Max Llewellyn Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Emma Calabro/The Daily Iowan)

School: Iowa

Class: Redshirt Senior

Position: EDGE

HT: 6’5

WT: 258 lbs

Background: Max Llewellyn was a 3-star defensive lineman out of Urbandale, Iowa. Llewellyn was a top 50 defensive lineman in the class and top 10 player in the state. As a senior for Urbandale High School, Llewellyn was a first team all-state and all-district selection. That was a season in which he posted 13 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. He was also an academic all-state selection. Max chose to stay home and play for Iowa over Iowa State, Kansas, and Kansas State.

College: Max’s brother, Luke, is also at Iowa on the baseball team. Llewellyn redshirted in 2021 and saw limited action in 2022. It wasn’t until the 2023 season that Max saw consistent action. That season he managed to tally 2.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Max became a starter in 2024, recording 8 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. His effort on the field was rewarded as he won the Team Hustle Award. In 2025 as a senior, Max put together his best season yet. He put together a season that earned him an All-Big 10 Third Team selection. He had 9 TFLs and 6 sacks.

Strengths: Max Llewellyn is an elite mover along the defensive line. He tested well at the combine and his tape matches those numbers. His lateral footwork is unmatched for the position, showing the ability to cut across, loop around, and get into the backfield. He is a plus athlete who brings a decent bag of pass rushing moves. He loves the spin move to gain leverage on the opponent’s inside shoulder. Once engaged in the phone booth, his hands become active and heavy. He deconstructs blocks in a hurry to keep his frame clean. Llewellyn is a reliable run defender as he lives in the backfield. He does well to set contain on the edge and only lunges to the football when a play is within reach.

Weaknesses: Llewellyn’s play strength is not where it needs to be. He gets flushed out by double teams or combo blocks frequently. When faced with down blocks in zone rushing schemes, he gets displaced. His hands are strong, but his lower body does not have the strength to anchor in run defense. As a pass rusher, he does not generate enough strength to win with and instead relies on his movement skills to win his reps.

Conclusion: Max Llewellyn is an edge rusher who brings elite lateral agility and footwork to the position. His lack of strength will present problems at the next level. He provides value in all areas of defense and will be rookie who can see a higher snap share early on.

Best Team Fits: LVR, LAC, DAL

Player Comparison: David Ojabo

Player Grade: Round 4 (65.6)