Today I wanted to visualize some great data from Kent Lee Platt’s Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) for the edge rushers. Here is a link to Platt’s website in case you haven’t seen his work https://ras.football/. To qualify for a RAS score, a player must have a total of six recorded metrics from any of the following: Height, Weight, Forty-yard dash, Twenty-yard split, Ten-yard split, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, Short Shuttle, and 3-Cone. The player is then graded on each in comparison to the positional database since 1987 to get more of a feel of their size, speed, explosion, agility, and total value, giving context to the raw numbers.
The goal of the series is to provide the RAS from Platt, with a bit of my own twist with a size score and visualize it to get a simultaneous view of all the players at their position that participated at the combine. Here are the players that qualified for a RAS (NOTE: Positions are grouped from the combine results tracker compiled by Dave Bryan and Alex Kozora):
There is plenty of athleticism in this deep class, starting with nine of the 28 qualifying prospects. Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore (9.87 RAS) tops the list, and has elite speed and explosion, great agility, okay size, with a historically elite 4.49 40-yard dash his best mark but height (6015) very low in the historical RAS database. Louisville’s YaYa Diaby (9.86 RAS) has elite speed, great explosion, okay size, but no agility testing, with a historically elite 1.51 10-yard split and height (6033) his lowest mark. Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey (9.58 RAS) has elite speed, great explosion, good size and agility, with his 4.58 40-yard dash his best test and 22 reps on the bench his lowest mark of a solid and complete workout. Missouri’s Isaiah McGuire (9.51 RAS) has elite explosion, great speed, good size, but didn’t qualify in agility, with his 1.59 10-yard split his best number and a 7.39 three-cone his lowest.
Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness (9.38 RAS) has elite speed, great size and agility, okay explosion, with his 1.57 10-yard split his best workout and 17 reps on the bench his lowest mark. Auburn’s Derick Hall (9.25 RAS) has elite speed, great explosion, but poor size and no agility testing, with a 1.55 10-yard split his best result and height (6026) the lowest. Georgia’s Nolan Smith (9.22 RAS) has elite speed and explosion, but very poor size and no agility testing, with four workouts that were historically elite, (4.39 40-yard dash, 2.51 20-yard split, 41.5 vertical) highlighted by a perfect 1.47 10-yard split along, but also historically low in weight (238). Tennessee’s Byron Young (9.18 RAS) has elite speed and explosion, but poor size and didn’t qualify in agility, with a historically elite 4.4 40-yard dash and 1100 broad jump, and height (6023) his lowest result. Tavius Robinson of Ole Miss (9.07 RAS) has elite speed, good size and explosion, but didn’t qualify in agility, with height (6061) his best mark and 4.62 shuttle his lowest.
After a drop-off, another nine players have RAS’s in the eight range. Lonnie Phelps of Kansas (8.65 RAS) has elite speed, but very poor size and no explosion or agility testing, with his 4.55 40-yard dash his best result and weight (244) his lowest. Nebraska’s Ochaun Mathis (8.62 RAS) has great speed, good explosion, okay size, but no agility testing, with his 1.59 10-yard split his best test and weight (250) his lowest mark. Appalachian State’s Nick Hampton (8.6 RAS) has elite speed, great explosion, but very poor size and no agility testing, with a 1.55 10-yard split his best result but historically low weight (236). Clemson’s K.J. Henry (8.38 RAS) has elite speed, okay size and explosion, but no agility testing, with his 1.57 10-yard split the best number and weight (251) his lowest mark.
Oregon’s DJ Johnson (8.25 RAS) has elite speed, okay size and agility, but poor explosion, with a historically elite 1.51 10-yard split his best mark and 902 broad jump his lowest mark. Auburn’s Colby Wooden (8.2 RAS) has good size and speed, but didn’t qualify in explosion and agility, with a 1.63 10-yard split his best number and 4.52 shuttle the lowest. Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land (8.14 RAS) has elite speed, great explosion, okay agility, and poor size, with a 1006 broad jump his best number but historically low weight (236). Pittsburgh’s Habakkuk Baldonado (8.09 RAS) has great explosion, good speed and agility, okay size, with his 1000 broad jump his best workout and weight (251) the lowest. Eastern Michigan’s Jose Ramirez (8.07 RAS) has elite agility, great speed, good explosion, and very poor size, with his 1.58 10-yard split his best test and weight (242) his lowest result.
