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Virginia Tech interior DL named player to know ahead of 2025 NFL Draft

Aeneas Peebles of Virginia Tech was an interior defensive linemen to keep an eye on ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

By Scott Roche

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko talks with Duke Blue Devils defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles (16) during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko talks with Duke Blue Devils defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles (16) during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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Once again, it appears that Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry has set the Hokies defense up for success in 2024. He got some retainment along the defensive line with Antwaun Powell-Ryland and his 9.5 sacks are returning to Blacksburg along with Josh Fuga.

Pry did more work in the transfer portal over the winter, adding key pieces along the defensive line with Aeneas Peebles from Duke, Kelvin Gilliam from Oklahoma, and Kemari Copeland from Iowa Western Community College. Peebles is coming off a good year for the Blue Devils and will likely be playing on Sundays following this season.

PFF names Aeneas Peebles an IDL to watch for the 2025 NFL Draft

Pro Football Focus named the Top 10 interior defensive linemen to keep an eye on for the 2024 college football season and ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay and Peebles was one of the players to watch.

"Peebles has no such issues in getting after the quarterback. His 90.1 pass-rushing grade while at Duke in 2023 was second among FBS defensive tackles to only Byron Murphy II, whom the Seattle Seahawks selected in the first round of the 2024 draft. He was fifth among all interior defensive linemen as well with a 16.2% pass-rush win rate.

Peebles is capable of shooting gaps in the run game, as evidenced by his 77.0 run-defense grade in 2023. However, his size (6-foot-1, 286 pounds) sometimes leads to him getting washed out by double teams. He projects best as a three-technique at the next level. "

- Max Chadwick

By adding Peebles with Powell-Ryland, Fuga, Gilliam, and Copeland, Virginia Tech has set itself up to be a fearsome group to play against again. Add in linebackers Keli Lawson with Middle Tennessee State transfer Sam Brumfield, and the Hokies defense will be tough to scheme for in 2024.

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