LB Josh Allen:
Scouting Reports:
Walterfootball: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019JAllen.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1015902
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/07/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-josh-allen/
Josh Allen NFL draft profile (1-30-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/01/30/josh-allen-nfl-draft-profile-2/
Articles:
Sunday's 2019 Combine winners: Linebackers (Notes: Josh Allen was listed as a linebacker at Kentucky and landed in this group at the Combine because of his coverage skills, but realistically he will be a pass rusher — JACK role for the Lions — in the NFL. If he slides in the draft, he won’t get past the 8th pick.) (3-4-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/sundays-2019-combine-winners-linebackers/
DJ's takeaways from scouting combine (Kentucky's Josh Allen ran with the linebackers for some reason, though he's going to be an edge player at the pro level at 262 pounds. When compared to the best of the LBs, his 4.63 40 doesn't look all that great, but put it up next to Bosa's 4.79 at 266 pounds and you see how strong it is. In drills, Josh Allen showed great change of direction and good hands, which those teams with 3-4 defenses picking high will love to see.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019889/article/daniel-jeremiahs-day-1-nfl-scouting-combine-takeaways
Combine: How Sweat won the day (Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky (Draft range: Top 5): Allen opted not to declare for the draft a year ago, instead packed on 15 pounds of muscle, and returned to Kentucky for what would prove to be a breakout season. He had 17 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles in 2018 and that doesn't begin to describe just how good he was. That carried over to the combine where he ripped off a 4.66 40 time and bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times. Allen was a top-5 pick when he arrived in Indy and he leaves as a top-5 pick, worst case.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-montez-sweat-steals-the-show-with-blazing-40-time-and-how-dl-lb-workouts-affect-the-first-round/
Combine takeaways: Big day for D-linemen (Clemson's Christian Wilkins might not have leapt off the screen like some other players, but his 5.04 40 at 315 pounds is still excellent, and he looked great running through drills, a natural at his size. If the class didn't include Williams, he'd likely be getting more buzz.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-montez-sweat-quinnen-williams-devin-white-josh-allen-dominate/
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (Nothing Allen did at the NFL Combine was flashy, but it was a good, solid meat and potatoes type performance start to finish. Allen figures to be in the mix to go in the top five, but like others, if there is any slippage due to others going ahead of him, there should be no debate about what the Lions should do. Allen looks like a solid prospect in the making and he did meet with the Lions, which is something to remember.) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
Lions meet with Josh Allen at NFL Combine (3-2-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-Lions-meet-with-Josh-Allen-129661536/
TWENTYMAN: 4 Combine pass rushers who could interest Lions (One player who might be a stretch is Kentucky’s Josh Allen, but crazier things have happened on draft day. Allen (6-5, 262) led the Wildcats with 88 tackles this past season. He tied for sixth nationally with 21.5 tackles for loss and ranked second in college football in both sacks (17) and forced fumbles (five). “I think I’m one of the only guys that really dropped into coverage,” Allen said Saturday at the Combine, when asked what sets him apart from the rest of the edge rushers. “I also pass rushed, but I also dropped in coverage and I think that separates myself from a lot of guys here.” Allen is considered by most analysts to be one of the top three players in this draft, yet there are scenarios where he could be available at No. 8.) (3-2-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-4-combine-pass-rushers-who-could-interest-lions
NFL Combine 2019: The 10 prospects with the most on the line in Indianapolis (Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: Allen took full advantage of Bosa being unavailable for the vast majority of the 2018 season and enters the pre-draft process as the No. 1 edge rusher on some team's preliminary boards. He bulked up into the 260s for his final year at Kentucky, and the additional weight only added power to his game without sacrificing speed, quickness, or bend around the edge, as evidenced by his 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. While not as unrefined as Gary but certainly not a master with his hands, Allen wins mainly with his athleticism on the field. He needs to do the same inside Lucas Oil Stadium at the combine. As mentioned above, it'll be easy comparing him and Bosa, because they're essentially the same size. If Allen does what would've once been considered inconceivable ... overtaking the Ohio State legacy for the top edge rusher spot, he'll need pretty close to a clean sweep across the board in his workout.) (2-27-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-2019-prospects-with-the-most-on-the-line-in-indianapolis/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (2. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: The Lions need edge players over interior ones, and given the importance of this position in the NFL, these prospects are naturally going to rise to the top some. But Josh Allen has also earned it with such steady progress as a player. He went from a productive pass rusher in the Southeastern Conference to a dominant one last year, when he jumped to 21.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. At a listed 6 feet 5 inches and 260 pounds, he's not just an edge player either, as he racked up 88 total tackles with his toughness and pursuit to the ball. He has every characteristic Matt Patricia would want here, but he will go in the first few picks.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: Allen, whose sister Myisha Hines-Allen plays in the WNBA, is a likely top-10 pick. There’s a reasonable chance that Allen won't be available for the Lions at No. 8, but he has the versatility and speed to fit Matt Patricia’s multiple scheme if he is there for the Lions. Allen can rush the passer and stop the run, and he has the potential to cover tight ends and running backs at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds. With 21.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks last season, he might be the ideal player for Patricia’s defense.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
Nick Bosa Is Ready to Go at the NFL Combine, and More Updates Ahead of Indy (5. If you’re looking for an athlete that’s expected to put together an impressive across-the-board performance in the Olympic testing, Kentucky’s Josh Allen is one to watch. One scout brought his name up to me, so I asked which drill he thought Allen would crush—“Probably all of them.”) (2-25-19): https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/25/nfl-combine-2019-nick-bosa-kyler-murray-rashan-gary
NFL combine 2019: Nick Bosa, Rashan Gary headline deep crop of EDGE players (Josh Allen, Kentucky: Bosa is the favorite to go No. 1 overall. There are about two, maybe three guys who could even theoretically go ahead of him -- and this cat is one of them. He's quick as hell, which should make him one of the stars of the combine. He's probably at his best standing up, but can play with his hand in the dirt too. It didn't matter where he lined up at Kentucky, he just wrecked games. He racked up 17 sacks and forced five fumbles last season, which ranked second in the country, and he was sixth with 21.5 tackles for loss. This guy just disrupts offenses, and does it from a variety of places, the exact kind of thing upon which the Matt Patricia defense is built.) (2-19-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/03a3818f381488/nfl-combine-2019-joey-bosa-rashan-gary-headline-deep-crop-of-edge-players-.html
2019 Combine Preview: Edge rusher (Josh Allen - Best trait: Production. He was tied for sixth nationally with 21.5 tackles for loss and ranked second in sacks (17) and forced fumbles (5). He’s also good against the run, and athletic enough to drop in coverage. Concern: He wins with speed and athleticism, not power. Depending on what teams ask him to do, he could stand to add some more muscle to his frame. Skinny: Allen won the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy for being one of the top defenders in college football. He’s tall, long and fast, and can be a plug and play player in a multiple defense.) (2-15-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-edge-rusher
Pass-rushers to target in the 2019 NFL Draft and free agency (JOSH ALLEN, KENTUCKY EDGE: Josh Allen’s 94.3 pass-rush grade this past season ranked first among all FBS edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rush snaps on the year, and he also ranked second among the group in pass-rush win percentage (29.1). At this moment, we expect him to go just after Bosa in the 2019 NFL Draft.) (2-12-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pass-rushers-to-target-in-the-2019-nfl-draft-and-free-agency
Lions draft: Which defender to take in Round 1? (First Round - OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky: Allen seems like a good bet to go in the top five after a 17-sack season, but if he slides to eight he’ll be tough to pass on. He’s more outside linebacker than defensive end, but would give a big boost to the Lions pass rush.) (2-5-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/05/detroit-lions-2019-nfl-draft-prospects/2776240002/
Kentucky’s Josh Allen quit football (twice), now eyes top-five spot in 2019 NFL Draft (1-24-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-kentuckys-josh-allen-quit-football-twice-now-eyes-top-five-spot-in-2019-nfl-draft
Josh Allen: Film Room (1-18-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-pff-film-room-josh-allen
10 defensive ends the Detroit Lions could target in NFL draft (Allen was an outside linebacker in Kentucky's 3-4 defense and a force as an edge rusher who could end up a defensive end in the NFL. He finished his senior year with 88 tackles, including 21.5 for a loss, 17 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and two fumbles recoveries and was one of four finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award. Allen will play in the Senior Bowl is projected as a top-10 pick.) (1-17-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/fa9ca596088576/10-defensive-ends-the-detroit-lions-could-target-in-nfl-draft.html
Josh Allen to sit out Reese's Senior Bowl (1-16-19): https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/Article/Josh-Allen-sit-out-Senior-Bowl-127938588/
Which NFL Draft Prospects Caught Scouts’ Attention This Bowl Season? (Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: Allen racked up three sacks and blocked a field goal in No. 12 Kentucky’s win over No. 14 Penn State. After deciding to return to school last winter, Allen’s senior year went a long way toward helping his draft stock. He’s showed scouts more variety in his pass-rushing moves, and he’s become much better against the run. “You all record this,” Allen told reporters after the game. “If I don’t go No. 1, I don’t know who is.” While I doubt this performance launches him past presumptive No. 1 overall prospect Nick Bosa, Allen has done enough this season to land himself in the top ten.) (1-4-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/04/bowl-season-draft-prospect-stocks
Kentucky star Josh Allen believes he should be No. 1 NFL pick (1-1-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky-star-josh-allen-believes-no-1-nfl-pick-232843457.html
Citrus Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Kentucky vs. Penn State bowl game (Josh Allen, EDGE: Allen decided to return to Kentucky for his senior season, and his choice paid off. With added weight -- he's listed at 6-5, 260 -- he did not lose any explosiveness around the corner and was as comfortable and impactful in coverage as ever. The only real ding on his game is that he's not a hand-work master, but even in the SEC this season, he didn't need to be. He routinely won with incendiary speed and bend around the corner. He's the type of outside linebacker you want to use on twists too because he plays with his hair on fire and can tightly bend around blockers. Allen has a very good chance to be the second edge-rusher off the board after Nick Bosa.) (12-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/citrus-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-kentucky-vs-penn-state-bowl-game/
2019 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions team needs, draft picks, prospects to watch (Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: Allen has been all the more impressive this year after putting on some weight, and it's now possible to envision him holding up as primarily a defensive end. But his best outlook is with a defensive schemer who will utilize his versatility, as he adds coverage ability to elite pass-rush potential. The Lions should be looking for this type of impact defender in Round 1.) (12-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-detroit-lions-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch/
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky, SR (6-4, 260, 4.59, #41): After submitting his name to the NFL Draft Advisory Board a year ago, Allen was told to stay in school and bulk up. The New Jersey native responded by adding 30 pounds to his frame during the offseason and matching his sack total of the previous two seasons combined (14) playing the “Jack” linebacker position. Despite getting bigger, Allen appears to have maintained his speed and quickness. His improved ability to get off blocks has resulted in a more polished overall game and Allen stands a chance to hear his name called within the top ten picks of the draft. He is a “go” for the Citrus Bowl.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Kentucky: OLB Josh Allen came back for his senior season and is the perfect example of a player who improved his draft stock drastically by finishing his college eligibility. He is a force on the edge and has proven himself capable as a run defender.) (12-27-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell the Top Edge Rushers (JOSH ALLEN, LB, KENTUCKY: He can’t throw a ball 80 yards like his name twin, Bills QB Josh Allen. But this Josh Allen led all FBS players in the 2018 regular season with 14 solo sacks and was the catalyst for a smothering Kentucky defense. He’s a linebacker who specializes in edge-rushing a la DeMarcus Ware. To fit well in the modern NFL, Allen should further hone his pass coverage, but he makes up for any lack of polish there with his vicious pass rushing. Allen’s 40-yard dash is likely in the 4.5 range, and his top-level speed and agility stand as his most valuable assets. Allen stays light on his feet and doesn’t overcommit, which makes it no problem for him to change direction in an instant. When he’s pass rushing, and the quarterback scrambles out of the pocket, Allen pursues him rapidly, tracing every step. Those ballhawking skills will serve him well in the speedy NFL.) (12-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/21/nfl-draft-2019-top-edge-rushers-nick-bosa-clelin-ferrell
The One 2019 NFL Draft Prospect You Need to Watch in Every Bowl Game (VRBO CITRUS BOWL (KENTUCKY VS. PENN STATE) - Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen had a spectacular season, leading the SEC in tackles for loss and sacks, while cleaning up during awards season. He also has 11 career forced fumbles. Allen can be a three-down linebacker in the NFL thanks to his incredible athleticism. He will be an immediate upgrade to any defense that can’t get to the passer or struggles on running downs.) (12-21-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/12/nfl-draft-prospects-bowl-games
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (Kentucky OLB/DE Josh Allen (Citrus Bowl vs. Penn State, Jan. 1): Ziggy Ansah’s time in Detroit is likely done, and the Lions need an edge rusher more than anything. Allen is big and long at 6 feet 5 and 260 pounds, and he lives in the backfield as both a pass rusher and run defender. The biggest question the Lions will have to answer is whether he can play right end, or if he’d be Devon Kennard’s backup at strong-side linebacker.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
‘Always creating havoc’: Here’s how Penn State feels about star Kentucky LB Josh Allen (12-16-18): https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article223121450.html
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (7. JOSH ALLEN, OLB/DE, KENTUCKY (Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 255 pounds): He’s a good example of a kid who benefitted big-time from staying in school. Allen has grown into the kind of linebacker who can play both on and off the line of scrimmage and (like Tremaine Edmunds last year); teams will have to figure out just what he is as a pro.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (One of the very best defensive players in college football plays for Kentucky, and he's not sitting this one out. Junior edge rusher Josh Allen (6 feet 5 inches, 260 pounds) is an All-American who led the nation with six forced fumbles and the Southeastern Conference with 14 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, and he looks ready to be a top-10 pick.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (16. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky - Strengths: Explosiveness, motor, power, bend) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
2019 NFL Draft breakout players (JOSH ALLEN, EDGE, KENTUCKY: We’ve hyped Allen since the beginning of the season, named to our candidates to break out, and break out he did. Improving his grade (and his frame by adding 25 pounds), Allen dominated as a pass-rusher and won pass-rushing snaps at the third-highest rate among edge defenders.) (12-11-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-breakout-players-of-2018
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Josh Allen - Breakdown: The Lions defense is predicated on versatility more than anything, and Allen just might be the most versatile edge player in this draft. I don't know if he'll be the most talented player available to Detroit, but it's difficult to imagine a better scheme fit. Those 18.5 tackles for a loss and 14 sacks in the SEC sure look appealing too.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
NFL Draft 2019: Prospects at each position who improved their stock the most this season (Edge-rusher Josh Allen, Kentucky: Allen didn't rise from obscurity in 2018, but he proved to make the correct choice in returning to Kentucky for his senior season. He packed on weight -- now listed at 260 pounds -- yet didn't lose explosiveness around the corner. Beyond that, his block-shedding skills improved and he was impactful in coverage. Also, he didn't play tentatively in 2018 in hopes of not getting injured. Allen's motor was always outstanding, and his speed and bend to the quarterback played big roles in him finishing the regular season with 14 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. From a likely Day Two pick to a lock to be snagged in the first round, Allen did a lot for himself this year.) (12-6-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2019-prospects-at-each-position-who-improved-their-stock-the-most-this-season/
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - LB: Josh Allen, Kentucky* - Underrated no longer, Allen gave Kentucky's opponents nightmares and boosted his draft stock into the top half of the first round with a dominant junior season in which he finished with 14.0 sacks and five forced fumbles. He is Kentucky's first winner of the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the nation's top defensive player) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
2018 PFF All-American Team (EDGE DEFENDER – JOSH ALLEN, KENTUCKY: The highest-graded edge defender in the country, Allen was unstoppable on the pass-rush this season. Highlighted by his national-best 93.5 pass-rush grade, Allen brought in 51 total pressures that included 14 sacks, nine QB hits and an additional 28 hurries. Rounding out his game, he dropped into coverage on 141 snaps and allowed just 130 yards on 19 targets without allowing a touchdown.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-2018-pff-all-americans
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (EDGE DEFENDER - First Team: Josh Allen, Kentucky - The highest-graded edge defender in the country, Allen was unstoppable on the pass-rush this season. Highlighted by his national-best 93.5 pass-rush grade, Allen brought in 51 total pressures that included 14 sacks, nine QB hits and an additional 28 hurries. Rounding out his game, he dropped into coverage on 141 snaps and allowed just 130 yards on 19 targets without allowing a touchdown.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
College Football's best at everything (BEST EDGE PASS-RUSHER
Josh Allen, Kentucky: Allen’s dominant 2018 season is highlighted by the fact that he’s the most dominant edge-rushing defensive lineman in the country. His pass-rushing productivity (PFF’s metric that measures pressures on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks) of 29.8 is the highest mark in the country. He’s gotten home with 14 sacks, nine additional QB hits and 28 more hurries. He’s also beaten the offensive lineman 11 more times but was unable to register a pressure because the pass was either thrown too quickly or the quarterback left the pocket under his own volition.) (11-30-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-footballs-best-at-everything
Examining the top 5 players connected to the Lions in 2019 Mock Drafts (OLB Josh Allen: If you like Devon Kennard you’ll love Allen. A dominant edge rusher who is capable of dropping into zone and man coverage. Allen is not getting a lot of hype right now but he is going to be a player fans fall in love with as they learn more about him. Drafting Allen would cause a shift in the Lions defensive concept, shifting to more 34 base looks but they have the players to do so smoothly.) (11-16-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/16/mailbag-2019-nfl-mock-drafts-point-to-lions-looking-defense-early/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (7. JOSH ALLEN, OLB/DE, KENTUCKY: The biggest question on Allen is how an NFL team will wind up using him. Like Minnesota’s Anthony Barr and Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds, he can play on the line or off, and can do a lot of things well. He’s been productive this year, with 11 sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (18. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: Against Tennessee, Allen had one tackle for loss and a sack but didn't make his normal, gigantic impact on the game. Teams who want hybrid outside linebacker / defensive ends and will ask them to drop into coverage relatively often are going to have Allen potentially in their top 5 or top 10 overall prospects. He's a high-motor pass-rusher with some bend, but he doesn't use his hands well with counter moves.) (11-14-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-zach-allen-has-the-power-refined-game-to-be-star-defensive-lineman/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky: Taking on Tennessee, Allen had six tackles with one for a loss and one sack. Previously, Allen was superb in the fourth quarter to help Kentucky pull off the comeback win over Missouri. He recorded two strip-sacks with 11 tackles on the day after a quiet start. Taking on Vanderbilt, Allen had two sacks with eight tackles, one forced fumble and one pass batted. Texas A&M ended Kentucky's winning streak despite Allen contributing four tackles with a pass batted. Kentucky previously dropped South Carolina while Allen dominated the Gamecocks by recording eight tackles with four for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble. Allen turned in a huge performance to help Kentucky upset Mississippi State. He totaled one sack, six tackles, one pass batted and two tackles for a loss.) (11-13-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Quinnen Williams closing in on Ed Oliver as top DT prospect (18. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
This was the type of game I was worried about with Allen. Georgia sophomore left tackle Anthony Thomas was able to match the athleticism of Allen on the edge, and without a developed arsenal of pass-rushing moves, Allen wasn't able to have his normal impact when Georgia dropped back to pass. He did show some shedding ability against the run and held his own in coverage.) (11-7-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-quinnen-williams-closing-in-on-ed-oliver-as-top-dt-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky. (Previously: 8 Avg. 14.2 per 11): With Georgia running the ball well, Allen had some issues defending the run and totaled three tackles versus the Bulldogs. Previously, Allen was superb in the fourth quarter to help Kentucky pull off the comeback win over Missouri. He recorded two strip-sacks with 11 tackles on the day after a quiet start. Taking on Vanderbilt, Allen had two sacks with eight tackles, one forced fumble and one pass batted. Texas A&M ended Kentucky's winning streak despite Allen contributing four tackles with a pass batted. Kentucky previously dropped South Carolina while Allen dominated the Gamecocks by recording eight tackles with four for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble. Allen turned in a huge performance to help Kentucky upset Mississippi State. He totaled one sack, six tackles, one pass batted and two tackles for a loss.) (11-7-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
How UK's Allen became fast-rising prospect (11-6-18): http://www.nfl.com/labs/cfb247/joshallen-ky/joshallen-ky.html
The best college player at every position through Week 10 (EDGE: JOSH ALLEN, KENTUCKY – 92.1 OVERALL GRADE: No defender has made an all-around impact like Allen, who is tied for eighth in the nation with 41 pressures despite only tallying 194 rushes. He has 10 sacks, seven hits, and 24 hurries this season, all leading to the top pass-rushing grade of 93.8. Allen has also been stout against the run, with an 85.4 run defense grade and he’s dropped into coverage on 106 snaps, breaking up three passes.) (11-5-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-the-best-college-player-at-every-position-through-week-10
2019 Draft Prospect Rankings: WRs Harmon, Johnson can do it all (17. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: A few weeks ago, I wrote Florida's Jachai Polite has the most juice off the edge of any outside pass-rusher in the country. Allen probably would've taken issue with that, and he's proven to be the most dangerous speed-rusher in college football. While not solely rushing the passer -- he drops into coverage relatively often -- Allen is spring-loaded around the corner and has demonstrated the ability to bend and explode to the quarterback. He wreaked havoc against Missouri and has four sacks with three forced fumbles in his last two games.) (10-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-wrs-kelvin-harmon-anthony-johnson-put-their-complete-games-on-display/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky. (Previously: 9 Avg. 14.8 per 10): After a quiet start, Allen was superb in the fourth quarter to help Kentucky pull off the comeback win over Missouri. He recorded two strip-sacks with 11 tackles on the day. Taking on Vanderbilt, Allen had two sacks with eight tackles, one forced fumble and one pass batted. Texas A&M ended Kentucky's winning streak despite Allen contributing four tackles with a pass batted. Kentucky previously dropped South Carolina while Allen dominated the Gamecocks by recording eight tackles with four for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble. Allen turned in a huge performance to help Kentucky upset Mississippi State. He totaled one sack, six tackles, one pass batted and two tackles for a loss.) (10-31-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
NCAA Week 9 – Team of the Week (EDGE DEFENDER - Josh Allen, Kentucky (Week 9 Grade: 84.8): Lost in Kentucky’s epic come-from-behind victory against Missouri was Allen’s defensive performance in which he tallied four QB pressures on 20 pass-rushes and 10 total tackles. Of his nine solo tackles, seven of them went for defensive stops and he also limited receivers in his coverage to just 10 yards after the catch against the Tigers,) (10-28-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-9-team-of-the-week
NFLDraftScout.com Prospect Notebook: Week 10 (Kentucky senior OLB Josh Allen (6-4, 230, 4.59, #41) registered two sacks for the second consecutive week and has 10 on the season.) (10-28-28): NFLDraftScout.com Prospect Notebook: Week 10
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (20. JOSH ALLEN, KENTUCKY – EDGE DEFENDER (Week 3 Draft Board rank: NR (-)): Allen has racked up 15 combined sacks (8) and QB hits (7) and 36 total QB pressures on 161 pass-rushes.) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
NCAA Week 8 – Team of the Week (EDGE DEFENDER - Josh Allen, Kentucky (Week 8 Grade: 90.5): Allen continues to push his draft stock into the stratosphere, recording two sacks and an additional hurry against Vanderbilt while he also recorded four defensive stops and showed his coverage ability once again. He dropped back on just six snaps in coverage yet was still targeted once and came away with a pass breakup.) (10-21-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-8-team-of-the-week
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: ACC, SEC defenders rising as rivalry games begin (30. Allen ((2018: 37 tackles, 10.5 tackles loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles (six games)): A two-man wrecking crew of Allen and running back Benny Snell has helped Kentucky (5-1) vault to 14th overall in the latest AP poll. Like former Wildcats' star edge rusher Bud Dupree, Allen has always intrigued with his length, speed and bend around the corner but this year he is showing greater strength at the point of attack, as well as greater versatility in his bag of tricks as a pass rusher - just as scouts had hoped he would in returning for his senior campaign. Allen currently leads the nation with 10.5 tackles for loss. His eight career forced fumbles is perhaps an even more impressive statistic.) (10-18-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-acc-sec-defenders-rising-as-rivalry-games-begin-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (9. Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky. (Previously: 9 Avg. 16.4 per 8): Kentucky had a bye last week. Texas A&M ended Kentucky's winning streak despite Allen contributing four tackles with a pass batted. Kentucky previously dropped South Carolina while Allen dominated the Gamecocks by recording eight tackles with four for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble. Allen turned in a huge performance to help Kentucky upset Mississippi State. He totaled one sack, six tackles, one pass batted and two tackles for a loss. Allen had four tackles with one for a loss against Murray State. He was superb versus Florida, breaking up a critical two-point conversion pass and clinching the game with a strip-sack. At will, Allen could burn by left tackle Martez Ivey with speed rushes. Allen is a legit late first-round or early second-round pick who would be a superb defender as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. In 2018, Allen has 37 tackles with 10.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes batted. In early October of 2017, WalterFootball.com was first to report that Allen was receiving early-round grades from NFL teams. One national scout compared Allen to Leonard Floyd coming out of Georgia with Allen's ability to rush off the edge. Another director of college scouting said they had given Allen a high second-round grade, and thought Allen has similarities to current Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham in terms of his height, speed, length, and athleticism in the middle. Allen was one of the top edge defenders in college football during the 2017 season. The junior had seven sacks along with 65 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and three passes batted on the year. He started the season fast but didn't play as well late in 2017. Allen produced well as a sophomore in 2016 with 62 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and four forced fumbles.) (10-17-18):
http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
NCAA Midseason All-American Team (Edge Defender - Josh Allen, Kentucky (2018 Grade: 90.0): With Ohio State’s Nick Bosa injured, the door is open for two ‘Allens’ to shine. Josh Allen has the top pass-rushing grade at 91.7, picking up six sacks, seven QB hits and 20 hurries on only 138 pass-rushes. He’s also been outstanding against the run (83.3 grade) and in coverage where he’s dropped back 83 times in Kentucky’s scheme.) (10-15-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-midseason-all-american-team
2019 NFL Draft Big Board - Oregon's Justin Herbert to be tested by gifted UW DBs (29. Josh Allen: (2018: 37 tackles, 10.5 tackles loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles (six games)): A two-man wrecking crew of Allen and running back Benny Snell has helped Kentucky (5-0) vault to 15th overall in the latest coaches' poll. Like former Wildcats' star edge rusher Bud Dupree, Allen has always intrigued with his length, speed and bend around the corner but this year he is showing greater strength at the point of attack, as well as greater versatility in his bag of tricks as a pass rusher - just as scouts had hoped he would in returning for his senior campaign. Allen currently leads the nation with 10.5 tackles for loss. His eight career forced fumbles is perhaps an even more impressive statistic.) (10-12-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-oregon-s-justin-herbert-to-be-tested-by-gifted-uw-dbs-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
Meet Josh Allen, Kentucky's dominant defensive playmaker (10-9-18): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2018/10/09/2019-nfl-draft-college-football-kentucky-josh-allen-interview/
The 5 top-graded defensive players from every Power-5 conference (SEC - 3. Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky (2018 season grade: 90.5): A force off the edge, Allen has 16 hurries which would rank him tied for fifth place in total pressures in the conference. He adds to that with six sacks and seven QB hits to give him 29 total QB pressures this year – 11 more than the next closest SEC defender.) (10-5-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-top-5-defensive-players-power-5
The best college player at every position through Week 5 (EDGE DEFENDER: JOSH ALLEN, KENTUCKY 90.5: With Ohio State’s Nick Bosa going down due to injury, Allen takes over as the top-graded edge defender as he’s elite play has helped to lead Kentucky to their undefeated start. Allen has the top pass-rush productivity in the nation at 21.6, notching six sacks, seven QB hits and 16 hurries on only 111 rushes. His win percentage of 30.6% is also best among the nation’s edge defenders and he’s been strong against the run with an 82.8 grade.) (10-1-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-best-player-at-every-position-week-5
Josh Allen, Kentucky LB and 2019 NFL Draft Prospect (9-26-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/09/26/josh-allen-2019-draft-kentucky-linebacker-first-round
NFL Prospect Matchups: Mississippi St vs. Kentucky (Kentucky has a lot of NFL talent on their defense, starting with Week 2 riser Josh Allen. Allen has the measurables and computer numbers NFL teams desire in a front-seven player and has shown a great deal of development in his game. He’s a forceful linebacker with the ability to get pressure up the field and rush the quarterback. But Allen is much more than a one-dimensional defender, as proven against Florida He’s also a solid run defender who can make plays at the line of scrimmage or in pursuit, and his ball skills on passing downs are improving. Presently I grade Allen in the bottom third of Round 1.) (9-21-18): http://draftanalyst.com/nfl-prospect-matchups-mississippi-st-vs-kentucky
