Ram Digest

Aaron Donald 2.0? Rams Meet With 'Freakish' Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey

Calijah Kancey could become a potential name to watch for the Rams with the No. 36 pick.

Matt Galatzan

In this story:

While Aaron Donald confirmed he will return for the 2023 season, his future beyond that remains uncertain, meaning the Los Angeles Rams could be in the market for another similarly skilled defensive lineman - if there is such a thing. 

And in their search for a potential Donald heir, the Rams have reportedly taken to Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, and are one of a handful of teams to have met with the fast-rising prospect.

A 6-foot-1, 281-pound standout. defensive tackle out of Donald's alma mater, Pitt. Kancey took the NFL world by storm earlier this month at the combine, posting a 4.67 40-yard dash. 

That time alone is impressive for someone of Kancey's size, but it also broke Donald's previous record for a defensive tackle of 4.68 seconds and is the fastest at the position since 2000.

Kancey has also been described by NFL analysts as 'undersized' and as possessing 'freakish athleticism'. 

Which, if you are a Rams fan, is something you have certainly seen before...

With that said, drafting Kancey and expecting him to be Donald 2.0 would not be realistic, but developing under the tutelage of arguably the NFL's best defensive player, would certainly be a desirable situation for all parties involved.

One look at the stats for Kancey at Pitt and the potential is clear. 

He recorded 31 total tackles in his final season, including a whopping 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks as he showed an ability to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. 

What the Rams ultimately do with the No. 36 pick is yet to be seen, with several mock drafts linking them to help along the offensive line. 

After Kancey's combine performance, though, he could shoot up draft boards and become a name to watch for the Rams this April. 

You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rams? Click Here

Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Ram Digest message board community today!

Follow Ram Digest on Twitter and Facebook.

Want even more L.A. Rams news? Check out the SI.com team page here.

Published
Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

Home/News