Five prospects have RAS scores in the sevens, starting with Central Michigan’s Thomas Incoom (7.91 RAS) who has elite speed, okay explosion, but poor size and no agility testing, with a 1.56 10-yard split his best mark and standing 6’2” his lowest. Rice’s Ikenna Enechukwu (7.59 RAS) has elite speed, good size and explosion, but very poor agility, with a 1.58 10-yard split his best number and 4.64 shuttle the lowest. Florida’s Brenton Cox (7.53 RAS) has good speed and explosion, but poor size and no agility testing, with a 1.62 10-yard split his best and weight (250) his lowest result. Georgia’s Robert Beal (7.35 RAS) has elite speed, good explosion and agility, but poor size, with a historically strong 4.48 40-yard dash his best test but only 14 reps on the bench. Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig (7.25 RAS) has elite speed, but very poor size and no explosion of agility testing, with a 1.6 10-yard split his best mark and weight (240) his lowest result.
After another drop off, we see two players in the six range, starting with Army’s Andre Carter (6.08 RAS) who has elite agility, good size and speed, but poor explosion, with height (6064) his best mark and a historically low 11 reps on the bench his lowest. Ferris State’s Caleb Murphy (5.78 RAS) has good speed, okay explosion and agility, but poor size, with his 911 broad jump his best mark, but low 28.5 vertical jump his lowest.
Following a bigger drop off, we see the final two players in the four range. Michigan’s Mike Morris (4.71 RAS) has great size, okay speed, but poor explosion and agility, with height (6051) his best number but a low 28.5 vertical his lowest. The final prospect is Oklahoma State’s Tyler Lacy (4.69 RAS) who has great size, but poor speed and explosion and didn’t qualify in agility, with a great 30 reps on the bench but a 5.11 40-yard dash his lowest result.
Next, I wanted to provide more context with a size score using the RAS for the players height and weight, which includes all the combine invites since all the players are measured:
There is more size in this year’s class with six players having size scores of eight or above, compared to just two in 2022. Georgia Tech’s Keion White tops the list (6047, 285) but didn’t qualify for an RAS. Ohio State’s Zach Harrison ranks second (6054, 274) and had 25 reps on the bench, but didn’t test otherwise. Morris (6051, 275) ranks third, but important to recall his second lowest RAS with multiple workouts outside of what the Steelers have typically drafted at the position. Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson (6055, 271) also posted 23 reps on the bench, but didn’t test otherwise. Van Ness (6050, 272) had a top five RAS (9.38) but just 17 reps on the bench a lower mark than Pittsburgh has typically drafted. Lacy (6043, 279) but misses the mark in three drills for the Steelers past draft history.
Six players land in the seven range, starting with LSU’s Ali Gaye (6060, 263) who didn’t test athletically. Clemson’s Myles Murphy (6046, 268) also had 25 reps on the bench, but didn’t test otherwise. Foskey (6051, 264) pairs his good size with the third ranked 9.58 RAS, and mostly fits what the Steelers have looked for, with his 7.28 three cone a bit lower as the exception. Wooden (6040, 273) checks many boxes, but his 4.79 40-yard dash and 4.52 shuttle would set new precedents, with the latter barely missing. McGuire (6043, 268) pairs his good size with the fourth ranked 9.51 RAS, but his 4.76 40-yard dash and 7.39 three cone missing the mark of Steelers draft history. San Jose State’s Viliami Fehoko (6036, 276) also put up 24 reps on the bench, but didn’t test otherwise.
Three players land in the six range, starting with Robinson (6061, 257) who checks many other boxes, but his 4.62 shuttle lower that Pittsburgh’s draft history. Next is Carter (6064, 256) but important to recall his 11 reps on the bench, poor explosion, and had a low 4.93 40-yard dash likely steering the Steelers elsewhere. Enechukwu (6042, 264) misses in a few areas as well, including his 31.5 vertical and very poor explosion numbers.
