Zach Groves

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 250 lbs. Taller than 54% and heavier than 81% of 2026 Edge Rusher prospects in the SEC Scouts database (169 with a listed size).

Play Style

He plays with effort and physicality and tends to beat blockers through contact rather than around them. His production pattern of far more tackles for loss than sacks suggests he gets upfield quickly against the run, disrupts runs aimed at his side, and chases down plays from the back side. His experience at running back shows up as pursuit speed and a nose for the ball. At the high school level, he beat blockers mainly with strength and effort; developing technical rush moves is the next step.

Strengths

• Constant backfield production. He had 254 career tackles, 71.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, including 27.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore and 21 as a junior. Tackles for loss that far above his sack totals show he beat blockers on runs, not just on passing downs.
• Size that's ready to play. He's already about 250 pounds on a 6-4 frame, so he can set the edge and hold up against the run early, instead of needing a full redshirt year just to add weight.
• Athleticism and competitiveness. Playing running back and pass rusher at a Class 2A school shows he can move in space and that his coaches trusted him to be their best player on both sides of the ball.
• An early start. Enrolling in January 2026 gave him a full spring practice and summer strength program before his first season, which speeds up his development timeline.

Areas to Improve

• Pass-rush moves and consistent sacks. His sacks were modest compared with his tackles for loss (8, then 4 in his reported junior season), which suggests he mostly beat Class 2A blockers with strength and effort. He needs a go-to rush move, a counter, and better hand timing to finish plays against SEC tackles.
• Tougher competition. A small-school prospect needs time to adjust to the size and speed of SEC offensive lines, especially keeping his pad level low and shedding blocks from longer, heavier tackles and tight ends.
• Settling on a position. He needs to show whether he has the burst and bend to stay a pure edge rusher, or whether he fits better as a heavier strong-side end, and then build his body for that role.

College Projection

He's a developmental edge player who is likely to contribute early on special teams and in spot rotation snaps. His early enrollment and college-ready weight give him a better chance of playing as a true freshman than a typical #260-ranked prospect. Tennessee's defensive line rotation is crowded, so a redshirt-style year using the four-game rule is a reasonable baseline for 2026. A realistic timeline is regular rotation snaps as a redshirt freshman or sophomore and a starting bid by year three, most likely as a strong-side end who stays on the field against the run and moves inside on passing downs.

NFL Outlook

He's a mid-to-late-round draft prospect if he develops as projected. Edge rushers his size who produce this much in the backfield get NFL looks if they can add pass-rush moves and test well at the combine. His draft value depends on whether he becomes a real pass-rush threat or settles in as a run-stopping end. The more realistic outcome is a Day 3 pick who is valued for positional flexibility and special-teams ability.

Best Fit

A 4-3 or multiple front that uses a strong-side end who sets the edge against the run and can slide inside on passing downs. Tennessee's defense suits him well, because a physical, well-built end with this much backfield production can earn snaps there before he's a finished pass rusher. A strong strength-and-conditioning program, which he got early by enrolling in January, is key to getting the most out of his frame.