An elite run defender who played the last two years for the Baylor Bears, defensive lineman Siaki Ika will look to bring a big presence to whatever team nabs him as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Bear’s nose defender:
Vitals
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 335 pounds
Class: Senior
40 Time: 5.39 seconds
Strengths
A prototypical nose tackle for Baylor, Siaki Ika excelled at eating up the run for the Bears last season. As a senior Ika nabbed twenty tackles including thirteen tackles for a loss. He added additional value in the pass rush, where he managed fifteen quarterback hurries, and three quarterback hits.
In run defense, Ika truly shines, bringing his massive frame into the play with force and excellent athleticism for his size. Ika explodes off the ball with an excellent base and leverage, shifting defenders how he pleases with violent hands that disrupt defenders off the snap. It is hard to move him off his base, and Ika has good hand usage in clubbing defenders hands away when they attempt to shift him, and penetrating through to swallow up ball carriers or collapse the design of the run.
As a pass rusher, there is not a ton of production there, but Ika shows enough athleticism and ability to be coached into more of a consistent rusher in the future. He was often taken off the field in obvious passing situations but could develop into a three-down lineman at the next level given his tangibles. He will still need to be accounted for in the NFL in one on one situations and is quick enough to provide immediate pressure if left unchecked.
Weaknesses
As noted prior, Ika seriously lacked in the pass-rushing front for the Bears last season. While his athleticism is good for his size, it lags behind other linemen and could get him caught up in a whirlwind at the next level. He will need to develop a varied pass-rushing skillset to use his tools to his favor and play with better pad level so as to not get wiped away early in the play.
There are multiple games in which Ika ends up on the ground multiple times, this is obviously not something you want to see from your starting nose tackle, and he will need to learn how to play with better technique, especially when taking on double teams.
Projection
Siaki Ika is a classic nose tackle at the next level, who has the versatility to play in even or odd fronts without issue. His prototypical size, strength, and quickness will allow him to develop his play further a the next level with the right coaching, and he will have no problem slotting in right away as a run defender in the NFL.
Teams will need to work with Ika in developing his skillset and allowing that athleticism and natural strength to show through better. Ika will need to correct his pad level, balance, and pass-rushing skillset to avoid being taken off the field on third downs. Teams always need productive nose tackles, so Ika will find himself going as perhaps the top nose in the draft.
Projection: Third Round