After a drop off, eight players land in the five range. Johnson (6040, 260) pairs this with elite speed, but his okay agility and poor explosion numbers likely would steer Pittsburgh another direction. TCU’s Dylan Horton (6040, 257) didn’t qualify for an RAS, though he did post great explosion results, but only 18 reps on the bench. Mathis (6046, 250) checks a lot of boxes, but his 4.74 40-yard dash a bit lower than the Steelers draft tendencies. Diaby (6033, 263) pairs his size with the second ranked 9.86 RAS, checking all the boxes but did not bench or do agility testing. USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu (6030, 266) fits from a measurable perspective, but didn’t test otherwise. Henry (6042, 251) size and speed fits the bill, but his okay explosion numbers are on the cusp and important to recall no agility testing. Baldonado (6042, 251) checks many boxes, with the exception being his 4.78 40-yard dash. Adebawore (6015, 282) pairs this with the top ranked 9.87 RAS, and comfortably fits what the Steelers have drafted at the position with complete testing as well.
In the four range, there are six prospects. Iowa State’s M.J. Anderson (6021, 269) didn’t qualify for a RAS, but did post a 33” vertical. Cox (6037, 250) misses past Steelers expectations in terms of 40-yard dash (4.82) and important to recall no agility testing. Alabama’s Will Anderson (6034, 253) didn’t qualify for a RAS, did post elite speed testing, but no explosion or agility testing. Caleb Murphy (6032, 254) misses the mark in a few areas of Pittsburgh’s history, including his 40-yard dash, vertical, and three cone. Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah (6031, 255) didn’t qualify for an RAS and didn’t test athletically. Beal (6036, 247) pairs his size with elite speed, but had a low 14 reps on the bench, 30” vertical, and a three cone that would miss Steelers past expectations.
Six players land in the three range: North Carolina’s Noah Taylor (6041, 238) with the latter a bit lighter than Pittsburgh has drafted, and had 22 reps on the bench but didn’t test otherwise. Wheat (6020, 263) had elite speed testing but his low 28.5 vertical missing the mark, and important to recall no agility testing. Auburn’s Eku Leota (6030, 252) has good measurables in Steelers lenses, but didn’t test otherwise. Incoom (6020, 262) checks several boxes with a 30.5 vertical the exception, but no agility testing. Hall (6026, 254) fits the bill in every drill he participated in, but no bench or agility testing. Iowa State’s Will McDonald (6035, 239) is on the cusp in terms of wait, and didn’t qualify for an RAS, but did post elite explosion with a 36” vertical and historically strong 1100 broad jump with no speed of agility testing.
Three prospects have size scores in the twos: Land (6034, 236) which is light for the Steelers mold, Young (6023, 250) who checks all the boxes but didn’t do the shuttle, and LSU’s B.J. Ojulari (6023, 248) who didn’t qualify for a RAS, pairing his good size with a solid 1006 broad jump, but no speed or agility testing.
Five players land in the one range of size scores: Phelps (6023, 244) but his 32.375 arm length a bit small, Smith (6022, 238) a bit light with elite speed and explosion but no agility testing, Herbig (6021, 240) fitting many size and speed boxes but arm length a bit short and no explosion or agility testing, Hampton (6022, 236) a bit light the exception to otherwise checking many boxes but no agility testing, and Ramirez (6017, 242) who checks all but one box with complete testing, which was a 4.73 40-yard dash barely missing.
To wrap up, here is a visual layering the RAS and size score to take it all in:
On the top right, we see Van Ness having the best balance of the two with an above nine RAS and eight+ size score. Foskey and McGuire land in the next tier with stronger RAS’s with size scores above seven. Robinson also has an above nine RAS with a high six size score. Diaby and Adebawore have the two highest RAS scores and are above the mean in size, and personally like their chances as potentially wearing the black and gold. Five other players land above the mean in both: Mathis, Henry, Johnson, Wooden, and Baldonado, all with above eight RAS’s and plus five size scores but miss the mark in Steelers past tendencies in one way or another. Hall, Young, and Smith highlight the group on the bottom right with great athleticism but lack size comparatively, with the former two as strong fits in my opinion to land in Pittsburgh, and the latter being a bit too light if the Steelers draft thresholds hold true which will be interesting to monitor.
For those that like the numbers, it’s unfortunate a few players didn’t test fully, and it will be interesting to monitor the pro days and continue to see how the men stack up in the coming weeks when Platt updates the site with the unofficial numbers.
What are your thoughts on the data? Thanks for reading and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