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 2 (Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky: The SEC's active career sack leader is Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen, and he put on a clinic against Florida to help end the Wildcats' 31-game losing streak to the Gators. Beyond showing as a pass-rusher, Allen made some huge plays in pass coverage to lead Kentucky. In the third quarter, he had blanket coverage on a tight end downfield to break up a back-shoulder throw. It was excellent coverage from Allen that will really impress evaluators. Late in the fourth quarter, Allen came up with a huge clutch play. On a two-point conversion attempt, he made a great read to cover a tight end in the back of the end zone, using his athleticism to make a leaping tip of the ball to result in an incompletion. It was a superb play from Allen. On the final play of the game for the Gators' offense with less than 10 seconds remaining, Allen beat Martez Ivey with a speed rush for a strip-sack that was returned by Kentucky for a game-clinching touchdown. Allen was superb versus Florida. At will, he could burn by Ivey with speed rushes. Allen is a legit late first-round or early second-round pick who would be a superb defender as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.) (9-11-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_02.php
Riser and Sliders - Week 2 (Josh Allen/LB/Kentucky: Entering the season, I stamped Allen as a potential first-round pick and mentioned the linebacker needed to take his game to the next level. He did exactly that during the victory over Florida, finishing with five tackles including one for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and one hurry. Allen’s sack came on the final play of the game when he beat left tackle Martez Ivey around the edge and forced a fumble that UK brought into the end zone for a touchdown. Allen was all over the field, and if he wasn’t making tackles he was forcing the action. He’s developing into a three-down defender, and Allen comes with great computer numbers for the next level. If he continues to progress, he’ll move higher on draft boards.) (9-2-18): http://draftanalyst.com/riser-sliders-week-2
Greg Gabriel early 2019 NFL Draft breakdown: Kentucky EDGE Josh Allen (8-20-18): http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/08/20/greg-gabriel-early-2019-nfl-draft-breakdown-kentucky-edge-josh-allen/abdg3by/
Scouting the SEC - Kentucky (Josh Allen is talked about as a potential first-rounder next year, and why not? He has first-round measurables, playmaking skill and upside. He’s forceful up the field, holds his ground against blocks and makes plays in every direction of the field. Allen is not bad dropping off the line and playing in space, but there’s room for improvement. Assuming he takes his game to the next level and turns in solid predraft workouts, it’s safe to assume Allen ends up as a top-40 selection next April.) (8-10-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-sec-kentucky-0
2018 college football season: Top 13 linebackers to watch (7. Josh Allen: Allen is long and very athletic with the ability to stalk quarterbacks and running backs who are making a dash for the perimeter. However, his ability to threaten the edge with his plus burst upfield off the snap really gets NFL evaluators excited. Allen has posted back-to-back seven-sack seasons, but his production in that area could be much greater if he improves his hand use and adds a quality counter move to his repertoire for when his speed rush is nullified. The tape shows a player who needs to get much stronger in order to hold up at the point of attack against the run. Despite some holes in his game, his talent and traits will be coveted.) (7-20-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000941211/article/2018-college-football-season-top-13-linebackers-to-watch
2019 Prospect Peek: Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky (7-2-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/2019-prospect-peek-josh-allen-olb-kentucky-Rq04bARhsUeQCL0zmnqeAg/
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (This Josh Allen doesn’t figure to polarize the draft community in the way that the 2018 Josh Allen did. But he’s still an intriguing prospect. Allen (6’5/252) is long and active. He’s following the Bud Dupree trajectory, leading the Wildcats with seven sacks and 9.5 TFL last year. Allen gained over 20 pounds in the past year-plus. It’d be nice if he could pack on a little more muscle onto that long frame. Dane Brugler calls him this class’ Haason Reddick.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
CB Deandre Baker:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019dbaker.php
Draft Scout: https://draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1003371
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/30/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-deandre-baker/
Deandre Baker NFL draft profile: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/10/2019-nfl-draft-profile-deandre-baker-georgia/
Articles:
Combine: Murray, Metcalf among winners (Losers - Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia: We've regularly had Baker in our weekly mock drafts because he was one of the best cornerbacks in college last season. He faced some of the top wideouts in the country on a weekly basis -- and almost always came out on top. But he didn't crack the 4.5-mark in his 40 time, and that'll be a concern, especially since he's 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds. It's not a death knell for his NFL career but it does mean that those bigger, taller, faster defensive backs will now be in the first-round conversations. But even if Baker slips to Day 2 he'll be an impact player who can contribute from Day 1.) (3-5-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-kyler-murray-d-k-metcalf-jamel-dean-win-combine-jachai-polite-has-bad-week-in-indy/
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Backs (Down - DeAndre Baker expected to run in the 4.4s at the combine, but he managed a 4.53 on his first run. He was even worse the second attempt, generating a 4.63. Charlie Campbell reported that several teams had Baker as their sole first-round cornerback, but I have to wonder if that'll change after these runs as well as his mediocre showing in the drills.) (3-4-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDB.php
Greedy fast, Murphy shines at DB workout (Georgia's Deandre Baker was a bit of a disappointment in the 40 but his official time of 4.52 seconds was slightly better than the unofficial number. He started well in his drill on the pedal-and-react, didn't stand out in later drills but showed his great ball skills by looking like a receiver running the gauntlet. He could have worked his way into the top 10 with a great day, but seems more likely to fall out of Round 1 altogether than going that high.) (3-4-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-greedy-williams-shuts-it-down-after-fast-40-byron-murphy-and-juan-thornhill-excel/
Combine makes it tough to see Lions drafting CB at No. 8 (Washington's Byron Murphy and Georgia's Dendre Baker, two outstanding college players with plenty of tape to validate their standing as first-round talent, ran 4.55 and 4.52 respectively, preventing their stock from rising further.) (3-4-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/04/tough-see-detroit-lions-drafting-cornerback-no-8-after-nfl-combine/3055524002/
Several Teams Have Graded Just One First-Round Cornerback (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Several-Teams-Have-Graded-Just-One-First-Round-Cornerback
Weigh-in: Baker wins, not Greedy (Greedy Williams measured in with much less length than expected, while Georgia's Deandre Baker was longer than many thought he'd be, and Vanderbilt's Joejuan Williams displayed incredible length. CB winners - Deandre Baker, Georgia. No one expected Baker to be tall or incredibly long. To hit 5-foot-11 and the 32-inch arm mark represented a massive win for him. The size concerns should be gone.) (3-2-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-joejuan-williams-deandre-baker-winners-as-dbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
DJ's takeaways from scouting combine (Deandre Baker, Georgia (No. 24 to Raiders): Jeremiah's top-rated CB ran a 4.52 40. Baker then had a better showing in on-field drills. "Really good hands. ... Feisty. A very feisty corner. Again, he's smooth. He's not a stiff guy. You know he can catch the ball. He's got excellent ball skills.") (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019889/article/daniel-jeremiahs-day-1-nfl-scouting-combine-takeaways
12 draft prospects who need to stand out at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine (Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia: The tape Baker put up as a member of the Bulldogs’ defense is undeniable. But he’ll hope to live up to his unofficial measurements of 5’11 and 180 pounds this week, or he may be relegated to sub-package duty in the minds of many NFL shot-callers, which could affect his draft stock precipitously. If he shows exceptional speed and agility in the combine drills (and there are those who wonder if he’s optimally prepared to do so), he could hang on to a first-round grade. If not, Baker could be on the outside looking in.) (2-27-19): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/27/12-draft-prospects-who-need-to-stand-out-at-the-scouting-combine/
NFL Combine 2019: The 10 prospects with the most on the line in Indianapolis (Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia: As someone who decided to sit out his team's bowl game and not participate in the Senior Bowl, the combine is Baker's first chance to gain momentum with the draft less than two months away. The senior from Georgia starred for the Bulldogs for the past three seasons with seven interceptions and 23 pass breakups, including 18 in 2017 and 2018 combined. Baker's film is loaded with impactful plays on the football, and you rarely see him very far away from the receiver he's covering. The consensus concern with him is his lack of size, length, athleticism, and downfield speed. He's not going to be as twitchy as Washington's Byron Murphy nor as tall or long as LSU's Greedy Williams. In the past five years, 22 corners have gone in Round 1. Here are their average figures ... which Baker will obviously be aiming to hit:) (2-27-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-2019-prospects-with-the-most-on-the-line-in-indianapolis/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (17. DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia: Patricia typically looks for bigger bodies to play the second cornerback spot, but he might be drawn to a player with the ball skills and toughness of DeAndre Baker. He finished his Georgia career with seven interceptions and has made some critical tackles, including four tackles for loss. He's a little light, but he has gotten the job done as a press cornerback the way Patricia looks for.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
2019 NFL Combine: 7 Prospects With the Most to Gain (6. Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia: I’ll keep this one simple. If Baker runs fast, he’ll make a lot more money than if he doesn’t run fast.) (2-26-19): https://thebiglead.com/2019/02/26/2019-nfl-combine-most-to-gain/
Five cornerbacks for Lions to watch at NFL Combine (3. Deandre Baker, Georgia. Like Williams, Baker is going to be a name that gets plenty of early round love for teams, but will it be justified? The Lions will have to find that out, and compare prospects between both him and Williams to see who is more impressive on the field of play. Baker will be an interesting watch for the Lions and comparing him with the other first round talents will be very interesting.) (2-22-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-cornerbacks-Lions-129370659/
2019 Combine Preview: Cornerback (Deandre Baker - Best trait: Complete player. Baker won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back this past season. A couple draft evaluators described Baker as “pesky,” which is a compliment. He plays bigger than his frame would indicate. Concern: He doesn’t have the length of some of the other cornerbacks in the class. While he does play bigger than he looks, can he match up effectively on the outside with the NFL’s best bigger receivers? Skinny: Baker is a gamer. He’s consistent and confident, and didn’t allow a single touchdown in his coverage the entire 2017 season. He’s a solid cornerback with the potential to play right away.) (2-17-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-cornerback
Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address cornerback (Deandre Baker excels in man-to-man coverage playing physical and aggressive at all times, but his speed is something left to be desired, reminding Lions fans of Teez Tabor. Since the Lions play a heavy defensive man scheme, speed is very important. If he can improve his speed before the combine, he could land in the first round. If he doesn’t, he could see his stock fall.) (2-11-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/11/draft-them-or-sign-them-how-the-lions-will-address-cornerback/
Deandre Baker interview (2-6-19): http://www.nfl.com/labs/rr/oklahoma/desktop/interviews/deandrebaker.html
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (CB Deandre Baker, Georgia, rJR. (5-11, 180, 4.49, #18): Some would say that Baker owns the most impressive resume, consistently locking down the top receivers in the SEC on a weekly basis. Amazingly, the shut down corner did not allow a single touchdown during his final two seasons of play. Blessed with excellent size, tremendous change of direction capability and extremely quick makeup speed, Baker possesses all the traits that NFL decision-makers crave. Baker initially intended to play in this matchup but later decided it was ultimately best for his future to sit out and begin the process of proving that he deserves to be the first cornerback chosen come April.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Georgia: CB Deandre Baker is a tough, savvy ballhawkhttps://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (Georgia CB DeAndre Baker (Sugar Bowl vs. Texas, Jan. 1): Baker will challenge Williams and Washington’s Byron Murphy to be the first cornerback drafted, and he might be a better pure cover man than both. He doesn’t have Williams’ size at just 5 feet 11, but he’s not afraid to get his nose dirty in run support, which is something Patricia values.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (11. DEANDRE BAKER, CB, GEORGIA (Height: 5' 11" | Weight: 185 pounds): Like Greedy, Baker is not for everyone, but for different reasons. He’s tough, and savvy, and a ballhawk who will likely be ready to play right away. The drawback? He’s short.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (Senior cornerback DeAndre Baker (5 feet 11 inches, 185 pounds) is a possible first-round option who has seven interceptions the past three seasons, this year's culminating with the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back in college football.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (5. Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia - Strengths: Mirroring skills, ball skills) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - CB: DeAndre Baker - Baker emerged as one of the central leaders of a unit that lost a ton of talent to the NFL, starting every game for the Bulldogs and making offenses pay for playing toward his side of the field with 10.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions.) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (CORNERBACK - First Team: Deandre Baker, Georgia - Baker finishes as the conference’s second-highest graded cornerback and second in coverage grade as he allowed just 20 receptions on 42 targets and no reception longer than 17 yards.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
Top defensive backs in the 2019 NFL draft class (DEANDRE BAKER, CB, GEORGIA: The Dawgs’ lead corner should join Williams in the top half of the NFL draft’s first round. He stands at just 5' 11", but he makes up for his height with impressive length. Baker hasn’t been as dominant in 2018 as he was last season—he held now-Falcons WR Calvin Ridley to 32 yards in last year’s national title game—though a dip is statistics is in part due to SEC quarterbacks steering clear on the Thorpe Award finalist. Baker will get his toughest test of the season on against Tua Tagovailoa and Alabama in the SEC title game. Baker is more physical than Williams, unafraid of lowering the boom over the middle. His instincts and ball skills will entice NFL scouts, putting his freakish wingspan to use. Baker is a bit handsy, and will need to work on avoiding costly pass interference penalties in the NFL. That’s a minor concern, though, and Baker’s ferocity and physicality separate him from the rest of his fellow corners.) (11-30-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/30/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-defensive-backs
College Football's best at everything (BEST BALL-HAWKING DEFENSIVE BACK Deandre Baker, Georgia: PFF’s top-graded cornerback for basically the entire season, Baker has been targeted 38 times in 2018, giving up just 18 receptions without a touchdown allowed. He has forced nearly as many incompletions as he has allowed receptions, currently with 13 FINC to his name. His 34.2 percent forced incompletion rate is the best among all defensive backs this season as he has two interceptions to his name as well. Hitch route
Deandre Baker, Georgia: Baker’s stat line across the board is ridiculous, but as you break it down route by route, it becomes even more apparent of the effect he had on games. On 11 targeted passes on hitch routes, the Thorpe Award finalist allowed just two receptions for a mere 11 yards while he intercepted two passes and forced seven more incompletions. His 63.6 percent forced incompletion rate on hitch routes were over 20.0 percentage points higher than the next closest defender who saw at least 10 targets on hitch concepts.) (11-30-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-footballs-best-at-everything
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 14 - nfldraftscout.com (CB Deandre Baker, Georgia, rJR. (5-11, 180, 4.49, #18): Blessed with excellent size, tremendous change of direction capability and extremely quick make-up speed, Baker possesses all the traits of a top cornerback. He has allowed very few touchdowns during his career, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a play that goes for more than 20 yards against him on film. He was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the best defensive back in college football. Baker projects as a lockdown corner at the next level and should hear his name called early on Day 1. In fact, some would say that Baker is the best draft-eligible prospect in the nation and could land inside the top 10.) (11-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-14-SkyfQCAuNEWZdnMUyJnjYw/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (10. DEANDRE BAKER, CB, GEORGIA: Scouts will tell you that Baker is probably a better cover guy than Williams. The problem? He’s about four inches or so shorter than Williams.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
The best college player at every position through Week 10 (CORNERBACK: DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA – 91.2 OVERALL GRADE. Consistently ranked as the top cornerback in the nation, Baker has allowed only 132 yards on 32 targets to go with eight pass breakups and two interceptions. He has allowed a passer rating of just 34.9 into his coverage, sixth-best among corners with at least 30 targets.) (11-5-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-the-best-college-player-at-every-position-through-week-10
The nation's six highest-graded cornerbacks (1. DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA (2018 overall grade: 91.4): Baker has been the nation’s top-graded cornerback all season long and that doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy anytime soon. He’s allowed just 48.4% of passes thrown at him to be caught (15-of-31) for just 117 yards and only 17 yards after the catch. He has recorded two interceptions and broken up another eight passes thrown his way.) (11-1-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-the-six-highest-graded-cornerbacks-week-9
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (10. DeAndre Baker): I loved studying Polite's tape. He has an explosive burst off the edge and a very nifty inside spin move. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (3. DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA – CORNERBACK (Week 3 Draft Board rank: 4th (+1)): Has made a play on the ball on 33.3% of his targeted passes – two interceptions and eight pass breakups on 30 targeted passes.) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
NCAA Midseason All-American Team (Cornerback Deandre Baker, Georgia (2018 Grade: 91.3): Baker maintains his preseason top spot among cornerbacks, leading the nation with a 91.5 coverage grade as he’s allowed just 117 yards on 30 targets to go with two interceptions, eight pass breakups and a 32.2 passer rating against.) (10-15-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-midseason-all-american-team
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 7 (DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia: While Georgia suffered a huge loss to LSU, Baker played very well, breaking up two touchdowns including outplaying a 6-foot-7 receiver for a jump ball in the front of the end zone. For a 5-foot-11 corner like Baker, that was a phenomenal play and displays his ability to defend big receivers to pro evaluators. Baker has a lot of skills that should translate to the NFL and could turn him into a starter quickly in his career. Perhaps his best trait is his good instincts. He has good route recognition, reads receivers hands and eyes well, and times pass breakups well. While Baker is not the fastest of corners, he has enough speed and athleticism to run the route and prevent separation. Baker also breaks on routes well and has good ball skills. He shows a nice ability to slap passes away and play the ball without drawing flags. Along with instincts and ball skills, Baker is a physical defender who will battle receivers. He doesn't back down and plays with an aggressive attitude. Baker also has an impressive ability to come up with some big plays in the clutch, and he was vital to Georgia advancing to the college football playoff last year. Some sources feel that even though Baker may not be the first cornerback selected, he could be the best cover corner to run the route and prevent completions from the 2019 NFL Draft. ) (10-16-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_07.php
The best college player at every position through Week 5 (CORNERBACK: DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA, 90.4: The No. 7 player and top cornerback on our PFF College Top 50 coming into the season, Baker has been outstanding through five weeks, allowing a passer rating of only 29.0 into his coverage. He’s been targeted 20 times, allowing 12 catches, but for only 79 yards while intercepting two passes and breaking up five more.) (10-1-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-best-player-at-every-position-week-5
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (9. Deandre Baker: Junkyard dog on the island with the size, length and instincts to stymie top wide receivers with his aggressive approach. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
6 potential Lions prospects to watch in college football Week 4 (Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia (Georgia at Missouri, 12:00 PM EST): Baker has less length than Williams as he is listed at 5’11” and 185 pounds. Baker is also very sound in press coverage, and he has the athletic ability to recover with speed and quickness. Baker is very versatile as he can play in any type of coverage, winning with reactionary quickness and instincts to go along with his ability to press receivers at the line of scrimmage. Baker is also willing to come up and make plays against the run with aggression, and that makes him more valuable entering the NFL. He is not a big cornerback, but he plays with excellent technique and would be a fantastic addition to the Lions secondary.) (9-22-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/22/6-potential-lions-prospects-to-watch-in-college-football-week-4/
PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3 (4. DEANDRE BAKER, GEORGIA – CORNERBACK: Our top draft-eligible cornerback coming into the season, Baker is now the top-graded corner from a production standpoint this season. He’s allowed a passer rating of just 33.2 into his coverage and he has two interceptions and two pass breakups.) (9-18-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-2019-nfl-draft-board-top-32-prospects-after-three-weeks-of-college-football
PFF NCAA Week 3 – Team of the Week (CORNERBACK - Deandre Baker, Georgia (Week 3 Grade: 91.5): What more to say about Baker after his ridiculous start to the 2018 season after being selected as our top cornerback for this season. Against Middle Tennessee State, Baker was targeted three times and allowed two receptions but limited MTSU to negative yards on those receptions. He tallied another interception to give him two on the season in addition to two more pass breakups as he’s allowed a passer rating of 33.7 on throws into his coverage this season.) (9-16-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-3-team-of-the-week
NFL Prospect Matchups: Georgia vs. South Carolina (Cornerback Deandre Baker received first-round grades across the board before the season began as scouts love his size, athleticism and tenacity. Baker is a physical corner who beats down opponents to defend throws. I am concerned about his inability to get his head around, as Baker does a lot of face-guarding.) (9-7-18): http://draftanalyst.com/nfl-prospect-matchups-georgia-vs-south-carolina
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (23. CB Deandre Baker: Rock-solid cover corner with size, instincts and ball skills. Baker can lock up wide receivers in press coverage, but he is at his best clueing the quarterback in "off" coverage. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defender (school measurements) has great diagnostic skills, and his ability to read routes would make him a perfect fit in a zone-heavy scheme. -- BB) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft prospect rankings -- top 5 at every position (1. Deandre Baker, Georgia: Strengths – Shows the ability to stick with receivers in man coverage. Moves well and has good ball skills, leading to 10 pass breakups and three interceptions in 2017. Room to improve in 2018 – Baker’s poor plays typically come when his eye discipline lacks, peeking in the backfield.) (8-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-5-at-every-position
Scouting the SEC - Georgia (Several scouts have stamped Deandre Baker with an early first-round grade, but I’m a little cool on the corner. Baker is a terrific athlete who physically beats down pass catchers to defend the throw, but he’s under six feet tall and really struggles making plays with his back to the ball. On film, Baker rarely gets his head around to locate the pass and constantly faceguards, which is going to be a problem at the next level.) (8-8-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-sec-georgia-0
2018 college football season: Top 10 defensive backs to watch (3. Deandre Baker: Thin but feisty, Baker has the athletic ability and technique to stay connected to routes throughout the duration of the play. Baker allowed a completion rate of just 30.5 percent last year and logged a pass defensed on 23.7 percent of the targets that came his way. Baker has the quickness and speed to bump-and-run with no issues, but he appears to be at his best when he's playing in off-man or zone and is allowed to lurk and pounce when he sees opportunities to ballhawk. Baker is twitchy and fast. Despite just average size, he is considered to be the top senior cornerback prospect.) (7-6-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000939556/article/2018-college-football-season-top-10-defensive-backs-to-watch
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (The 5-foot-11, 180-pound DeAndre Baker briefly considered opting into the 2018 draft before deciding at the last minute to return to Athens. That decision improved the Bulldogs’ odds of returning to the college football playoff. Baker led the team with nine pass breakups last year. You may recall his third and last interception of the campaign last year, as it came against Alabama in the title game. Baker didn't allow a single touchdown in coverage last season.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (14. CB Deandre Baker: In a young Georgia secondary, Baker will be the unquestioned veteran leader. He made an interception in the national title game against Alabama, and no, he wasn't the corner who was beaten on the game-winner. According to Pro Football Focus, Baker allowed the fewest yards after the catch last year (38) of any SEC cornerback, and didn't allow a touchdown in 372 snaps. There's potential to be a shutdown NFL cornerback here.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
DE Clelin Ferrell:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019cferrell.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1002536
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/28/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-clelin-ferrell/
Clelin Ferrell NFL draft profile: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/06/clelin-ferrell-nfl-draft-profile-2/
Why T.J. Hockenson should be in play for the Lions, and other combine thoughts (Clelin Ferrell still the pick - So if not Greedy, then who? Glad you asked. Among the players with a reasonable chance of being there at eight, the five I like most: Clemson EDGE Clelin Ferrell, Mississippi State EDGE Montez Sweat, LSU LB Devin White, Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson and Florida State EDGE Brian Burns. I gave Ferrell to Detroit in my first mock, and I don't see any reason to change that now. Sweat is going to be the new trendy pick, after he lit the combine on fire with his 40, but Ferrell just strikes me as more of a Bob Quinn-type pick. He had big-time production (27 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss in his last three seasons) for a big-time school (two national championships), and there are no character red flags. And of course, he plays the position Detroit needs most. Nobody knows who Detroit will pick next month, but few players check more Bob Quinn boxes than Ferrell. He remains my pick coming out of the combine. ) (3-5-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/03/1402076a367787/why-tj-hockenson-should-be-in-play-for-the-lions-and-other-combine-thoughts.html
DJ's takeaways from scouting combine (Clemson's Clelin Ferrell didn't run the 40, so his only chance to impress on the field was running drills. He showed well initially changing direction in the wave drill, but seemed to stumble a bit around the corner on his swim move. He's going to make his money rushing the passer, but he looks like he can play in space on occasion if asked as well.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019889/article/daniel-jeremiahs-day-1-nfl-scouting-combine-takeaways
Why Clemson's Ferrell fits Lions in NFL draft (3-4-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/04/clemson-clelin-ferrell-nfl-combine/3047634002/
Combine takeaways: Big day for D-linemen (Clemson's Clelin Ferrell didn't run the 40, so his only chance to impress on the field was running drills. He showed well initially changing direction in the wave drill, but seemed to stumble a bit around the corner on his swim move. He's going to make his money rushing the passer, but he looks like he can play in space on occasion if asked as well.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-montez-sweat-quinnen-williams-devin-white-josh-allen-dominate/
TWENTYMAN: 4 Combine pass rushers who could interest Lions (Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell could be there at eight. He’s been a productive player for the defending national champion Tigers for a few years now. Ferrell (6-4, 264) was the winner of the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end in 2018 after racking up 53 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 15 starts. “I just feel like my versatility is something that is very, very important when you talk about my game,” Ferrell said. “I feel like that has always given me an edge as far as giving me a benefit on the field. “Not only just my versatility as player, I can play defensive end, and I played some defensive tackle this past year – three technique – and I’ve also dropped into coverage as an outside linebacker. But not only just doing those things, but I feel like I’ve done them at a consistently high level. That’s always given me a bit of confidence and I’ve done it against the best competition so far playing at Clemson.”) (3-2-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-4-combine-pass-rushers-who-could-interest-lions
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (6. Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson: The Lions need some real quickness off the edge, and that's what Clelin Ferrell showed he can bring when he racked up 21 sacks and 38 tackles for loss combined over his final two seasons. I don't see him as a double-digit sack man in the NFL, when he's feasting on fewer single teams, and he fits a 4-3 concept better because of his quickness over speed. But this is a tough and productive player who checks lots of the boxes the Lions look for.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
9 players with something to prove at NFL combine (Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: It's hard to imagine that the 2018 ACC defensive player of the year would have much more to prove after a decorated career in which he tallied 27 sacks and 50 1/2 tackles for loss. But NFL teams might be reticent to use a top-10 pick on a pass rusher with pedestrian burst off the edge, as Ferrell's predilection for overwhelming offensive tackles with his length might not be as fruitful at the next level. With Florida's Jachai Polite and Florida State's Brian Burns poised to stand out in the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and broad jump, Ferrell will be under pressure to show he stacks up with other early first-round hopefuls at his position.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/02/27/nfl-combine-2019-9-players-something-prove/2935521002/
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson: His name should be well known as one of the centerpieces of the Tigers’ defense, and at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, he has really good size. He doesn’t have the versatility of Allen -- he’s likely more of a hand-in-the-ground player -- but the Lions need a replacement for Ezekiel Ansah. Ferrell had 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
NFL combine 2019: Nick Bosa, Rashan Gary headline deep crop of EDGE players (Clelin Ferrell, Clemson: He's a big-time player at a big-time position of need who played in a lot of big-time games for a big-time program. In other words, he checks all the boxes Bob Quinn loves most in first-round picks. Ferrell is long, and bends the corner as tightly as anybody in this draft. There are some questions about his athleticism though, so his stock could swing based on how he tests at the combine.) (2-19-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/03a3818f381488/nfl-combine-2019-joey-bosa-rashan-gary-headline-deep-crop-of-edge-players-.html
Five defensive linemen for Lions to watch at NFL Combine (2. Clelin Ferrell, Clemson. The Lions know that Ferrell is a quality rusher, but is he NFL ready now? That's what they're going to find out when they get a look at him in Indianapolis. Ferrell is an intriguing prospect and seems like he's pro ready, but the workouts will make or break him as a top 10 talent on the field for 2019. Detroit will be interested as many have pegged him as a player they could target high in the draft when all is said and done.) (2-18-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-Lions-defensive-linemen--129250976/
