Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat declares for 2024 NFL Draft
Texas star defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday evening. The gifted defensive lineman announced the news on his Twitter page with a brief message and video.
“Dear Longhorn Nation,”
“I want to thank you all for being there for me since day 1, through the ups and downs you all believed in me. I also want to thank Coach Bo for developing & mentoring me. I’m excited to be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft,” Sweat wrote in his brief draft declaration.
He wrapped up his career as one of the more highly decorated defensive tackles in Longhorn football history. This season, in addition to being named first team All-Big 12, he brought home 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. Sweat also won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior lineman. The ultra-athletic defensive lineman even caught a touchdown pass, displaying his tremendous versatility on both sides of the football. From 2019-2023, Sweat racked up 128 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 14 pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries.
In 2022, he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after he tallied 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, and four pass breakups.
Sweat was recently tabbed as the No. 19 overall prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, on Mel Kiper’s list of the Top 25 overall prospects. He’s likely to be selected in the first round.
More on the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.
Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.
The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.
Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.
The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.