Pacheco’s showcase performance was dominant, earning him a spot as one of the Top 5 performers overall. His explosive quick first step stands out immediately. This allows him to penetrate gaps quickly and disrupt plays in the backfield before they develop. His hand usage is particularly violent and effective; Pacheco employs heavy, powerful strikes to shed blockers, combining swim moves, rip techniques, and bull rushes in a varied arsenal that keeps offensive linemen off-balance. This mix of moves was evident in 1-on-1 drills, where he won the majority of his reps against quality competition.

Based on the showcase evaluation, no glaring weaknesses were apparent in Pacheco’s game—his youth and raw upside make him a clean prospect at this stage. That said, as with many underclassmen, he could occasionally over-rely on his athleticism rather than refined technique in sustained reps, potentially leading to balance issues against more polished offensive linemen in live game scenarios. Film from the event showed moments where he could improve pad level consistency to maintain leverage, especially when transitioning from pass rush to run defense. These are minor nitpicks typical for a sophomore and not red flags, but areas to monitor as he accumulates more experience.

Pacheco’s showcase performance was dominant, earning him a spot as one of the Top 5 performers overall. His explosive quick first step stands out immediately. This allows him to penetrate gaps quickly and disrupt plays in the backfield before they develop. His hand usage is particularly violent and effective; Pacheco employs heavy, powerful strikes to shed blockers, combining swim moves, rip techniques, and bull rushes in a varied arsenal that keeps offensive linemen off-balance. This mix of moves was evident in 1-on-1 drills, where he won the majority of his reps against quality competition.

Based on the showcase evaluation, no glaring weaknesses were apparent in Pacheco’s game—his youth and raw upside make him a clean prospect at this stage. That said, as with many underclassmen, he could occasionally over-rely on his athleticism rather than refined technique in sustained reps, potentially leading to balance issues against more polished offensive linemen in live game scenarios. Film from the event showed moments where he could improve pad level consistency to maintain leverage, especially when transitioning from pass rush to run defense. These are minor nitpicks typical for a sophomore and not red flags, but areas to monitor as he accumulates more experience.