Miami defensive tackles Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott are gaining attention as potential first-round NFL Draft picks. Both players showed impressive stats last season, with Moten recording nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Key points
Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott are Miami defensive tackles.
Moten had nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2025.
Scott recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack last season.
Both players are viewed as potential Day Two NFL Draft choices in 2027.
Coaches Jason Taylor and Damione Lewis are refining their talents.
Mentioned in this story
Jason TaylorDamione Lewis
Ahmad MotenJustin ScottMiami HurricanesIndiana Hoosiers
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Ahmad Moten Sr. #99 and Justin Scott #5 of the Miami Hurricanes tackles Roman Hemby #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the College Football Playoff National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A pair of Miami defensive tackles, Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott, have gotten a ton of publicity this off-season. After Miami sent a pair of 1st round edge rushers (Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor) to the NFL the DT duo will potentially make a foursome of 1st round pros to come through Miami in consecutive seasons. Add in the potential 1st round talent of DE Damon Wilson II and the Hurricanes could be D-Line U. once again.
In ā25, Moten finished the season with nine TFLās and 4.5 sacks. The 315 pound tackle out of Cardinal Gibbons (FL) is a former three-star that has blossomed into a top-25 caliber player under coach Damione****Lewis. Heās joined by Scott, the former five-star out of Chicago, IL. Scott logged only 6.5 TFLās and one sack and a forced****fumble last season.
Neither were ready for the NFL Draft in ā26, but both should be at the worst Day Two NFL Draft choices in ā27. So what has myself and many draft pundits excited about this duo? Their mixture of raw ability and clearly refining talent under DL coaches Jason Taylor and Lewis.
Against the Virginia Tech Hokies and Green Bay Packers QB Kryon****Drones, Moten came away with three TFLās and two sacks, while Scott picked up his lone sack of the season and logged 2.5 TFLās of his own.
The Film
THE OPENING SNAP
Miamiās afternoon versus the Hokies started off a little rough in defending the run game. The āCanes definitely saw what losing Keionte Scott could do to their defense. Jakobe Thomas had to be a box player, Bryce****Fitzgerald had to play every down instead of āand longā situations and Zechariah Poyser couldnāt be hidden to the boundary.
Q&A
What were Ahmad Moten's stats for the 2025 season?
Ahmad Moten finished the 2025 season with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
How did Justin Scott perform in the 2025 season?
Justin Scott recorded 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble during the 2025 season.
What makes Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott potential first-round NFL Draft picks?
Their combination of raw talent and development under coaches Jason Taylor and Damione Lewis has led many draft pundits to view them as potential first-round selections.
Who are the Miami Hurricanes' recent NFL Draft prospects from the defensive line?
Recent prospects include first-round edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, along with the potential first-round talent of Damon Wilson II.
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VT had a really strong game plan for Miami. Outside zone, power, and using the QB in the run game on the ground; sprint out with block back pass pro in the pass game. It did some damage and kept the ball game close which was solid for a bad Hokies team. While Posyer came away with a sack in the K. Scott NB role, Fitzgerald whiffed on one.
Miami vs. Virginia Tech 2025 first snap disorder. Losing a guy like Keionte Scott resulted in players getting more reps, and out of position reps in the back five. K. Scott was the secret MVP of the '25 season for the Hurricanes. pic.twitter.com/MI3cI8G3l0
Above- you can see a breakdown of the messy opening snap for Miami with guys playing new roles.
Scott doesn't feel the down block coming and over-commits to the center while Moten comes off that block and works laterally for a tackle on Packers QB Kyron Drones. Remember that Moten is around 315# in this game vs. Virginia Tech from 2025 pic.twitter.com/4Cp1X19A00
Aboveā Scott canāt feel the down block coming and luckily Moten plays over the top of him and makes the play on Drones. Moten is 315, Scott is 300. These dudes are moving like TEās or LBās at 300+.
Scott is in a weak 3-technique (eagle type front) and fights the first block off with his hands. He sends the OL to the 2nd level off balance. Then he takes on the kick out. I'd like to see him flip his hips and wrong-arm but he holds his spot vs. the 2nd block which is enough. pic.twitter.com/AL1xKNTubv
Aboveā Scott is in a weak 3-tech and fights the first blocker off with his hands. Miamiās hand fighting game took a huge step up with Corey Hetherman and Damione Lewis coming on staff. Scott then eats up a 2nd block on the kick out, while he couldāve wrong-armed it with the timing and two blocks thatās a tough ask. He stalemates the block and allows others to clean it up.
Scott uses and inside-out move like a WR. He's that athletic it even looks like a TE while he's 300#. Scott then uses a slap and rip move to get penetration. The only coaching point here is that if you try to grab high cloth you can wind up empty handed. Aim for hips or thighs. pic.twitter.com/tbqtVk1qcZ
Aboveā Scott uses an inside-out step like a WR into their route or a TE inline trying to run a slide or sail. Then itās slap-rip and the big complaint is he doesnāt finish with the sack because he aims way too high. You canāt bring a big strong QB like Drones down at the shoulder pad level. You need to aim at the hips.