Clemson EDGE Clelin Ferrell a hot name in mock drafts for the Lions (2-5-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/02/clemson-edge-clelin-ferrell-a-hot-name-in-mock-drafts-for-the-lions.html
Clelin Ferrell: Film Room (1-29-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-pff-film-room-clelin-ferrell
10 defensive ends the Detroit Lions could target in NFL draft (Ferrell, a three-year starter and redshirt junior this season, was named the winner of the Ted Hendricks Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive end. He had 54 tackles, including 19.5 for a loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery and declared for the draft after Clemson routed Alabama in the national championship to finish 15-0. Kiper listed him as the No. 4 defensive end available and he is a potential top-10 pick.) (1-17-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/fa9ca596088576/10-defensive-ends-the-detroit-lions-could-target-in-nfl-draft.html
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Clelin Ferrell, Clemson: Long, bendy, superb athlete who, at times, is capable of smartly planned pass-rushes to the quarterback and sets a sturdy edge.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
Inside the Ferrell vs. Williams battle (1-10-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2019-inside-the-battle-between-clemsons-clelin-ferrell-alabamas-jonah-williams/
National championship: Christian Wilkins and other prospects whose draft stock changed in Alabama-Clemson title game (Up - Clelin Ferrell, EDGE: Ferrell didn't dominate his heavyweight battle against Alabama's brick-wall of a left tackle Jonah Williams, but he undoubtedly punctured holes in that wall throughout the game. Ferrell's length, twitchiness, and especially his athletic fluidity on inside moves and stunts stood out and led to disruptive plays. At 6-5 and 260 pounds, Ferrell is a freaky specimen, and his long arms gave the entire Alabama offensive line issues all night. He had four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year needed a big performance to stay in contention to be the second edge-rusher off the board after Nick Bosa, and he did just that. Oh, and Ferrell doesn't turn 22 until May.) (1-8-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/national-championship-christian-wilkins-and-other-prospects-whose-draft-stock-changed-in-alabama-clemson-title-game/
Ranking the Top 10 NFL draft performances of the National Title game (10 (tie). Clelin Ferrell, Clemson, Redshirt Junior AND Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama, Junior: The one-on-one matchup between Ferrell and Williams - my top-rated blocker potentially available in the 2019 draft - was worth the price of admission in, itself. On first clip below, Ferrell over-powers Williams but the Tide's standout blocker won his share of battles too, as you can see in the following clip. Both project as top 15 picks. Ferrell recording four tackles, including 1.5 for loss.) (1-7-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/ranking-the-top-10-nfl-draft-performances-of-the-national-title-game-MCzJPKKw6UGjGKKGv39oNg/
7 NFL Draft prospects for Lions to watch in Clemson vs. Alabama title game (Clelin Ferrell, Clemson EDGE: Clelin Ferrell could have entered the draft last year and had a chance to go in the first round. Instead, he and the rest of the Clemson defensive line came back to power the Tigers to a 14-0 record entering Monday's game. He had 9.5 sacks last season and has 11.5 this year. At a listed 6 feet 5 inches and 265 pounds, he's the edge rusher on this loaded line, something that appeals to a Lions team that has none of that coming back. The talent around him typically makes it a little hard to judge each individual piece, but that shouldn't be the case tonight. He doesn't have his space-eating nose tackle in Dexter Lawrence, and he'll be going up against the best there is in the next guy on this list.) (1-7-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/5e6a67e4c74585/7-nfl-draft-prospects-for-lion.html
7 draft prospects in CFP title game for Lions (DE Clelin Ferrell
Ferrell might be the second-best defensive end in the draft, behind Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, and as such would fill a huge need for the Lions. He doesn’t have Jadeveon Clowney-like traits as a pass rusher, but he’s a polished edge defender who has 21 sacks and 36 tackles for loss the last two seasons. The Lions almost certainly will bring back restricted free agent Romeo Okwara, but Ziggy Ansah has probably played his last game in Detroit. There’s some question whether Ferrell will stay at right end in the NFL, but if the Lions feel he can, he could be in the mix at No. 8.) (1-6-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/01/06/alabama-clemson-nfl-draft-prospects/2495356002/
Scout’s Eye: 2019 CFB National Championship Game (DE Clelin Ferrell, rJR (6-4, 260, 4.78, #99, Day 1): The Tigers wrecking ball on defense, Ferrell possesses the size, quickness and flexibility to be a consistent double-digit sack master at the next level. He owns a legitimate repertoire, beating tackles with speed, power and technique, alike. Former NFL general manager Scot McCloughan compared his combination of length and athleticism to Julius Peppers.) (1-5-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-2019-cfb-national-championship-game-IQSmXls_9kqHZrH38_RBEA/
Top players for Lions to watch in Alabama-Clemson (1. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. The Lions could have a shot at Ferrell at No. 8 this April, and as a result of this, they will keep their eyes on him most of all in this game. An explosive edge rusher who gets after the quarterback well, Ferrell is a guy who could give Detroit's defense exactly what they need in a big way this April. With Ferrell, the Lions would have their edge piece for Matt Patricia to slot into the defense to help wreck an offensive game plan. Remember what he can do most of all in this game in terms of the Lions.) (1-5-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Alabama-Clemson-Lions-top-players-to-watch-127351902/
5 realistic prospects for Lions' 1st-round pick in 2019 NFL Draft (Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson: Ferrell’s play at Clemson resembles a higher-end version of how the Lions deployed Devon Kennard in 2018. A powerful edge-setter who excels at disengaging from blocks and closing on the ball, be it in the QB’s hand or with a back on an interior run. His hand usage and feel for where and when to be in the right spot make him a high-floor player, even if there are others who are more explosive pure pass rushers.) (12-31-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/5-realistic-prospects-for-the-lions-1st-round-pick-in-2019-nfl-draft/
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson, rJR (6-4, 260, 4.78, #99): The Tigers wrecking ball on defense, Ferrell possesses the size, quickness and flexibility to be a consistent double-digit sack master at the next level. He owns a legitimate repertoire, beating tackles with speed, power and technique, alike. Former NFL general manager Scot McCloughan compared his combination of length and athleticism to Julius Peppers. The draft stock for Ferrell is solid as a rock and he should be viewed as a top ten talent come April.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Cotton Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Clemson vs. Notre Dame bowl game (Clelin Ferrell, EDGE: Don't get me wrong, Ferrell's a fine prospect. But I've started to get the feeling the idea of Ferrell -- a long, 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end from Clemson -- is better than Ferrell the actual player. Yes, he totaled 11 sacks in 2018 and has been extremely productive in his career for the Tigers with 48 tackles for loss over the past three seasons. But I need to see more efficient pass-rushing moves and bend to the quarterback for him to be the consensus EDGE2 behind Nick Bosa. The athleticism and length are there. The refinement lacks at times.) (12-29-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/cotton-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-clemson-vs-notre-dame-bowl-game/
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Clemson: DT Dexter Lawrence is one of three Clemson players who failed drug tests because they had traces of the illegal substance ostarine in their samples. He was one of three projected first-round talents on the Tigers’ defensive line, along with DT Christian Wilkins and DE Clelin Ferrell. Ferrell is a really good player with great instincts as a pass rusher.) (12-27-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
Prospect Rankings – top 2019 NFL Draft prospects in the College Football Playoff (10. CLELIN FERRELL, CLEMSON – EDGE: While we’ve proven here at PFF that sack totals don’t predict future sack totals, Ferrell’s career season brought with it a career-high 11 sacks, as he consistently disrupted the offense. He brought down 49 total QB pressures on just 280 pass-rushes this season, and to compare, he compiled 46 pressures on 357 pass-rushes in 2017.) (12-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-top-50-prospects-in-college-football-playoff
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell the Top Edge Rushers (CLELIN FERRELL, DE, CLEMSON: Most figured the uber-talented Ferrell would declare for the draft after a dominant 2017 season, but he stormed back to Death Valley with a phenomenal third year. At 6' 4" and 265 pounds, Ferrell is a physical beast with nice touch and instincts around the line. On inside running plays, he quickly springs himself from the edge to the interior to stuff the rush, and he thoroughly monitors plays as they develop. Moreover, Ferrell’s hand fighting expertise is at the top of his class. He can play with no hands, one hand or two hands in the ground, making him a solid fit in a 4–3 or 3–4 scheme. That being said, he sometimes stands a bit too tall in his pursuit. It would be a bonus to get him to duck and weave more around blockers, but this versatile hulk of an edge rusher will impact any NFL defense.) (12-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/21/nfl-draft-2019-top-edge-rushers-nick-bosa-clelin-ferrell
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell (National semifinal vs. Notre Dame, Jan. 29): Ferrell is more of a true right end than Allen, though he might be a tick below his Kentucky counterpart in overall athletic ability. Ferrell has 20 sacks over the past two seasons and would fill a bigger need with more positional value than LSU linebacker Devin White or Alabama safety Deionte Thompson.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (Redshirt junior edge rusher Clelin Ferrell (6 feet 4 inches, 265 pounds) has 26 sacks and 48 tackles for loss in three seasons.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (10. CLELIN FERRELL, DE, CLEMSON (Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 265 pounds): He’s not outrageously talented, but he has good enough physical traits. Ferrell is just a really good player with great instincts as a pass rusher.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (8. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Strengths: Length, size, athleticism) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Clelin Ferrell - Breakdown: He lacks Nick Bosa's pass rushing acumen right now, but Godspeed trying to find anyone better against the run in this draft. Would make a lot of sense as an Ansah replacement.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - DE: Clellin Ferrell - Once again, Ferrell was the statistical leader of the Tigers' fearsome defensive line, racking up 10.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback pressures for a unit that allowed a nation-best 2.4 yards per carry to opponents.) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Clelin Ferrell, Clemson: Ferrell has been a backfield destroyer during his time at Clemson. He will enter the College Football Playoff with 48 tackles for loss and 26 sacks over the past three seasons for Dabo Swinney. At 6-5 and 260 pounds, Ferrell isn't solely a power-rusher. He usually beats offensive tackles with speed, bend, and extended arms. Should he stay or go? Go. Ferrell isn't a flawless prospect but has the size, length, and springiness in his first step to be a first-round pick in 2019 and ultimately mature into a stellar three-down player at the next level. ) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 14 (Down - Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Another player whp could end up going lower than expected is Ferrell. From his performance this year, one general manager said they thought Ferrell would go in the mid- to late first round. A director of college scouting also said they also projected Ferrell to the mid- to late portion of the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft. A national scout and an area scout both told me they thought Ferrell would be a mid- to late first-rounder. Ferrell improved his run defense this year and looks stronger at the point of attack, but teams do not view him as an explosive edge rusher in the mold of a Myles Garrett or Von Miller. "I don't think [Ferrell] was ever that fast and explosive," said an AFC national scout. In a strong class of defensive linemen, it could be hard for Ferrell to crack the top 10.) (12-4-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_14.php
NFL Draft Hot Press: Scouts Say Clelin Ferrell, N'Keal Harry, Greedy Williams Overrated (11-29-18): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/End-of-Regular-Season-Scouting-Scuttlebutt
Scout Takes on the Loaded 2019 Draft D-line Class (Clelin Ferrell, DE Clemson: “Most Clemson defensive ends are overrated, and I think Ferrell is too. I like him because he plays hard, but he is not anywhere near a top-10 pick. I don’t think he is a first-round player, because those Clemson defensive ends bust all the time. [Bills defensive end] Shaq Lawson went 19th overall, and he’s been a complete bust. Ferrell is a similar player, similar athlete, but he plays harder. I gave Shaq Lawson a fourth round grade, Ferrell is a little better than him. But from the sheer tools, they are very similar. There are certain schools where positions have a high bust rate and all Clemson defensive ends are productive, they get a ton of unblocked production in that scheme no matter who they line up there. I like Clellin a lot more than some of those guys and I think he is going to be a good solid pro, but you don't draft a good solid pro in the top 10.”) (11-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/21/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-line-pass-rusher-scouting-reports
Examining the top 5 players connected to the Lions in 2019 Mock Drafts (DE Clelin Ferrell: I talked about Ferrell in my Mailbag from two weeks ago, and how he would positionally be a replacement type player for Ezekiel Ansah at the down defensive end position. In piece, I referenced an evaluation of Ferrell by Draft Network’s Joe Marino. “Listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds,” Marino wrote, “Ferrell brings a dynamic athletic skill set to the table to pair with his ideal physical traits. Blessed with length and quickness, Ferrell knows how to use his gifts on the field and make plays.”) (11-16-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/16/mailbag-2019-nfl-mock-drafts-point-to-lions-looking-defense-early/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (6. CLELIN FERRELL, DE, CLEMSON: Ferrell has picked up where he left off last year. He has 17 sacks in his last 19 games, and is very natural as a pass rusher, both in his build and how he plays.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (8. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell had one sack and one tackle for loss against Boston College, but I'd like to see more consistency in pass-rushing situations from him. At 6-5 and 260 pounds with long arms he uses to keep offensive linemen off his chest, Ferrell checks the physical and athleticism boxes without question.) (11-14-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-zach-allen-has-the-power-refined-game-to-be-star-defensive-lineman/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (9. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: After being quiet in the early going, Ferrell came alive partway through the game versus Boston College to record 1.5 sacks and four tackles. Earlier this year, Clemson rolled N.C. State as Ferrell racked up five tackles with 2.5 for a loss. He had three tackles and a sack against Wake Forest. A few weeks earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 32 tackles with 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, two passes batted and two forced fumbles on the year.) (11-13-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Alabama's Quinnen Williams rising but not (yet) No. 1 (3. Ferrell: Oliver and Bosa earn most of the buzz (and for good reason), but Ferrell is essentially 1C on my board and a legitimate contender for No. 1 overall status. The now three-year starter was the most productive player on the country's best defensive line a year ago and, thus far, has been just as effective this season, despite the added attention from opponents. Ferrell earned a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he's only 21 (and won't turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (11-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-alabama-s-quinnen-williams-rising-but-not-yet-no-1-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Quinnen Williams closing in on Ed Oliver as top DT prospect (9. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
The past month for Clemson has been a breeze, and Louisville was outmatched at seemingly every position on Saturday. Ferrell had a half sack and shared a tackle for loss. Going on the road to Boston College should be somewhat of a tough test for the Tigers. Ferrell hasn't needed to do much defensively but is now up to 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss on the season.) (11-7-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-quinnen-williams-closing-in-on-ed-oliver-as-top-dt-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (9. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. (Previously: 9 Avg. 8.3 per 11): Ferrell totaled two tackles with .5 sacks against Louisville. Clemson rolled N.C. State as Ferrell racked up five tackles with 2.5 for a loss. He had three tackles and a sack against Wake Forest. A few weeks earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 28 tackles with seven sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, two passes batted and two forced fumbles on the year.) (11-7-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Alabama vs. LSU highlight must-see Week 10 matchups: (3. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson, rJr: Oliver and Bosa earn most of the buzz (and for good reason), but Ferrell is essentially 1C on my board and a legitimate contender for No. 1 overall status. The now three-year starter was the most productive player on the country’s best defensive line a year ago and, thus far, has been just as effective this season, despite the added attention from opponents. Ferrell earned a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he’s only 21 (and won’t turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (11-2-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-alabama-vs-lsu-highlight-must-see-week-10-matchups-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 Draft Prospect Rankings: WRs Harmon, Johnson can do it all (6. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: A sack and forced fumble for Ferrell in Clemson's thrashing of Florida State on Saturday. It was a good, not great performance for the veteran edge-rusher, as the Seminoles might have the worst offensive line of any Power 5 team.) (10-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-wrs-kelvin-harmon-anthony-johnson-put-their-complete-games-on-display/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (9. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. (Previously: 8 Avg. 8.2 per 10): Ferrell totaled three tackles with 1.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble against Florida State. Clemson rolled N.C. State as Ferrell racked up five tackles with 2.5 for a loss. He had three tackles and a sack against Wake Forest. A few weeks earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 28 tackles with seven sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, two passes batted and two forced fumbles on the year.) (10-31-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Surprising QB class shakes up the rankings (3. Ferrell (2018: 20 tackles, eight tackle for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, one TD (six games)): Oliver and Bosa earn most of the buzz (and for good reason), but Ferrell is essentially 1C on my board and a legitimate contender for No. 1 overall status. The now three-year starter was the most productive player on the country’s best defensive line a year ago and, thus far, has been just as effective this season, despite the added attention from opponents. Ferrell earned a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he’s only 21 (and won’t turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (10-26-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-surprising-qb-class-shakes-up-the-rankings-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Washington's Ben Burr-Kirven the new-age linebacker prototype (6. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell was in on some tackles for loss against NC State and, as usual, set the edge well against the best offensive line he's faced this season. The few times he was able to simply attack upfield, I saw a rapid and effective inside swim move. If he continues to utilize that, it'll be a tremendous counter to his speed rush.) (10-24-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-washingtons-ben-burr-kirven-the-new-age-linebacker-prototype/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Ferrell: Clemson rolled N.C. State as Ferrell racked up five tackles with 2.5 for a loss. He had three tackles and a sack against Wake Forest. A few weeks earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 25 tackles with six sacks, 10.5 tackles for a loss, two passes batted and a forced fumble on the year.) (10-24-18):http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Defensive line full of future NFL draft picks help Clemson bury NC State (Clemson owned the advantage in size and athleticism at most positions but it was especially obvious along the line of scrimmage, where the Tigers’ dynamic duo of defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence routinely collapsed the middle, allowing twitchy edge rusher Clelin Ferrell (among others) to clean up. As has been the case for much of the past two seasons, the splashiest plays were turned in by Ferrell, a 6-foot-4, 265 pounder who led the team with 9.5 sacks a year ago and entered Saturday tops on the Tigers with six more this season. Unlike most collegiate edge rushers, Ferrell possesses a legitimate repertoire, beating tackles with speed, power and technique, alike. While Ferrell was kept sackless Saturday, he was certainly disruptive, registering five tackles, including a game-high 2.5 tackles for loss. Ferrell possesses the burst and bend so critical for success as an edge rusher but as he showed Saturday against NC State, he is also quite effective in run support, using his long arms and hand strength to successfully set the edge and string backs out wide. Ferrell’s combination of length and athleticism drew a comparison to future Hall of Fame edge rusher Julius Peppers from two-time NFL general manager Scot McCloughan on our debut episode of the Instinctive Scouting Podcast.) (10-22-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/defensive-line-full-of-future-nfl-draft-picks-help-clemson-bury-nc-state-HaQkjlVx9kaWoQ_i2PCMTg/
Lions NFL Draft watch: 5 prospects for Week 8 (Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson No. 99 (No. 17 NC State at No. 3 Clemson, 3:30 p.m., ESPN): Someone has to replace Ziggy Ansah and Ferrell fits the bill if he's on the board wherever the Lions end up selecting in the first round. Ferrell has the right skill set, a healthy combination of power and quickness, matched with the long frame the Lions covet on the edges. Ferrell tallied 9.5 sacks last season and is on pace to smash that personal best, dropping opposing quarterbacks in the backfield six times through six games.) (10-19-18):https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/19/lions-nfl-draft-watch-5-prospects-week-8/1685463002/
NFL Prospect Matchups: NC State vs. Clemson (Somebody is going to look good on Saturday, and Jones will be charged with stopping Clemson’s outstanding pass rushers Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. Ferrell, who is expected to enter the draft, has six sacks and eight tackles for loss this season. He’s incredibly athletic and besides his pass-rushing skill, Ferrell easily makes plays in space on the ball carrier. I grade him as a top-10 pick for next April. Bryant, who’s not as athletic or fast, has been slightly disappointing this season. He’s offers size and growth potential but must improve his play against the run.) (10-19-18): http://draftanalyst.com/nfl-prospect-matchups-nc-state-vs-clemson
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: ACC, SEC defenders rising as rivalry games begin (3. Ferrell ((2018: 20 tackles,eight tackle for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, one TD (six games)): The most productive player on the most talented defensive line in college football a year ago, Ferrell won’t sneak up on anyone in 2018 so it will be interesting to see if he can match last year’s breakout success. Ferrell possesses the traits to do that and more, earning a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he’s only 21 (and won’t turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (10-18-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-acc-sec-defenders-rising-as-rivalry-games-begin-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Add Miami's Gerald Willis to group of premier DT prospects (5. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Both Clemson and NC State had byes leading into their clash this weekend, when Ferrell will face the best pass-blocking offensive line in the ACC. ) (10-17-18):https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-add-miamis-gerald-willis-to-group-of-premier-dt-prospects/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. (Previously: 8 Avg. 8.1 per 8): Clemson had a bye last week. Ferrell had three tackles and a sack against Wake Forest. A few weeks earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 20 tackles with six sacks, eight tackles for a loss, two passes batted and a forced fumble on the year.) (10-17-18):
http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board - Oregon's Justin Herbert to be tested by gifted UW DBs (3. Ferrell (2018: 20 tackles,eight tackle for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, one TD (six games)): The most productive player on the most talented defensive line in college football a year ago, Ferrell won’t sneak up on anyone in 2018 so it will be interesting to see if he can match last year’s breakout success. Ferrell possesses the traits to do that and more, earning a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he’s only 21 (and won’t turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (10-12-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-oregon-s-justin-herbert-to-be-tested-by-gifted-uw-dbs-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (4. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell came on a stunt -- he's fantastic on those -- to force an interception in the first quarter against Wake Forest, and showed off an awesome straight arm to generate pressure all afternoon in Clemson's rout. Ferrell works well scraping down the line of scrimmage against the run and is a ferocious edge-setter.) (10-10-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-lsu-cornerback-greedy-williams-nearing-top-of-the-list/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Ferrell: Ferrell had three tackles and a sack against Wake Forest. A few weeks earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 20 tackles with six sacks, eight tackles for a loss, two passes batted and a forced fumble on the year.) (10-10-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2018 NFL Draft Big Board - New duo boost already dominant defensive line class (3. Ferrell (2018: 17 tackles, seven tackle for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, one TD (five games)): The most productive player on the most talented defensive line in college football a year ago, Ferrell won’t sneak up on anyone in 2018 so it will be interesting to see if he can match last year’s breakout success. Ferrell possesses the traits to do that and more, earning a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he’s only 21 (and won’t turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (10-4-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2018-nfl-draft-big-board-new-duo-boost-already-dominant-defensive-line-class-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (6. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell has better games than the one he had against an upstart Syracuse team at home, but I did see those All-Pro flashes that make him such a tantalizing prospect. Ferrell usually gets full extension with his arms then uses some type of counter off the initial grapple, and he can fire off a nice spin move. He was stuck on blocks on a few too many snaps against the Orange though, and I didn't see enough bend to the quarterback.) (10-3-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-nc-states-kelvin-harmon-joins-pack-of-receivers-in-top-20/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (9. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. (Previously: 8 Avg. 8.2 per 6): Ferrell had two tackles against Syracuse. A week earlier against Georgia Southern, Ferrell was superb with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 17 tackles with five sacks, two passes batted and forced fumble on the year.) (10-3-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (5. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: You're not going to get many pass-rushing opportunities facing Georgia Tech, but you will see plenty of misdirection. Ferrell held his own against the triple option Yellow Jackets, and I liked the many times he used his long arms to initiate contact with offensive linemen before throwing them aside en route to the ball-carrier. ) (9-25-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-d-k-metcalf-climbs-into-top-20-after-another-game-with-big-plays/
6 potential Lions prospects to watch in college football Week 4 (Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell has excellent length and can defeat blockers in multiple ways. He is listed at 6’5” and 265 pounds, and he wins with advanced hand usage, first-step quickness and the multiple pass-rush moves he already has developed. Ferrell is an excellent pass rusher, and he would help the Lions immediately in that area, but that is not all he brings to the table. Ferrell plays a physical brand of football, and he is fully developed from a size perspective. While some pass rushers enter the NFL as situational players, Ferrell is a three-down player because he will set the edge and defend the run. The addition of Ferrell would change the trajectory of their defense and make their defense much more potent.) (9-22-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/22/6-potential-lions-prospects-to-watch-in-college-football-week-4/
Draft Prospect rankings: Alabama's next elite safety (5. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell had two sacks against Georgia Southern, and one came on a play when he disengaged from the left tackle and used his length to take down the quarterback as he tried to scramble outside the pocket. Ferrell is a traits guy. I love that Brent Venables utilizes him from a four-point stance out wide, so his burst) (9-19-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-alabamas-deionte-thompson-emerging-as-elite-safety-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (8. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. (Previously: 8 Avg. 8 per 4): The Tigers cruised over Georgia Southern, and Ferrell was superb in that contest with seven tackles, two sacks and one pass batted. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has 12 tackles with five sacks, two passes batted and forced fumble on the year.) (9-19-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Clemson's Dexter Lawrence proving to be more than space-eater (5. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell was a constant force against Texas A&M, and Clemson clearly needed just about all of those positive snaps from their star outside pass-rusher. He really has a dynamic get-off, from a superb start to sustained speed throughout. Ferrell will seriously test offensive tackles' athleticism. He's quick to engage and lock out with his arms so he's not being controlled by lockers, and he flashed an amazing spin. Ferrell got his strip sack on a lightning-fast swim move. The junior isn't afraid to attack with a swipe back to the inside either. However, his acceleration was more impressive than his bend against the Aggies. I did like his wherewithal to continue his rush while being contacted. Some pass-rushers throttle down when they're battling.) (9-12-18):https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-clemsons-dexter-lawrence-proving-to-be-more-than-space-eater/
Walterfootball Big Board (8. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson. (Previously: 8 Avg. 7.7 per 3) - 09/12/18: Against Texas A&M, Ferrell was excellent with two sacks, a tackle for a loss and a critical forced fumble that helped Clemson to a two-point win. He has five tackles with three sacks, one pass batted and forced fumble on the year. 08/30/18: In 2017, Clemson fielded a defensive line that was comprised of future first-round picks, and Ferrell was arguably the most consistent of the bunch. He created a lot of the big plays for the Tigers' other defensive linemen with the instant pressure he caused off the snap. Fellow defensive end Austin Bryant spent 2017 playing himself into an early-rounder, but Bryant did well cleaning up a lot of scrambling quarterbacks running away from Ferrell. Ferrell has superb speed with athleticism and the ability to bend around the corner. He is very fast off the snap to get upfield and put quick pressure on the quarterback. Ferrell is more disruptive than his stat line indicates. In 2017, he totaled 66 tackles with 18 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, one pass batted and two forced fumbles. In 2016, Ferrell had an impressive redshirt freshman season for the Tigers, totaling 44 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks and two passes batted.) (9-12-18):http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 2 (Up - Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: Ferrell came up with some huge plays to help the Tigers get a tough road win against Texas A&M in College Station, which is a difficult place to play. Ferrell had two sacks and a tackle for a loss at critical times in Clemson's two-point win. Midway through the third quarter with the Aggies driving, Ferrell made a game-changing play with an outside move and cut back to the inside to sack the quarterback and force a fumble that was caught in air by a Tigers teammate. It was a huge play to end a Texas A&M scoring chance. Through two games, Ferrell has three sacks with four tackles for a loss. Not only is he an impactful pass-rusher, but he is stronger and tougher in the ground game this year. Against Texas A&M, Ferrell showed why he is an elite prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft. He made some good plays in run defense and showed he is more than just a pass-rusher. This tape will help Ferrell to go in the top-20 pick next April. ) (9-11-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_02.php
