Anthony Lucas Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
School: USC
Class: Senior
Position: EDGE
HT: 6’5
WT: 275 lbs
Background: Anthony Lucas was a top 50 player and was a 5-star recruit by multiple outlets in the 2022 class out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Anthony was the top ranked player in the state and a top 10 defensive lineman in the class. Lucas played for Chaparral High School, where he had 22 TFLs and 9.5 sacks as a senior. After his senior season, he was selected as an Under Armour All-American. Anthony Lucas committed to Texas A&M over schools such as Oregon, Notre Dame, Miami, and Alabama.
College: Lucas played in 7 games as a reserve for the Aggies in 2022, before transferring to USC ahead of his sophomore season. In 2023, Lucas recorded 10 tackles and 3.5 TFLs for the Trojans. Anthony started 6 games as a junior in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. In those 6 games, he recorded 16 tackles. As a senior in 2025, Lucas recorded 3.5 TFLs and 3 sacks.
Strengths: Anthony Lucas is a long edge rusher who can initiate contact in the phone booth by using length functionally to invade the offensive tackle’s chest before he receives a punch. He has the wingspan of a guy you would see in the NBA. He has excellent athleticism and straight-line speed for the position. He is a jaguar in pursuit to chase down ball carriers and gain ground. He is able to rush the password from anywhere on the field. He can line up as a linebacker and he can line up with his hand in the dirt along the defensive line. He has one of the more versatile profiles of any prospect you’ll see at the position.
Weaknesses: Lucas doesn’t have the explosiveness to win reps with aggressive movement. He relies too much on his length to deconstruct blocks and break free of any grip instead of electric technique. His footwork along the offensive line when moving laterally is stiff. He is not a dynamic mover in close quarters and opens himself up to angle blocks when targeting the gaps. Lucas has an injury history that only time healthy can help to separate from his reputation. His health will be something to monitor early in his career.
Conclusion: Anthony Lucas possesses a big frame and he uses his length functionally to win on the edge. He is just as good of a run defender as he is a pass rusher. He is a great tackler who can take up a ton of space around the line of scrimmage. Lucas is the type of player that NFL teams always need to add. An edge rusher who can stop the run and rush the passer at an elite level is hard to come by, but Lucas fits the bill.
Best Team Fits: CIN, DET, LAC
Player Comparison: Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Player Grade: Round 3 (77.0)
