Isaiahh
Loudermilk.
Isaiahh
Loudermilk.
Wisconsin· 6'6"· 274 lb· 5.08s 40
"A 6-6, 274-pound Wisconsin 5-technique with 34 career starts and a two-gap Badgers pedigree — a Round-5 rotational 3-4 DE projection whose upside was capped by modest pass-rush production."Pre-draft read
Plays as a true 3-4 five-technique, aligning as a 4i or 5-technique in odd fronts, occasionally shifting to 3-tech in nickel. He uses 34-inch length and initial punch, shooting hands into the tackle's outside pec, extending to lock out, control the block, and disengage toward the ball. This is textbook two-gap technique for setting edges and containing the run.
He holds the point on down blocks, anchors against pullers, and rarely yields ground against gap schemes as a stack-and-shed defender. Pass-rush wins are primarily with a long-arm bull rush and occasional cross-chop counter. He does not bend the arc, and his average get-off limits consistent pass-rush production. Motor runs hot, but no elite trait consistently threatens the pocket, capping his pass-rush ceiling.
A classic 3-4 two-gap defense emphasizing strong run containment and disciplined gap control through powerful, long-levered interior linemen.
Immediate rotational 5-technique in a 3-4 system who can develop into a starting two-gap run defender by year two or three.
A one-gap 4-3 penetrating front where his value as a stack-and-shed run defender would be minimized and his limited pass-rush attributes exposed.
Loudermilk's skillset is uniquely tailored to a traditional 3-4 scheme, where his length, two-gap technique, and run defense are maximized.
Top 20 Plays of Wisconsin DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
College highlight reel emphasizing his two-gap technique, lockout at the point and Big Ten run-defense reps.
Wisconsin Pro Day - Isaiahh Loudermilk
Full Pro Day workout including the 5.08 forty and movement drills that produced the 6.94 RAS.
Isaiahh Loudermilk Is An Old School Two-Gapper
Analytical breakdown of his five-technique fit and hand technique, illustrating the scheme-specific NFL projection.
He projects as a scheme-specific developmental 3-4 five-technique with a high floor as a run defender, capable of two-gapping and setting edges. His value stems from his frame and disciplined technique, which allows him to absorb blocks and maintain gap integrity rather than generating splash plays. This profile suggests a player suited for early-down run defense in a specific defensive scheme.
At Wisconsin, he was a four-year contributor and 34-game starter in a defensive scheme that prioritized two-gapping over individual sack production. His role in Jim Leonhard's front focused on holding the point of attack, which explained his modest career production of 7.5 sacks. This usage ensured constant engagement against collegiate run schemes, preparing him for a similar role at the professional level.
Evaluators consistently saw him in the fifth-to-sixth-round range, acknowledging his run-defense strengths while noting concerns about his pass-rush plan and lack of flexibility. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to select him at pick 156 in the fifth round, valuing his frame, run-defense foundation, and scheme fit.
- 01
Length and frame
Legitimate 6-6, 274 pounds with the length preferred by 3-4 defensive coordinators at five-technique, enabling two-gap responsibilities.
- 02
Two-gap technique
Textbook Wisconsin schooling in hand placement, extension, and lockout at the point of attack; he remains inside the block rather than being controlled.
- 03
Run-defense anchor
Sinks his hips against pullers on power/counter and holds the point on down blocks effectively, translating Big Ten run-game reps to the NFL.
- 04
Scheme-perfect fit
A pure 3-4 five-technique whose role is well-defined by the pro model, making him a clear fit for specific defensive systems.
- 05
Four-year contributor
34 career games/starts at a Power-5 program with strong defensive coaching, providing advanced processing, discipline, and gap integrity.
- 01
Modest pass-rush plan
Primarily wins with a long-arm bull and occasional chop; lacks bend and has an average get-off, limiting sack production (7.5 career sacks).
- 02
Scheme-locked value
A functional five-technique in odd fronts but an awkward fit in true 4-3 base or light penetrator schemes, limiting his broader appeal.
- 03
Average lower-body twitch
His 5.08 forty time and 6.94 RAS are workable but not exceptional, indicating he does not close on quarterbacks or chase down mobile pocket movers.
- 04
Interior pass-rush projection
When kicked inside to 3-technique, he lacks the get-off and quickness to consistently threaten guards on obvious passing downs.
Relative Athletic Score (Kent Lee Platte) benchmarks combine/pro-day numbers against every measured prospect at the position since 1987. 10.00 is elite; 5.00 is average.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 5.08sp50
- Vertical
- 28.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 112inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.52sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.55sp50
- Bench
- 21repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Wisconsin | 11 | 10 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | Wisconsin | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | Wisconsin | 14 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | Wisconsin | 6 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | — | 40 | 61 | 7.5 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Length-and-anchor 3-4 DE who spent his career as a scheme-perfect rotational piece rather than a splash pass rusher; the honest projection given the Wisconsin plan and testing.
Long, well-schooled Big Ten 3-4 DE who carved out a real multi-year role as a rotational run defender with occasional interior pass-rush snaps — the exact next-tier ceiling for Loudermilk.
Long, run-defense-first Day-3 DL whose career flattened into backup/practice-squad snaps once the pass-rush ceiling didn't materialize — the outcome-risk case if the scheme fit ever moved.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Below expectations. Rotational Years 1-2, cut in 2023, journeyman practice-squad DL through 2024. Signed with the Jaguars as depth in 2025.
Pre-draft context. Loudermilk was a four-year contributor at Wisconsin (2017–2020) in an attacking four-man front defense, finishing with 34 career games/starts along the defensive line as a two-gap five-technique. His college role was to hold the point, eat blocks and let the Badgers' linebackers run — a system that produced modest counting stats (3.5 career sacks) but a very functional NFL frame at 6-6, 274 pounds. His Pro Day confirmed the profile: 5.08 forty, 28.5-inch vertical, 9-4 broad, 7.52 three-cone, 4.55 shuttle, 21 bench, for a 6.94 RAS. Boards had him in Round 5–6 as a scheme-specific developmental piece.
NFL fit — Pittsburgh Steelers. The evaluators actively traded up for him, sending a 2022 fourth-round pick to Miami to secure him at 156 — an aggressive move for a Day-3 lineman that signaled how highly the scouting department valued the frame and Badgers schooling. With dedicated position guidance and Cam Heyward's day-to-day mentorship, Loudermilk stepped into a rotational role behind Heyward, Chris Wormley and Stephon Tuitt/Larry Ogunjobi, appearing in every game as a rookie and holding a spot in the DL rotation through the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Retrospective. Loudermilk's career settled where his college tape projected: a functional 3-4 rotational defensive end whose value is measured in snaps against the run, not in sack production. He was released by the Steelers ahead of the 2024 season and has bounced through the back end of NFL rosters and practice squads since, with brief stops elsewhere in the league. Given the traded-up fifth-round investment, the honest verdict is that the Steelers got exactly the third defensive lineman they hoped for — no more, no less — which is a mixed outcome once the extra pick moved is priced in.