PFF NCAA Week 2 – Team of the Week (EDGE DEFENDER - Clelin Ferrell, Clemson (Week 2 Grade: 87.6): Two sacks, two hits and two hurries on 45 pass-rushes is a great return, particularly against a team of Texas A&M’s stature. When you combine it with a 76.1 grade in run defense, you get the best edge performance of the week.) (9-9-18):https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-2-team-of-the-week
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: More D-linemen added after wowing in Week One (3. Ferrell (2018: 5 tackles, 4 tackle for loss, 3 sack (two games)): The most productive player on the most talented defensive line in college football a year ago, Ferrell won’t sneak up on anyone in 2018 so it will be interesting to see if he can match last year’s breakout success. Ferrell possesses the traits to do that and more, earning a comparison to future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers from two-time NFL general manager Scot McCloughan in our first episode of The Instinctive Scouting Podcast. Though he’s only 21 (and won’t turn 22 until May), Ferrell already shows impressive strength, ripping free from pass blockers and re-setting the line of scrimmage in the run game to go along with the burst and bend to take the edge.) (9-6-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-more-d-linemen-added-after-wowing-in-week-one-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 2 (DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson, rJR. (6-4, 260, 4.78, #99): It's always nice to get out to a fast start on the season, and Ferrell did exactly that, registering his first sack in the opener versus Furman. He possesses the size, quickness and flexibility to be a consistent double-digit sack master at the next level. A hard worker known for being a quick learner, Ferrell is a very mature player per his coaches. He demonstrates an explosive first step and incredible bend, which leaves opposing lineman perplexed on how to stop him. His athleticism is impressive and he's proven that he can drop back into coverage -- even being used in the slot on occasion. His ability to rush the edge as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt or as a standup outside linebacker bodes well for his draft stock. Ferrell is in contention to be the top player selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.) (9-6-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-2-VoweurroqkiJp5IAsj2jFA/
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (13. Ferrell: The long, rangy pass rusher is a shop wrecker off the edge with outstanding size, strength and power. Plus, Ferrell is a nimble athlete with cat-like quickness and body control. He could rack up 10-plus sacks annually as a "Wide 9" pass rusher. -- BB) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
Greg Gabriel early 2019 NFL Draft breakdown: Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell (8-11-18): http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/08/10/greg-gabriel-early-2019-nfl-draft-breakdown-clemson-de-clelin-ferrell/am174qe/
Scouting the ACC - Clemson (Clelin Ferrell is a defender with top-10 potential. He’s a terrific pass rusher who does a solid job defending the run. Ferrell shows outstanding athleticism and the ability to make plays in space. He’s terrific out of a three-point stance and can also stand over tackle effectively.) (7-27-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-acc-clemson-0
2018 college football season: Top 11 defensive linemen to watch (4. Ferrell: After watching tape of Ferrell last summer, I didn't find myself getting overly excited about his individual play-making ability, but there is no doubt that I saw that ability on tape when I watched his 2017 film this summer. Ferrell's size and play hearkens back to Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson from the 2015 Clemson squad. Ferrell offers prototypical size and length as a 4-3 defensive end with a quick get-off and improving hand work as a pass rusher. Ferrell might benefit from playing on a stacked defensive line at Clemson, but many of his 18 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks were self-made. Clemson has four defensive linemen who should be drafted and Ferrell might have the best upside of them all.) (7-13-18):http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000940247/article/2018-college-football-season-top-11-defensive-linemen-to-watch
Who Are the Defensive Linemen Expected to Dominate the 2019 NFL Draft? (DE Clelin Ferrell, redshirt junior, Clemson: Ferrell may lack the measureables that the above three bring to the table, but scouts will tell you that he’s always beating tackle, and always around the quarterback, boasting a great motor, great balance and great hands. It was a surprise that he returned for the 2018 season, and it’ll be a stunner if he isn’t in next year’s class carrying a very high grade.) (7-12-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/07/12/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-linemen-nick-bosa-dexter-lawrence
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (2. Ferrell: Clelin Ferrell (6’5/260) and Austin Bryant (6’5/265) are so disruptive. The duo collectively posted 18 sacks and 33.5 TFL last year. Ferrell in particular had a shot to go in Round 1 had he declared for the 2018 draft. He's a long end who effectively converts speed to power. Bryant broke out with 15.5 TFL last year.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (10. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson (6-4, 265, 4.78, redshirt junior): Ferrell is looking to follow the Bradley Chubb path to the NFL. Instead of leaving school early and being a likely mid-to-late first-round pick, Ferrell is returning to Clemson and can take a big leap up draft boards. Although not overwhelming in either category, Ferrell has an efficient mix of power and quickness, and his technical development will be the key to his draft grade.) (6-4-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
2019 Prospect Peek: Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell (5-29-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/2019-prospect-peek-clemson-de-clelin-ferrell-AFmGtj7RQEOkywnkQFuUCg/
2019 NFL Draft: An early introduction to nine of the potential top defensive linemen (Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson: Experience: In 28 games over two seasons for the Tigers, Ferrell has registered 30.5 tackles for loss with 15.5 sacks. In 2017, he had 18.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 66 tackles. Strengths: Super-long defensive end with springy athleticism and the ability to bend the edge. Uses his hands well against the run and as a pass-rusher. When he disengages from blocks, he has plus speed to close on the football and finish. Has the length and awareness to get strip sacks when he's somewhat far away from the quarterback. Has enough fluidity to drop into zone coverage. Fires his hands inside on offensive linemen. Weaknesses: At times can get caught up grappling instead of continuing to move his feet to move closer to the quarterback. Has to add strength and improve speed-to-power on pure outside rushes to deal with NFL offensive tackles who can match his length and pop at the point of attack.) (5-24-18):https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-an-early-introduction-to-the-potential-top-dl-in-next-years-draft-nick-bosa/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (8. Ferrell: Ferrell is a big-play presence on the edge for the Tigers, typically working against the opposing left tackle with a quickness most can't match. After two seasons as a starter, he's recorded more tackles for loss (30.5) than games played (29). Oddly enough, his signature game last year came in Clemson's only regular-season loss, with 3.5 sacks against Syracuse.) (5-22-18):http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
DT Ed Oliver
Scouting Report:
Walterfootball: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019eoliver.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018336
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/18/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-ed-oliver/
Articles:
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (D-line freaks - A loaded class of edge-rushers did not disappoint. That included Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams, who are in a battle to be the first pick among defensive linemen, but they have competition. Montez Sweat ran a 4.41 40-yard dash. Rashan Gary ran a 4.58. Dexter Lawrence put up 36 reps in the bench press, and we haven’t seen a full workout yet from Ed Oliver. These guys will be the story of the first round of the draft.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
Winners and losers from the NFL Combine: Why D.K. Metcalf actually hurt his draft stock (Winners - Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
I don’t care that he didn’t quite clean up the mess from his tiff with Houston coach Major Applewhite. I don’t care that he had an impressive 36-inch vertical. I don’t care that at least one team was interested in working out Oliver at linebacker. All I care about is this quote: “I’ve never been a cow guy, but they’ve got bulls that you can sell their semen and make a lot of money like that. … Get you a Wagyu bull and make you a lot of money.” The sheer randomness of Oliver’s quote summed up the oddity that is the NFL combine. And to Oliver’s credit, there’s a strange sensibility to it. He was talking about cows in the context of owning horses, which can be pretty expensive. At least he’s trying to offset costs?) (3-4-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-combine-winners-losers
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: Twelve numbers that matter most (287 pounds: The plethora of difference-making defensive players in this draft class have been hyped for quite some time, including defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Ahead of the combine, though, people were worried the Houston product would weigh in the 270s, which would flag as too light for many pro teams. Not only did he check in at 287 pounds (at 6-1 7/8), but he also had a 36-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot broad jump. Both help contextualize potential for burst, and he's one of just three players since 2003 who weighed 285-plus pounds with at least a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot broad. J.J. Watt and Mario Williams were the other two. And for the record, no, I'm not comparing him to Aaron Donald, but I will note that Donald was 285 pounds with a 32-inch vertical and 9-8 broad jump at his combine.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021021/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-twelve-numbers-that-matter-most
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (While Oliver didn't do on field drills, his off the field stuff was impressive given the 32 reps he put up on the bench press and a solid 36 inch vertical leap. There's a freaky athlete and player there that could fit in well within the Detroit defense and really get after it up front. The Lions likely didn't have their mind changed negatively about Oliver this week, and will likely be watching the Pro Day very closely to see what he can do.) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
No Sweat, Mississippi State edge rusher leads dominant DL group at Combine (It wasn't just speed that should catch scouts' attention. After weighing in heavier than expected (287 pounds), Houston's Ed Oliver showed off his remarkable explosiveness, registering an eye-popping 36" vertical jump.) (3-3-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/no-sweat-mississippi-state-edge-rusher-leads-dominant-dl-group-at-combine-lIYXFAHcLk6MN-tMaysgUg/
Combine News And Notes: Day 3 (We know how much Ed Oliver weighs! Yesterday, the big story of the day was Kyler Murray and his weigh-in. On Friday, Ed Oliver didn't quite generate that kind of hype, but it was an important measurement with many analysts concerned about his size. Like Murray, the results came back positive for Oliver. The 2017 Outland Trophy winner came in at 6-foot-1 and 7/8 inches and 287 pounds. While that's far form elite size from a defensive tackle, it's certainly not unheard of for players in the middle of the defensive line to have similar measurements with success. In fact, that's two pounds heavier than All-Everything Aaron Donald came in at his combine. Now that we know Oliver has at least adequate size, we need to see how he tests at this weight. Oliver is by no means weak, but he wins because of quickness -- quickness is an understatement -- and he's long been expected by many to be a "workout warrior" in Indianapolis. If he puts ups the agility scores that we expect from the former five-star recruit, he's going to be get back into that top 10 -- maybe higher -- talk that we heard before the season. Today was a good day for Ed Oliver.) (3-2-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/all-star-circuit/combine-news-and-notes-day-3
Houston star Ed Oliver wants to use first paycheck on buying horses, selling bull semen (3-2-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/houston-star-ed-oliver-wants-to-use-first-paycheck-on-buying-horses-selling-bull-semen.html
Ed Oliver has some interesting ideas on how to spend his NFL paycheck (3-2-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/02/ed-oliver-has-some-interesting-ideas-how-spend-his-nfl-paycheck/3042330002/
Ed Oliver: I can be like Aaron Donald, if not better (3-2-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001020498/article/ed-oliver-i-can-do-same-as-aaron-donald-in-nfl-if-not-better
Combine: Oliver, Burns win weigh-ins (Winners - Ed Oliver, Houston. Heading into the combine, there were rumblings about Oliver potentially weighing in under 280 pounds. Those rumblings were wrong. While most expected him to have shorter arms than most defensive tackles, being nearly 6-foot-2 and 287 pounds means he has a nearly identical frame to Aaron Donald who was just under 6-1 and 285 pounds at the 2014 combine.) (3-1-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-ed-oliver-brian-burns-among-winners-as-dls-edges-lbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
Combine Confidential: News, Notes & Buzz (The buzz surrounding Ed Oliver has already begun after the Houston defensive tackle measured in at 6-1 7/8 and 287 pounds. An incredibly explosive athlete, look for Oliver to have one of the best testing performances during the combine. Word is that he’s expected to have close to a 40” vertical jump. His stock is up and he appears to be a top ten lock.) (3-1-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-news-notes-buzz-PMOAV5PN8EGeKyJ6tmHdtw/
Ed Oliver's combine measurements make any Lions projection more difficult (3-1-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/01/ed-oliver-nfl-scouting-combine-detroit-lions/
Ed Oliver's NFL Combine measurements alleviate size concerns (3-1-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019882/article/ed-olivers-nfl-combine-measurements-alleviate-size-concerns
Can Houston's Ed Oliver break paradigms like Kyler Murray? (2-28-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/can-houstons-ed-oliver-break-paradigms-like-kyler-murray-033332257.html
2019 NFL Combine: Here's a look at the drills and the prospects who could ace them (Three-Cone Drill - Despite not airing on NFL Network, to me, the three-cone drill is the most vital drill at the combine. While no drill can tell the future for prospects, the three-cone does the best job testing explosion and twitchiness. The truly special athletes with seemingly no problems changing direction, excel in this drill. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver won't have the fastest time in the three-cone at this year's combine. He'll probably set a record for defensive tackles though. There's even some buzz that Oliver could sneak over to the edge on occasion or ... even take some snaps at linebacker in the NFL. Seriously, he's that ridiculous of an athlete.) (2-28-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-heres-a-look-at-the-drills-and-the-prospects-who-could-ace-them/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (9. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Patricia can be a creative coordinator, and this draft might test how creative he wants to be. Ed Oliver was one of the big names coming into his senior year before some size and health questions came into play, plus the classic dilemma of deciding what position he'll play. His athleticism is off the charts for a three-technique and fits where the league has moved there, but there's an argument to play him at inside linebacker as well. He's not going to fit how Patricia typically plays his defensive tackles, which are solid in Detroit anyhow, so this kind of pick would be in the search of a chess piece for a defense that wasn't explosive enough last year.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
NFL Combine 2019: 10 players with most to gain ahead of NFL Draft (Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: Oliver was generally considered the best player in college football over the last two seasons, but he is a mid first-round pick in our latest mock draft because he is more a defensive end/tackle tweener instead of an edge-rusher. However, none of the edge-rushers in this class — with the exception of maybe Nick Bosa — can put on a Jadeveon Clowney-like display at the Combine. Oliver can, and doing so could bump him right back into the top 10 or top five heading into April.): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-10-players-with-most-to-gain-nfl-draft/1j1d2k4c3ohx811x4g9xind3yv
2019 NFL Combine: 7 Prospects With the Most to Gain (5. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver has the power to make most of the 2018 drama blow over during the course of the weekend. He was dealing with injuries during 2018, and sat for an extended period to heal. Perhaps because that took so long, Oliver and his coach Major Applewhite argued on the sideline over a coat, which was only for players who were actually playing in the game. Oliver was not, but wore the coat anyway. Yelling ensued. If Oliver puts his most polite foot forward off the field and his most agile foot forward on the field, he might just reestablish himself as one of the draft’s top talents.) (2-26-19): https://thebiglead.com/2019/02/26/2019-nfl-combine-most-to-gain/
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: Once thought of as a potential No. 1 overall pick, there’s a reasonable chance that Oliver will still be there at No. 8. His athleticism is intriguing at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds. He also is the type of player Patricia can mold and find a home for to max out his skill set.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
10 players who could be stars of the NFL scouting combine (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Any controversy over Oliver's sideline confrontation with former Houston coach Major Applewhite regarding his wearing of a jacket should seem even sillier the two-time All-American reminds talent evaluators of how he can move. Though he might measure in lighter than most of his fellow defensive tackles, Oliver should record marks more commonly seen from a linebacker. Though he likely is not a fit for every scheme, Oliver could boost his case to be taken in the early portion of the first round rather than the middle.) (2-26-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/02/26/nfl-combine-2019-rashan-gary-dk-metcalf/2935457002/
Who and what to watch at the 2019 NFL Combine: Interior defensive line (Ed Oliver, Houston (Suggested by: Erik Schlitt and Scott Warheit): People are going to get hung up on Oliver being undersized for the position — est. 6-2, 290, though some believe he is closer to 280 pounds — but don’t get caught up trying to figure out how he fits into traditional defensive roles because the Lions defense is anything but traditional. Regardless of what he measures in at, his skill set offers rare athletic ability, freaky explosion, the ability to create speed to power, an understanding of how to leverage offensive lineman and take away their length, and the awareness to track the play which leads to excellent run defense. If the Lions draft Oliver, don’t expect them to play him at nose tackle like Houston did, instead, anticipate them moving him around like a chess piece with his base position being down defensive end, but with the ability to kick inside. At the Combine, watch how his athleticism separates him from the others in his group and project how that would look next to Harrison, Robinson and Hand.) (2-25-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/25/who-what-watch-2019-nfl-combine-interior-defensive-line/
Ten bold predictions for the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine (2. Ed Oliver wins the Combine: Characterized as a top five cinch since dominating as a true freshman, Oliver has plummeted down the boards of some draft analysts after junior campaign better known for a sideline dispute with then-Houston head coach Major Applewhite than for producing big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Just like how I held steady with Southern Cal quarterback Sam Darnold through his inconsistencies a year ago at this time, Oliver has maintained his position as a top three prospect on my board because of his rare traits - including a spectacular combination of explosiveness and agility that will make him one of the obvious stars of the athletic testing this year.) (2-25-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/ten-bold-predictions-for-the-2019-nfl-scouting-combine-Pujzj6Cxwk-9WVKUKgV1Xw/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Pre-Combine (Up - Oliver: Prior to Jeffery Simmons' torn ACL, Oliver probably would have been the third interior defensive lineman drafted. Simmons' injury, however, could bump Oliver up and will also help to improve his chances of being a top-10 pick. Oliver needs to have some solid weigh-in numbers at the combine because teams have size concerns with him. If Oliver is carrying quality weight and works out well at that weight, that would be great for his draft stock, but he still is a direct beneficiary of Simmons' injury.) (2-19-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_22.php
Five defensive linemen for Lions to watch at NFL Combine (3. Ed Oliver, Houston. Oliver, like Gary, hasn't been seen on a football field for a while and many have moved him down in the draft as a result. Still, there's a good football player inside the big Cougars lineman and Oliver could be a sneaky good fit for the Lions with his abilities inside and out. Oliver will have a chance to really impress people, and with their need along the defensive front, the team will no doubt be interested to see what Oliver can do on the field. He could make the case for being a top pick once again with a big week on the field and in the meeting room.) (2-18-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-Lions-defensive-linemen--129250976/
Previewing the 2019 NFL Combine: Studs, starters and sleepers at Defensive Tackle (Entering the 2018 season, Houston’s Ed Oliver was the big name but his stock has slid for some amid questions of just how “big” he really is (expect something close to 6-2, 275 pounds) and how “big” of a deal to make his well-documented sideline spat with his then-head coach Major Applewhite.) (2-15-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/previewing-the-2019-nfl-combine-studs-starters-sleepers-at-defensive-tackle-ydtblYhiqEqSUcntDzPOMw/
Birkett: Here's who Lions should draft at No. 8 (There’s still a lot of research I need to do on the top prospects, but under this scenario, with those five players gone and from what I know now, I’d be picking from a group that includes LSU cornerback Greedy Williams, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and defensive ends Rashan Gary (Michigan) and Clelin Ferrell (Clemson). Oliver is the player of the group who most intrigues me because of his insane pass-rush ability inside, but he didn’t have a great 2018 and I’m not completely sold on his fit within coach Matt Patricia's defense. Both Gary and Ferrell would fill a significant need, but Williams is the player I’d take if I had my choice of the four. He might not be as good in run defense as Patricia wants in his cornerbacks, but I think he’s a difference maker who would have an immediate impact on the secondary.) (2-14-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/14/detroit-lions-news/2868515002/
13 prospects who should blow up the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine (Ed Oliver: Oliver is one of the best overall prospects in this class. His undersized frame didn’t check out as eye-popping, but his athleticism, instincts and relentless nature did. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he had a vertical jump of 36 inches and a broad jumps 10-foot 1-inch broad jump in the summer of 2018. That athleticism is obvious on film, and should be on full display in Indy.) (2-8-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/08/2019-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-top-prospects-kyler-murray-ed-oliver-rashan-gary/
5 Most Controversial Prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft (2. DT Ed Oliver: After the 2017 season, Oliver was a favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is no longer. That’s natural for a player’s draft stock to fluctuate, especially when expectations get as high as they were for Oliver. Now, he’s looking like a top 15 pick, but he’s completely out of the discussion for No. 1 overall, even though the Arizona Cardinals are looking for defensive line help. Oliver had a bizarre incident during the 2018 season when he resorted to screaming at Houston coach Major Applewhite, who asked Oliver to take off a jacket which was reserved for players who were playing in the game. Oliver was not playing, and thus shouldn’t have been wearing the jacket, Applewhite argued. That triggered Oliver in a big way.) (2-6-19): https://thebiglead.com/2019/02/06/nfl-draft-kyler-murray-daniel-jones-controversial-prospects/
Lions draft: Which defender to take in Round 1? (First Round - DT Ed Oliver, Houston: Once considered in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick, Oliver is a tremendous talent who had a quiet year. The Lions are stacked at DT with Damon Harrison, A’Shawn Robinson and Da’Shawn Hand, but Oliver is a blue-chip talent.) (2-5-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/05/detroit-lions-2019-nfl-draft-prospects/2776240002/
NFC North needs, perfect first pick for 2019 (Perfect pick: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: The Lions have needs everywhere it seems, but they are in perfect position to add another piece to Matt Patricia's defense at the top of the first round with the eighth overall pick. Oliver was once seen as a contender to go No. 1 overall, but has slid a bit. Putting him at end in a 3-4 defense with Damon Harrison at nose tackle and Da'Shawn Hand on the other end would give the Lions one of the best defensive lines in the NFC and open things up for guys to make plays in the back seven. Some believe he has some Aaron Donald-like abilities in his game.) (1-23-17): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Draft-needs-NFC-North-2019-128219625/
Projecting The NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Line (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (Day 1) – A ferocious force on the interior, with the ability to disrupt, Oliver is explosive off the snap, slips off blocks like he’s lathered in soap and is often able to split double teams.) (1-16-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/projecting-the-nfl-scouting-combine-defensive-line-JnMnU1Uymk2YPB0birSorQ/
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Ed Oliver, Houston: Somewhat smaller defensive tackle with ridiculously, Aaron Donald-ian burst off the ball, natural athleticism, and low-center-of-gravity strength.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
5 realistic prospects for Lions' 1st-round pick in 2019 NFL Draft (Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: An athletic freak on the interior, Oliver moves like a strong safety at 280 pounds. He was quite productive (53 TFLs, 13.5 sacks in three years) despite being the entire focus of the opposing blocking scheme. Oliver did see his production decline each season, in part because of an injury that kept the 21-year-old out for four games in 2018. Still, comparisons to Bengals standout Geno Atkins and Saints star Cam Jordan fit Oliver nicely. He’s a high risk-reward player with the chance to be an impact star right away.) (12-31-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/5-realistic-prospects-for-the-lions-1st-round-pick-in-2019-nfl-draft/
Scout's Eye: Bowl Game Edition Part III (DT Ed Oliver, Houston, JR (6-2, 290, 4.92, #10): A blue-chip prospect, Oliver stated his intention to declare early before his junior campaign even began, so his decision not to play in this game isn't surprising. He came under scrutiny late in the year for his sideline blow-up during an argument with head coach Major Applewhite, but it shouldn't impact how teams value his ability. His aptitude to take on double teams and finish, along with the amount of ground he is able to cover for a man of his size is extremely rare. A sprained ACL hindered his final season in Houston, but Oliver will be in contention to be the top overall selection and has drawn comparisons to Casey Hampton.) (12-21-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Six NFL draft prospects whose 2018 production didn't meet the hype (ED OLIVER, DL, HOUSTON (92.7): Unlike others on this list, Oliver’s grading is still excellent. His 92.7 overall grade ranked third among all defensive tackles in the country, but it’s how that grade is comprised that’s concerning. Oliver has been one of the top run defenders in the country since the day he stepped on campus at Houston, but his pass-rushing prowess has never quite caught up. The projected top-10 pick has all of 25 pressures on the season. And that’s coming against a mostly favorable slate of AAC offensive linemen. Dre’Mont Jones (52), Jerry Tillery (50) and Quinnen Williams (48) have all vastly outpaced Oliver in the pressure department.) (12-17-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-six-over-hyped-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (Houston DT Ed Oliver (sitting out bowl game): Oliver was talked about as the potential No. 1 overall pick entering the season, but he missed time with injuries this year and had a public spat with his head coach. The Lions don’t need a defensive tackle with Hand, Damon Harrison and A’Shawn Robinson in the fold, but Oliver might be too good to pass up if he slides come draft day.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Quinnen Williams Leads Interior Defensive Linemen (ED OLIVER, HOUSTON: Oliver’s 2018 was marred by injury, missing four of the Cougars’ final five games due to a knee injury. But last season he put up enough dominant tape to likely garner a top-10 selection. Oliver destroys interior linemen and swallows up opposing backs, sporting an insane 53 tackles for loss in 32 career games. He’s also no slouch as a pass rusher—Oliver’s quick hands and explosion overwhelm guards and centers. Blocking him one-on-one is often an invitation for trouble. The Houston product has earned comparisons to Rams DT Aaron Donald. Both are undersized and elite bull rushers inside, but Oliver isn’t the same caliber of prospect. Donald can burst through double teams with ease, while Oliver can be thrown to the turf by a center-guard combo. Donald is an NFL unicorn. Oliver is a step below as a prospect, but should still be a Pro-Bowl caliber player early in his career.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-interior-defensive-linemen
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (4. ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON (Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 290 pounds): Will he come in at 280 pounds? How will he interview? Coming into 2018, Oliver looked like a sure thing to go atop the draft, maybe even in front of Bosa. But as scouts have taken a closer look, questions have arisen, as has a feeling that Oliver’s not for everyone.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston - Strengths: Extreme explosiveness, low-center-of-gravity power) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
PFF's Conference Players of the Year (AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
- Ed Oliver, DI, Houston: Long since a talented run stopper, Oliver increased his pass-rushing grade by almost 20.0 grade points in 2018, recording career-highs in overall grade (92.7) and pass-rush grade (88.4). While he didn’t set a personal record in total QB pressures with just 25 this year, he managed those pressures on 142 fewer pass-rush attempts in 2018 than he did when he set his career-best 27 pressures in 2017. Oliver trailed only Williams in run-defense grade among interior defensive linemen as well this season, giving him an astounding 117 run stops over the past three years.) (12-7-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-conference-players-of-the-year-2018
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Ed Oliver - Breakdown: An undersized defensive tackle with undeniable game-wrecking ability. Stop me when you've heard this before. And, yes, he's drawing some obviously unfair comps to Aaron Donald. Detroit passed on Donald in 2014, but there were people in that building who loved him over Eric Ebron. Alas, here we are, with neither in Detroit. Oliver could provide the club with another crack at a game-changing anchor for the defensive line, although injuries and that public blow-up with his coach over a jacket on the sideline could hurt his stock.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Ed Oliver, Houston: Oliver was a top recruit and shockingly decided to stay home to go to Houston, spurning Alabama and other gigantic programs. He lived up to the billing for the Cougars with 53 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in three seasons. Should he stay go? Go. Of course. Oliver is the most athletically gifted defensive tackle to enter the NFL since Aaron Donald came into the league in 2014. He's incredibly dynamic off the ball and a speed-to-power rusher with some pass-rushing moves.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
Houston stars shine on PFF's 2018 All-AAC selections (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
First Team: Ed Oliver, Houston: Not much more can be said about Oliver who was his usual dominant self this season. He not only led all AAC interior defenders in grade, but he also led all defensive players in the conference with a 92.7 overall grade.) (12-4-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-houston-stars-shine-2018-all-aac-selections
Scout Takes on the Loaded 2019 Draft D-line Class (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: "Explosive quick player that lacks length, size. Good football player that’s agile with instincts, awareness. On the ground more than I expected and gets covered up quite a bit. The double team blocks will overwhelm him at times. He's not Aaron Donald and teams are worried about his game transitioning at the pro level. He plays against marginal players on the offensive line in conference.") (11-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/21/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-line-pass-rusher-scouting-reports
Houston star DT Ed Oliver in heated incident with coach Major Applewhite (11-16-18): http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25289552/houston-star-dt-ed-oliver-heated-incident-coach-major-applewhite
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (3. ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON: Oliver has missed the last three weeks after taking an illegal low hit to the knee against Navy, and his status is up in the air for tomorrow’s home finale against Tulane. That said, he’s still the guy who was drawing comparisons to John Randle over the summer. And while not every team loves him (will he come in at 280 or 300 pounds?), for some, he projects as a foundational type player.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
