2023 NFL Draft: Why Georgia Tech’s Keion White Makes Sense for the Jaguars

The athletic and versatile edge rusher fits the Jaguars' desired physical traits to a tee.

Author:
John Shipley
Publish date:
Mar 28, 2023 3:30 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft season is upon us.

Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 24 overall pick.

As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.

Next up: Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White.

Overview

A North Carolina native, Keion White spent time as a two-way player in high school and starred at both defensive end and tight end. He eventually committed to Old Dominion as a member of the 2017 class, where he was ranked by 247Sports as a three-star recruit who was the No. 86 player in North Carolina and the No. 141 tight end.

White received just five official offers out of high school, opting to commit to Old Dominion over Elon, Virginia State, Norfolk, and North Carolina A&T.

White redshirted his first year on campus before spending the 2018 season as a tight end. White then moved to the defensive side in 2019, where he recorded 3.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one interception, and 62 tackles on his way to being named second-team all-Conference USA.

After the COVID-19 pandemic caused Old Dominion to sit out the 2020 season, White then transferred to Georgia Tech, where he made his debut in 2021 after missing eight games due to an ankle injury. White returned to Georgia Tech as a senior, starting all 12 games and recording 54 tackles and leading the team in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (7.5).

What Keion White Does Well

There is zero question about the power Keion White can bring to a defense. He is thickly-built defensive lineman who has the frame and size to hold up against offensive tackles and tight ends on the edge, while also having enough of an anchor to hold his own inside and closer to the football. White's power is shown off both as a run-defender and pass-rusher, with White frequently showing off the grown-man strength to shed blocks by powering through them.

As a pass-rusher, White's best traits are his get-off and his ability to fuse his length with his power. White does a good job of timing the snap and keeping his pads low, showing an excellent burst off the snap to explode into the backfield. This helped White's burst helps him thrive on slants and stunts, while it also works hand-in-hand with his bull-rush and stab move, which are his two go-to pass-rush moves.

Against the run, White shows off the explosion in his hands to control the line of scrimmage. He does a great job of making first contact and pressing blockers away from his frame with his length, while also showing good eye discipline for the football. His motor runs hot, too, which allows him to make cleanup plays up and down the line of scrimmage.

How Keion White Would Fit With the Jaguars

The Jaguars have a lot of snaps to replace along the defensive line, specifically in their sub-packages. Arden Key and Dawaune Smoot combined for 921 regular-season snaps last year and the Jaguars need to replace both after Key left in free-agency and Smoot's contract expired following his Achilles tear in Week 16.

Sure, some of those snaps could go to newcomers like Michael Dogbe or Henry Mondeaux or potentially Calais Campbell. They could also be diverted to players already on the roster who could see increased roles on passing downs, like Roy Robertson-Harris. But the Jaguars still have plenty of snaps they need to fill, and they need to improve their pass-rush after ranking in the bottom quarter of teams in sacks last season.

This is where White would come in. White has the skill set to slide inside on passing downs, play 3-4 defensive end, or play with his hand down as an end in a four-man front. He may be a somewhat questionable fit as a stand-up rusher, but that didn't stop the Jaguars when it came to Travon Walker last year.

The Jaguars need more pass-rushers first and foremost. More importantly, they need more pass-rushers who can play up and down the line in their versatile scheme. White can do exactly this, and he can be a plus run defender from Day 1. He is a good fit from all angles.

Verdict

Doug Pederson put it bluntly at the NFL Owners Meetings this week: the Jaguars need to generate more pass-rush in 2023. This would have been true even with Arden Key still in the fold. It is even more true now with Key off the roster. As a result, it is hard to ignore the potential of a player like White.

White has plenty of red flags considering his age and lack of overall college production, but injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic are the largest reasons for any questions. As long as he can stay healthy, White is a talented, explosive, long, and powerful edge rusher. The Jaguars can't pass on many of those types of players. White doesn't have the tape of a top-24 pick, but he would be as good of a pick as the Jaguars could make in the second-round.

For all of our 2023 NFL Draft profiles, click below.