High School and College Career

Noah Sewell, a former high school football player at Orem High School, was rated as a 4-star recruit and made the decision to play for the Oregon Ducks.

As a freshman in 2020, Sewell immediately impacted the team, playing in 7 games and accumulating 369 snaps as a linebacker for the Ducks. Throughout the season, he recorded an impressive 34 tackles, one pass breakup, and had an 85.4 QB rating when targeted. As a pass rusher, he achieved a solid 9 total pressures, of which were comprised of 7 QB hurries, no QB hits, and 2 sacks.

Sewell continued to excel as a sophomore in 2021, playing in 14 games and contributing an impressive 879 snaps for the Ducks. He recorded a remarkable 72 tackles, 3 pass breakups, one interception, and had a QB rating of 75.0 when targeted. As a pass rusher, he chalked up an impressive 34 total pressures, making up of 21 QB hurries, 9 QB hits, and 4 sacks throughout the season.

During his junior year in 2022, Sewell continued to be a key member of the Ducks’ defense, playing in 12 games and contributing to 601 snaps. He recorded a respectable 40 tackles, achieved 2 pass breakups, one interception, and had a QB rating of 105.6 when targeted. As a pass rusher, he produced 18 total pressures, with the majority being 14 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and 2 sacks throughout the season.

Noah Sewell Scouting Report Introduction

Noah Sewell, a linebacker for the Oregon Ducks, has been a key player for their defense and has started for three years. His collegiate career has been very successful, earning him numerous awards, including multiple All-Conference and All-American team honors. Sewell has NFL lineage as the younger brother of Detroit Lions’ former first-round pick, Penei Sewell.

When considering Sewell as a prospect, there are many positive attributes. He has great size and above-average athleticism for his position. Although he primarily plays as the MIKE backer in the Oregon defense, he has played in various positions across the formation, including on the edge and in the slot for pass coverage. As a run defender, Sewell is an aggressive and confident player who excels in the box. Although his decision-making and instincts are just average, he is still able to react quickly and make dominant plays when he has correctly determined the play. He has remarkable power and uses his hands well to break through his blockers and make tackles. He always puts maximum effort into every play and is a feared hitter who is capable of causing fumbles when he connects with the ball carrier.

However, there are also areas in which Sewell can improve. On occasion, he will miss tackles because he does not wrap his arms around players and drive them to the ground. Additionally, Sewell’s athleticism is limited, evidenced by his average change of direction and below-average sideline-to-sideline range. His coverage skills are passable, as he can recognize and position himself well in zone coverage and has a good closing burst when covering targets in front of him. He can also cover tight ends in man coverage, but it is not where he excels. Instead, Sewell shines when blitzing off the edge, utilizing his excellent snap timing, anticipation, and raw power to put pressure on the quarterback.

Strengths

Noah Sewell is known for his high motor and quickness on the field. As an edge rusher, Sewell’s proficient hand usage and tight spin move allow him to win against blockers. Additionally, his strong grasp of angles and understanding of the game allow him to beat blockers to the spot, contributing to his success on the field.

Sewell’s abilities extend beyond pass rushing as he can also act as a rangy run defender. His instincts and quickness when locating the ball allow him to get ahead of the blockers and make plays at the second level. One of Sewell’s strengths is his ability to close quickly on quarterbacks and running backs, thanks to his long arms and tremendous closing speed. He is also a rangy and instinctive zone defender who can look into the backfield and predict opponents’ next moves. Sewell’s strong core and powerful hands allow him to shed blockers, and his excellent instincts enable him to locate the ball quickly.

Weaknesses

Noah Sewell is sometimes too eager to make the play, which can lead to him overcommitting and running past his intended target. This can result in the creation of cutback lanes for opponents, who are then able to exploit these gaps and launch counterattacks.

While Sewell is undoubtedly an explosive athlete, there are certain aspects of his game that require improvement, specifically his finishing ability. This is often due to him slipping off tackles or using a grab-and-drag style of tackling rather than executing proper-form tackles, which would involve keeping his legs driving through the hit.

Despite these areas for improvement, Sewell has already shown that he is a formidable presence on the field. With his sheer athleticism and attacking prowess, he is capable of causing significant disruption to the opposition’s plans. Going forward, developing his finishing skills and honing his tackling technique should help him to become an even more compelling and impactful player.

Noah Sewell is the 125th prospect on our draft big board.