All-American Ed Oliver to miss fourth straight game for Houston (11-14-18): https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/14/all-american-ed-oliver-to-miss-fourth-straight-game-for-houston/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver has now missed three games with a knee injury, and while he's still listed as day-to-day, I'm starting to think he's already played his final snap for the Cougars. If that's the case, Oliver ended his collegiate career on a tear with 24 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his final three contests.) (11-14-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-zach-allen-has-the-power-refined-game-to-be-star-defensive-lineman/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver just missed his third straight game with a knee injury. Previously, he totaled five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss against Navy. A week earlier, the Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (11-13-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Alabama's Quinnen Williams rising but not (yet) No. 1 (1. Oliver: Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 52 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man. His ability to penetrate from the interior makes him a difference-maker against the pass and run, alike - a rarity among defensive tackles. Oliver's status as a top five prospect remains secure despite a nagging knee injury which has sidelined him the past two games and threatens to do the same in Week 11 against Temple.) (11-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-alabama-s-quinnen-williams-rising-but-not-yet-no-1-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Quinnen Williams closing in on Ed Oliver as top DT prospect (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver remained on the shelf over the weekend with a knee injury that's certainly worth monitoring now that he's missed two games in a row.) (11-7-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-quinnen-williams-closing-in-on-ed-oliver-as-top-dt-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 12 Avg. 6.9 per 11): Oliver just missed his second straight game with a knee injury. Previously, he totaled five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss against Navy. A week earlier, the Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (11-7-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Alabama vs. LSU highlight must-see Week 10 matchups (1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston, Jr: Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 52 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early. Oliver's status as a top five prospect remains secure despite a nagging knee injury which sidelined him last week (South Florida) and threatens to do the same in Week 10 against SMU.) (11-2-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-alabama-vs-lsu-highlight-must-see-week-10-matchups-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 Draft Prospect Rankings: WRs Harmon, Johnson can do it all (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver didn't play over the weekend due to a knee injury. His play of late led to him returning to the top 5.) (10-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-wrs-kelvin-harmon-anthony-johnson-put-their-complete-games-on-display/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 12 Avg. 6.4 per 10): Oliver missed last Saturday's game against South Florida with a knee injury. Taking on Navy, he had five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss. A week earlier, the Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (10-31-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Houston Cougars DT Ed Oliver out vs. South Florida Bulls with knee contusion (10-27-18): http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25099216/houston-cougars-dt-ed-oliver-vs-south-florida-bulls-knee-contusion
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Surprising QB class shakes up the rankings (1. Oliver (2018: 51 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks (seven games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 52 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-26-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-surprising-qb-class-shakes-up-the-rankings-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
Houston DT Oliver questionable for South Florida game with a bruised knee (10-25-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/houston-dt-oliver-questionable-for-south-florida-game-FiYMO9qCME-fegyE9quuXQ/
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 9 (DT Ed Oliver, Houston, JR (6-2, 290, 4.92, #10): Currently the No. 1 overall prospect on the NFLDraftScout.com big board, Oliver enters the game listed as questionable because of a knee injury. The Houston native stated his intent to declare for the draft prior to the season, so this situation bears monitoring if the injury continues to persist. A sprained ACL caused him to miss four games in 2017 and the thought of calling it quits on his college career to concentrate on the draft could be an idea that crosses his mind. Oliver has 52 tackles for loss in 31 career games.) (10-25-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-9-Dy7CuibxRky3_Tex6e2pMQ/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Washington's Ben Burr-Kirven the new-age linebacker prototype (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver actually notched a sack against an extremely run-heavy Navy team and had two tackles for loss. Sure, there were some times he was blown off the ball by double and even triple teams, but the Midshipman run a unique option-based offense. Solid outing for Oliver whose play has trended in the right direction of late.) (10-24-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-washingtons-ben-burr-kirven-the-new-age-linebacker-prototype/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Oliver: Taking on Navy, Oliver had five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss. A week earlier the, Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (10-24-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (2. Oliver: Oliver is somewhat polarizing in NFL scouting circles. Everyone agrees he is a great player, but some don't view him as a top-10 talent. I'm still a believer. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (8. ED OLIVER, HOUSTON – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
(Week 3 Draft Board rank: 8th (no change)): Adding to his impressive three-year resume, Oliver is just four QB pressures away from his career-high total of 27 that he set in 2017. He has brought in 24 pressures already this year, on 165 fewer pass-rushes than last season..) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Add Miami's Gerald Willis to group of premier DT prospects (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver notched two sacks against East Carolina and showed off some counter moves, including a spin, as a pass-rusher. Those were far from his only pressures of the game. Oliver also forced a fumble. It was the type of performance -- which included some "finishes" -- I've been looking for all season.) (10-19-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-add-miamis-gerald-willis-to-group-of-premier-dt-prospects/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: ACC, SEC defenders rising as rivalry games begin (1. Ed Oliver (2018: 46 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks (six games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 40 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-18-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-acc-sec-defenders-rising-as-rivalry-games-begin-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (13. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 14 Avg. 5 per 8): The Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 46 tackles with 11.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (10-17-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
NCAA Midseason All-American Team (Defensive Interior - Ed Oliver, Houston
(2018 Grade: 93.3): Oliver is doing his usual fine work in the run game, raking second in the country with a 93.4 grade, but he’s taken his pass-rushing to the next level with an 88.0 grade, good for fourth.) (10-15-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-midseason-all-american-team
NCAA Week 7 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - Ed Oliver, Houston (Week 7 Grade: 91.4): Oliver has been on a tear recently and Saturday is just further proof of that. Entering the season with big concerns over whether he could rush the passer from the interior of the defensive line, Oliver bullied his way to seven QB pressures including two sacks, two QB hits and three more hurries. He has 20 pressures this season, matching his freshman year total and is just seven back of his career-high 27 pressures from a season ago.) (10-14-18):https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-7-team-of-the-week
Not All Teams Grade Ed Oliver as a High First-Round Pick (10-12-18): http://www.walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Not%20All%20Teams%20Grade%20Ed%20Oliver%20as%20a%20High%20First-Round%20Pick
2019 NFL Draft Big Board - Oregon's Justin Herbert to be tested by gifted UW DBs (1. Oliver (2018: 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, zero sacks (five games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 40 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-12-18):https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-oregon-s-justin-herbert-to-be-tested-by-gifted-uw-dbs-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (5. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver was EV-ERY-WHERE against Tulsa. I mean, it was a legitimate highlight reel for the entire game. He recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, essentially unblockable against the run and looked like he was shot out of a cannon every snap. In nearly every passing situation, Oliver was doubled. He looked rejuvenated after the week off. Still want to see more pass-rush productivity from him. Oliver does not have a sack this season.) (10-10-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-lsu-cornerback-greedy-williams-nearing-top-of-the-list/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (14. Oliver: The Cougars beat Tulsa while Oliver had 13 tackles with 1.5 for a loss. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 40 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season.) (10-10-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2018 NFL Draft Big Board - New duo boost already dominant defensive line class (1. Oliver (2018: 27 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, zero sacks (four games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 38.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-4-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2018-nfl-draft-big-board-new-duo-boost-already-dominant-defensive-line-class-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver and Houston were idle over the weekend and take on Tulane Saturday.) (10-3-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-nc-states-kelvin-harmon-joins-pack-of-receivers-in-top-20/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 2 Avg. 2.2 per 6): The Cougars blew out Texas Southern in a contest that saw Oliver notch three tackles. He was superb against Arizona two weeks earlier, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 27 tackles with five tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season.) (10-3-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (3. Ed Oliver, DT, School: Houston,Year: Junior (BB: 3; DJ: 3) (Previous rank: 2): The most disruptive interior defender in college football continues to enchant scouts with his exceptional first-step quickness. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: There's no doubting Oliver's athleticism is on an entirely different level from every other interior defensive linemen in the country. And that fact leads to him manufacturing major problems for offenses when they try run the football. But the NFL has become a passing league, and after an encouraging start to the season as a pass-rusher, Oliver didn't create much pressure in a trouncing over Texas Southern.) (9-25-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-d-k-metcalf-climbs-into-top-20-after-another-game-with-big-plays/
NFLDraftScout.com Prospect Notebook: Week 5 (As it stands today, Ohio State junior defensive end Nick Bosa (6-3, 270, 4.76, #97) and Houston junior defensive tackle Ed Oliver (6-2, 290, 4.92, #10) will be heavy favorites to be the first two players off the board.)(9-24-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/nfldraftscout-com-prospect-notebook-week-5-ANpeh6VaeEeJFbu9ZUVRGg/
Draft Prospect rankings: Alabama's next elite safety (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: One tackle for loss and six tackles for Oliver against Texas Tech in a shootout everyone saw coming. Oliver does look to have taken a step forward as a pass rusher, I just need to see him create more havoc on pass plays for him to stay in the No. 2 spot.) (9-19-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-alabamas-deionte-thompson-emerging-as-elite-safety-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. : Houston lost to Texas Tech, but Oliver had six tackles with 1.5 for a loss. He was superb against Arizona a week earlier, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 24 tackles with five tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season. ) (9-19-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3 (8. ED OLIVER, HOUSTON – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Oliver is outstanding against the run but we’ve had our questions when it comes to his lackluster production as a pass-rusher. He’s off to a good start, grading at a career-high 84.1 when rushing the passer, and he’ll have to continue that improvement in order to move up the PFF draft board.) (9-18-18): PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Clemson's Dexter Lawrence proving to be more than space-eater (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Back into the No. 2 spot for Oliver after what was probably the finest pass-rushing performance of his career over the weekend. His insane acceleration made him unstoppable when attacking upfield, and of course he used his hands to get the leverage advantage when needed. While he only registered a half tackle for loss, Oliver took a big step forward in the pass-rushing department against Arizona.) (9-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-clemsons-dexter-lawrence-proving-to-be-more-than-space-eater/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. Previously 2: Oliver was superb against Arizona, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 18 tackles with four tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season.) (9-12-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 2 (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Over the first two weeks of the season, Oliver has been as good as advertised. He dominated Rice and Arizona in successive weeks despite facing double and triple teams. For the next level, Oliver is the real deal. There is so much about him that is extremely impressive. Off the snap, Oliver is extremely fast with special first-step quickness. His great get-off lets him fire into his gap and achieve quick penetration into the backfield. On top of the speed, Oliver plays with great leverage that allows him to push his way into the backfield or hold up against double teams. While Oliver needs to gain more weight for the NFL, he has functional strength to shed blocks. Oliver is a good run defender despite being undersized for an interior defensive lineman. From the inside of a line, Oliver has the potential to be a dynamic pass-rusher. Beyond his great skill set, Oliver has a non-stop motor and gives a great effort every snap. His 2018 tape is on track to help him to grade out as one of the top prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver looked worthy of a top-five selection against Rice and Arizona.) (9-11-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_02.php
Video Breakdown: Houston Cougars DT Ed Oliver (9-9-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/video-breakdown-houston-cougars-dt-ed-oliver-qWqC73WGWEC0KefJ5VuF8w/
Five possible Lions draft prospects: Week 2 (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (No. 10) (Arizona at Houston, noon, ABC/ESPN2): Here’s the deal with Oliver, with the way things are trending, if the Lions are in position to take him next spring they either a) Had an awful 2018 season or b) Made a bold trade on draft day. But if we didn’t put this defensive lineman on the list at least once this season, we’d be doing you a disservice. He has all the makings of a dominant interior lineman, something the Lions have desperately lacked since the departure of Ndamukong Suh. The 6-foot-3, 292-pound Oliver racked up 73 tackles, including 16.5 for a loss, last season. In last week’s season-opening victory over Rice, he picked up right where he left off, dropping an opponent in the backfield four times.) (9-8-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/09/08/five-possible-lions-draft-prospects-week-2/1224074002/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: More D-linemen added after wowing in Week One (1. Oliver (2018: 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss (one game, Rice)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 38.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (9-6-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-more-d-linemen-added-after-wowing-in-week-one-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
20 PFF college stats to know from week 2 (Ed Oliver & Dexter Lawrence, interior defensive linemen: Oliver notched a career-high six pressures, all hurries, on 33 rushes while Lawrence also accumulated six pressures but on 34 pass-rushes.) (9-9-18):https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-2
20 PFF College stats to know from Week 1 (Ed Oliver, DI, Houston: The nation’s best run defender was at it again with six run stops, tied for the national lead among interior defensive linemen.) (9-2-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-1
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. Oliver (6-3, 290) is extremely fast at the point of attack. He explodes out of his stance and immediately gets penetration into the backfield. On top of his speed and tremendous pad level, Oliver possesses active hands with functional strength to slap away blockers hands. Oliver has a quality motor and doesn't quit on plays that go downfield. While they have different body types, Oliver reminds me of Warren Sapp with his explosive speed off the ball and the way he lives in the backfield. In 2017, Oliver had 73 tackles with 16.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. He continued the strong play from his debut season despite seeing extra blocking attention all year. As a freshman, Oliver dominated at the point of attack, starting with his debut game against Oklahoma. From the beginning, Oliver overwhelmed offensive linemen with his quickness, athletic ability, and physicality. He totaled 66 tackles with 22.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and nine passes batted that season.) (8-30-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (2. DT Ed Oliver: Energetic interior pass rusher with outstanding first-step quickness and burst. Oliver is a destructive force at the line of scrimmage with the kind of game that could make him the apple of scouts' eyes, despite his less-than-ideal physical dimensions. -- BB) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft prospect rankings -- top 5 at every position (2. Ed Oliver, Houston: Strengths – An incredible athlete, Oliver moves up and down the line of scrimmage like a linebacker and his 94.7 grade against the run is the third-best we’ve seen in our four years of grading. Best finisher in the nation, posting a run-stop percentage of 12.0 in each of the last two years (ranked fifth in nation in 2016, seventh in 2017). Room to improve in 2018 – Pass-rush production has been lacking for an expected top-end pick and his 69.2 pass-rush grade ranked only 75th in the nation last season.) (8-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-5-at-every-position
2018 college football season: Top 11 defensive linemen to watch (1. Oliver: The word that best describes Ed Oliver is "troublemaker" because once the football is snapped, he is nothing but trouble for interior linemen. Oliver has rare athletic ability and some of the quickest feet that you will see for a defensive lineman. While his 38.5 tackles for loss, including 10.5 sacks, are indicative of the type of disruption he's capable of, we could see even greater sack production if Houston moves him out wider from time to time. Some scouts believe Oliver weighs quite a bit less than his listed weight of 290, so that will be something to keep an eye on come draft season. Oliver has already stated his intention to enter the 2019 draft as an underclassman.) (7-13-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000940247/article/2018-college-football-season-top-11-defensive-linemen-to-watch
Who Are the Defensive Linemen Expected to Dominate the 2019 NFL Draft? (DT Ed Oliver, junior, Houston: Oliver, who basically declared for the 2019 draft in March (he can’t actually make it official until after the season), was considered a program-changing recruit for the Cougars in 2016, and became the first freshman or sophomore to win the Outland Trophy in ’17. His height (he’s listed at 6' 3") could be an issue—as was the case with Donald in 2014—but he’s so good, it likely won’t affect his stock much.) (7-12-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/07/12/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-linemen-nick-bosa-dexter-lawrence
Houston DT Ed Oliver — Explosive Cougars tackle has natural talent to become Aaron Donald-type NFL player (6-29-18): http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/06/29/gabriels-early-2019-nfl-draft-breakdown-houston-dt-ed-oliver/ate39y/
18 for '18: College football's most freakish athletes (1. Oliver: Along with being arguably the best player in college football, Oliver brings downright scary athleticism to the interior of the Cougars' defense. At 290 pounds, his vertical jump has improved to 36 inches, which would have tied him for second with fifth overall pick Bradley Chubb among 2018 NFL combine defensive linemen. He can broad jump 10-1, the same as safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Miami Dolphins' first-round pick, performed at the combine. Add in Oliver's freakish weight-room strength (650 squat, 405 bench press, 385 power clean), and the total package is an ultra-rare combination of physical gifts.)(6-29-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000938992/article/18-for-18-college-footballs-most-freakish-athletes
Scouting the AAC - Houston (Defensive lineman Ed Oliver seems to be everyone’s favorite prospect these days and is drawing comparisons to Aaron Donald. To this point in time from what I’ve watched on film, Oliver is a terrific prospect -- but I don’t see much Aaron Donald in his game. Unlike Donald, who was a brute force in the middle of the line, Oliver is more athletic and much more of a first-step lineman who must beat defenders off the snap. He has an explosive first step and plays with a great deal of quickness as well as terrific fundamentals. Oliver also shows the ability to run down ball carriers outside the box in lateral pursuit.) (6-26-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-aac-houston-0
Scouting Ed Oliver: Houston DT has Aaron Donald-like promise (6-12-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000936825/article/scouting-ed-oliver-houston-dt-has-aaron-donaldlike-promise
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (1. Ed Oliver, the rare five-star recruit to sign with a Group of 5 team, has been dominating since he stepped foot on campus. He posted 16.5 TFL last year despite constant double teams, and also ranked No. 1 among returning FBS interior defenders with 39 stops in run defense. A special prospect drawing deserved Aaron Donald comps, Oliver may have been a top-five pick had he been eligible for last year’s draft. As disruptive as they get, Oliver has already announced he’ll enter next year’s draft. He’s in a head-to-head battle with Nick Bosa to become the first defensive linemen off the board in what could be a historical DL class. The winner of that battle has a real shot to go 1.1—unless Justin Herbert goes supernova in 2018.) (6-8-18):http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (6-3, 288, 4.95, junior): Oliver, a rare five-star recruit to sign at a non-Power Five program, has more than lived up to the hype with his ability to be a one-man wrecking crew. He gives blockers fits with his sudden quickness and uncanny ability to unglue himself from contact. Oliver, who already declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, will hear plenty of Aaron Donald comparisons throughout the process.) (6-4-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
2019 NFL Draft: 10 prospects to watch from Non-Power 5 conferences (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Debuted in the No. 2 overall spot in my pre-season Top 100 Big Board. The guy's a freak of an athlete. He looks like an oversized linebacker playing defensive tackle. He wins with burst, speed to the football, and a nice repertoire of pass-rushing moves. How good has Oliver been in his first two seasons at Houston? Oh, IDK ... how about 38.5 tackles for loss good. And he already declared for the 2019 draft. Love it.) (5-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-10-prospects-to-watch-from-non-power-5-conferences/
2019 NFL Draft: An early introduction to nine of the potential top defensive linemen (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Experience: In 24 games over two years for the Cougars, Oliver has amassed a whopping 38.5 tackles for loss to go along with 10.5 sacks and 138 tackles. Strengths: Possesses the athleticism and speed of an off-ball linebacker but is 6-3 and 280-ish pounds. Incredible suddeness off the snap and into the backfield. Twitchiness is elite. Routinely wins at the point of attack with that rare burst. Good, not overwhelming power and decently active hands. Scrapes down the line with immense effort and effectiveness. Uses a super-quick spin to get backside on stretch runs or cutbacks to his side. Weaknesses: At this point, he's better getting into the pads of an offensive linemen then springing off him to make an impact play against the run than he is deploying an intricate pass-rushing move to get to the quarterback. Sometimes, his lack of weight leads to him not playing with tons of power. Early comparison: Aaron Donald) (5-24-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-an-early-introduction-to-the-potential-top-dl-in-next-years-draft-nick-bosa/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (1. Ed Oliver: Oliver is the top player on my list for the second straight year. He can play anywhere on the line, and has rare sideline-to-sideline range for a 300-pound interior player. He's a difference maker who should garner Heisman consideration in 2018, but probably won't get his proper dueWith the quickness to put blockers at an immediate disadvantage, and the strength to overpower them, Oliver rises from No. 8 on last year's list to No. 1 this season. In 2017, he became the first sophomore to win the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) in the award's 72-year history. In two seasons with the Cougars, he's racked up 39.5 tackles for loss. For an interior player who is the weekly focus of opposing offensive line coaches, that's the definition of dominance. Oliver has already announced he intends to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.. Oliver has already stated that he intends to apply for early entry in the 2019 NFL Draft.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
DE Jachai Polite:
Scouting Reports:
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018437
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/01/04/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-jachai-polite/
Jachai Polite NFL draft profile: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/07/jachai-polite-nfl-draft-profile/
Articles:
Combine: Murray, Metcalf among winners (Losers - Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida: There is so much to love about Polite when you see him terrorizing SEC opponents -- he had 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles last season -- but things took an awkward unexpected turn in Indianapolis this week. Instead of focusing on his on-field production, Polite suggested that many of the teams he interviewed with were only interested in "bashing" him. His combine workouts were also pedestrian (Polite ran a 4.84 40, and his vertical jump ranked in the 37th percentile among all edge rushers) and things went from bad to worse when he pulled out of several drills because of an injury. The good news, if you can call it that, is that Polite said he had a good interview with the Rams though his draft stock could go from top-15 pick to Day 2 selection based solely on what has transpired the last 48 hours.) (3-5-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-kyler-murray-d-k-metcalf-jamel-dean-win-combine-jachai-polite-has-bad-week-in-indy/
U-M DE Gary, LB Bush among NFL combine winners (Losers - 1. Jachai Polite, OLB/DE, Florida: By any measure, it was a strange week for an edge rusher who should have fared well on this stage. Polite pulled out of combine drills early with a hamstring injury after running a 4.84 40, a mark teams will want to see him substantially improve upon at his pro day. He also took an odd tone in interviews, telling the media that the 49ers and Packers were "bashing" him during meetings. After several of his peers showed off, Polite needs to make a better impression on teams.) (3-5-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/03/05/nfl-combine-winners-losers-dk-metcalf-montez-sweat-draft-stock/3049233002/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (Jachai Polite - The nature of Combine interviews is always subject to debate. This year, Polite made his feelings known about the 49ers’ interview tactics, saying, “They just bashed me the whole time.” He said the Rams meeting was his favorite because they didn’t bash him. Is that a big deal? Maybe. Maybe not. But campaigning to play for the Rams is risky in a 32-team league, especially considering the number of edge-rushing options like Polite available in this draft.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
Winners and losers from the NFL Combine: Why D.K. Metcalf actually hurt his draft stock (Losers - I’ve never seen a prospect crumble like Polite did during the course of the combine. My colleague Steven Ruiz wrote that it was one of the worst combine performances of all time. It’s hard to argue with that. The no-good, very-bad combine performance started on Saturday when he addressed the media. He basically admitted he didn’t do much film study on himself. He also said he hadn’t expected teams to “test his character” by “bashing” him. (He absolutely should have expected that. That’s what teams do at the combine. And Polite failed those mind games by complaining to reporters about it.) His frustrations on the podium were likely a product of poor meetings, and he flunked a few, according to B/R’s Matt Miller. Then when he hit the field, he looked like a mess. There wasn’t a measurable element to his game that impressed.) (3-4-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-combine-winners-losers
Combine Confidential: Defense Risers and Sliders (One player who created a firestorm in Indy was Florida defensive end Jachai Polite, who flunked his team interviews, according to sources. He also provided the assembled media with some unflattering quotes and failed the testing portion of the combine as well. Polite, who reportedly has been dealing with a hamstring issue, has now forced his agents into full-fledged damage control mode. Once considered a potential first round pick, it’s possible he doesn’t hear his name called until the middle rounds.) (3-4-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-defense-risers-sliders-dkFc3m7x1kKIO0nTKpPs6A/
Sunday's 2019 Combine winners: EDGE rushers (Notes: Jachai Polite (Florida) came into the Combine needing to answer some questions and after running a 4.84 40-yard-dash, he said he has been dealing with a hamstring injury and was opted out of the rest of the day’s activities. Not a good look.) (3-3-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/sundays-2019-combine-winners-edge-rushers/
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: EDGE winners, losers from Sunday (Losers - Polite’s day was short lived after he ran a 4.84 40 on his first try after sustaining a hamstring injury and had to call it a day. It was disappointing to not be able to compare him to the other potential first-rounders in terms of pure athleticism after being listed as a top-5 player at his position. Polite will look to give it another go at Florida’s Pro Day. He is a very good player, but he’s probably locked into the 15-32 range as a guy who can thrive as a 3-4 edge rusher.) (3-3-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-edge-defender-winners-losers-montez-sweat/
Brooks: Winners and losers from combine Day 3 (Losers - Jachai Polite, edge, Florida: The former Gator was expected to be one of the top performers in the building based on his reputation as an A-plus athlete. However, scouts walked away a little disappointed. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury for the past 10 days, per my colleague Ian Rapoport, which may explain why he ran an unimpressive 40 (4.84 seconds) and didn't post an eye-popping vertical jump (32 inches) before ending his workout on Sunday. With scouts also murmuring about some uninspired team interviews, Polite has some work to do to reverse his sliding stock.) (3-3-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001020821/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-montez-sweat-soars
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Linemen (Down - Yikes. Jachai Polite killed his draft stock in Indianapolis. He looked out of shape, and that was reflected in his slow 40 (4.84 at 258 pounds.) He couldn't finish his workout because of an injury. His arm length (32 5/8) was disappointing. And worst of all, Polite wasn't good in the interviews, with two teams telling Charlie Campbell that they were thinking of removing Polite from their draft boards entirely. Polite may have dropped out of first-round consideration.) (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDL.php
Combine takeaways: Big day for D-linemen (Florida's Jachai Polite ran a 4.84 40 on his first try but sustained a hamstring injury and had to call it a day. Disappointing to not be able to compare him to other potential first-rounders in the drills.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-montez-sweat-quinnen-williams-devin-white-josh-allen-dominate/
Jachai Polite might've had the worst NFL combine of all-time (3-3-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/jachai-polite-combine-40-time-interviews
Jachai Polite: Injures hamstring at NFL Combine (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jachai-polite-injures-hamstring-at-nfl-combine/
2019 NFL Combine Draft Rumor Mill: Two Teams Close to Removing Jachai Polite from Their Draft Board (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Two-Teams-Close-to-Removing-Jachai-Polite-from-Their-Draft-Boards
Florida's Jachai Polite: 49ers 'just bashed me the whole time' in meeting (3-2-19): https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/02/jachai-polite-49ers-combine-meeting-nfl-draft/
Combine Notes- Saturday (Another update from our podcast: many were surprised when I mentioned that Jachai Polite was rated as the No. 2 edge rusher in the draft, ahead of Nick Bosa. This does not mean Polite will be drafted before Bosa, as I explained during the podcast, which you can listen to here. I’m told the Green Bay Packers really like Polite at this point in the process, and we had them selecting the Florida junior during our mock draft immediately after the Super Bowl.)
