AA #95

Adetomiwa Adebawore

Defensive Tackle · Northwestern

One of the most explosive athletes ever measured at his position, Adetomiwa Adebawore broke out as a starting interior pass rusher for the Colts in 2025.

Adetomiwa Adebawore entered the league as a combine phenom, the first player in NFL Combine history to weigh over 280 pounds and run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash. After two seasons of limited snaps behind Indianapolis's veteran defensive tackles, he finally cashed in his athletic upside with a breakout third year.

★ First player in NFL Combine history to weigh over 280 pounds and run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash

★ Career-high 4.0 sacks in first season as a regular starter (2025)

Path to the league

Adebawore played defensive end at Northwestern before the Colts drafted him in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft via a trade with Atlanta, with a plan to kick him inside to defensive tackle. His combine numbers, including a 4.49-second 40 at 282 pounds, a 37.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-5 broad jump, remain among the most freakish ever posted by an interior lineman.

Career highlights

Adebawore spent his first two NFL seasons in a rotational role behind Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner and veteran Grover Stewart, showing flashes as an interior pass rusher without a full-time role. His rare combination of size and speed made him a projected breakout candidate entering his third year.

2025 season recap

Adebawore stepped into a starting role in 2025 after Buckner missed seven of Indianapolis's final eight games with a neck injury. He finished with 36 tackles, 4.0 sacks and a fumble recovery across 17 games, validating the athletic profile that made him a fourth-round steal.