NFL Draft Profile: Ace Eley

Where will former Georgia Tech linebacker Ace Eley land in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Jackson Caudell | Mar 24, 2023

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Georgia Tech had a pair of 100-tackle linebackers last year and while Charlie Thomas is getting a little bit of NFL Draft attention, Ace Eley does not seem to be and that is a mistake.

Thomas and Eley are two different players though. Thomas flies around more than Eley and has him on speed, but Eley is an old-fashioned 4-3 linebacker that is a hard-hitter and tackling machine.

Eley was a second-team All-ACC linebacker last season and is looking to make an impact at the next level and I think he is going overlooked. Eley has been one of the most impactful defenders for the Yellow Jackets for the last two seasons since transferring to Atlanta

Eley redshirted his true freshman season at Maryland in 2017 and saw some action in 2018, registering 13 tackles. His snap count saw a big increase to 630 in 2019 and he finished that season with 79 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and an interception. His PFF (Pro Football Focus) numbers from the 2019 season were not great though. Eley finished with a 48.2 grade on defense, 52.2 on run defense, 51.1 tackling, 62.7 pass rush, and 42.0 in coverage. He was a Big Ten honorable mention for his performance in 2019.

The COVID-shortened season in 2020 was Eley's last in the Big Ten and he arrived at Georgia Tech for the 2021 season.

His first season in the ACC saw him register 88 tackles and 0.5 sacks. His defensive grade on PFF was 39.7, 36.7 run defense, 52,2 tackling, 62.2 pass rush, and 49.9 coverage. Those numbers are not great, but the Georgia Tech defense as a whole was a pretty poor unit in 2021. Both his numbers and his grades in PFF were set to see a big jump in 2022.

Georgia Tech linebacker Ace Eley — Ace Eley was one of Georgia Tech's best defensive players in 2022 / Georgia Tech Athletics

Eley had one more season of eligibility left and he put together his best season during the 2022 campaign. Eley led the team with 118 tackles, was tied for second on the team with 3.5 sacks, had three pass deflections, and led the team with four forced fumbles. In a year with so much changing around Georgia Tech, Eley was a constant on Saturdays in terms of tackling and play-making.

Eley had his best season in 2022 according to PFF as well. He had a career-best 63.3 grade on defense, 64.0 run defense, 57.5 tackling, 65.1 pass rush, and 57.1 coverage.

Eley went on to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alongside teammate Malachi Carter and he had a good performance. He had one of the highlights of the game with a scoop and score and he was a consistent performer in practice as well.

.@Bigtime__ace had several impactful plays in the @NFLPABowl to showcase his playmaking ability. Known as an instinctive & heady LB, this play 👇 demonstrates his ability to quickly R&R, beat the climbing blocker, and wrap up the ball carrier for a minimal gain. pic.twitter.com/WLy0IlCq3u
— Dane Vandernat (@DVandernat) February 6, 2023

To my surprise, Eley did not receive an invitation to the NFL Combine. He was going to have to showout at his pro day and he was impressive there. He had a 32' inch vertical and had 20 reps on the bench press.

I asked Eley after the pro day about not being invited to the Combine and here is what he told me:

"Those guys that were invited to the combine, I can compete with those guys, put up numbers with those guys and like you said, productive with those guys. I didn.t get invited to the combine and that is what it is, I just wanted a chance to compete."

He also mentioned that he has the traits to play in whatever defense is necessary, as well as the ability to play special teams as well :

"I am comfortable playing all special teams in my career, I have played all special teams before, kickoff, kickoff return, field goal block, punt, punt return. Special teams is not a problem for me, any way that I can get on the field, I am good with."

I think Eley could be like Jordan Mason in the sense that even if he goes undrafted, I believe he has the ability to stick with a team and has a chance to make the roster. He has good instincts for the position and with NFL coaching, he can improve in areas like coverage. It is not out of the question that he is a day-three pick either. His strong ability on special teams will allow him to stick around on a roster and give him a chance to grow.

The NFL Draft begins on April 27th.

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