Alister Vallejo

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 310 lbs. Taller than 37% and heavier than 85% of 2026 Defensive Line prospects in the SEC Scouts database (227 with a listed size).

Play Style

An active, penetrating interior lineman who plays with good leverage. On film he tends to win with his first step and low pad level, getting into the gap before the guard is set, and then keeps working toward the ball until the whistle, which is where his high tackle totals come from. He usually lines up as a 3-technique or shaded nose, pushes the quarterback back from the middle rather than beating blockers around the edge, and uses his wide base against the run. His blocked kicks and fumble return show a player who stays involved in plays all game.

Strengths

• Pass-rush production over three seasons for a 300-pounder: 11 sacks as a sophomore, 7 as a junior (team lead, 16 hurries) and 5 as a senior, which shows he can collapse the pocket from the inside, not just take up space
• Consistently in the backfield: 18 TFL as a senior on 62-71 tackles, and 12 TFL as a sophomore, showing he gets off the ball quickly and makes plays through gaps against the run
• Plays with a motor and makes big plays: 4 kick blocks as a junior, 2 more as a senior, and a fumble-return touchdown, which reflects effort and good use of his hands on special teams
• His experience on both sides of the line gives him an advanced sense of leverage and how blocks are set up, a common trait among defensive tackles who were former offensive linemen

Areas to Improve

• Length: at 6-3 he will be at a disadvantage against longer Big Ten guards, so he needs better hand placement and a quicker first strike to avoid getting stuck on blocks
• His sack totals fell from 11 to 7 to 5 as offenses focused on him. He needs a counter move to go with his initial rush (club-swim, push-pull) so he can still win when double-teamed
• He needs to hold his ground against double teams as a two-gap run defender in Big Ten play, which is the difference between a pass-rush specialist and a full-time starter

College Projection

He enrolled at Michigan in the summer of 2026 and wears #56. DL coach Larry Black has praised him along with fellow freshman DT Titan Davis during fall camp. A redshirt is the most likely outcome for 2026, though the four-game rule leaves room for rotational snaps late in the season. He is a strong candidate for a rotation role in 2027 and could start in 2028 as a 3-technique if his strength catches up with his quickness. The internal comparison to Mason Graham, a similarly built, high-production Michigan interior lineman who played as a freshman, shows how the staff sees his path.

NFL Outlook

He is a possible mid-round prospect in 2029-2030 if his production carries over. Players his size (6-3, 305+) who penetrate from the 3-technique are a known NFL type, and plenty of shorter defensive tackles have been drafted early by winning with leverage and quick hands. Arm length and whether he can beat guards one-on-one in Big Ten play will decide whether he is a Day 2 pick or a Day 3 depth player. Right now his profile is a rotational NFL defensive tackle, with more upside if his pass-rush moves develop.

Best Fit

A multiple front that uses attacking one-gap tackles and puts him at 3-technique or shaded nose, where he can penetrate rather than hold up double teams. Michigan's pro-style defense with a deep DL rotation fits well, because it lets him develop and contribute on a pass-rush package before he has to hold up against the run for 50+ snaps.