(3-2-19): http://draftanalyst.com/combine-notes-saturday
Combine: Oliver, Burns win weigh-ins (Winners - Jachai Polite, Florida. Watching Polite during his tenure at Florida, you think he'd be an edge rusher who'd weigh between 240 and 250 pounds. That thought, coupled with the fact that he was mainly used as a pass rusher, only could conceivably push the super-talented and adequately refined Polite down into the middle or late portions of Round 1. Weighing in close to 260 at nearly 6-foot-3 provides a better physical profile to set the edge, thereby raising his value.) (3-1-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-ed-oliver-brian-burns-among-winners-as-dls-edges-lbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (15. Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida: It's possible the Lions look for more of a balanced defensive end to replace Ansah, perhaps in free agency, freeing up their edge linebacker spots for some pass-rush specialists. If so, Jachai Polite will get a look. He broke out last year with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, and pass rushing is what he offers with a frame that likely measures less than 250 pounds. He's not likely to become a great run defender, but how well he tests will show what his ceiling could be as a rusher.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Who and what to watch at the 2019 NFL Combine: EDGE rusher (Jachai Polite, Florida (Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield and Ty Finch): Shifting away from Gary to the opposite end of the EDGE rusher spectrum we find Polite. Analysts are quick to point out Gary has underachieved as a pass rusher, ignoring some of his other positive traits, but when it comes to Polite he is such an accomplished pass rusher, his other flaws are largely being minimized. In Detroit, Polite would likely settle in at the JACK position, and with Kennard already in the role, it would be interesting to see how coaches would approach the down defensive end position — Would they shift Kennard over to a hybrid role? Would they ask Polite to put weight back on and occupy that spot? Regardless, Polite would give the scheme even more opportunity to show multiple looks While Polite would offer the Lions flexibility and a large influx of pass rushing potential, there are few things he can do at the Combine to show improvement in his flawed areas. He is expected to test well, and if he does he will stay in the mix for the Lions, but he if he doesn’t, it could be the final nail in the coffin for his projection to Detroit.) (2-26-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/26/who-what-watch-2019-nfl-combine-edge-rusher/
NFL Combine 2019: 10 players with most to gain ahead of NFL Draft (Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida: Speaking of edge-rushers, there are seven such players from the SEC at the Combine, including Kentucky’s Josh Allen and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat. Polite is already slotted in a favorable mock position, as his 2018 production (11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss) speaks for itself. That was Polite’s only big year with the Gators, however, and he still needs to separate himself from the others from his own conference, not to mention players such as Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. This is a talented position group in which player stock will fluctuate before April.) (2-26-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-10-players-with-most-to-gain-nfl-draft/1j1d2k4c3ohx811x4g9xind3yv
Jachai Polite: 2019 NFL Draft Film Room (2-18-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-pff-film-room-jachai-polite
2019 Combine Preview: Edge rusher (Clelin Ferrell - Best trait: Speed. He is a pure speed rusher off the edge. He led the Gators with 17.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He led the nation with six forced fumbles. Concern: He’s undersized. Polite might have to add some muscle and weight to be an every down outside linebacker in the NFL. Skinny: Explosive and productive player who projects to be a 3-4 pass rusher at the NFL level.) (2-15-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-edge-rusher
NFL Draft: 5 prospects whose combine performances loom especially large (Florida EDGE Jachai Polite: Few squads will doubt the on-field credentials of Polite, who had 11 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss last season and who plays the game with unbridled energy, terrific power and instincts. Instead, it's his measurables that could mean the difference between him being a surefire first-rounder and slipping, even possibly into early on Day 2. Polite is listed on his Florida bio as 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, but there are concerns he might not reach the 6-2 threshold, where every first-round pass rusher since Melvin Ingram (18th overall in 2012) has measured at the least.) (2-14-19): https://www.profootballweekly.com/lists/2019/02/06/6050ee3a80b64293957a9b432d58e9b8/index.xml?page=1
Pass-rushers to target in the 2019 NFL Draft and free agency (JACHAI POLITE, FLORIDA EDGE: The love for Florida’s Jachai Polite is growing for all the right reasons. The 20-year-old edge prospect has an array of pass-rush moves and should continue to develop at the next level, all adding to his high-end pass-rush potential.) (2-12-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pass-rushers-to-target-in-the-2019-nfl-draft-and-free-agency
Lions draft prospect of the day: Florida EDGE Jachai Polite (1-29-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/29/jachai-polite-scouting-report-detroit-lions/
2019 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Rumor Mill (Tillery and Williams aren't the only early-rounders with some character concerns, another player who has some questions about his makeup is Florida's Jachai Polite. Sources with the Gators said that Polite was a good teammate and liked in the locker room, but some NFL evaluators have concerns about Polite having issues with maturity and accountability. One team source said Polite's talent level is worthy of late top 10 to early teens, and if he slides into the mid-to-late teens, it will be because of the character concerns.) (1-22-19): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2019rumors2.php
10 defensive ends the Detroit Lions could target in NFL draft (Polite finished his junior season with 45 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. The potential first-round pick is another defensive end/outside linebacker but when announcing he was leaving for the draft said he would be one of the bests defensive linemen in the NFL.) (1-17-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/fa9ca596088576/10-defensive-ends-the-detroit-lions-could-target-in-nfl-draft.html
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Jachai Polite, Florida: Smaller, speed demon around the corner with intense flattening-to-the-quarterback skills and some pass-rushing moves.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Bowls (Jachai Polite, DE/OLB, Florida: To close out the 2018 season, Polite stayed consistent with his impressive junior year and had his way with the Michigan offensive line. In the second quarter against the Wolverines, Polite flew around the corner to get a third-down strip-sack of quarterback Shea Patterson that ended up forcing a field goal for Michigan. Polite lost track of the ball and turned the wrong direction or he could easily have recovered the fumble. Still it was a great rush showing his lightning speed and athleticism to turn the corner. Just before the half, Polite ducked under the inside of the right tackle to start a tackle for a loss. Polite had some other good pass rushes as well, and the Michigan tackles could not handle his speed off the edge. Polite has the skill set to be a top-16 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is very fast off the edge with a nose for the quarterback. Polite could work on polishing up more moves, but he has double-digit sack potential with his speed and agility. In the ground game, Polite is a solid defender, and that is surprising considering he is short and a bit light. As a pro, Polite would be a great fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. While he is worthy of going in the top half of the first round, Polite might slide some as some team sources have concerns about his makeup.) (1-1-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_18.php
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (OLB Jachai Polite, Florida, JR (6-2, 242, 4.65, #99): An explosive edge rusher, Polite serves as the Gators third down specialist, racking up 18 tackles for loss (11 sacks) thus far this season. While lacking elite size, Polite makes up for it with an explosive burst upfield and terrific agility, allowing him to scrape the edge in a flash to close on unsuspecting quarterbacks, while using his disproportionately long arms and strong hands to consistently rip at the ball. He will play in the bowl game, despite rumors that he intends to declare for the draft, where he’ll have the opportunity to be be a first round pick.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Peach Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Michigan vs. Florida bowl game (Jachai Polite, EDGE: Polite tallied 11 sacks and a whopping 18 tackles for loss in 2018 ... as a rotational pass-rusher. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, the Gators rarely used Polite on early downs but let him pin his ears back on second and long and third down, and he consistently demonstrated elite pass-rushing traits. From burst off the snap to bend/dip around the corner to an array of counter moves, Polite has the tools to be an All-Pro edge-rusher at the next level, he just needs to get a little more reliant on his hands at the point of attack and add some strength to his game so he's not a one-trick pony.) (12-29-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/peach-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-michigan-vs-florida-bowl-game/
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell the Top Edge Rushers (JACHAI POLITE, DE, FLORIDA: After registering just four sacks in his first two seasons in Gainesville, Polite dropped 20 pounds and broke out in a major way in 2018, with 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He’s a fear-invoking edge rusher with no shyness for creativity and bold twitter handles. Polite creates openings for himself using his precise footwork. For example, in the first quarter against Florida State a few weeks ago, Polite lined up on the right side against FSU left tackle Derrick Kelly. As the ball was snapped, he dug his right foot into the ground, leaning almost all the way to his right to woo Kelly in that direction. Like lightning, he shot into the hole he created to the left and charged towards quarterback Deondre Francois. A few seconds later, he was on top of Francois, credited with a sack. That was a key third-and-eight, the kind of situations Polite thrives in. If he can replicate that big play-drive on every down, he’ll get a leg up once he goes pro.(12-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/21/nfl-draft-2019-top-edge-rushers-nick-bosa-clelin-ferrell
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (Florida junior edge rusher Jachai Polite (6 feet 2 inches, 242 pounds) is a light pass rusher but could be a schematic piece in a defense like the Lions.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
Defensive Risers and Sliders - 2018 (Jachai Polite/Florida: Many will grade Polite as a defensive end, but he’s best standing over tackle in my opinion -- hence the rating as a linebacker. Polite watched his production as well as his draft stock take off in 2018, as he established himself as one of the most prominent pass-rushing terrors in the nation. He went from a watch-list player to a first-round prospect, and for the past month I’ve been reporting that Polite is expected to enter the draft.) (12-12-18): http://draftanalyst.com/defensive-risers-sliders-2018
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (25. Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida - Strengths: Bend, burst, pass-rushing moves) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Jachai Polite, Florida: Polite had a respectable 2017 in a limited role with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. As a junior, he was a demon on the edge for the Gators with 11 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He is the ideal stand-up outside linebacker who can get after the passer with explosiveness. Should he stay or go? Go. Polite isn't a three-down, edge-setting defensive end, but there's certainly a role for him at the next level as a pass-rushing specialist. I thought Polite scaled back his motor a bit in 2018 and wasn't especially consistent, but when he played with reckless abandon his flattening ability and occasional hand use were tremendous.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (EDGE DEFENDER - First Team: Jachai Polite, Florida - Few players at any position had the breakout year that Polite had as he finished the season with 38 pressures on just 240 pass-rushes. He recorded 31 defensive stops and missed just two tackles on 32 attempts.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 13 (Up - Jachai Polite, DE, Florida: Polite had a dominating performance against Florida State, overwhelming the Seminoles' offensive line from start to finish. On the first drive of the game, he tossed off a pulling right guard to stuff a running back and notch a tackle for a loss. In the third quarter, Polite used his speed to loop around the left tackle and then fully extended to get a strip-sack that was recovered by Florida inside the Seminoles' 25-yard line. On the next drive, Polite destroyed Florida State's right tackle and used his speed to chase down Deondre Francois for another sack. Polite will probably be a late first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is very fast off the edge with a nose for the quarterback. Polite could work on polishing up more moves, but he has double-digit sack potential assisted by his speed and agility. In the ground game, Polite is a solid defender, and that is surprising considering he is short and a bit light. Polite would be a great fit in the NFL as a 3-4 outside linebacker.) (11-27-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_13.php
Lions NFL Draft watch: 5 prospects for Week 9 (Jachai Polite, LB, Florida (No. 99): After bouncing inside as an emergency fill-in earlier in his college career, Polite has found a permanent home on the edge, where he's terrorized quarterbacks this season. Thanks to an extremely explosive first step, he's nearly doubled his sack total from the previous two seasons, bringing down opposing passers seven times in seven games. Looking at the tape, there are times he looks like he's been shot from a cannon, exploding into the backfield from a two-point stance before his linemates are even moving forward. Polite's motivation is one of the purest there can be. Look no further than his Twitter handle, "@RetireMoms," to know what drives the 6-foot-2, 245-pounder.) (10-26-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/26/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-watch-five-prospects-week-9/1764452002/
Jachai Polite Has the Drive and the Talent to Make His Twitter Handle a Reality (10-23-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/10/23/jachai-polite-florida-gators-mom-twitter-nfl-draft
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (12. Jachai Polite: I loved studying Polite's tape. He has an explosive burst off the edge and a very nifty inside spin move. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (21. JACHAI POLITE, FLORIDA – EDGE DEFENDER (Week 3 Draft Board rank: NR (-)): 10 of Polite’s 24 total pressures have ended with the quarterback on the ground either by a sack (5) or a QB hit (5).) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
4 prospects for Lions fans to watch in CFB Week 7 (Jachai Polite, DE, Florida, (Florida at Vanderbilt, 12:00 PM EST): Polite excites me when I watch him play, and that is an understatement. His first-step quickness has brought me out of my chair multiple times, but his second step might be more lethal than his first. He is listed at 6-2 and 245 pounds and is an assassin coming off the edge to pressure the passer. Polite is not a one-trick pony as he is relentless and will chase the ball all over the field. He consistently shows fantastic effort and does not take plays off, pursuing the ball and making plays down the field. Polite is also sound versus the run and will set the edge to force the runner back inside. Some pass rushers are excellent when rushing the passer, but they disappear when asked to do anything else, and Polite is not that type of player. He can win in a variety of ways, and while he needs refinement in how he uses his hands, he can be an asset to a defense in many ways. He would help the Lions defense get to the quarterback with more frequency, and that would be a very good thing.) (10-13-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/10/13/4-prospects-for-lions-fans-to-watch-in-cfb-week-7/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 6 (Jachai Polite, DE, Florida: Polite was fantastic versus LSU, making some huge plays to help the Florida defense. In the first quarter deep in Gators territory, Polite went by the left guard to get a back-side strip-sack that was recovered by the Gators. Late in the fourth quarter, Polite worked upfield before peeling back to the line of scrimmage to get a sack of Joe Burrow. Polite was getting other pressures and drawing double teams that allowed freed up other rushers like Jabari Zuniga. The 2019 NFL Draft is loaded on the defensive line, so Polite would be better off returning for his senior year and getting stronger. A good year in 2019 could make Polite a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.) (10-9-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_06.php
Risers and Sliders - Week 6 (Jachai Polite/Edge/Florida: Polite is consistently improving on the field and has become a constant nuisance for opponents. The Gators' upset victory over LSU may have been his finest performance to date, as Polite finished with two sacks and two tackles for loss, forced one fumble and also broke up a pass. He’s a natural pass rusher with a large degree of athleticism and a burst in his game. He needs to improve his playing strength and step up his run defense, but Polite’s ability to disrupt the action will be very attractive to NFL teams.) (10-8-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-6
Gators’ Jachai Polite, sleeper RBs highlight Week Six NFL Draft risers (1. Jachai Polite, DE/OLB, Florida, 6-2, 242, 4.65 (est.), Jr, # 99: With a tip of the cap to fellow Gators’ linebacker Vosean Joseph, the most impressive player I saw Saturday was Polite, an explosive edge rusher whose six tackles, including two for loss (both sacks) and a forced fumble helped Florida shake up the SEC and the national polls Saturday with a 27-19 win over previously undefeated LSU. While lacking elite size, Polite makes up for it with an explosive burst upfield and terrific agility, allowing him to scrape the edge in a flash to close on unsuspecting quarterbacks, using his disproportionately long arms and strong hands to consistently rip at the ball. Polite’s forced fumble was his fourth over the first six games of the season. He now has 24 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and a team-leading six sacks on the year, a huge jump from last season in which he recorded just 22 stops, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks (along with one forced fumble) before a shoulder injury ended his year early. To be clear, Polite had help in Saturday’s big win. The Gators controlled the line of scrimmage in this game, collecting 11 tackles for loss and five sacks overall compared to just two stops behind the line by LSU (neither of them quarterback takedowns). But make no mistake, Polite was decidedly rude in this contest, instigating big plays with a classic speed to power conversion that has helped similarly-built edge rushers like the Bears’ Khalil Mack (6-3, 247), Broncos’ Von Miller (6-3, 249) and Falcons’ Takk McKinley (6-3, 250) rank among the NFL’s leading sack artists so far this season.) (10-7-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/gators-jachai-polite-sleeper-rbs-highlight-week-six-nfl-draft-risers-foRNoQO_J0a2YQt8-3gv1Q/
2019 Draft: Five unsung edge-rushers (Jachai Polite, Florida: Want juice off the edge? Then Polite's your guy. The Florida junior is an ultra-twitchy, explosive athlete with plus bend around the corner, active hands, and a spin move to beat offensive tackles if his speed-rush doesn't get him home. He typically leans on his speed-rush, which is smart because he's that dynamic of an athlete. However, he's not a one-trick pony on the edge. Polite doesn't have elite, Von Miller-esque bend, but oftentimes he's simply so quick to the corner, the arc he can take to the quarterback doesn't have to be extremely tight. Polite is utilized primarily as a rush specialist in obvious passing situations, and he was dominant in Florida's upset win over Mississippi State. He had two tackles for loss and two sacks, and one of the quarterback takedowns came on an outstanding speed-rush on the Bulldogs' final possession. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Polite has ideal size to be a stand-up edge-rusher who can threaten the kick-slide speed of every offensive tackle in the NFL. Right now, he looks like a classic second-round pick, but if Polite continues on his current trajectory, the first round isn't out of the question.) (10-2-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-jachai-polite-oshane-ximines-and-the-unheralded-edge-rushers-with-serious-nfl-talent/
2019 NFL draft stock watch: Which prospects are moving up, down? (Stock Up | Jachai Polite | EDGE | Florida: Just one sack so far, but a pair of forced fumbles and constant disruption from this well-rounded defender.) (9-17-18): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/gallery/2019-nfl-draft-stock-watch-jarrett-stidham-jake-browning-tyree-jackson-college-football/
PFF NCAA Week 3 – Team of the Week (EDGE DEFENDER - Jachai Polite, Florida (Week 3 Grade: 91.4): Like Jelks, Polite constantly got to the quarterback on Saturday, recording five total pressures including one sack and four additional hurries. Had it not been for two missed tackles, his overall grade would have been much higher, buoyed by a forced fumble and two stops for an offensive failure in Florida’s blowout win over Colorado State.) (9-16-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-3-team-of-the-week
LB Devin White:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019dwhite.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018893
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/01/05/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-devin-white/
Articles:
TWENTYMAN: 10 players who impressed at 2019 Combine (Devin White, LB, LSU: White’s speed shows up right away on tape, and he backed it up with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash. He showed the kind of explosion teams like in that position with a 39.5-inch vertical. He recorded 256 tackles the last two seasons at LSU. His measurables and drill work showed he has the speed to get to the ball sideline to sideline and has bad intentions when he gets there.) (3-5-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-10-players-who-impressed-at-2019-combine
U-M DE Gary, LB Bush among NFL combine winners (Winners - 8. Devin White, LB, LSU: The combine wasn't likely to knock White from his pedestal as the pre-eminent linebacker available, and he instead used the platform to reaffirm his standing. Before a smooth on-field display, he paced his position with a 4.42 40 and added a 39 1/2-inch vertical. Though off-ball linebackers often aren't prized as highly as other positions, White deserves to be considered one of the premier defensive players in this draft class.) (3-5-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/03/05/nfl-combine-winners-losers-dk-metcalf-montez-sweat-draft-stock/3049233002/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (Devin White, Devin Bush - White and Bush, both first-team SN All-Americans last season, exceeded expectations at the Combine. White ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and had a 39.5-inch vertical. Bush ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and had a 40.5-inch vertical. Both lived up to their first-round potential and should be the top two linebackers off the board.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
Athletic White, paired with Davis, could elevate Lions' LBs to next level (3-4-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/04/devin-white-jarrad-davis-could-elevate-detroit-lions-linebackers/3054589002/
2019 NFL Scouting Combine Team: Top defensive prospects (Devin White, LSU - Best team fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Analysis: The Day of Devins continued Sunday, with White blazing a 4.42 40. He leapt out of the building with a 39.5-inch vertical and met expectations with his other tests (9-10 broad, 4.17 short shuttle, 7.07 three-cone). During positional workouts, it was easy to picture him back in his LSU garb chasing down ball carriers. While others may have performed better than White in various drills, his cumulative effort gave him the boost he needed to compete for a top-10 spot in the draft.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021076/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-team-top-defensive-prospects
Winners and losers from the NFL Combine: Why D.K. Metcalf actually hurt his draft stock (Winners - Linebackers named Devin (Devin Bush, LB, Michigan/Devin White, LB LSU): The Devins put together complete combine performances, with their 40-yard dashes being most impressive. They are athletic freaks at linebacker with the tape to back it up. A passing-heavy NFL demands that linebackers can keep pace with running backs and speedy tight ends in the passing game. Well, the Devins proved they can do that. They clearly have the athleticism to play on every down.) (3-4-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-combine-winners-losers
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: LB winners, losers from Sunday (Winners - White showed why he’s been the top linebacker in the class, following up a position-best 4.42 40-yard dash by looking smooth through every drill. During the on-field drills, White displayed his athletic traits, speed, and fluidity. He moved with purpose all the way until the end of the drill, which speaks to his ability to finish plays. With the performance, White solidified himself as a top-15 selection in April’s draft.) (3-4-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-linebacker-winners-losers-devin-white-devin-bush/
Sunday's 2019 Combine winners: Linebackers (Devin White, LSU
Like Bush, White tested well in every area, performing slightly better than Bush in the speed drills — 4.42 (the 3rd fastest 40 ever recorded at the Combine for a linebacker), 4.17 (short shuttle) — and slightly lower in explosion scores — 39.5″ (vertical jump) and 9-10 (broad jump). On the field, White was the final linebacker through every drill and he closed each one out with technique and quickness. I don’t think White is in play for what the Lions are looking for at pick 8, but don’t be surprised if White isn’t even an option when the Lions get on the clock.) (3-4-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/sundays-2019-combine-winners-linebackers/
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Linebackers (Up - Devin White was in tears after his first 40-yard dash. That's because he sprinted a 4.42. White, who also had a 39.5-inch vertical and a 7.07 3-cone time, cemented his top-10 status with his awesome showing at the combine.): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockLB.php
Combine Confidential: Defense Risers and Sliders (The linebacker group should also be acknowledged, as they too broke the previous combine record as a group overall, averaging 4.64 in the forty, the fastest group time since 2004, which averaged 4.65. Linebackers Devin White (4.42) of LSU, Devin Bush (4.43) of Michigan and Gary Johnson (4.43) of Texas were amongst the standouts.) (3-4-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-defense-risers-sliders-dkFc3m7x1kKIO0nTKpPs6A/
Combine: How Sweat won the day (Devin White, LB, LSU (Draft range: Top 15): This is a weak linebacker draft class, at least when compared to defensive line, edge rusher and the secondary. But even in a deep group Devin White would stand out. He's every bit as talented as Roquan Smith, Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch, and has the physical traits NFL teams now look for in their inside linebackers. Oh, White also needed just 4.42 seconds to travel 40 yards. White is one of the five best athletes in this draft class but because teams value quarterbacks and edge rushers more, there's a chance he slips to the middle of the first round. That said, the Bengals shouldn't let him get past them at No. 11.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-montez-sweat-steals-the-show-with-blazing-40-time-and-how-dl-lb-workouts-affect-the-first-round/
Amid Kyler Murray-to-Cardinals Rumors, Nick Bosa Pleads Case for Top Pick and other notes (We’ve talked a lot about the loaded defensive line class, but this linebacker class is stacked with really impressive athletes. Michigan’s Devin Bush, LSU’s Devin White and Texas’ Gary Johnson now own the third, fourth and fifth-best 40 times by linebackers in the history of the combine (2003). There’s good depth at this position, and teams with a linebacker need will be able to find a solid player in later rounds.) (3-3-19): https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-combine-nick-bosa-returns-makes-case-first-overall-pick
Dueling Devins - All-American LBs Bush, White record blazing 40-yard dashes and other LBs (3-3-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/dueling-devins-all-american-lbs-bush-white-record-blazing-40-yard-dashes-feONOWWx6UyuGpQ2dMFS8Q/
LB prospect Devin White would love to play with Jarrad Davis (3-3-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lb-prospect-devin-white-would-love-to-play-with-jarrad-davis
LSU's Devin White, Michigan's Devin Bush dominate NFL Combine (3-3-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-devin-bush-devin-white-michigan-lsu/
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (White smoked the 40 yard dash running a white hot 4.4 time and also impressed with his athleticism on the field. Obviously, he will rise up draft boards now, but the Lions likely already know what and who White is given their interview with him.) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
Video - LSU LB Devin White runs an official 4.42 40-yard dash at 2019 combine (3-3-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/video/lsu-lb-devin-white-runs-an-official-4-42-40-yard-dash-at-2019-combine
LSU's White 'knocked interview out of park' with Lions (3-2-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/02/detroit-lions-lsu-linebacker-devin-white-nfl-combine/3043258002/
NFL combine 2019: Devin White headlines linebacker options for Lions (Devin White, LSU: Devin White is the headliner name in this class, the guy being propped up as a three-down player. He finished off an impressive career at LSU with 256 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss combined over the past two years, leading one of the best defenses in the nation. At a listed 6 feet 1 inch and 240 pounds, he has some intangibles he still needs to show, but he's considered a first-round prospect. Could the Lions consider moving Davis to outside linebacker and using him more as an edge rusher, given his success last season? It'd be a luxury pick, but White brings a lot to like.) (2-27-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/a46c9630069823/nfl-combine-2019-devin-white-headlines-linebacker-options-for-lions.html
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (16. Devin White, LB, LSU: The Lions took a three-down linebacker in the first round just two years ago, but it's worth debating whether Jarrad Davis might be better off the ball, especially given his pass rushing success last year. Devin White is a classic do-it-all player who brings all kinds of production with 256 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss combined over the past two years in the Southeastern Conference. This would be a luxury pick in Detroit but could be one that helps elevate its 2017 first-round pick.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Devin White's NFL Combine goal: Be true to himself (2-26-19): http://www.nfl.com/labs/rr/pathtothedraft/white
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Devin White, LB, LSU: The Lions have definitely kicked around making Jarrad Davis more of a pass-rusher -- see his role last season -- and if that happens, it would make sense to find another high-caliber linebacker next to him. White has fantastic speed and strength. With 123 tackles and six passes defended for the Tigers last season, he has shown that he can produce, and there’s definite developmental room.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
Five linebackers for the Lions at NFL Combine (4. Devin White, LSU. Perhaps White is the most interesting player to watch at the Combine from the Detroit perspective, White is a super athletic player who can fly all over the field and do tons of things. Is he worth a top 10 pick? That's possible, but the Lions will be interested to see what he can do in order to get things going and figure out how he might fit in with the defense. If he is that explosive, the Lions will find out.) (2-25-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-Lions-linebackers-129477175/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Pre-Combine (Up - White: In speaking with an AFC general manager, they thought that White would steadily rise during the leadup to the 2019 NFL Draft. They said outside of some defensive line talent, this is not a very good draft, and believe White is a pure football player who will continue to win admirers as the coaching staffs get involved in the draft process. White looks like a lock to go in the first 16 choices right now, and he could easily end up being a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.) (2-19-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_22.php
2019 Combine Preview: Linebacker (Devin White: Best trait: Versatility. White looks to have the kind of skill set and athleticism to run, cover and blitz at the NFL level. He led the SEC with 133 tackles in 2017, and followed that up by winning the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the nation last year with 123 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Concern: He has to continue to learn the techniques required to take on and disengage from blockers. Skinny: He has uncanny playing speed, which allows him to be a true sideline to sideline defender. His versatility and multiple skill set should allow him to play a number of different roles within a defense.) (2-19-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-linebacker
Previewing the 2019 NFL Combine: Studs, starters and sleepers at Linebacker (Grade: C+. A First Round Prototype: Devin White, LSU: The 2019 NFL draft might be best known for the talent playing along the defensive line but a strong argument could be made that the best defender in the country last season was White, LSU's consensus All-American and Butkus Award-winning linebacker. Despite missing half of the much-anticipated rivalry game against Alabama due to a highly questionable targeting call the week before, White led the SEC with 123 total tackles in 2018, nearly doubling his number of solo stops (62) from his 2017 campaign when he averaged a conference-best 10.2 tackles per game. White earned First Team All-SEC honors after both his junior and sophomore seasons after making the power conference's All-Freshman list in 2016, leaving as one of the accomplished athletes in LSU's storied history. With all due respect to Roquan Smith - the 2017 Butkus Award winner and eighth overall pick last spring to the Chicago Bears - White was arguably the top linebacker in college football each of the past two seasons. As I recently shared with the Los Angeles Chargers, on and off the field, White looks like a future franchise pillar and a rare inside linebacker worthy of top 20 consideration.) (2-18-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/previewing-the-2019-nfl-combine-studs-starters-and-sleepers-at-linebacker-iswDuRo-S06O78Gg6Wh_QA/
13 prospects who should blow up the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine (Devin White: Widely regarded as the top linebacker prospect in this year’s class, White competes with phenomenal pursuit speed to hunt the football. Not only is he a tackling machine, but the converted running back was a weight room warrior, bench pressing 405 pounds, cleaning 341 and squatting 637 to go with a 34-inch vertical jump this past offseason.) (2-8-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/08/2019-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-top-prospects-kyler-murray-ed-oliver-rashan-gary/
Ask 5: Which draft prospect will generate most buzz at combine? (Executive 2: LSU LB Devin White: "I would say (Mississippi State DE) Montez Sweat, but he already generated enough buzz when he walked across the stage at the Senior Bowl. I'll go with Devin White. I've been told he's consistently running (the 40-yard dash) in the 4.4s and that will create some attention. Also, I wouldn't sleep on (Iowa TE T.J.) Hockenson. He's more athletic than people think.") (2-7-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001017284/article/ask-5-which-draft-prospect-will-generate-most-buzz-at-combine
Lions draft: Which defender to take in Round 1? (First Round - LB Devin White, LSU: Quinn said he wants playmakers, and White fits the bill as well as anyone. He flies around the field and is solid in coverage. He’s not as big as the Lions want their linebackers, but he could be a future star.) (2-5-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/05/detroit-lions-2019-nfl-draft-prospects/2776240002/
2019 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Rumor Mill (One player who could rise in the lead up to the draft is LSU linebacker Devin White. As we reported yesterday in the Senior Bowl rumor mill, the defensive line class did not materialize into the legendary status that everybody thought it would. With the draft not having as much high first-round talent as anticipated, some prospects will rise to take their place, and White is viewed as having that kind of potential. The reason for that is he is a pure football player. One AFC general manager said he thought White would climb because of his talent on the field and his makeup of being a team leader. It can be difficult for non-pass-rushing linebackers to get drafted highly, but White could be similar to Roquan Smith and make it two years in a row.) (1-22-19): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2019rumors2.php
ESPN’s Mel Kiper sends LSU LB Devin White to Lions in first mock draft (1-17-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/01/espns-mel-kiper-sends-lsu-lb-devin-white-to-lions-in-first-mock-draft.html
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Devin White, LSU: Hair-on-fire linebacker who packs a serious punch, is relentless getting to the football, and is an outstanding blitzer but possesses slower-than-normal play-recognition skills and tackling reliability.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
Fiesta Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in LSU vs. UCF bowl game (LSU - Devin White, LB: White has already declared for the draft but will play in the Fiesta Bowl. A freakish athlete at 6-1 and 240 pounds, White checks the physical boxes and improved his tackling this year, although he's not a super reliable tackler at this point. He's good, not great in coverage and projects similarly to Myles Jack of the Jaguars. He's the favorite to be the first off-ball linebacker picked in April. If he plays out of control less often, White can be an All-Pro player at the next level.(12-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/fiesta-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-lsu-vs-ucf-bowl-game/
