Tonka Hemingway

Tonka Hemingway Player Profile

Summary

Tonka Hemingway was selected in Round 4 (#135 Overall) in the 2025 Draft out of the University of South Carolina. In his collegiate career, he recorded 112 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, 19 quarterback hurries, six fumble recoveries, and even scored two touchdowns. Among his collegiate honors, he was named Third‑Team All‑SEC in 2024. Off the field, Hemingway is known for toughness (he won a “Gamecock Toughness” award), leadership, and reliability — he tied his school’s record for most games played.

Strengths

  • Quick first step / penetration: Hemingway shows an explosive burst off the snap, allowing him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays in the backfield. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Versatility in the front: He has experience playing multiple defensive-line alignments (both inside and on the edge), giving defensive coordinators flexibility. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Active hands and pass-rush tools: Uses a developed pass-rush repertoire; he can disengage from blockers, swipe arms, and use hand technique to win. NFL Draft Buzz

  • High football IQ / play recognition: Demonstrates ability to read plays, spot screens or misdirection, and react intelligently. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Strong motor and pursuit: Plays hard to the whistle, hustles, shows consistent effort. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Durable / dependable: Appeared in 61 games for South Carolina, tying the school record, showing good durability. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Run defense two-gap ability: Can hold his ground against double teams and play two-gap to defend the run. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Leadership & character: Known for toughness, work ethic, and being a leader — also contributed off the field academically. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Athleticism: According to Raiders’ film breakdowns, he has solid movement skills, good pad level, and strength to shed blocks. Silver And Black Pride

Weaknesses

  • Size / bulk concerns: At ~6'3″ and 282–284 lb, he’s considered somewhat light/undersized for an interior defensive lineman, which could limit his ability to anchor against bigger offensive linemen. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Average lateral athleticism: While his burst is good, his overall agility or lateral range may be limited, which could affect his ability to chase down plays sideline to sideline. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Counter moves consistency: When his initial rush is stopped, he sometimes lacks refined counter moves and may struggle to disengage cleanly. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Tackling technique: There are times he does not wrap up cleanly or finish through the whistle, which could reduce his effectiveness as a tackler in tight spaces. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Pass-rush plan sometimes one-dimensional: Can rely too heavily on his first-step rush rather than using a varied attack. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Play-to-play consistency: Per some scouting, while he flashes high-end plays, he may struggle to maintain that level of disruption regularly. Silver And Black Pride

Fit & Outlook

Tonka Hemingway projects as a versatile interior disruptor in the NFL. With his ability to line up inside or shift to a more edge-type role, he could be used as a 3‑tech, 4‑i, or possibly even in certain sub‑packages. His quickness off the snap, active hands, and motor make him an appealing developmental piece for a defensive front that values penetration and creativity. In Las Vegas, Hemingway could carve out a rotational role early, contributing on pass-rush downs and run-stopping units. With his length and agility, he may be particularly effective in stunts or slants, giving the Raiders a dynamic piece to mix into their front. Over time, if he continues to refine his counter moves and improve his consistency, he has the potential to grow into a reliable starting interior rusher — someone who may not be a massive space-eating nose tackle but can create disruption and pressure from multiple alignments. Given his work ethic, character, and durability in college, his long-term upside is solid. He’s not necessarily a star-day-one pick, but as a fourth-rounder, he offers real value: a high-motor, multi-positional defensive lineman with room to be molded into a key rotational piece or potential starter.