Latest news with #TonkaHemingway
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
5 Raiders to watch on defense in tonight's preseason opener in Seattle
We already detailed the five Raiders players on offense to watch in tonight's game in Seattle. Now we move to the defensive side of the ball to give you a few players over there to keep an eye on. DL Tonka Hemingway There is an open competition to fill the void left by the release of Christian Wilkins. Jonah Laulu is the leader in that competition, but defensive tackles work in rotation, so others will get significant playing time in situational football. Right away, there will be one thing to watch with Hemingway -- where he is lining up. Though he is a defensive tackle by trade, and that's where I saw him lining up in camp, the Raiders unofficial depth chart released this week had him at defensive end. So, it will be interesting to see if he moves around the defensive line in much the same way that Tyree Wilson does. DE Jah Joyner The most highly regarded undrafted free agent to sign with the Raiders this offseason. The Minnesota edge rusher is in the thick of the battle for reps on the edge. The starters are set with Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. But after that, it's a battle. Joyner gets his first shot to show up live tonight. LB Jamal Adams Along with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith, Adams will make his return to Seattle tonight. Adams spent four seasons with Seahawks making a Pro Bowl at safety. These days he's trying to salvage his career and making a position change to try and make it happen. Tonight we get to see how the transition to outside linebacker is going for the former three-time Pro Bowl safety. And being that he isn't a starter, we could see some good minutes from him too. CB DeCamerion Richardson The fourth rounder took his lumps as a rookie last season. But the new Raiders coaching staff loves him. They love his length (6-2) and see a big jump from him from his rookie season. They like him enough to occasionally give him reps with the first team and trade away former starter Jakorian Bennett. Tonight we should see quite a bit of time from him. S Chris Smith II A big time safety at Georgia, he was a fifth round pick by the Raiders in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has played mostly special teams over his first two seasons, but could get his shot this season with the injury to Lonnie Johnson Jr. He is certainly in the mix to be a starter. Others are also competing for that position. A solid performance tonight would go far to helping Smith get that job. If he falters, he opens the door to fall back down the depth chart.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Raiders select DT Tonka Hemingway at pick 135 in Round 4 of the NFL Draft
Raiders select DT Tonka Hemingway at pick 135 in Round 4 of the NFL Draft If you're drafting based on names alone, the Raiders got themselves a steal at pick 135. Tonka Hemingway went with the third overall pick in my all-name draft this year. But since we're talking about *actual* criteria that matters, Hemingway was ranked 215 on the consensus big board. Making this a bit of an unexpected selection at this point. Here is what Dane Brugler had to say about Hemingway in his The Beast Draft Guide: A three-year starter at South Carolina, Hemingway worked up and down the line of scrimmage in defensive coordinator Clayton White's four-man front. As part of one of the deepest defensive lines in college football, he lined up in multiple spots and showed that he could make an impact from across the line. With three older siblings who also were college athletes, Hemingway developed his competitive toughness at a young age — that toughness is evident in the way he works to stay involved in plays. Undersized for interior work, he can be jarred off balance once engaged and tossed to the ground, so NFL offenses won't hesitate to run at him. Overall, Hemingway probably isn't going to have a ton of success as a pure take-on player in the NFL, but he moves well for his size and has a feel for keeping himself freed up to chase the football. His best fit will be in a scheme that helps keep him clean, potentially outside on the edge. Brugler had Hemingway ranted as a Round 6-7 prospect.
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs scouting report: South Carolina Gamecocks DT Tonka Hemingway
Chiefs scouting report: South Carolina Gamecocks DT Tonka Hemingway As Chris Jones prepares to turn 31 years old this coming summer, the Kansas City Chiefs need to examine prospects in the 2025 NFL draft with the skill sets to support their aging star. Several defensive tackles early in the draft and a few late round options have the athleticism to take advantage of Jones drawing double teams and boost Kansas City's pass rush. South Carolina Gamecocks defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway is a 6'2 7/8'', 284 lb. college veteran with 33'' arms. He's undersized by the league's standards, but that creates some unique advantages for him as a pass rusher. Hemingway's college teammate T.J. Sanders was adamant when speaking to reporters at the Senior Bowl that Hemingway deserved an invite to Mobile. He was right. Hemingway never got the call from the Senior Bowl, so he spent late January torching offensive linemen at the East-West Shrine Bowl. No player won more frequently during the four practice sessions or concluding game than Hemingway. Blockers couldn't keep up with his pass rush plan and lacked the agility to mirror him throughout plays. Hemingway's pass rush plan includes club-rips, club-swims, spins and swipe-rips. His loose hips help him bend around guards and flatten his rush angles. Guards struggle to match Hemingway's explosive horizontal steps, which allow him to exchange gaps immediately after the snap. Hemingway's lack of power limits his ability to bull rush and makes it hard for him to break free once the offensive lineman clamps down. He relies on winning early in the play and often finds himself stalemated when the battle gets dragged out. Hemingway showcases a better anchor in the run game than many analysts acknowledge. He makes some nice plays holding his ground against combo blocks and rarely loses his balance. However, he's at his best shooting gaps and penetrating into the backfield on run plays. Hemingway doesn't provide a consistent force anchoring the point of attack and lacks the strength to maintain gap integrity. Hemingway's lack of size and elite traits limits his draft value in a class featuring several star defensive tackles. He currently projects as a mid-Day 3 selection who could slide into the later rounds.
