6’4” – 253 lbs. – 4.78
Redshirted, and has been starting ever since, with escalating production in each season: recorded 32-7.5-5.0 in 2015, 42-11.5-7.5 in 2016, 44-14.0-8.5 in 2017, and 58-18.5-12.0 in 2018, with a total of eleven forced fumbles over that time period. Listed size is in line with what teams look for on the edge. Often lined up as his team’s left end, playing different techniques. Flashes the ability to discard blockers in the run game. Uses his quickness off the ball to disrupt opposing runners. Can flow down the line to the ballcarrier. Good closing burst and a wide tackling radius. Could be more disciplined about setting the edge; will let himself get sealed inside at times by trying to anticipate rushing lanes. Gets knocked off-balance by punches and chip-blocks too often. Doesn’t always make full use of his length. Exhibits the type of motor teams look for in a pass rusher. Stutter-stepper with suddenness and fluidity. Good reaction times to the ball being snapped and is often the first defender off the line. Explosive mover, but who typically tries to fool opponents instead of beating them with pure speed. Has active hands and does a good job of making it difficult for opponents to square him up and land accurate punches; mixes up his approaches, with his best move at this point being his swipe. Good ball awareness to go for the strip or bat down passes when he’s in position to do so. A finesse rusher who doesn’t bull-rush or convert speed to power very frequently on tape. Has some experience rushing out of a two-point stance, but didn’t really drop into coverage like a typical rush linebacker. Still a little bit raw, but has the physical and athletic tools to potentially develop into a starter on the end of a defensive line; has some of the rush tools to try rotating into a defense on passing downs earlier in his career, but it would be nice to see more discipline and more of a power element to his game when it comes to setting the edge. Would fit best in a one-gap defense which allowed him to use his quickness and creativity to his advantage, and could draw second-day interest from a team with that type of scheme.
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