Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishThe Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.The Green Bay Packers will need to replace TJ Slaton this offseason. The former Day 3 selection inked a new deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving the Packers devoid of a true space eater.Instead of going bargain-bin shopping in free agency, Brian Gutekunst may wait until Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft to replace the former Florida Gator. A potential target and a familiar face to defensive coordinator and former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley could be Cam Horsley. The Boston College defensive tackle played under Hafley for four years and checks in at No. 25 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.”Horsley was one of the first major recruiting splashes of the Jeff Hafley era,” Mitchell Wolf, a staff writer for the Eagle Insider, said. “While he was not necessarily the highest-rated recruit of his class, Horsley made an immediate impact as a true freshman. He established himself as a key part of the rotation at defensive tackle in Hafley’s 4-3 defense, appearing in all eleven games during the 2020 season and playing 326 snaps. Over the next two years, he appeared in all 24 games, starting 22 of them as the 3-technique or B-gap defensive tackle. He developed next to two veteran nose tackles, which helped him hone his skills as a run defender; while there were flashes of pass rushing acumen, they appeared infrequently.”A three-star recruit out of New Jersey, Horsley recorded two tackles for loss during his first season on campus. In 2021, Horlsey started 10 games and recorded two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The following season, he recorded six tackles for loss and one sack. In 2023, Horsley recorded 41 tackles, three tackles for loss and a .5 sack.”In 2023, Horsley shifted to become more of a 0/1-technique or A-gap nose tackle, taking an overwhelming majority of the snaps there,” Wolf said. “He became an even better run defender, routinely clogging the interior run lanes. While edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku got most of the publicity, Horsley did much of the dirty work in the middle, even on some struggling defenses.”This past season, Horsley recorded career highs in tackles (42) and tackles for loss (seven). He also knocked down three passes.”This past year, BC shifted to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, although they still mostly deployed Nickel personnel,” Wolf said. “Horsley stayed at the nose and continued to improve, even though he missed the final 1.5 games of the season.”Horsley’s trump card is his ability to clog up running lanes and he may be one of the best two-gappers in the draft class. He could quickly carve out a role as a two-down player due to his ability to be a road block against the run.Horsley shows good effort from snap to snap. He’s strong at the point of attack and rarely gets pushed off his spot. He controls his gap and puts down roots against double teams. He uses his length and strength to forklift blockers. The Boston College defensive tackle has strong, violent hands to stun offensive linemen. According to Pro Football Focus, Horsley recorded 31 run stops this past season.”Horsley boasts excellent play strength, routinely bench-pressing opposing centers into the backfield with relative ease,” Wolf said. “He’s not impervious to double-teams but holds his ground decently well. He does a good job of maintaining a low pad level…He also has strong, quick hands that allow him to attack, control, and then shed blockers to make the tackle when ball carriers come his way.”Horsley’s pass rush plan is predicated on three things – power, violence and a motor that’s always running. He creates knockback with his brute strength and can drive offensive linemen backward to cave in the pocket.”He plays the pass like a run defender, relying solely on power and strength, but even that doesn’t lead to consistently collapsing the pocket,” Wolf said. “He also lacks a follow-up move beyond that, leading to an inability to pressure the quarterback.”Fit with the PackersThe Packers need to replace Slaton, who supplied plenty of beef in the middle of Green Bay’s defensive line. While Horsley may not be as heavy (312 pounds), as Slaton, he’s stout at the point of attack.With his ability to control his gap, Horsley could quickly become part of Green Bay’s interior rotation as a two-down defender.”For any team in need of a strong run-defending nose tackle, Horsley should be a candidate worthy of consideration on Day 3,” Wolf said. “Horsley should add a dimension of toughness and grit, particularly in the run game, that helps a defense be stingy on early downs to let them pin their ears back against the pass on later downs.”Horsley is willing to do the dirty work. With his size, strength, and ability to muddy things up against the run, he has a clearly defined role at the next level. Add in his familiarity with Halfey, and Horsley could be an ideal target late on Day 3 for the Packers as they look to replace Slaton.
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