Moten starts in a 1-tech to the play side and attacks midline. The C moves and regrets it. Moten shoots low, keeps his balance, and finishes with a TFL. He wraps the waist of the RB and slings him down. Moten's first step looks like a wrestler going to shoot IMO. pic.twitter.com/CCRP7Fre2b
Aboveā Moten starts in a 1-tech and attacks the Cās midline. The C oversteps and regrets it. Moten cuts in and picks up an easy TFL with a wrestling like shoot out of his stance.
The best defense against an outside zone looking to fan block the DT is to hit the brakes and hold your ground. Scott does that here and forces the RB back inside, where the defensive help is. Miami was suspect at perimeter tracking and tackling, best to box and not spill here pic.twitter.com/PFLqGDLof8
Aboveā While the OL tries to āfan blockā or just wash the DL out to the sideline so the RB can cutback under them, the best counter is to just hold your ground and eat that spot. That forces the RB to cut early and into the LBāers and other help.
Scott rips, wins the space, then chases with beautiful form before wrapping the ball carrier with one arm around the waist and the other over the top for a little rip at the football. 300+ pound dudes shouldn't move like this. That's what separates them as five-star talent. pic.twitter.com/Jk6OpnQ1Ut
Aboveā Again more hand combat from the DTās. Scott rips, wins, then has a beautiful chase into a waist lock and club finish. Secure on the waist, club with the off-hand.
This is overall strength on display. The sideline All-22 is a better view than end zone for this one. You can see Scott rip, drive and collapse the OL for the play. pic.twitter.com/WqzSuMEI7a
Aboveā Usually for OL, DL, TE, run game and LB I would use the EZ All-22. Here the SL All-22 is the better shot to see what Scott does here. He rips, drives back and collapses the OL into the play. Weāve seen Bain and Mesidor both resort back to brute strength and power when needed and now Scott, too.
Both Scott and Moten do a great job on this clip of just playing their shoulder and forcing the RB to bounce. He bounces into Scott who slaps him down for a TFL. pic.twitter.com/GIrk0rmfK9
Aboveā Here is the duo making things happen together. Both DTās do an excellent job of playing their shoulder (the shoulder shade of the OL) to win the gap. The RB bounces and Scott slaps him down for the TFL.
Moten loops from a 4i to a 5-tech as Mesidor drops into coverage. Moten does a good job of working the OT's outside shoulder, and rushing the outside hip of the QB (not dipping inside). Drones escapes, but Moten gets flat, and causes a throw away INC. pic.twitter.com/JBgkSzBf9g
Aboveā Moten loops from a 4i (inside shoulder of the OT) to a 5-tech (outside shoulder of the OT). He does a solid job of staying outside on Dronesā outside hip. Drones is athletic so he escapes but the pursuit works and itās an INC pass.
Scott fights the double team with power while Moten rips his OL to the turf. Both players then squeeze down on the RB for a TFL. Beautiful teamwork and a display of just doing your job to own your shoulder and stretch the play out into a stop. pic.twitter.com/lMno1dZzj0
Aboveā Another clip with both DTās on display. Scott fights the double while Moten throws the OL on the ground. They both squeeze to the RB for a TFL.
Moten with a hump, swim and sack. He closes down on the QB into Rueben Bainā¦ two dudes I wouldn't want meeting me as I drop back to throw. Moten could have tackled the Q lower, another 'high' level finish, but this time it works. pic.twitter.com/AkVxzDA3KU
Aboveā Moten uses a mini HUMP into the swim and sack. This DL really reminds me of the old Eagles DL with Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons and Reggie White in Buddy Ryanās defense. Thereās no where to run to on a pass snap and Moten meets Bain in the backfield at the QB.
Our final clip. The DL got a little Manny Diaz Era here and sloppy play puts both DT's in the same A-Gap. When you have what is likely to be four 1st round DL on the field at once you can overcome that against a bad VT team. Scott shoots through for the sack here. Talent won. pic.twitter.com/4fKchv1WnH
Aboveā The final clip todayā¦ The DTās get sloppy with gap integrity and pass rush lanes. Both wind up in the A-Gap together but talent beats scheme as Scott logs another sack.
The Wrap
The Hurricanes lose a lot of production with Bain, Mesidor and Keionte Scott off to the NFL. Miami brought in some pass rush skill with Wilson and a new nickel in Omar Thornton. Hetherman will need to rely heavily on Moten and Scott early on as the Hurricanes get their feet under them with Marquis Lightfoot, Wilson and Thornton learning the defense and where they fit in to the scheme in ā26.
If this duo is as good as I think they are, and if they have the 2026 season I think they will, the pair are 1st round draft picks in the ā27 NFL Draft. Add Wilson to the mix and Miami may have three 1st round trench players once again in the pros.
