Tree Babalade
Nebraska#238 overallDraft Movement
Down 33 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 four-star recruit out of national power DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, he was among the top tackles in the 2023 class and earned 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. Scouts like 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; others are 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. He grades as a Day 3 to undrafted 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
- Strong enough to anchor when he keeps his hips down
- Mirrors well when he wins with his hands as a pass blocker
- Former 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; 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
Awards & Honors
Four-star recruit; among the nation's top tackles and one of the top players in Maryland (2023 class); True Freshman of the Week (vs Georgia)