As the 2024 NFL Draft gets closer, plenty will be asking themselves, “Who is Kingsley Suamataia?”. The BYU Offensive Tackle has a storied history but is finally breaking out in his third year for the Cougars. The Left Tackle has the size, pedigree and athleticism to be a top pick in the NFL Draft. Here is his history and the full Kingsley Suamataia scouting report
High School
Suamataia was a four-year starter at 5A Orem High School in Utah. He helped lead the team to the 5A State Championship by allowing zero sacks for the season and an eye-popping 70 pancakes.
As a composite high 4* prospect, and the top recruit from the state of Utah in 2021, Suamataia was highly recruited. He had 33 offers including Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and BYU. Suamataia participated in the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl. Ultimately, Suamataia picked Oregon and was looking to earn a starting role asd a true freshman.
Transfer From Oregon
About halfway through his true freshman season, Suamataia announced he was transferring away from Oregon. He had sparsely played for the Ducks except in mop-up duty, and many speculated that it was to ensure playing time as a second year player. Suamataia himself said it was not football related, but about happiness. The Oregon coaching staff held no ill feelings and it seemed like a clean transfer to be closer to home.
Despite interest from top schools once again, Suamataia chose the close BYU as his destination. It helped being high school teammates with numerous BYU players, including now Los Angeles Ram Puka Nacua.
Career at BYU
Suamataia was an immediate starter at Right Tackle in his second year. With future NFL Draft pick Blake Freeland manning the left side, BYU had one of the most athletic tackle duos in the country. Suamataia allowed zero sacks the entire season and flashed run blocking ability.
After Freeland graduated, Suamataia made the transfer to the left side and truly unlocked his potential. Not only did he continue his superior pass blocking, but he became a pull lead blocker in the run game, often single handedly creating lanes for big scores.
Kingsley Suamataia Scouting Report
Before his third year, Suamataia appeared on the infamous Bruce Feldman’s Freak List coming in at #3 in college football. He hit 21.5 mph as a freshman at 318 pounds. Now sitting at 6’6, 325 pounds, Suamataia is thought to be able to run a 40 time in the 4.8s and could even play TE or FB in a pinch.
BYU Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick has called Suamataia “The most athletic and violent OL he has ever coached.” This is notable since Roderick has coached both first round pick Garett Bolles (92.7% athlete) and fourth round pick Blake Freeland (98.3% athlete).
Add in not allowing a sack as a second year player, and Suamataia has the violence in the run and game and athleticism in the pass game to be a top NFL OT. If it wasn’t for a year with Olu Fashanu and Joe Alt, Suamataia may be a top 5 pick at the position. Get ready to hear his name called very early in the 2024 NFL Draft