Derek Colman-Brusa

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-5, 267 lbs. Taller than 79% and heavier than 98% of 2026 Edge Rusher prospects in the SEC Scouts database (169 with a listed size).

Play Style

A disruptive lineman who attacks upfield and works best when he can use his length and first step. In high school he lined up mostly as a wide or 5-technique end, reset the line of scrimmage with his initial hit, and chased plays down from the backside with effort. His run fits are aggressive and he looks to shed and tackle in the backfield rather than just occupy blocks, which explains the high tackle-for-loss totals. At Washington he mostly plays a 3-technique or shaded role, where his quickness beats slower guards. He also uses his length to knock down passes, as the breakup in his debut showed.

Strengths

• Produced in the backfield two straight years: 68 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a junior, then 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 8 sacks as a senior while being game-planned against, earning North Puget Sound League 4A Player of the Year and a league title
• Wins with both speed and power: evaluators described him as a 'man amongst boys' who can beat blockers either way, and his power rush and long-arm transfer carry over well to an interior role
• Ready to play early: he started as a true freshman at defensive tackle, with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Washington State and 4 tackles and a sack against Utah State, and PFF graded him around 72.7 early in the season, among the Huskies' top five defenders
• Instincts on film: UW Dawg Pound noted he is 'a football player that makes football plays', meaning he finds the ball, pursues, and gets hands up in passing lanes instead of relying only on athletic ability

Areas to Improve

• Anchoring at the point of attack against experienced interior linemen. At 295 he is still light for heavy double-team downs, so steady weight gain and lower-body strength over the next 12-18 months will decide whether he can play every down inside or needs to be managed situationally
• Pass-rush moves for the interior. His high school sacks mostly came from overpowering or running past tackles outside, and inside he needs quicker hands, a reliable counter such as a swim or club-rip, and better timing on games and twists against guards who set faster
• Pad level. At 6-5 he has to stay low to avoid being turned by shorter interior blockers, especially late in drives when he gets tired

College Projection

He is already a starter as a true freshman, ahead of the normal timeline for a four-star defensive lineman. Expect him to rotate heavily in 2026 while he learns the position, then settle in as a full-time starter who can move between 3-technique and a big-end role in 2027-28. If he gets to around 300-305 pounds and keeps his burst, he has a realistic path to all-conference honors by his third season.

NFL Outlook

He has Day 2 potential, with the chance to rise into the late first round if he adds strength and interior pass-rush moves. NFL teams value long, athletic 3-techniques who have also played on the edge, and his frame, early starting experience and alignment flexibility fit that. He will be draft-eligible after the 2028 season, and his draft stock will depend mainly on whether he can finish as a pass rusher inside, since sacks, not just pressures, set the ceiling for his position group.

Best Fit

A multiple front, whether 4-3 or odd-front hybrid, that uses him in several alignments: 3-technique on early downs, kicked outside to big end in heavy personnel, and inside on passing downs. An attacking, one-gap scheme gets the most out of his first step and length. Washington's staff, and playing alongside his brother Lowen, who signed with UW as an offensive lineman in 2025, give him a good environment for development.