Ty Hamilton, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, steadily rose through the ranks at Ohio State to become a key contributor on the defensive line. As the younger brother of NFL defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton, Ty has football in his blood. He arrived at Ohio State as a three-star recruit and has shown consistent improvement throughout his college career.
2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
College Career
Hamilton’s journey at Ohio State has been one of steady progression. After redshirting his first year, he saw limited action as a freshman in 2020. His role expanded each subsequent season, culminating in a breakout senior year in 2024 where he started all 16 games for the national champion Buckeyes.
Hamilton’s career statistics show his growth:
- 2021: 12 tackles, 2 sacks
- 2022: 19 tackles, 0.5 sacks
- 2023: 38 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks
- 2024: 51 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks
His senior season performance earned him honorable mention All-Big Ten honors for the second time.
Strengths
Run Defense: Hamilton’s primary strength is his ability to defend against the run. He showcases good hand pop and knockback ability, creating stalemates at the point of attack. His compact frame and good pad level aid his anchoring ability, making him a formidable presence in the trenches.
Power and Leverage: Hamilton’s heavy hands and explosive power are evident on tape. He consistently stones double teams and redirects traffic in the run game. This kind of anchor immediately strengthens a defensive line rotation.
Lateral Mobility: He possesses sufficient lateral mobility to play off blocks and uncover in the hole, showcasing his ability to make plays outside his immediate area.
Durability: Hamilton has proven to be incredibly durable, playing in all 55 games from 2021 through 2024. This consistency and availability are highly valued traits in the NFL.
Versatility: While primarily playing as a defensive tackle, Hamilton has shown the ability to slide across the front in multiple schemes. This versatility could make him an attractive option for teams with multiple defensive fronts.
Weaknesses
Pass Rush: Hamilton’s pass-rushing skills are not as developed as his run-stopping ability. He lacks the requisite quickness, power, or length to consistently command reps on long and late downs.
Length: His lack of length can complicate his ability to stack and cleanly disengage from blockers. This limitation could be exploited by longer, more athletic offensive linemen at the NFL level.
Technique: While Hamilton has shown steady improvement, his pass rush arsenal is still limited. He relies heavily on his bull rush and needs to develop a wider array of moves to be effective against NFL-caliber linemen.
Size: At 295 lbs, Hamilton is slightly undersized for a traditional gap-control defender in the NFL. This could create some unique challenges and potentially put a ceiling on his career trajectory.
NFL Projection
Hamilton projects as a role-specific contributor at the NFL level, primarily as an early-down run defender with the potential to develop into a more complete player. His immediate impact will likely come in run defense and short-yardage situations.
Teams running a rotating defensive line philosophy, such as the Buffalo Bills or Dallas Cowboys, could be ideal fits for Hamilton. His ability to anchor against the run and provide occasional interior pressure could make him a valuable rotational piece.
Hamilton’s draft stock is likely in the Day 3 range, potentially in rounds 4-6. While he may not be an immediate starter, his run-stopping ability and potential for growth could make him an attractive developmental prospect for teams looking to bolster their defensive line rotation.
Conclusion
Ty Hamilton enters the 2025 NFL Draft as a proven run defender with room to grow as a pass rusher. His steady improvement throughout his college career, coupled with his impressive senior season performance on a national championship team, suggests he has the work ethic and ability to continue developing at the next level.
While he may not be a flashy pick, Hamilton’s skill set addresses a specific need that every NFL team has – stopping the run. His durability, power, and understanding of leverage make him a solid developmental prospect who could outperform his draft position with the right coaching and scheme fit.
Teams looking for a day-one contributor in run defense with upside as an interior pass rusher should have Hamilton on their radar in the middle to late rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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