6’3” – 259 lbs.
Originally committed to Texas A&M but had his scholarship offer revoked after being arrested for stealing a cell phone, although the charges were later dropped. Ended up attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College for one season, then starting ten games for Syracuse as a sophomore. Posted 30-6.0-5.0 that season, 39-17.0-10.0 as a junior, and 46-9.5-4.5 as a senior. Has solid size for an edge rusher, with good height, adequate bulk, and adequate length (arms measured just over 32” at the Senior Bowl). Played left defensive end during the games reviewed. Reaction times to the ball being snapped are at least adequate, and fires out of his stance low with explosiveness; short-area movement skills are better than average for his size. Has a relatively diverse approach to rushing the passer. Looks a little bit better when using his suddenness to make inside moves or when running stunts/twists, but is able to challenge on the edge with active hands. Flashes a viable swim move. Does a good job of getting his hands up to contest passing lanes. Gives good effort on a snap-to-snap basis and in backside pursuit on the quarterback. Needs to be more consistent about playing with leverage; too many snaps end with him getting stood up and idling around the line of scrimmage. Balance when going around the edge leaves something to be desired; linear and can be a little bit of a waist-bender. Despite his size, doesn’t have as power-based a rush approach as anticipated. Also not quite the run defender you’d expect for a bigger, stronger defensive end, mostly because of his struggles to locate the ball. Loses track of ballcarriers or can be pushed wide of the mark by opposing offensive linemen when flowing laterally. However, when he is able to keep his head up, flashes the ability to attack blockers successfully in order to reset the line of scrimmage and compress rushing lanes. Gives adequate effort when pursuing in space, although he is more athletic in bursts than in terms of his top-end speed. Physical profile suggests he may be a better fit in a read-and-react, two-gap scheme, and demonstrates a solid anchor even on snaps when he gets too high. Balance issues in the passing game also crop up here. Has the tools to succeed, combining a thick, strong build with impressive explosiveness, but will need to play with more consistent awareness, balance, and leverage to win at the pro level.
DRAFTEXAMINER 