• David Gusta was one of the top defensive interior transfer portal targets this offseason: He was outstanding in 2024 in his fourth season at Washington State, as his 84.4 PFF overall grade ranked him as one of the top returning players in the country at his position.

• Gusta terrorized Ole Miss: He posted three pressures, one leading to an interception by the Kentucky secondary. He has yet to post a negatively graded run-defense rep this season.

• Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool.

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

As an NFL draft evaluator, there are few things more exciting than seeing a prospect pop for the first time in September and following him throughout the rest of the college schedule and into draft season. Kentucky interior defender David Gusta looks to have the skill set to be that kind of player for the 2025 season.

After a breakout campaign in 2024 at Washington State, Gusta entered the transfer portal and immediately drew interest from blue bloods — including Michigan, Alabama and Oklahoma — before eventually choosing Kentucky.

He played at Washington State for four years (took a redshirt season in 2021), but it was his campaign last year that first put him on the map. Gusta excelled while rushing the passer, posting 29 pressures and an 11.0% pass-rush win rate. He was also a force against the run, grading positively on 22.2% of run snaps while posting 12 total run stops. His 84.4 PFF overall grade last year ranked him fourth among all 2026 draft-eligible defensive interior prospects, and second among Power Five prospects (behind only Alabama’s Tim Keenan III).

Week 2’s game against Ole Miss was my first glimpse of him, and he certainly looked the part of an NFL player. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds, Gusta has the requisite size for the next level, and he complements his natural bulkiness with quickness and heavy hands. Throughout the game, he showed excellent change of direction and acceleration on stunts, allowing him to disrupt plays in the backfield.

Open Gusta’s Profile

Against the Rebels, Gusta posted two hits and one hurry, with one of those hits leading directly to an interception. He recorded a 16.7% pass-rush win rate, and his 8.3 pass-rush productivity score (which weights sacks and hits) ranked second among all Power Five interior defenders who also faced off against Power Five opponents in Week 2. Gusta was just as strong against the run, generating positive grades on 20.6% of snaps while not logging a negative grade on any of his 34 run-defense reps. 

Kentucky hosted Eastern Michigan two weeks ago and was on a bye this past week, but the level of competition for Gusta will ramp up in short order. That includes a Nov. 1 tilt against Auburn, which features PFF’s No. 1-ranked center and No. 19 overall prospect in the country, Connor Lew. If Gusta continues to stand out during Kentucky’s tough SEC slate, expect to hear his name often as a rising prospect come draft season.