Damon Wilson II
Miami#38 overallScouting Report
Damon Wilson II is a speed-and-finesse edge rusher who wins with one of the rarest get-offs in the 2027 class. He signed with Georgia as a five-star, consensus top-20 national prospect out of Venice High in Florida, where he set a school record with 14.5 sacks as a junior and left with 31 career sacks. He played sparingly as a true freshman in Athens, flashed as a sophomore in 2024, then transferred to Missouri and turned into a menace. Installed as the Tigers' starting JACK, he led the team with nine sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss, piled up 54 pressures, and even dropped into coverage for an interception on his way to second-team All-SEC. His calling card is the burst off the snap that forces tackles to vertical-set, opening inside counter lanes he attacks with quickness. He bends the corner with loose hips and flattens to the quarterback better than almost anyone at the position. He beat Oklahoma for two sacks and six pressures and closed Alabama with two more sacks, proving the production holds against quality SEC blockers. His hand arsenal includes cross-chops, long-arms, rips, and speed-to-power conversions, though the power element is still developing. The motor is legit; he chases from the backside and attacks the ball to force turnovers rather than just wrap up. The concern is the run game, where he logged only twelve run stops and gets washed when tackles land hands inside his frame on early downs. Too many rushes still end in stalemates instead of clean wins, and he can lean on shoulder contact that leaves him off balance. He played a near-exclusive rush role, so the every-down projection is unproven and a defense will have to decide if he can hold up on first and second down. Now at his third program under Mario Cristobal for a 2026 senior campaign, Wilson is a third-down weapon today with the traits and pressure production to become an early-round bookend if the run defense and counters catch up.
NFL Comparison
Nolan Smith (Georgia-bred bend-and-burst edge who wins with finesse over power); Boye Mafe (speed-to-corner rusher whose get-off leads a still-developing run defense); Will McDonald IV (twitchy finesse edge with pressure production ahead of his power)
Draft Movement
Down 3 spots since Jun 8
Strengths
- Rare, explosive get-off off the edge that forces tackles to vertical-set and opens counter lanes
- Elite bend and loose hips to corner tightly and flatten to the quarterback
- Proven SEC pass-rush production with 54 pressures, nine sacks, and 9.5 TFL in 2025
- Big-game finisher, beating Oklahoma for two sacks and closing Alabama with two more
- Diverse hand arsenal of cross-chops, long-arms, rips, and speed-to-power
- Relentless motor that pursues from the backside and attacks the ball for turnovers
- Coverage range and spatial fluidity, flashing an interception dropping off the line
- Dense 250-pound frame with a low center of gravity to slide under extension blocks
Weaknesses
- Run-defense production is thin, with just twelve run stops on the season
- Gets washed when tackles get hands into his frame on early downs
- Too many rushes end in stalemates rather than clean wins
- Power element and anchor still developing
- Occasional aversion to physicality shows on tape
- Leans on shoulder contact that leaves him off balance and lets blockers recover
- Near-exclusive rush role leaves the every-down projection unproven
College Stats
2023 Georgia: 12 G, 4 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks; 2024 Georgia: 14 G, 13 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks; 2025 Missouri: 13 G, 23 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 9.0 sacks, 54 pressures, 1 INT
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $1.20M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Miami's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Portal: transferred from Missouri to Miami for 2026.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
Second-Team All-SEC (2025)