Tree Babalade

OT·Nebraska#213 overall
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Draft Movement

#205 · Jun 8#213 · now

Down 8 spots since Jun 8

Scouting Report

Tree Babalade is a 6-5, 330-pound developmental tackle who transferred to Nebraska this offseason after starting his career at South Carolina, and he projects as a high-ceiling 2027 prospect with real consistency questions to answer. A former ESPN 300 recruit and four-star out of national power DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, he was the No. 20 tackle in the 2023 class and earned 247Sports True Freshman of the Week honors after a strong showing against Georgia. He moved into the Gamecocks lineup as a true freshman in 2023 with nine starts at left tackle, then saw his snaps shrink in 2024 (he even redshirted) once Josiah Thompson emerged. An injury-shortened 2025 limited him to seven games as a redshirt sophomore, with five straight starts at right tackle against premier SEC competition after Cason Henry's season-ending injury. ESPN's staff likes that he is quick enough to get into position, big enough to cover up linemen in the run game, and flashes a powerful punch on linebackers; PFF's Trevor Sikkema is more skeptical, noting most of his weight sits in the chest and midsection and that he looks like a guard more than an NFL tackle. The recurring knock is a soft punch that lets rushers shed quickly, plus a high pre-snap pad level and hands that arrive low and late. NFL Draft Buzz carries him as a Day 3 to UDFA flyer for now, but the DeMatha pedigree, light feet at 330 pounds, and a fresh start at Nebraska reuniting with former position coach Lonnie Teasley keep the long-term upside alive. Many evaluators expect an eventual move inside to guard.

Strengths

  • Light and nimble feet with fast footwork in pass protection despite a 330-pound frame
  • Quick enough to climb and get into position on linebackers and second-level blocks
  • Big, long blue-chip build that covers up defensive linemen in the run game
  • Flashes a powerful punch when taking on linebackers per ESPN
  • Strong enough to anchor when he keeps his hips down
  • Mirrors well when he wins with his hands as a pass blocker
  • Former ESPN 300, four-star DeMatha recruit with starting reps at both tackle spots
  • Flashed early against Georgia as a true freshman

Weaknesses

  • Does not pack much of a punch on contact, letting rushers shed blocks quickly
  • Hands arrive low and late and need to be up and ready to fire
  • Pre-snap pad level is too high
  • Weight sits in the chest and midsection, built more like a guard than a tackle
  • Limited, interrupted resume, redshirting in 2024 and injury-shortened to seven games in 2025
  • Allowed one sack and 21 pressures in 2025
  • May have to convert to guard at the next level

NFL Comparison

Micah Mazzccua (NFLDraftBuzz 82% size/build match); Myron Cunningham (long developmental SEC tackle); Marques Cox (frame and movement profile)

College Stats

South Carolina 2023: 9 starts at LT as true freshman; 2024: limited role, redshirted; 2025: 7 games, 5 starts at RT, 255 pass-block snaps, 166 run-block snaps, 1 sack and 21 pressures allowed. Career: 22 games, 1164 snaps.

Measurables

Height
6-5
Weight
330

Awards & Honors

ESPN 300 recruit; four-star, No. 20 OT and No. 5 player in Maryland (2023 class); 247Sports True Freshman of the Week (vs Georgia); NFLDraftBuzz 2027 OT positional rank No. 43