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Linebacker Devin White is this season’s Butkus award winner as the nation’s top linebacker, and a first-round talent as a three-down linebacker and playmaker who is seen as a potential Pro Bowler.) (12-27-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (5. DEVIN WHITE, STACK LB, LSU (Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 240 pounds): He’s not as instinctive as Roquan Smith and may not be quite the college player Smith was, but his athletic traits are superior to Smith’s, which is really saying something. And that’s why White is seen as a potential Pro Bowler as a middle linebacker.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (LSU will be without star cornerback Greedy Williams, who is opting to sit. It will have his teammate who could also go in the top half of the first round in junior linebacker Devin White (6 feet 1 inch, 240 pounds), an All-American with an absurd 248 total tackles the past two seasons. He's like another Jarrad Davis, so one would have to move off the ball, but he's at least fun to watch.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (29. Devin White, LB, LSU - Strengths: Explosiveness, speed, power) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Linebackers (DEVIN WHITE, LSU: White, the winner of the 2018 Butkus Award, is the crown jewel of middle linebackers in this draft class. He’s hit 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a solid time for a 240-pound player. His ball pursuit is off the charts—when White is within striking distance, the junior launches himself full force at the ball carrier, a skill that propelled him to 115 total tackles in the regular season. Perhaps most impressively, he finishes his tackles exceptionally well, driving players into the ground; it’s rare to see White wrap up a runner then let him go. White’s relentless ball-hawking sometimes leads to him struggling against slow-developing plays and patient runners, and he needs to be wary of overcommitting to tackles. But this hard-hitting, horseback-riding linebacker is a given first-rounder, maybe even a top-10 pick.) (12-7-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/07/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-linebackers
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Devin White - Breakdown: Does he play inside, with Jarrad Davis bumping outside? Does Jarrad Davis continue anchoring the middle, while White bumps outside? Who knows. But either look would put a whole lot of size and speed on the field at the second level. And Matt Patricia's defense, let us not forget, is built from the middle-out.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - LB: Devin White, LSU - Allen may have taken home the Nagurski, but White beat him out for the Dick Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in college football. (He's LSU's first recipient of a national award since Odell Beckham Jr. took home the Paul Hornung Award in 2013. White finished second in the SEC with 115 total tackles and became the seventh Tiger with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons.) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Devin White, LSU: White exploded in 2017 with 133 total tackles and followed that up with a 115 tackles in 2018. At 6-1 and 240 pounds, White is a blur from sideline to sideline and a train as a blitzer. Should he stay or go? Go. White needs to fine-tune his play-recognition skills and clean up his tackling consistency, but he's shown enough to be a first-round pick and a starting middle linebacker in 2018. With him ... think Myles Jack.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (LINEBACKER - First Team: Devin White, LSU - White flew around the field for the Tigers in 2018 making a ridiculous 82 solo tackles. His presence was felt by opposing quarterbacks as well as on 98 pass-rushes, he got home with a pressure on 28 of them.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (4. DEVIN WHITE, STACK LB, LSU: Positional value being what it is, I doubt White—an off-the-ball linebacker—goes this high. But he’s a very good player who could be the nerve center for an NFL defense for a lot of years. He’s a better athlete than last year’s top inside ’backer, Roquan Smith, but isn’t quite as instinctive or productive as the Bears rookie was at Georgia.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (9. Devin White: Ultra-athletic defender with a non-stop motor and sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability. White is capable of destroying the offense's game plan. -- BB) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (22. DEVIN WHITE, LSU – LINEBACKER (Week 3 Draft Board rank: NR (-)): Among linebackers with fewer than 70 pass-rush attempts, White ranks second in the nation with 17 QB pressures. He’s recorded those on just 58 pass-rushing snaps.) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
Risers and Sliders -- Week 7 (Riser - Devin White/LB/LSU: The Tigers beat the odds once again, this time handing heavily favored Georgia its first loss of the season, and while it was a team effort, White led the way. His 13 tackles helped hold the usually lethal Georgia running game to 113 yards for the contest and less than four yards per carry. What stood out was the quickness, speed, instincts and explosion White played with, something he does each and every Saturday. His ability to cut off the corners from running backs and make plays in pursuit is impressive. So too is the discipline White plays with as he’s not a linebacker who bites on play-action or ball fakes. The junior grades as the highest and most complete linebacker on our board.) (10-15-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-7
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (15. Devin White: The LSU standout might be the best athlete in college football. He possesses a combination of size, speed and explosiveness that could make him a star at the next level. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 3 (ILB Devin White, LSU, JR. (6-0, 240, 4.64, #40): The speedy linebacker flies around the field, hovering sideline-to-sideline and possesses natural football instincts, which helps him to quickly shoot the gaps and swarm to the ball. White, who accumulated 133 tackles last season, is already off to a fast start, collecting 19 tackles through the first two weeks. While naysayers will be quick to point out his lack of height, observers should be able to recognize that this Tigers' heart outweighs his size. He appears destined for the first round whenever he decides to head to the next level.) (9-14-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-3-w1xKBgS0-kWsj9shkXo7Mw/
20 PFF College stats to know from Week 2 (Devin White, LB, LSU: Seven stops, 95.5 grade against the run, the highest run-defense grade among Power-5 linebackers in Week 2.) (9-9-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-2
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (18. LB Devin White: White is an explosive player in the mold of previous LSU linebackers Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander. He has sideline-to-sideline range and the ability to match up with tight ends in coverage. -- DJ) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
Scouting the SEC - LSU (Devin White comes up a little shy on the measuring tape, but he’s a dynamic defender and a next-level linebacker. White is smart, tough and very athletic. He plays with terrific speed and fundamentals and can stack against the run or drop into coverage. As mentioned throughout these reports all summer, the league does not mind smaller or shorter linebackers, and I doubt White is penalized much for barely touching six feet on the tape.) (8-13-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-sec-lsu-0
2018 college football season: Top 13 linebackers to watch (1. Devin White: White follows in the footsteps of former Tigers Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander as a speedy playmaker with the ability to run and chase from sideline to sideline all game long. White's increase in playing time as a sophomore led to a huge spike in tackle production and impact plays. He has rare acceleration ability for a linebacker his size (6-1, 240, per school measurements) and mirrors running backs from gap to gap if they start bouncing it outside. White is a voracious student of the game and is always looking to improve. The areas where he needs the most improvement are tackle technique and consistency as a finisher.) (7-20-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000941211/article/2018-college-football-season-top-13-linebackers-to-watch
2019 NFL Draft: Here's an early introduction to six of the potential top linebackers (Devin White, LSU: Experience: Enters the 2018 season with 22 games of experience at LSU. Exploded in 2017 with 133 total tackles -- but just 37 solo -- with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Also defended three passes and had an interception. Strengths: Incredibly dynamic athlete who plays with noticeable urgency. Elite twitch and plus speed. Is not limited physically whatsoever. Unafraid of blockers getting to the second level. Usually avoids them but very willing to deliver a powerful pop to initiate contact with blockers before shedding. Capable of manning up in coverage and decently aware in zone. Effective blitzer. Weaknesses: Plays out of control and at top gear too often, which leads to a plethora of missed tackles. Early comparison: Myles Jack) (6-25-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-heres-an-early-look-at-six-of-the-potential-top-linebackers/
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (Devin White is a 6-foot-1, 248-pound former running back who ran for over 5,000 yards in high school. He posted a ridiculous 133 tackles, 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks and an interception last year to earn Second Team All-American honors. He’s been drawing raves since the summer before his true freshman season, when coaches couldn’t stop talking about him to the media. Can you blame them? White came to school as a four-star athlete. Two years later, he’s drawing Ray Lewis comparisons (White plays ILB for the Tigers but can play whatever position his NFL team asks of him). White may end up with a grade rivaling that of Roquan Smith (White finished with more stops last year). I ranked Smith as the No. 3 overall player in this past class.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (9. Devin White, LB, LSU (6-1, 243, 4.76, junior): Watching LSU's defense last season, it was impossible not to notice White, who finished with a team-high 133 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss. His combination of play speed and point-of-attack power are already on a NFL level.) (6-4-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (11. LB Devin White: Like the aforementioned Devin Bush, White's career took a major freshman-to-sophomore step forward last season. His 133 tackles ranked ninth in the FBS and second only to Georgia's Roquan Smith in the SEC. At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, he's stoutly built to defend power rushing attacks, but has the speed (LSU has clocked him in the 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash) to make plays outside the box. He's also a true student of the game -- after home games, White's been known to beat the LSU coaching staff to the football building on Sunday mornings to watch film.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
CB Greedy Williams:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019gwilliams.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018905
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/09/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-greedy-williams/
Greedy Williams NFL draft profile (2-2-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/02/greedy-williams-nfl-draft-profile/
Articles:
Why T.J. Hockenson should be in play for the Lions, and other combine thoughts (Not greedy for Greedy - There are some who like Greedy Williams as a top-10 pick, and Greedy Williams crushing the 40 in 4.37 seconds won't hurt that any. And in case you hadn't noticed, the Lions could really use another cornerback. But after listening to Matt Patricia talk about how much he requires his cornerbacks to tackle, I stood there in the Indianapolis Convention Center just thinking about Greedy and how bad of a fit he would be. "I put a high priority on tackling," Patricia said. "You’ve got to find the right balance, because obviously the biggest thing they’ve got to do is be able to cover in those situations. But understand that some of the players on the other side of the ball are pretty good too. They’re going to catch the ball and what you want to make sure that happens is that they’re tackled right away and they don’t turn those plays, whatever they are, into bigger plays. So, it’s kind of a good balance that they need." Consider me a hard pass on Greedy for Detroit.) (3-5-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/03/1402076a367787/why-tj-hockenson-should-be-in-play-for-the-lions-and-other-combine-thoughts.html
Brooks: Winners, losers from day 4 of combine (Winners - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: The LSU standout confirmed his status as one of the draft's most explosive athletes with a strong workout on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. Williams clocked a 4.37-second 40-yard dash time and looked every bit as explosive as scouts expected prior to the workout. Although Williams didn't participate in the on-field drills or positional workout due to cramping, he made a strong impression on coaches seeking an A+ athlete at the CB1 spot.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021067/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-from-day-4
Monday's 2019 Combine winners: Cornerbacks (Notes: Greedy Williams (LSU) flew through the 40, as was expected, officially running a 4.37, but when the group switched to on-field drills, he needed multiple redirections from coaches, looked stiff, then cramped up didn’t finish drills. Physically he checks the boxes but mentally he is still very much a project.) (3-4-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/mondays-2019-combine-winners-cornerbacks/
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Backs (Down - Charlie Campbell broke a story where he spoke to several teams that graded Greedy Williams in the second round. Williams blazed a 4.37 in Indianapolis, yet he's still getting a stock-down arrow, which may seem odd if you didn't pay attention to Williams in the drills. He was all over the place in those. He did not look like a first-round pick.) (3-4-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDB.php
Greedy fast, Murphy shines at DB workout (LSU's Greedy Williams ran a strong 4.37 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, a time that tied him for second at the cornerback position. With that speed at that length, he's an easy one to fall in love with. But he wasn't that impressive in the pedal-and-react, had to restart in the next drill multiple times and then said he was done for the day due to cramping.) (3-4-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-greedy-williams-shuts-it-down-after-fast-40-byron-murphy-and-juan-thornhill-excel/
CB Greedy Williams wants to show NFL teams he can be physical (3-4--19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/cb-greedy-williams-wants-to-show-nfl-teams-he-can-be-physical
Combine makes it tough to see Lions drafting CB at No. 8 (LSU's Greedy Williams, who came into the event perceived to be top option at the position, did little to weaken that argument with his on-field testing.
Standing 6-foot-2, the long-limbed Williams showcased world-class speed in the 40, clocking in at at brisk 4.38 seconds. Combined with his playmaking skills on the outside — eight interceptions the past two seasons — he checks almost every box for NFL decision-makers. Except one for the Lions, which might be a disqualifier, especially so early in the draft. Williams is a subpar tackler, especially in run support, something he acknowledged during his combine media session.) (3-4-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/04/tough-see-detroit-lions-drafting-cornerback-no-8-after-nfl-combine/3055524002/
Several Teams Have Graded Just One First-Round Cornerback (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Several-Teams-Have-Graded-Just-One-First-Round-Cornerback
Weigh-in: Baker wins, not Greedy (Greedy Williams measured in with much less length than expected, while Georgia's Deandre Baker was longer than many thought he'd be, and Vanderbilt's Joejuan Williams displayed incredible length. CB losers - Greedy Williams, LSU. Many people expected Williams to be one of the longest corners in the class. He wasn't. Arms under 32 inches and a sub 75-inch wingspan. Not great.) (3-2-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-joejuan-williams-deandre-baker-winners-as-dbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
2019 NFL Combine Notebook, Day 2 (I asked one Detroit Lions staffer about the common sight of LSU CB Greedy Williams as the team’s first-round pick in mock drafts. His answer was curtly dismissive, “Our cornerbacks need to tackle.” Ouch.) (3-1-19): https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3142/2019-NFL-Combine-Notebook-Day-2
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (3. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: You've probably seen a number of mock drafts with Greedy Williams going to the Lions. The combine isn't likely to change that, unless he rises too high. At a listed 6 feet 1 inch and 182 pounds, Williams has the spider length Patricia likes in his No. 2 cornerback as well as a blend of speed and hops you don't often find at that size. I want to see a little more fluidity in his field drills, and he'll have to explain his disdain for run defense, but his vertical and 40 could are only going to boost his hype.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: Williams can cover -- that is no question -- and his 6-foot-2 frame would give a strong option opposite Darius Slay in the secondary, allowing the Lions to move Nevin Lawson to nickel, where he’ll compete with Agnew. Tackling is a concern there, but if Patricia believes he can teach that -- and last year he spent a lot of time with the DBs in portions open to the media -- then Williams is a smart pick.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
NFL Combine 2019: Could Greedy Williams or Byron Murphy be the Lions' No. 2 CB? (Greedy Williams, LSU: Greedy Williams comes in as the leader in the clubhouse to be the first cornerback selected, which makes him a prime candidate for the Lions at No. 8. At a listed 6 feet 3 inches and 184 pounds, he's the best combination of length and athleticism at the position, which appeals plenty to the Lions. His lack of strength and tenacity in run support is less appealing. Just where he tests physically will set his floor, but with two interceptions last year (and a third he essentially gave to a teammate in the above video) in just 12 games, he's ready to be a starter in this league from the get-go.) (2-24-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/4543d47c8e4973/nfl-combine-2019-could-greedy-williams-or-byron-murphy-be-the-lions-no-2-cb.html
Five cornerbacks for Lions to watch at NFL Combine (1. Greedy Williams, LSU. Arguably the top cornerback available, Williams will have to put on a show at the Combine and really wow folks off the field as well with his maturity and skills in order to convince a team like Detroit to take a chance on him high in the draft. With a good performance, that might make things a bit easier, but Williams will have to show up and show out for the Lions in order to make this a bit easier. No doubt the Lions will be watching him closely all week long.) (2-22-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-cornerbacks-Lions-129370659/
$.05 For President's Day (Three Draft Prospects I’m low On - LSU CB Greedy Williams. Good playmaker with outstanding length, but there are a lot of missed assignments and guesses on his tape. He might wind up being special, but he’s got the highest “bust” factor of any of the top CBs. Will not be a top 30 overall prospect on my board.) (2-18-19): https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3139/$05-For-Presidents-Day
2019 Combine Preview: Cornerback (Greedy Williams - Best trait: Length. He’s long and athletic, and really burst onto the scene in 2017, when he recorded six interceptions as a redshirt freshman. Williams was named First-Team All-SEC in 2017 and 2018. Concern: He needs to add some muscle to his frame, which will better help him challenge ball carriers in the run game and shed blockers. Skinny: He’s a press-man cornerback, who will probably have more opportunities to succeed early on in a man scheme. He’s smooth and athletic, and has a history of production. If Williams tests well at the Combine, he has a chance to be the first cornerback off the board.) (2-17-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-cornerback
Birkett: Here's who Lions should draft at No. 8 (There’s still a lot of research I need to do on the top prospects, but under this scenario, with those five players gone and from what I know now, I’d be picking from a group that includes LSU cornerback Greedy Williams, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and defensive ends Rashan Gary (Michigan) and Clelin Ferrell (Clemson). Oliver is the player of the group who most intrigues me because of his insane pass-rush ability inside, but he didn’t have a great 2018 and I’m not completely sold on his fit within coach Matt Patricia's defense. Both Gary and Ferrell would fill a significant need, but Williams is the player I’d take if I had my choice of the four. He might not be as good in run defense as Patricia wants in his cornerbacks, but I think he’s a difference maker who would have an immediate impact on the secondary.) (2-14-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/14/detroit-lions-news/2868515002/
Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address cornerback (Greedy Williams is projected as one of the first corners to be taken in the upcoming draft. Because of his length, speed, and ball skills, he fits the persona of a lockdown cornerback. His lack of effort has been brought into question, showing on various occasions not finishing plays or being a passive tackler. Early in the draft process, he was almost a consensus top ten pick, but with this new light, his draft stock is falling. If the Lions want him, they will probably have to use their first round pick, begging the question, is the risk worth the reward?) (2-11-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/11/draft-them-or-sign-them-how-the-lions-will-address-cornerback/
Detroit Lions take LSU CB Greedy Williams in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft (2-7-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/02/detroit-lions-take-lsu-cb-greedy-williams-in-todd-mcshays-latest-mock-draft.html
Lions draft: Which defender to take in Round 1? (First Round - CB Greedy Williams, LSU: Williams is the No. 1 cornerback in this class and the Lions could use a cover man to play opposite Darius Slay. At 6 feet 3, he’s got tantalizing traits, though his aversion to run support seems counter to what Patricia wants.) (2-5-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/05/detroit-lions-2019-nfl-draft-prospects/2776240002/
2019 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Rumor Mill (Yesterday, we discussed that teams were concerned with the character issues of Notre Dame defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. Another high-profile prospect with similar issues is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. Evaluators have some concerns about how Williams is going to respond to getting a multi-million dollar contract. They also are worried about family pressure and those around him being a distraction. Some sources feel that Williams is one of the most overrated players in the 2019 NFL Draft. They say the Georgia and Alabama tape illustrate that. They felt that he took his foot off the pedal on his late-season tapes and was protecting himself. A few sources said they graded Williams a late first-rounder, while another AFC scout said they graded Williams in the second round. On top of the character worries, Williams; thin frame is providing some on-the-field concerns about how he will translate to the NFL. Williams will be in store for some interesting interviews at the combine, and it would help him if he could add weight to his frame.) (1-22-19): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2019rumors2.php
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Greedy Williams, LSU: Long, smooth athlete with plus speed and stellar ball skills who lacks bulk.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
5 realistic prospects for Lions' 1st-round pick in 2019 NFL Draft (Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: Andraez “Greedy” Williams is a long (listed at 6-3) cover man with excellent ball skills and closing speed. He’s emerged as one of the best back-end playmakers in college football with eight INTs and 20 PDs in his two seasons for the Tigers. His small frame (listed at just 184 pounds) and propensity for holding receivers when they make breaks are issues that must be improved, but there might not be a more naturally savvy cover man in the draft.) (12-31-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/5-realistic-prospects-for-the-lions-1st-round-pick-in-2019-nfl-draft/
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (LSU CB Greedy Williams (sitting out bowl game): Williams is one of the best cornerbacks in the draft and a potential top-five pick. He has unusual size (6 feet 3), excellent play-making ability — he led the SEC in interceptions in 2017 — and would be the perfect complement to Darius Slay in the Lions’ inconsistent secondary.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (8. GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU (Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 185 pounds): Williams is tall and talented, which would make him a fit for Seattle-style defenses. But he’s also not the most physical corner; there will probably be varying opinions here.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (3. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU - Strengths: Length, fluidity, ball skills) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
2019 NFL Draft: Tracking the underclassmen (Greedy Williams, LSU (6-2, 185. 4.5): The redshirt sophomore's length, smooth acceleration and awareness of the ball in the air have scouts drooling. He's No. 2 overall on NFLDraftScout.com analyst Ric Serritella's initial mock draft.) (12-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-tracking-the-underclassmen-P4F7AwSa1kiZ2vxwEA9MbQ/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Haskins hurdles Herbert as top eligible quarterback (5. Greedy Williams: No program in the country has a more impressive track record when it comes to producing NFL defensive backs than LSU and insiders there suggest that Williams, still just a redshirt sophomore, may be the best out of Baton Rouge since Patrick Peterson. Williams' length, smooth acceleration and awareness of the ball in the air have scouts drooling. Perhaps the greatest concern with Williams is his slim frame, with concerns about his durability growing after missing time earlier this season.) (12-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-haskins-hurdles-herbert-as-top-eligible-quarterback-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Greedy Williams - Breakdown: Man, the Teez Tabor misfire hurts. Just two years after burning a second-round pick on him, Detroit probably has to spend another early pick on a cornerback. Darius Slay is still around, but there's nothing but question marks behind him in a secondary that has allowed the second-worst QB rating in the league. This draft won't offer a lot of depth, either, but it is top-heavy with some elite talent. And there's no one better than Williams. Listed at 6-foot-3, he has that rangy frame that Detroit craves in cornerbacks. He can run, too. He's smart. He allowed a 43.0 QB rating for his career, and did it while playing in the SEC, which Bob Quinn has put a premium on in past draft prospects. There's a lot to like about the idea of Slay locking down one side of the field with his speed, and Williams the other side with his size. Get ready to hear a lot about Greedy in the coming months, because it's a fit that makes a whole lot of sense.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Greedy Williams, LSU: Williams is a tall, super-fluid corner with impressive ball skills and speed for days. He had six interceptions in 2017 and two picks to go along with nine pass breakups in 2018. Should he stay or go? Go. I don't know what another year of stymieing opposing receivers would really do for his long-term success at the NFL level. Williams needs to be challenged by bigger, faster, quicker pass-catchers at the NFL level to continue to develop as a corner. He could be the first player at his position off the board in April.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 14 (Down - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: Another prospect who multiple team sources feel is very overrated is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. "[Williams] is extremely overrated, just watch the Georgia tape," said one general manager. In speaking to a director of college scouting, they said this about Williams, "I have him late [in Round 1]. I like him, but he doesn't have the speed to get an elite grade." There are some draft sites that project Williams going as a top-five pick, but team sources aren't nearly as high on Williams as the media believes.) (12-4-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_14.php
Top defensive backs in the 2019 NFL draft class (GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU: Williams is the consensus top defensive back prospect, slated to be selected in the first ten picks. The redshirt sophomore is an elite lockdown corner, a complete prospect in every sense of the word. Williams’s 6' 3" frame separates him from recent top corner selections—Denzel Ward is listed at 5' 11'—and his impressive wingspan makes him one of the best deep-ball corners in the country. Offenses won’t dare challenging Williams on a fade or isolation route near the sidelines. It’s not just Williams’s size that sets him apart. He changes directions with ease and doesn’t possess tight hips like other tall corners. Williams can stop on a dime and change directions, bursting from a backpedal into attack mode on slants and comeback routes. Williams is a great anticipatory corner, adept at reading a quarterback’s tendencies. His combination of brains and braun will quickly translate to the pros. LSU had a long history of impressive NFL defensive backs, and Williams is well on his way to joining the club.) (11-30-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/30/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-defensive-backs
End-of-Regular-Season Scouting Scuttlebutt (Another prospect who multiple team sources feel is very overrated is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. "He's extremely overrated, just watch the Georgia tape," said one general manager. In speaking to a director of college scouting, they said this about Williams, "I have him late [in Round 1]. I like him, but he doesn't have the speed to get an elite grade." There are some draft sites that project Williams going in the top-five picks, but team sources aren't nearly as high on Williams as the larger media believes.) (11-29-18): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/304
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (9. GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU: He’s tall and skinny, and isn’t perfect for everyone. But the Seattle-style Cover-3 defense teams will love him, and, of course, he comes from a school with great lineage at his position.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (5. Greedy Williams: Crafty cover corner with outstanding instincts, awareness and ball skills. Williams can blanket receivers in press coverage or sit back and jump routes using superb "off" technique. Size is a concern, but his skills could make it hard to bypass him as a potential CB1. -- BB) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (4. GREEDY WILLIAMS, LSU – CORNERBACK (Week 3 Draft Board rank: 5th (+1)): Williams has allowed a 40.1 passer rating into his coverage, just 0.5 points higher than if the quarterback threw the ball in the dirt on every pass,) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (7. Greedy Williams: Playmaking cover corner with a knack for finding the ball. Williams will be the next LSU standout to make his mark in the league as a lockdown CB. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
6 potential Lions prospects to watch in college football Week 4 (Greedy Williams, CB, LSU (LSU vs. Louisiana Tech, 7:00 PM EST): Williams has very good size at 6’1” and 185 pounds, and he is a very strong press-coverage cornerback, and that is Patricia’s preference in a cornerback. Williams utilizes his long arms to bully receivers at the line of scrimmage, but he also brings excellent athleticism and fluidity to the position. Williams is versatile as he can be seen playing outside and over the slot receiver and that only adds to his value. The addition of Williams to the Lions secondary would give them an outstanding one-two combination, and analytically, the No. 2 cornerback position may be more important than filling a need at defensive tackle.) (9-22-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/22/6-potential-lions-prospects-to-watch-in-college-football-week-4/
PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3 (5. GREEDY WILLIAMS, LSU – CORNERBACK: Perhaps the best press-man corner in the class, Williams has allowed only four receptions on 14 targets this season to also go with two interceptions and two pass breakups. 8.3 passer rating when targeted.) (9-18-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-2019-nfl-draft-board-top-32-prospects-after-three-weeks-of-college-football
Greedy Williams, LSU shut down Auburn, projected first round QB Jarrett Stidham (9-15-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/greedy-williams-lsu-shut-down-auburn-projected-first-round-qb-jarrett-stidham-TzLBb3fxW0qyUZ_CxaMAqQ/
Five possible Lions draft prospects: Week 1 (Greedy Williams: Maybe Teez Tabor will end up being the solution opposite Darius Slay, but so far, the former second-round pick out of Florida hasn’t shown he’s ready for that role. If the Lions are still lacking certainty at the end of this season, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility they address the need early in the 2019 draft. Williams figures to be one of top options, if not the top option in next year’s class. He’s tall and long, listed at 6-foot-3, and has already shown a knack for making plays, recording six interceptions as a sophomore last season. That earned him first-team All-SEC honors. He draws a tough matchup in Week 1, lining up across from 6-foot-1 Miami receiver Ahmmon Richards, who is trending toward being a Day 2 selection next year.) (8-31-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/09/01/five-possible-detroit-lions-draft-prospects-week-1/1158714002/
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 1 (CB Andraez Williams, LSU, So. (6-1, 182, 4.50, #29, Day One): "Greedy" burst onto the NFL radar last season, leading the SEC in interceptions (six) and passes defended (17) as a redshirt freshman. Williams shows fluid footwork, quick hips and seems able to stick just about anyone. The lengthy corner is also speedy -- he has reportedly been timed in the 4.2-range per reports and does a phenomenal job locating the football. He's the complete package with the ability to be a lockdown corner at the next level.) (8-30-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-1-E9td6AYRWEGJriM9IMPOAA/
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (6. CB Greedy Williams: Crafty cover corner with outstanding instincts, awareness and ball skills. Williams can blanket receivers in press coverage or sit back and jump routes using superb "off" technique. Williams' slender frame could be an issue for some scouts and coaches, but his turnover prowess will make it hard for many teams to bypass a playmaking CB1. -- BB) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft prospect rankings -- top 5 at every position (2. Greedy Williams, LSU: Strengths – Excellent size, speed and length allows him to play press-man coverage and stick with receivers in man coverage. Room to improve in 2018 – Less comfortable playing off coverage. Can lose at the catch point down the field, leading to big plays.) (8-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-5-at-every-position
Scouting the SEC - LSU (Cornerback Greedy Williams has incredible size and the athleticism to match. He’s fast, battles opponents and plays tough football. He engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, slows their releases from the snap of the ball and battles throughout the action. Williams is still very rough around the edges, and I dare say he’s not NFL-ready. The redshirt sophomore is slow in his transition, struggles locating the pass in the air and does not show a real good feel for coverage at this point.) (8-13-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-sec-lsu-0
2018 college football season: Top 10 defensive backs to watch (1. Greedy Williams: In recent years, LSU has put out defensive backs like Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Jalen Mills, Donte Jackson, Tre'Davious White and Jamal Adams. Williams is the next big thing coming from the Tigers' secondary. The redshirt sophomore put together one of the best freshman years that you will see, with six interceptions and a completion rate against of just 34.3 percent. Greedy is a long-limbed speedster with disruptive ability, but he still needs to improve at finding the football quicker when his back is to the ball. Once he gets that fixed ... Look out!) (7-6-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000939556/article/2018-college-football-season-top-10-defensive-backs-to-watch
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (Greedy Williams (6’2/182) is a tall, skinny corner who’s extremely difficult to shake due to his combination of long speed and quick-twitch agility. He shows natural ball skills on the rare occasions that SEC quarterbacks decide to test him. As a redshirt freshman, Williams was a third-team All-American and first-team all-conference player after recording five interceptions. LSU’s offense may be a dumpster fire in 2018, but the defense, led by White and Williams, is going to be nasty.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (7. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU (6-1, 189, 4.51, redshirt sophomore): After redshirting in 2016, Williams made a splash in his first season on the field, leading the SEC with six interceptions. A tall, lanky player, he has a chance to cement his status as a top-tier prospect if he continues his development in 2018.) (6-4-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (11. CB Greedy Williams: Opposite Donte Jackson, who was supposed to be LSU's top playmaker in the secondary last year, Williams took that distinction himself as a first-year starter. His six interceptions tied for fourth in the FBS and tied for first in the SEC. Williams is 6-foot-2, giving him the length NFL scouts covet at the cornerback spot, and is known to be quite chatty with opposing receivers. He'll be a redshirt sophomore this fall, and figures to be one of the SEC's top two cornerbacks along with Georgia's Deandre Baker.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
DT Quinnen Williams:
Scouting Reports:
