From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I’ll be profiling Central Michigan EDGE Thomas Incoom.
#9 Thomas Incoom/EDGE Central Michigan – 6020, 266 lbs. (Senior)
Senior Bowl/Combine
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Thomas Incoom | 6020, 266 | 8 3/4 | 33 1/4 | N/A |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.66 | 1.65 | DNP | DNP | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 9’10” | 30.5 | DNP |
The Good
— Has big frame that carries his weight well with excellent length for height
— Solid athlete, able to run and chase
— Active hand use and works hard to try and stay clean as a pass rusher
— Does well to bend and rip through contact, good hip/ankle flexibility to corner while engaged
— Variety of pass rush moves, using bull, rip, swipe, and cross chops, lots of tools
— Effective bull rush/long-arm that’s able to walk tackles back
— Uses length to shed tight ends in the run game
— Good motor and runs hard to the football
— Smart pass rusher who doesn’t get pushed up the arc and stays in the play
— Experience playing both sides of the ball and with his hand up; also has a small amount of experience dropping into coverage but able to play on his feet
— Excellent production, consistently put up numbers (at least one sack in 10 of 12 games his senior year)
The Bad
— Plays too high and tall against the run and gets pushed around by offensive tackles
— Wasn’t as effective 1v1 as a pass rusher as you’d like, works hard but can get locked up and not impact the play
— First step is inconsistent and isn’t special
— Prone to giving up the edge in the run game
— Only one year of serious production
— Generally didn’t play against Power 5 competition, quiet Senior Bowl week
— Older than most prospects
Bio
— Turned 24 in February
— Career at Central Michigan: 85 tackles (27.5 TFL), 15.5 sacks, 1 defensive TD (fumble recovery score) in two years at the FBS level
— 2022: 57 tackles (19 TFL), 11.5 sacks
— Spent 2018 and 2019 at Valdosta State, had 13 sacks across those two years; transferred after 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID (redshirted 2017 season there)
— Two-star recruit from Stone Mountain, Georgia; listed as a tight end by Rivals
— Born and lived in Ghana until he was a teenager before family immigrated to the USA
— Family attempted to move to Texas but got into terrible car accident on the way there, leading them to settle in Georgia
— Began football career as a kicker
Tape Breakdown
Thomas Incoom was a breakout star in 2022. A two-year player at Central Michigan following a transfer from Valdosta State after being late to playing football in high school, it’s no surprise to see him be a late bloomer. He dominated the MAC in 2022 with at least one sack in 10 of his 12 games.
Incoom has size and length and is a hard-working pass rusher. He’s able to rip through contact and also shows an effective bull rush. He brings energy and active hands, though is still a bit unrefined and lacks a killer go-to move. Some clips to highlight his best traits.
Incoom has experience aligning all over and playing on his feet. He’s a fine athlete for his squatty frame and chases the ball hard. He doesn’t have incredible get-off and will struggle to defend the ball on the perimeter. But he doesn’t quit on a play either and shows foot speed, like on this fumble recovery touchdown against Akron to win the game.
Against tight ends in the run game, his length can overwhelm and he can shed blocks there.
But against tackles and aligned more interior, Incoom plays tall and gets washed against offensive tackles. Some examples.
In 1v1 situations as a pass rusher, he can go quiet and doesn’t have an A+ move. He has a bunch of B- moves and isn’t athletic enough to win on those traits alone. Watching him against Penn State LT Olu Fashanu, a top name in next year’s draft, he struggled to win 1v1. Pass rushers aren’t going to win all the time, and this was a tough matchup but a good glance into a big step in competition and Incoom struggled.
Conclusion
With a lack of height but good length, Incoom best projects as a standup 3-4 OLB though he’s scheme versatile in today’s hybrid defenses. Still, teams who want their EDGE rushers to rush smart and collapse the pocket to force the QB to step up is where Incoom fits best — teams with good interior DL who want the QB to hitch up into them. He profiles as a #3 rotational rusher who will have to be stronger against the run versus tackles. But he also hasn’t played a ton of football, moving to America in his teens and missing all of 2020 due to the pandemic. He’s also 24 years old and that’s not generally where you’re drafting developmental guys. My NFL comp for him is Jonathan Massaquoi.
Projection: Late Day Three
Depot Draft Grade: 6.6 – Backup/Special Teamer (5th Round)
Games Watched: vs South Alabama (2022), at Akron (2022), at Penn State (2022), Senior Bowl
