Desmeal Leigh OT Youngstown State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #78 SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.20 seconds (63%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #78 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.20 seconds (63%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
82.1 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
|
61% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
|
73% |
| Run Blocking: |
|
57% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#163
Position rank:
#24 (OL)
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| College Games: 43 College Snaps: 2719 | ||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Steen - Alabama |
|
87% |
| Ethan Driskell - Marshall |
|
81% |
| Jaxson Kirkland - Washington |
|
81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Desmeal Leigh never put on pads until his final year at Kent Roosevelt, having spent his youth as a basketball forward and a long-stick defender in lacrosse. That lone season was enough to earn honorable mention all-district honors, and Youngstown State coach Doug Phillips offered after seeing his footwork on the basketball court.Leigh arrived at around 260 pounds and played sparingly in 2022 before claiming the left tackle job in 2023. His first career start came at Ohio State, where he did not allow a sack, and he started every game that season and earn Freshman All-America recognition from Stats Perform and Phil Steele. He has not left the lineup since, adding honorable mention All-MVFC honors in 2024 and second-team All-MVFC plus third-team All-America recognition in 2025.
Now a fifth-year senior with a business degree, Leigh entered 2026 as a preseason All-American and one of two FCS players on the Senior Bowl's Top 300 list. He has yet to allow a sack in five games this fall, a stretch that included a trip to Kentucky.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare length at 6-foot-7, using his reach to wall off speed rushers on the edge
- Four-year starter at left tackle whose first career start came at Ohio State
- Protection is the strength of his game, with one sack allowed since the start of 2025
- Basketball and lacrosse background shows in his footwork and lateral balance
- Kept South Dakota State's front clean in both meetings, allowing no pressures either time
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Run blocking trails his pass sets, with limited drive and finish once engaged
- FCS tape lacks consistent reps against NFL-caliber pass rushers
- Penalties have crept up, with five flags in five games this fall
- Still adding play strength after arriving on campus at around 260 pounds
Scouting Report: Summary
For four seasons Leigh has been a fixture on the FCS blind side, which is remarkable for a player whose mother kept him away from football until he was a high school senior. The basketball background is obvious when he moves: he is nimble for a 325-pound man, mirrors well to the edge and his reach takes away the corner from speed rushers. Since the start of 2025 he has given up a single sack, and he held his own against Kentucky's front in September.However, his run blocking has never matched his work in protection. He tends to win by positioning rather than displacement and does not consistently finish blocks, and the level of competition means scouts will want to see him against better athletes at an all-star game or the combine before signing off. The uptick in penalties this fall, five flags in five games, is a small but real concern for a fifth-year starter.
Overall, Leigh is a long, experienced pass protector with a rare backstory and a frame that is still filling out. He projects as a fifth-round tackle who could grow into a starter in a pass-heavy offense, and at minimum a dependable swing option. A strong week in Mobile could move him up boards.
How other scouting services rate Desmeal Leigh (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
149.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
27.0
*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.