Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans and give them names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay.

Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans.

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So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.

Background Info

Listed at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds

Transferred to Missouri for the 2025 season

Transferred to Miami following the 2025 season

Second-Team All-SEC selection in 2025

All-American Bowl selection

One of the highest-rated EDGE recruits in the 2023 recruiting class

Notable career stats heading into 2026

Appeared in 39 collegiate games

Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026

80.9 pass-rush grade in 2025

9 quarterback hits in 2025

63.7 tackling grade in 2025

70.1 coverage grade in 2025

Strengths

Excellent bend around the edge

Creates turnover opportunities

Effective working the arc

Keeps eyes in the backfield

Active hands in passing lanes

Functional alignment versatility

Player Summary

Damon Wilson II enters the 2026 season at Miami after a productive one-year stop at Missouri. Following two seasons at Georgia, Wilson transferred to Columbia and immediately became one of the Tigers’ most disruptive defenders. His 2025 campaign resulted in Second-Team All-SEC honors, 54 pressures, and eight sacks while helping establish himself as one of the more intriguing edge defenders in college football.

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The first thing that stands out on film is Wilson’s athleticism. He possesses a quick first step and the type of flexibility that allows him to bend around offensive tackles and flatten toward the quarterback. His ability to reduce his surface area and corner effectively is one of the strongest traits in his game. Not many defenders can contort their bodies the way Wilson can while maintaining enough speed to threaten the edge.

Wilson also plays with a decent motor. He consistently pursues plays from the backside, chases ball carriers across the field, and works to create turnovers whenever he arrives at the football. Rather than simply securing tackles, he actively attacks the ball while wrapping up runners. That level of effort shows up repeatedly throughout the film and helps him remain impactful even when he doesn’t record a sack.

Despite the production and athletic traits, there is still room for growth. Wilson consistently generates pressure, but too many rushes end in stalemates rather than clean victories. His burst frequently puts offensive tackles in difficult situations, yet he does not always convert those advantages into quarterback takedowns. At times, he relies too heavily on shoulder contact, which can leave him off balance and allow blockers to recover.

Miami is betting that another year of development can help Wilson bridge the gap between generating pressure and producing at an elite level. The foundation is already in place. He has SEC-tested experience, proven pass-rush production, and athletic traits that cannot be taught. If he continues refining his technique and pass-rush counters, Wilson has a chance to become one of the ACC’s premier defensive playmakers.

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This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report on Miami’s Damon Wilson II