Gracen Halton

NFL Draft Profile: Gracen Halton

Position: Defensive Tackle | School: Oklahoma | Class: Senior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 292 lbs | Archetype: Pass Rusher

College Career Summary

Gracen Halton’s career at Oklahoma is a story of steady, high-impact growth. Arriving as an explosive four-star recruit from San Diego, Halton spent his first two seasons (2022–2023) as a key rotational player before exploding in 2024. As a junior, he finished second on the team in sacks (5.0) and emerged as one of the SEC’s most dangerous interior pass-rush specialists. In 2025, he embraced a veteran leadership role in Brent Venables’ "Death Row" defense. While slightly undersized for a traditional nose tackle, his elite first step and ability to convert speed to power have made him a constant backfield presence. He enters the draft process as a high-motor disruptor who flourished against SEC competition.

Highlight Career Stats:

• Games Played: 47

• Total Tackles: 79 (28 in 2025)

• Tackles For Loss (TFL): 17.5 (6.0 in 2025)

• Sacks: 8.5 (3.5 in 2025)

• Career Highs: 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Safety (2024 vs. Houston)

2025 Season Game-by-Game Grades

Opponent	Stats	Grade	Key Performance Note
Illinois State	0 Tackles	B-	Quiet opener; primary focus was gap discipline.
No. 18 Michigan	1 Tackle	B	Stout against a physical Big Ten style front.
@ Temple	3 Tackles, 1.5 TFL	A-	Flashed elite backfield penetration.
Tulane	2 Tackles	B	Solid anchor; kept linebackers clean.
@ No. 24 TCU	4 Tackles, 1.0 TFL	B+	High Competitor drive in a physical road game.
vs. No. 1 Texas	1 Tackle	C+	Out-leveraged at times by Texas' veteran interior.
@ No. 12 Ole Miss	2 Tackles	C	Struggled with the tempo; appeared gassed late.
@ Missouri	3 Tackles, 1.0 Sack	A-	Mental Toughness; clutch sack to stall a drive.
No. 22 Alabama	4 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks	A	Season Best. Dominated with interior speed.
@ LSU	3 Tackles	B+	Exceptional High Motor chasing down the perimeter.
Arizona (Bowl)	2 Tackles, 0.5 TFL	B	Disciplined "Star" impact on the interior.
Alabama (CFP)	3 Tackles, 1.0 TFL	B+	Fought hard in a high-stakes playoff rematch.

Scouting Report

Strengths

• Explosive First Step: Halton’s "get-off" is his calling card. He regularly beats guards across their face before they can set their anchor.

• Pass Rush Tool Bag: Unlike many collegiate DTs, he has a refined plan. He effectively uses a club-rip and an inside swim move to generate pressure.

• High Motor & Stamina: For a 290+ lb man, his pursuit is relentless. He frequently makes tackles 5–10 yards downfield, showing elite Pursuit.

• Versatility: Has the frame to play a 3-tech but shows the IQ and leverage to slide into a 4i or 5-tech in certain sub-packages.

Weaknesses

• Size/Mass: At 292 lbs, he is "light" for an NFL interior defender. He can get moved off the ball by heavy double-teams in the power run game.

• Anchor Strength: When forced to sit and two-gap, he can be neutralized by larger, 320 lb+ NFL-caliber centers.

• Length: Lacks the elite wingspan of top-tier prospects, which can make it harder to disengage once a blocker gets their hands inside his frame.

Scheme Fit: Ideal 3-Technique in a 4-3 "Attacking" front.

NFL Comparison: Ed Oliver (Bills) / Calijah Kancey

Scout’s Final Word & Projection

Intangibles: 18/20 | Physical Tools: 16/20 | Attributes: 19/20 | Athleticism: 18/20 | IQ: 17/20 Final Grade: 88/100

Gracen Halton is an "arrow-up" prospect. He proved in the 2024 and 2025 seasons that he can produce high-level pass-rush numbers from the interior in the most physical conference in football. While his lack of prototypical "nose tackle" size will lower his floor for some teams, his ceiling as a disruptive 3-technique is immense. In a league that prioritizes interior pressure, Halton’s explosive traits and Technique make him a high-value Day 2 target.

Draft Projection: 2nd - 3rd Round