Derek Colman-Brusa

Physical Profile

Outstanding frame for the position at 6-foot-5, 267 pounds, having added roughly 35-plus pounds since his initial listing (6-4, 230) — evidence of an ascending, projectable body that can keep filling out without losing burst. The length and mass already give him a body type that can hold up on the edge against the run while flexing inside to rush on passing downs. His explosive first step and legitimate straight-line speed for the weight class are the defining athletic traits, and the continued mass-gain trajectory suggests he could play anywhere from a 270-pound edge to a 285-pound interior rusher at the next level.

Play Style

A power-based edge defender who wins with leverage, length, and effort rather than pure bend. On film he attacks half-a-man, gets hands to the chest, and physically uproots blockers to collapse the pocket. Against the run he is a chase-down menace — comfortable wading through the wash, staying locked on the ball, and delivering punishing finishes. His game is built on relentless pursuit and a high-violence point of attack rather than refined edge-bending or speed-to-power conversion subtleties.

Strengths

• Explosive first step paired with violent, heavy hands — he consistently lands inside the blocker's chest and bench-presses/discards offensive linemen to reset the line of scrimmage, a pro-style power-rush trait that is rare at the high school level.
• Elite motor and backside pursuit; he is described as 'never out of a play,' sifting through trash at the line and tracking ball carriers sideline-to-sideline to finish with big hits, punch-outs, or tackles for loss.
• Premium positional and regional pedigree — No. 18 EDGE nationally, No. 1 in Washington, with a 0.9376 composite and offers from Ohio State, Oregon, and USC validating the evaluation.

Areas to Improve

• Pass-rush plan from interior/reduced alignments is still raw — his move set narrows when kicked inside, leaning on power over a developed counter/secondary-rush arsenal that will need expansion against college tackles and guards.
• Must learn to harness his physicality and play to the whistle within the rules; evaluators flagged a need to rein in aggressiveness to avoid leverage and personal-foul penalties at the next level.

College Projection

A rotational, early-impact developmental edge who should redshirt-or-rotate as a true freshman while refining his rush plan and adding functional strength, then push for a starting role by year two or three. Given his frame and mass-gain trend, Washington may develop him along a flexible front — capable of setting a strong edge on early downs and sliding inside as a power rusher in obvious passing situations. Already enrolled early, accelerating his development timeline.

NFL Outlook

Carries legitimate Day 2-3 long-term potential if the pass-rush toolbox catches up to the traits. The combination of a 6-5 frame, room for 285-plus pounds, explosive first step, and natural power is exactly the archetype NFL teams develop into rotational base ends or interior power rushers. Draftability will hinge on whether he develops counters and bend to complement the power, and on disciplined, penalty-free leverage.

Best Fit

A multiple, gap-pressure front that lets him two-gap on early downs and pin his ears back as a power rusher inside on passing downs — exactly the flexible defensive-line role Washington is projecting by cross-training him across edge and interior alignments. A development-focused program with strong strength-and-conditioning infrastructure to manage his continued weight gain and channel his physicality maximizes his ceiling.