The Texas Tech Red Raiders boasted one of the fiercest defensive fronts in college football last year. Their defensive line featured three potential — or even likely — first round prospects, and was backed by the best linebacker in college football.
Defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard, however, has been lost in the shuffle thanks to a season-ending ankle injury. Gill-Howard is an undersized, but explosively athletic, defensive lineman who transferred from Northern Illinois to Texas Tech prior to the 2025 season.
The New York Giants have a new coaching staff with a new scheme on defense, and could also be looking for depth at defensive tackle. Could Gill-Howard’s injury make him a hidden gem for them?
Prospect: Skyler Gill-Howard (0)
Games Watched: vs. Oregon State (2025), vs. Utah (2025), vs. Houston (2025)
Red Flags: Ankle (2025, season-ending surgery)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-1 (unofficial)
Weight: 290 pounds (unofficial)
Strengths
Best traits
- Explosiveness
- Quickness
- Agility
- Hand usage
- Competitive toughness
- Versatility
[Explanati
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Mass
- Arm length
- Run defense
- Leverage consistency
[Explanation]
Game Tape
(Gill-Howard is the Texas Tech defensive lineman wearing number 0.)
Projection
Skyler Gill-Howard’s projection will likely depend heavily on the eye of the beholder.
Teams that use more block-eating or two-gap defensive linemen would likely have little use for him, as he doesn’t have the size or mass to control two gaps or deal with double-teams.
Meanwhile, some teams may view him as a rotational third defensive lineman who can come on the field as an interior rusher in obvious passing situations or as a defensive end in short yardage situations.
Teams that feature athletic defensive fronts that are built to disrupt behind the line of scrimmage will likely see the most value in Gill-Howard. He has the potential to be a truly disruptive pass rusher and the kind of player who’s the sparkplug for a defense when he’s able to penetrate into the backfield – as long as he’s able to attack an individual gap.
Does he fit the Giants? Unlikely, pending scheme and value.
Final Word: A late 3rd or early 4th round value
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