Has outstanding overall body control - and uses his limited stature to his advantage. Plays with a low pad level and creates impressive leverage
  • Has all the pass rush moves you would expect from a seasoned NFL vet
  • Elite athletic skills -- Made Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' at number 7. He wrote: "This was a great find by Panthers defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who has deep ties around South Florida. In 2021, Kancey earned first-team All-ACC honors after producing 13 TFLs and seven sacks. Pat Narduzzi says Kancey reminds him of Panthers legend Aaron Donald, and while that is pretty hefty talk, no doubt this guy is special too. Narduzzi told The Athletic this month that Kancey has been clocked running a 4.69 40. Kancey also has vertical-jumped 31 1/2 inches and bench pressed 425."
  • With the ability to hold up at the point of attack as a run defender, he is remarkably instinctive.
  • He explodes off the line with a quick first step, with agile feet to counter inside and closing burst to finish plays.
  • Despite his size he’s strong at the point of attack against the run, able to hold his own when asked to play inside and battle double teams. Kancey has outstanding lateral movement skills and is quick to slip blocks with the speed to cover a lot of ground in pursuit.
  • Challenges inside with quickness and strong hands. Run-and-chase defender who can leave a mark.
  • He’s a high-effort pass rusher who shows good initial quickness and the ability to beat blockers to the inside
  • While he has been exclusively an interior at the college level - he could be seen as a possible outside rusher at the NFL level
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Biggest issue by far with Kancey is lack of size for the position - standing at just 6-0 and 280 lbs he going to get pushed around by bigger offensive lineman. May be viewed as a pass rush specialist on the inside
  • While he has elite upper body strength he will always be limited by his overall size and could be a liability in the running game
  • Despite playing NT at the college level for roughly 25 percent of his college snaps - he'll be looked at as a strict DT in the pros due to his lack of size
  • Stands up well against the run but is very pursuit-conscious and does take unneeded wide angles.
Scouting Report: Summary
Calijah Kancey will predictably be viewed as the second coming of Arron Donald coming from Pittsburgh and playing the same position. However, the similarities are striking, both were measured at 6-0, weighed in at roughly 280lbs, and have been timed at 4.69 in forty. In addition, when compared their total pressures and sacks are in the same ballpark. Now we are not saying that he is going to be a perennial all-pro like Donald, however, it's pretty apparent Kancey has the athletic ability, speed, technique, and instincts required for the position to overcome his lack of size.

Kancey should be an easy first-round selection in the 2023 draft who'll likely be a first-year pass-rushing specialist and quickly develop into a long-term starter on the defensive line.

Calijah Kancey percentiles vs other Defensive Lines (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)

Update - 03/27/2023
Performed as expected at the combine running an elite 4.67 forty, and checking in at 6-1, that's an inch taller than expected. This is hugely significant considering that that were rumors he was actually 5-11!
Kancey could very easily be selected as high as the mid-first round as a result.

Calijah Kancey Video Review

How other scouting services rate Calijah Kancey (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
30.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
10.0
*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.