The NFL offseason is officially here, and all eyes will turn to the 2026 NFL Draft. Only the first round will be held on the first day, the second and third rounds will be held on the second day, and the draft will conclude with the final four rounds on the third day.
This year, the NFL Draft Main Theater and Main Stage will be located outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, placing the draft in the heart of one of the most storied sports districts in the country.
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With the scouting combine underway, we’re looking at five prospects who fit into Jesse Minter’s defensive scheme.
DI Lee Hunter, Texas Tech University
January 28, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; Texas Tech University national team defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10) practices during the National Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Hunter was a standout interior defender and run buster at Texas Tech, where he was named a first-team All-American and first-team Big 12 selection during his redshirt senior season. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound defensive tackle had 8.5 tackles for loss in addition to 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He finished his career with 168 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
DI Christine Miller, Georgia
Kristin Miller #52, Georgia Bulldogs (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
In his final season at Georgia, Miller played in and started all 13 games. He finished with 20 tackles, nine solo, recorded 3.0 tackles for loss for 11 yards, had 1.5 sacks for nine yards and had two quarterback hits.
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EDGE Gabe Harkas (Illinois)
November 1, 2025; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Hukas is a versatile edge rusher whose size (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) and athleticism would fit well with the Ravens’ style. He led the Big Ten with 11.0 sacks during the regular season and ranked sixth nationally. He also ranks 13th nationally (third in the Big Ten) with three forced fumbles, bringing his career total to seven, tied for sixth on the Illinois career record. With 27.0 career sacks, Harkas holds the record for most sacks among active Big Ten defensive players and ranks fifth nationally in the FBS. Hukas started all 12 regular season games and totaled 43 tackles (23 solo), 13.5 sacks, 6 quarterback rushes, 3 forced fumbles and 1 pass breakup. In a game against Northwestern on November 29, 2025, he had 4 tackles (2). solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries.
EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
November 29, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Tyron Green (10) is sacked by Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young (9) in the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Young, a transfer from Michigan State, started all 13 games last season at Jack’s position. He finished with 23 total tackles, including 9 solo tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (TFL), a team-high 9.0 sacks, and 1 interception. His 0.69 sacks per game ranked him 19th nationally and fourth in the SEC. He ranks 34th nationally among pass rushers with a grade of 80.9, according to Pro Football Focus, and ranks 13th among all edge players nationally in pass rush efficiency (PRP) with a grade of 10.5, which is calculated using a formula that combines sacks, hits and rushes with the number of times he rushes the passer. PFF credited him with 37 quarterback rushes and nine quarterback hits. Young was also named to the SEC All-SEC second team by coaches around the league.
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CB DeAngelo Ponds (Indiana)
January 9, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 2025 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Indiana during the first half of the College Football Playoff semifinals Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
In his final season, Pounds started 14 games and missed one due to injury (at Iowa State). He was named the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and earned first-team All-American honors from The Sporting News. Additionally, he was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He also earned All-American recognition from The Athletic (Second Team), CBS Sports (Second Team), On3 (Second Team) and Sports Illustrated (First Team). Additionally, he was named first-team All-Big Ten by the conference media and coaching panel.
EDGE Romero Heights, Texas Tech University
Texas Tech’s Romello Height sacks UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson during a Big 12 Conference football game on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Hight, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, had 32 tackles last season, including 8 1/2 sacks.
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EDGE LT Overton, AL
TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 8: Michael van Buren Jr., No. 11 of the LSU Tigers, is sacked by Overton Lieutenant, No. 22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide, during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Overton is a versatile edge rusher at 6-foot-5, 278 pounds who has shown great potential as a pass rusher. In his final season, he played in 13 games, starting 12 of them. He totaled 42 tackles, including six tackles for loss (28 total yards) and four sacks (23 total yards). Additionally, he accounted for four quarterback pressures and had a pass breakup. Overton received preseason All-American recognition from ESPN.com, earned first-team honors and was named a preseason third-team All-American by Athlon. He was also named to the Nagurski Trophy watch list, awarded annually to the top defensive player in college football. Additionally, he was named to the Wuerffel Trophy, Jason Witten College Man of the Year Award and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team watch list.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Five Day 2 NFL Draft prospects that fit Jesse Minter’s defensive vision