Dallas Gant made the most of his two seasons at Toledo.
After transferring from Ohio State shortly into the 2021 campaign, Gant was voted First Team All-MAC in 2022 and 2023, leading the Rockets in tackles in both seasons. Gant wasn’t getting much of an opportunity in Columbus, but he made a name for himself just two hours south in Toledo.
Gant played a total of six collegiate seasons and is a well-established linebacker heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Proven Consistency
In the 36 games with the Buckeyes, Gant totaled just 54 tackles. This was mainly because of the lack of playing time. In the 28 games with the Rockets, Gant secured 233 total tackles — 116 in 2022 and 117 in 2023.
Those marks ranked 10th in the MAC in 2022 and seventh last season. He added 5.5 TFLs in 2022 and nine last year. He had less than five tackles in only two games while at Toledo.
Another area where Gant has proven consistent is in his coverage. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound backer moves very fluid for his size and is light on his feet. He can run well in coverage and can sit down and be disciplined in a zone. Gant had seven pass breakups over the past two seasons. He’s always on a pass catcher’s hip:
Gant was impressive at the East-West Shrine Bowl and his coverage abilities especially stood out. He also tied for the team-high with four tackles in the game.
He is a versatile defender, and his athleticism allows him to successfully play at each linebacker spot while he can engage with bigger offensive linemen. Because of his athleticism, he can also be used in QB spy situations and can make a play on a screen pass, easily dissecting the play, breaking on the ball, and making a tackle.
Gant’s speed stood out at Toledo’s Pro Day. As reported by The Toledo Blade, Gant recorded a sub-4.6 40-yard dash time and excelled in the other drills he participated in. With teammate and future first-rounder Quinyon Mitchell sitting out of the event, all eyes were on Gant with all 32 NFL teams in attendance.
It’s also worth noting how smart Gant is on the field. His experience and IQ can give him an edge.
Bulking Up
While Gant has good size, there seems to be room for him to put on muscle, especially if he’s going to be playing on Sundays. He dominated the MAC for a few years, but getting stronger will only be beneficial.
Dallas Gant NFL Draft Projection
Following the season, it was likely Gant was going to either be selected late in the seventh round or go undrafted. With what he was able to prove at Pro Day and at the Shrine Bowl, however, I think he significantly increased his chances of being drafted.
I’m sure he also caught the eye of plenty of teams when they were tuning in to watch Mitchell throughout the season. Don’t be surprised if you hear Gant’s name called in the sixth or perhaps even the fifth round.
