ROUND 4: Ohio State DT Davon Hamilton
6-4, 327 – Senior

PREVIOUS PICK: Lenoir-Rhyne SS Kyle Dugger
Tampa Bay starts Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft beefing up its interior defensive line with Hamilton, a big, strong run-stuffing defensive tackle. Hamilton was a rotational defensive tackle early in his Ohio State career, and then became a full-time starter over the last two seasons.

Hamilton’s ability to bull rush and collapse the pocket helped Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young set the school sack record with 16.5 sacks. While he only had one career sack coming into his senior season, Hamilton improved his pass rush ability and notched a career-high six in 2019.

The Bucs have the need for interior defensive linemen who can help the team maintain its top-ranked rushing defense. Ndamukong Suh, Beau Allen and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are all slated for free agency, and Tampa Bay will need some young talent to develop and potentially start, depending on what happens in free agency with that trio of veterans.

Hamilton’s impressive final year at Ohio State earned him a well-deserved Senior Bowl invitation and he took full advantage of his time in Mobile, Ala. where his strength and power were on full display as a bull rusher in one-on-one pass rush drills, and as a stout defender in the running game. Hamilton’s arms measured nearly 33 inches long and he has an impressive 80-inch wingspan that helps him reach around offensive linemen and snatch running backs and quarterbacks in the backfield.

Hamilton’s Ohio State Career Defensive Stats
2016: 10 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, half sack, 1 FR
2017: 12 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, half sack
2018: 16 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1 FR, 1 TD
2019: 28 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6 sacks, 1 FR

Hamilton gets up the field and sheds blocks so well. He dominated Wisconsin’s highly touted center Tyler Biadasz in the regular season, helping to hold Jonathan Taylor to a season-low 52 yards on 20 carries, and also recorded a sack. Hamilton doesn’t have a lot of moves and can’t redirect well, but can move laterally down the line of scrimmage in the run game. He’s got a nice, powerful club-rip move and his hands are quick and sudden. Hamilton’s legs don’t stop moving and he ripped through a double-team against Clemson in the national championship game to sack Tyler Lawrence.

Hamilton is a late bloomer and his limited production in college will prevent him from being a Day 2 selection. But the Bucs could use this big, tough defensive tackle, whose stock is on the rise and he would be a solid addition to start Day 3.