Walterfootball: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019qwilliams.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018917
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/09/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-greedy-williams/
Quinnen Williams NFL draft profile (1-28-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/01/28/quinnen-williams-nfl-draft-profile/
Articles:
Combine: Murray, Metcalf among winners (Winners - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: This draft is stocked with physical freaks and Williams is another manifestation of that. He ran a 4.83 40 at 303 pounds, which makes your head hurt if you think about it too much. But running in a straight line isn't what's going to make Williams a top-five pick -- that'll happen because of everything he put on tape during the 2018 season. He has one of the quickest first steps in this draft class, and he dominates one-one-one blocking situations and regularly wins against double teams. Yes, edge rushers are the second-most important position after franchise quarterback but we're making an exception for Williams, who can change games from the interior of the defensive line.) (3-5-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-kyler-murray-d-k-metcalf-jamel-dean-win-combine-jachai-polite-has-bad-week-in-indy/
U-M DE Gary, LB Bush among NFL combine winners (Winners - 6. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Even in a forum that seldom affords the spotlight to interior defensive linemen, the Outland Trophy winner managed to shine. His 4.83-second 40 was the fourth-fastest since 2003 for any lineman weighing over 300 pounds, and he stood above all others in his position group when he took the field. Already a virtual lock to be taken in the top five picks, Williams affirmed his standing in this class' first tier of prospects.) (3-5-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/03/05/nfl-combine-winners-losers-dk-metcalf-montez-sweat-draft-stock/3049233002/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (D-line freaks - A loaded class of edge-rushers did not disappoint. That included Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams, who are in a battle to be the first pick among defensive linemen, but they have competition. Montez Sweat ran a 4.41 40-yard dash. Rashan Gary ran a 4.58. Dexter Lawrence put up 36 reps in the bench press, and we haven’t seen a full workout yet from Ed Oliver. These guys will be the story of the first round of the draft.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
2019 NFL Scouting Combine Team: Top defensive prospects (Quinnen Williams, Alabama - Best team fits: New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers. Analysis: Williams led all 300-pounders (on either the defensive or offensive lines) with a blazing 4.83 40. Even though he did not participate in the bench press or the agility drills, I'm including Williams on this list, because he really impressed in the positional workouts. His extreme explosiveness off the snap was evident when coaches had players go down in a three-point stance. The thump you heard when Williams used his hands to pound pads during drills was just stronger and more decisive than what you heard with other players -- and he did not have to slow down to make that happen. I'm not sure how he'll perform on the bench or in agility drills at Alabama's pro day on March 19 -- but I don't think those results will stop teams from considering Williams an elite prospect.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021076/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-team-top-defensive-prospects
DJ's takeaways from scouting combine (Quinnen Williams, Alabama (No. 2 to 49ers): Williams had an impressive showing Sunday, running a 4.83 40-yard dash. The 2018 season was a breakout season for the Alabama product, leading the Tide in tackles. "He's my No. 2 player. He's dominant on tape.") (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019889/article/daniel-jeremiahs-day-1-nfl-scouting-combine-takeaways
Quinnen Williams somehow ate only 4 Oreos as his pre-combine breakfast (3-4-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-quinnen-williams-ate-only-4-single-oreo-cookies-combine-breakfast-221216981.html
Sunday's 2019 Combine winners: Interior defensive line (Quinnen Williams: Heading into the Combine, Williams’ tape said he was in contention to be the top pick in the draft and today he reinforced that with a 4.83 (40) and a 1.67 (10-yard split), as well as looking sharp in drills. He did have a few slips, which happens when you’re trying to be too fast, but responded by making adjustments and finished the day playing under control and looking strong.) (3-3-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/sundays-2019-combine-winners-interior-defensive-line/
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: DL winners, losers from Sunday (Winners - Williams wowed NFL decision makers with a 4.87 unofficial 40-yard dash. His second attempt was much better, though with a scorching 4.84 seconds. The NFL later listed him, officially, at a 4.83 40-yard dash. On top of that, the 1.67 10-yard split also gave teams at the top of the first round get a better feel for the former Alabama star. Williams slipped a few times during some of the on-field drills, but he showed great technique throughout at all. I wouldn’t expect Williams to get past the first three selections, as the tape shows a player with a rare skillset that has All-Pro potential.) (3-3-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-defensive-line-winners-losers-quinnen-williams/
Brooks: Winners and losers from combine Day 3 (Winners - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Don't dismiss Williams' chances of finishing as the No. 1 overall player on most boards after the Alabama standout shocked the NFL scouting community with a sensational showing on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 6-foot-3, 303-pound defensive tackle has a rare combination of size, speed, strength and power, as evidenced by his effort throughout his workout. Considering his high-quality tape and nasty on-field demeanor, Williams is making a strong push to be the first player selected on draft night.) (3-3-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001020821/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-montez-sweat-soars
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Linemen (Up - Quinnen Williams is considered a potential top-overall selection for a reason. He's very athletic for a 303-pound lineman, and he showed that in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.83 40 with a 1.67 10-yard split, which is comparable to how Aaron Donald performed prior to the 2014 NFL Draft. Williams then went on to thrive in the drills. There was a report from Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area that Oakland will not pass on Williams if he's available at No. 4 overall.) (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDL.php
Combine: How Sweat won the day (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (Draft range: Top 3): Williams confirmed he's one of the best players in this draft by running a 4.83 40-yard dash after dominating the entire 2018 season. He beat one-on-one blocks regularly and double teams almost as often, and his combine performance puts him firmly in the running to be the first player taken -- assuming some team doesn't take a quarterback with the top pick. Williams has only one year of production after sitting behind Da'Ron Payne in 2017 (Payne was the 17th pick of the Redskins last year) but there's no denying his talent.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-montez-sweat-steals-the-show-with-blazing-40-time-and-how-dl-lb-workouts-affect-the-first-round/
Combine takeaways: Big day for D-linemen (Alabama's Quinnen Williams is an absolute beast. He blew the doors off the 40 with an unofficial 4.87 in his first 40, then topped it on his second run. His official time: 4.83 seconds. At 303 pounds, that's more impressive than what we saw from D.K. Metcalf on Saturday. Williams slipped a few times during a few of his drills, but he showed great technique throughout and proved why he's a top-three overall pick.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-montez-sweat-quinnen-williams-devin-white-josh-allen-dominate/
Amid Kyler Murray-to-Cardinals Rumors, Nick Bosa Pleads Case for Top Pick and other notes (Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams had an impressive combine workout and just might challenge Bosa for the first defensive player off the board. Williams, a single season starter at Alabama, ran a 4.84 on his second 40-yard dash run, with a blistering 1.69 split. Not many interior defensive linemen run split times faster than Williams. Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald (1.63) and Eagles All-Pro Fletcher Cox (1.66) are recent examples. NFL Network played into the hype on Williams and simulcasted his run with Donald’s 4.68 run. Williams (302 lbs.) is heavier than Donald was when he ran (282 lbs). Williams’agent Nicole Lynn tweeted that she advised Williams not to run his second 40 because his first time (4.87) was so good. But Williams decided to try to beat himself anyway.) (3-3-19): https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-combine-nick-bosa-returns-makes-case-first-overall-pick
Alabama DL Quinnen Williams is faster than NFC West QBs (3-3-19): https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/nfl-combine-results-quinnen-williams-40-time/
2019 NFL Combine: Quinnen Williams blew off agent's advice and ran a second 40-yard dash that was better than his first (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2019-nfl-combine-quinnen-williams-blew-off-agents-advice-and-ran-a-second-40-yard-dash-that-was-better-than-his-first/
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (The Lions probably won't get a shot at Williams, but with a speedy 40 yard dash and some nice fundamentals, he showed that he is in the obvious conversation for one of the top picks in the draft. If something crazy happens and Williams slips, the Lions need to be all eyes on) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
No Sweat, Mississippi State edge rusher leads dominant DL group at Combine (Projected top five picks Quinnen Williams and Nick Bosa did everything they needed to do (athletically-speaking)) (3-3-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/no-sweat-mississippi-state-edge-rusher-leads-dominant-dl-group-at-combine-lIYXFAHcLk6MN-tMaysgUg/
Raiders Like Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams (3-2-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Raiders-Like-Nick-Bosa,-Quinnen-Williams
2019 NFL Combine Notebook, Day 2 (Alabama DT Quinnen Williams is not working out because of a broken finger. He is universally considered a lock to be a top-3 pick, so it's not a big deal.) (3-1-19): https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3142/2019-NFL-Combine-Notebook-Day-2
Quinnen Williams set for finger surgery (2-27-19): https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/02/27/quinnen-williams-set-for-finger-surgery/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (4. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Some will debate Quinnen Williams as potentially the best overall prospect. I don't see that, but he is going to be higher on the lists of other teams that need help on the interior and play more one-gapping concepts. Detroit has A'Shawn Robinson starting to come into his own alongside Snacks. It could certainly make it work with Williams, namely as a third-down pass rusher and perhaps as an end on other downs, such as it did with Da'Shawn Hand this year. Alabama players do appeal to this team, particularly on the defensive line.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
How Alabama DT Quinnen Williams turned grief into greatness (2-18-19): http://www.nfl.com/labs/cfb247/quinnen-williams/quinnen-williams
Previewing the 2019 NFL Combine: Studs, starters and sleepers at Defensive Tackle (Meanwhile, an even bigger star was emerging in Tuscaloosa, where Quinnen Williams simply became the best player in college football, flashing the combination of raw power, athleticism and still-untapped potential that could make him the No. 1 overall pick. Grade: A. A First Round Prototype: Quinnen Williams, Alabama: With all due respect to quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray (among others), Williams was the best player in college football in 2018. Teams will have to weigh the fact that he enjoyed just one dominant season before making the jump to the NFL but Williams' combination of size, quickness and power suggest he is on his way towards future Pro Bowls rather than proving a fluke. There are few interior defensive linemen who dominated the competition as consistently and completely as Williams in 2018. Former No. 2 overall pick (2010) and five-time Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh is perhaps the best “recent” example of a player who simply toyed with opponents in the same fashion as Williams in 2018, perhaps why he’s held fast to the No. 1 overall pick in my updated mock draft.) (2-15-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/previewing-the-2019-nfl-combine-studs-starters-sleepers-at-defensive-tackle-ydtblYhiqEqSUcntDzPOMw/
Pass-rushers to target in the 2019 NFL Draft and free agency (QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA DI: Alabama’s Quinnen Williams tied for first in pass-rush grade (92.5) and pass-rush win percentage (20.6) this past season, exploding onto NFL radars seemingly overnight largely because of said pass-rush ability. His 60 total pressures (31 hurries, 17 hits, 12 sacks) led all interior defensive linemen in the country, as well.) (2-12-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pass-rushers-to-target-in-the-2019-nfl-draft-and-free-agency
Projecting The NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Line (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (Day 1) – His size, speed, strength and athleticism, along with his quickness off the ball, allow him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher from the interior.) (1-16-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/projecting-the-nfl-scouting-combine-defensive-line-JnMnU1Uymk2YPB0birSorQ/
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Hand-work master with plus athleticism, non-stop motor, and impressive power.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
National championship: Christian Wilkins and other prospects whose draft stock changed in Alabama-Clemson title game (Up - Quinnen Williams, DT: Against Clemson, Williams didn't have a vintage performance -- based on what he showed this season -- but he was the most disruptive Alabama defender on the field in the blowout loss. He was exceptionally quick off the ball, flashed his swim move, and pressured Trevor Lawrence, mostly early in the game. And, he faced a ton of double teams. No, Williams' stock couldn't improve much after a remarkable season. He did help himself though -- albeit slightly -- against Clemson.) (1-8-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/national-championship-christian-wilkins-and-other-prospects-whose-draft-stock-changed-in-alabama-clemson-title-game/
McShay: Quinnen Williams could go No. 1 overall in 2019 draft (1-8-19): https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Quinnen-Williams-Alabama-football-2019-NFL-Draft-127540714/
Ranking the Top 10 NFL draft performances of the National Title game (7. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama, Redshirt Sophomore: Clemson’s explosive offense kept the most dominant draft-eligible player in the country this season from taking over to the extent that he has in most games this season but Big Q still registered four tackles, including 1.5 for loss despite facing constant double teams.) (1-7-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/ranking-the-top-10-nfl-draft-performances-of-the-national-title-game-MCzJPKKw6UGjGKKGv39oNg/
7 draft prospects in CFP title game for Lions (DT Quinnen Williams
He's a first-year starter who redshirted in 2016, but Williams was dominant enough this year that he could go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Williams has seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season and commands double teams nearly every play. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound nose tackle is a significantly better prospect than former Alabama linemen Da’Shawn Hand and A’Shawn Robinson, both of whom are off to nice starts in their NFL careers with the Lions. The Lions don’t have a need at defensive tackle, but Williams is too good a prospect to pass up if he somehow makes it to eight.) (1-6-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/01/06/alabama-clemson-nfl-draft-prospects/2495356002/
Scout’s Eye: 2019 CFB National Championship Game (DT Quinnen Williams, rSO (6-3, 297, 4.96, #92, Day 1): His size, speed, strength and athleticism, along with his quickness off the ball, allow him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher. Williams shows sound technique with his hand placement and the athleticism necessary to split double teams. Another dominant performance would strengthen his case to be the potential number one pick in the draft.) (1-5-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-2019-cfb-national-championship-game-IQSmXls_9kqHZrH38_RBEA/
Top players for Lions to watch in Alabama-Clemson (2. Quinnen Williams, DT. Detroit may have finished outside the zone with which to nab Williams, considering he might be an easy top five pick given how he dominated up front much of 2018. Still, the Lions will watch and see what Williams can do in this game and perhaps hope he slips down to them considering his obvious talent on the field and ability to wreck a game up front from the middle of the line. Williams might be top pick material when all is said and done, but the Lions will keep tabs on him just in case given what he can do.) (1-5-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Alabama-Clemson-Lions-top-players-to-watch-127351902/
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama, rSO (6-3, 297, 4.96, #92): A redshirt sophomore, Williams will be eligible for this year’s draft and was arguably the best defensive player in college football this season. His size, speed, strength and athleticism, along with his quickness off the ball, allow him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher. Williams shows sound technique with his hand placement and the athleticism necessary to split double teams. Nick Saban has praised his work ethic and leadership, while teammate Jonah Williams calls him a 300-pound bar of soap. This is a blue chip prospect who should be taken within the first five picks.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Orange Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Alabama vs. Oklahoma bowl game (Quinnen Williams, DT: Williams had an otherworldly season for the Crimson Tide after contributing as a part-time player in 2017. He's essentially unblockable because of his efficient hand work, point-of-attack power, and surprising acceleration off the football. Though only a redshirt sophomore, don't be surprised when Williams declares early for the draft and hears his name called in the top 10.) (12-29-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/orange-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-alabama-vs-oklahoma-bowl-game/
Video - Quinnen Williams is deservedly one of the top 2019 NFL Draft prospects (12-28-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-quinnen-williams-top-draft-prospect
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Alabama: DT Quinnen Williams will likely be a top-five pick. In a draft loaded with interior defensive linemen, Williams is regarded by many as the top defensive tackle—he won the 2018 Outland Trophy for best interior lineman in college football. Alabama also has the best safety in the draft.) (12-27-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
How Alabama DT Quinnen Williams turned grief into greatness (12-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/labs/cfb247/quinnen-williams/quinnen-williams
Prospect Rankings – top 2019 NFL Draft prospects in the College Football Playoff (1. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – DI: The biggest breakout player of the season, Williams went from productive backup to the most dominant player on the defensive side of the ball and a potential top-five pick. He has the No. 1 overall grade in the nation, at 96.1, including the No. 1 pass-rush and run-defense grades among interior defensive linemen.) (12-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-top-50-prospects-in-college-football-playoff
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (6 feet 4 inches, 295 pounds) has broken out in a huge way in his first real starting season, notching eight sacks and 18 tackles for loss with a game or two to go.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Quinnen Williams Leads Interior: Defensive Linemen (QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA: The redshirt sophomore is just 19 years old and some may be concerned about his experience level when squaring off against more experienced offensive linemen early on. But his tape against the SEC should dissipate most concerns. Williams racked up 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks against LSU, and Georgia faced similar problems in the SEC championship game. Williams was the best lineman in his conference by a solid margin in 2018, and is the best interior defensive lineman in the draft.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-interior-defensive-linemen
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (2. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DL, ALABAMA (Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 295 pounds): A great example of the Tide machine at work. Williams wasn’t even a starter last year, and now he faces a decision on whether to go pro or not. It really shouldn’t even be much of a decision, because he has played his way into the Top 5.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Defensive Risers and Sliders - 2018 (Quinnen Williams/Alabama: While honorable mention goes to Gerald Willis of Miami, who went from street free agent to potential second-day choice, Williams deserves to top the list without question. He entered the season as a potential third-round pick, but now the underclassmen grades as a top-three choice and possibly the first overall pick of the draft.) (12-12-18): http://draftanalyst.com/defensive-risers-sliders-2018
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (6. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama - Strengths: Pass-rushing moves, surprising power, hip fluidity) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
2019 NFL Draft breakout players (QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DI, ALABAMA: After just 151 snaps last season, Williams has gone from relative no-name, small-snap count guy to college football’s most dominant player. He is the highest-graded player in college football at 95.9 and has dominated both against the run and as a pass-rusher this season.) (12-11-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-breakout-players-of-2018
PFF's Conference Players of the Year (SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE - Quinnen Williams, DI, Alabama: What Williams did in 2018 was extraordinary for the Crimson Tide. He entered the season as a small sample size talent and ended it with the highest ever grade that we’ve given to an interior defensive linemen in a single season at 95.7 (next closest was Maurice Hurst in 2017 at 94.4). Williams impressed both as a pass-rusher and as a run defender, despite just 151 snaps to his name before the season began. On 288 pass-rushing snaps. he recorded 43 total QB pressures that included nine sacks and 15 additional QB hits. He led the nation’s interior defensive linemen by winning 18.7% of his pass-rushing snaps this year while he was by far the nation’s best run defender at any position. He recorded 18 tackles for either a loss or no gain and made a tackle in run defense an average of just 0.96 yards past the line of scrimmage this year. Williams not only dominated, he went from a name only Alabama fans recognized to a household name to a potential top 10 draft pick in a matter of 13 games this season.) (12-7-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-conference-players-of-the-year-2018
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Quenin Williams - Breakdown: Defensive end is the bigger need up front, but don't sleep on Williams as a potential fit either. After all, Bob Quinn has already drafted two defensive tackles out of Alabama, and both A'Shawn Robinson and Da'Shawn Hand are playing at a really high level in this scheme.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
NFL Draft 2019: Prospects at each position who improved their stock the most this season (Defensive Line Quinnen Williams, Alabama: No prospect in the entire country has done more for himself as a draft prospect in 2018 than Williams. A redshirt sophomore, like many defensive linemen at Alabama, he has buried on the depth chart behind future top 100 picks early in his career but seized his opportunity this season after Da'Ron Payne and Da'Shawn Hand moved on to the NFL. A hand-work master with impressive burst off the ball and enough strength to overpower interior linemen in the SEC, Williams has a complete skill set and is equally as scary as a pass-rusher as he is stopping the run. He was basically an unknown after 2017... now he could go in the top 10.) (12-6-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2019-prospects-at-each-position-who-improved-their-stock-the-most-this-season/
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - LB: DL: Quinnen Williams, Alabama - We knew that the Crimson Tide would replace its NFL-bound front seven studs from a year ago with equally talented underclassmen; we just didn't know who would break out and when. Williams was at his most disruptive down the stretch as Alabama's margins of victory tightened somewhat, finishing the regular season with 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks after spending the past two years on the bench.) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Since Bosa went down with injury in September, Williams has been the best defensive player in college football in 2018 ... as a redshirt sophomore. A deceptively smooth athlete with a developed array of pass-rushing and block-shedding skills to go along with good power, Williams is much more advanced than his experience would indicate. Should he stay or go? Go. Instead of earning the "he's beat up" label many Crimson Tide defenders receive before entering the draft, Williams would be smart to strike while the iron is hot, and he's not a defensive lineman who simply overwhelms his competition with size or power. He's ready to be a disruptive pass-rusher in the NFL. I think another year at Alabama would likely do him more harm than good.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
2018 PFF All-American Team (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR – QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA: No defensive player graded as well as Williams did this season as he was dominant in every contest. He racked up 43 total QB pressures including a ridiculous 24 combined sacks and QB hits that tied for the national lead among interior defensive linemen. His 48 defensive stops were seven clear of the next-best defensive interior as he constantly wrecked opposing offensive schemes.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-2018-pff-all-americans
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - First Team: Quinnen Williams, Alabama - No defensive player graded as well as Williams did this season as he was dominant in every contest. He racked up 43 total QB pressures including a ridiculous 24 combined sacks and QB hits that tied for the national lead among interior defensive linemen. His 48 defensive stops were seven clear of the next-best defensive interior as he constantly wrecked opposing offensive schemes.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
College Football's best at everything (BEST OVERALL GRADE – DEFENSE
Quinnen Williams, Alabama – 95.3: What Williams has been able to accomplish this season from the interior of the Alabama defense is astounding. On a defense full of playmakers, Williams has quietly transformed from a small-snap-count guy to the nation’s most dominant defensive player. His 95.5 overall grade is nearly 3.0 grade points higher than the next closest defensive player and still much higher than that of Nick Bosa before injury sidelined him for the year. BEST INTERIOR PASS-RUSHER Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Chalk up another honor for Williams here as this one’s not even close. On 244 pass-rushing snaps, he’s recorded 38 total pressures, winning 19.3 percent of his pass-rushes to lead the nation’s interior defensive linemen. Williams has recorded eight sacks, 14 QB hits and 16 additional hurries and his straight pressure-per-pass-rush-snap of 15.6 percent is also the best in the country. BEST INTERIOR RUN DEFENDER Quinnen Williams, Alabama: By now, you get it: Williams is good. On 228 snaps against the run, he’s made 48 total tackles and missed just two while making 16 tackles for either no gain or a loss — the most of any interior defensive linemen. BEST SWIM MOVE Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Williams has a rare quick twitch for a nose tackle. In the blink of an eye, he can go from engaged with an offensive lineman to slipping by with his swim move that is the best in the country this season.) (11-30-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-footballs-best-at-everything
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 14 - nfldraftscout.com (DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama, rSO (6-3, 297, 4.96, #92): Not many prospects possess Williams' size, speed, strength and athleticism. A first-year starter, he bulked up 12 pounds during the offseason in anticipation of his move from edge defender to nose guard. Williams' quickness off the ball, along with his power to gain leverage, allows him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher. He shows sound technique with his hand placement and can hold his ground against just about anyone, while demonstrating the athleticism necessary to split double teams. He has been described as a 300-pound bar of soap by Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams, and head coach Nick Saban has praised Williams for his work ethic and leadership. This is a bonafide top 10 prospect when he does decide to declare for the draft.) (11-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-14-SkyfQCAuNEWZdnMUyJnjYw/
Scout Takes on the Loaded 2019 Draft D-line Class (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: “He is a one-year producer for them, but he has had a breakout year. He’s slippery, he can win with quickness and power which is hard to find. Really good technician, knows how to use his hands so he’s hard to block. He’s put together a really nice season, I think he and Raekwon [Davis] play off each other well. Raekwon is so disruptive with power and this guy can be so disruptive with his quickness and power. He is a really instinctive player. He has a really good feel of where the ball is going. As much hype as he’s getting he might come out for the draft, but he is only 19 years old. Is he ready to be a grown man and be an adult in the league?”) (11-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/21/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-line-pass-rusher-scouting-reports
Examining the top 5 players connected to the Lions in 2019 Mock Drafts (DT Quinnen Williams: Williams is absolutely dominant and will likely be considered one of the top picks in this draft (if he declares). He plays nose tackle for Alabama because of his ability to anchor but he’s not the Harrison type of interior defender, as he has the foot quickness to rush the passer with aggression. In Detroit’s scheme, he would play a role similar to Robinson at the 3/5T while also being an option to spell Harrison at nose tackle when he needs a rest. Bottom line, there would be zero drop off in talent when the Lions rotate their defensive lineman and would give them the versatility to go big using three and four of them at a time.) (11-16-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/16/mailbag-2019-nfl-mock-drafts-point-to-lions-looking-defense-early/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (2. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DL, ALABAMA: Williams didn’t start for the Tide in 2017. A year later, he has a shot to go in the Top 5, which is a good example of how the Nick Saban Machine rolls. And while it may seem a little off to see him ranked higher than Ed Oliver, the disruptive Williams is more scheme versatile than his more ballyhooed counterpart.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Risers and Sliders -- Week 11 (Quinnen Williams/DL/Alabama: Williams name could’ve have been added to this list at any time during the past two months, but his performance against one of the best centers in the nation was nothing short of dominant. Williams finished with six tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack against Mississippi State, but his dominance went further than stats. His ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage caused a great deal of discomfort for quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and forced MSU running backs to alter the angles of their runs. His ability to anchor against double-team blocks allowed teammates to make plays on the ball. Williams beat Bulldogs center Elgton Jenkins, graded as a potential first-rounder by scouts, with quickness, power and athleticism. It was a tremendous performance by a prospect who projects as a top-10 pick in next April’s draft.) (11-12-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-11
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 10 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Weeks ago in the Hot Press, WalterFootball.com was the first outlet to report that NFL teams were projecting Williams as a high first-round pick. If there was any doubt about that, it was erased in Baton Rogue when he dominated LSU. Williams recorded 2.5 sacks against the Tigers, beating double teams on a few of those plays. He also notched 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss. Williams destroyed the Tigers left guard, right guard, and center in overwhelming fashion. Williams against LSU was one of the most impressive performances I've seen by a defensive lineman in years. It was probably the best since Myles Garrett (2015) or Jadeveon Clowney (2012) during their amazing sophomore seasons. There is no doubt that Williams is a freak athlete. He is extremely fast off the snap with the ability to fire his gap and close on the quarterback in a hurry. He has functional strength to bull rush through blockers, or grab them and toss them aside. On top of his great skill set, Williams shows impressive technique with his hand placement and variety in pass-rushing moves. With his sawed-off body, Williams has natural pad level and leverage. In speaking with NFL sources, some are grading Williams higher than Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Auburn's Derrick Brown, Alabama teammate Raekwon Davis, Mississippi State's Jeff Simmons, and either of the Clemson duo of Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. None of those players have a tape from this season as impressive as how Williams dominated LSU on Saturday night. This performance should help him to be one of the first players drafted next April, and it could make him a strong contender to go No. 1 overall depending on how the team needs and the quarterback prospects shake out.) (11-6-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_10.php
The best college player at every position through Week 10 (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – 96.2 OVERALL GRADE. The best defensive player in the nation this season, Williams is on pace for the best season by an interior defensive lineman in our five years of grading. He has the number one grade in the nation as a pass-rusher (91.9) and the top mark against the run (96.6). Williams ranks second in the nation with 32 pressures (six sacks, 12 hits, 14 hurries) and also he’s first with 33 defensive stops.) (11-5-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-the-best-college-player-at-every-position-through-week-10
NFLDraftScout.com Prospect Notebook: Week 11 (Alabama redshirt sophomore DT Quinnen Williams (6-3, 285, 4.98, #92) continues to state his case as being the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft with a dominant performance against LSU, registering 10 tackles, including 3.5 loss and 2.5 sacks.) (11-5-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/nfldraftscout-com-prospect-notebook-week-11-uoYto63TFEmccx-zvzQ7jQ/
NCAA Week 10 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR Quinnen Williams, Alabama Week 10 Grade: 91.7 - It was yet another incredible game by Williams, who has been the best defensive player in the nation this season. This time, the entire country was watching as he finished with seven pressures (four sacks, one QB hit, two hurries) on 29 rushes to go with four more stops in the run game.) (11-4-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-ncaa-week-10-team-of-the-week
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (14. Quenin Williams: Williams reminds me a lot of former Tide star Jonathan Allen. He is outstanding with his hand usage and stands out on a very talented defensive front. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (5. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN (Week 3 Draft Board rank: 16th (+11)): Williams is joined by Temple’s Michael Dogbe as the only two interior defensive linemen to currently rank in the top five in terms of most pressures and most defensive stops. Dogbe, however, has spent 164 more snaps on the field than Williams.) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
NCAA Week 8 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - Quinnen Williams, Alabama (Week 8 Grade: 91.3): Proving to be basically unblockable this season, Williams continued what has become the highest-graded season from any defender this year. With a 91.3 overall grade against Tennessee (and 4 pressures on 21 pass-rushes), Williams now has an overall grade of 95.7 (2.3 grade points higher than the next closest interior defensive lineman) and 25 pressures.) (10-21-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-8-team-of-the-week
Lions NFL Draft watch: 5 prospects for Week 8 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (No. 92): We could feature a different Alabama defender every week and it wouldn't feel out of place. The Tide have a roster filled with draftable talent and Williams has surged to the front of the line. Coming off a dominant performance last week -- seven tackles, two for a loss and a sack -- the powerful interior lineman is solidifying his first-round stock. Last week, one prominent national analyst listed him as the No. 2 overall player in the class. Williams is quick and powerful. The downside is his size. He's a bit on the smaller size for his position, listed at 285 pounds, but the Lions could work him as an inside-outside option, similarly to the way they utilize his former teammate, Da'Shawn Hand. ) (10-19-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/19/lions-nfl-draft-watch-5-prospects-week-8/1685463002/
Risers and Sliders -- Week 7 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (No. 92): We could feature a different Alabama defender every week and it wouldn't feel out of place. The Tide have a roster filled with draftable talent and Williams has surged to the front of the line. Coming off a dominant performance last week -- seven tackles, two for a loss and a sack -- the powerful interior lineman is solidifying his first-round stock. Last week, one prominent national analyst listed him as the No. 2 overall player in the class. Williams is quick and powerful. The downside is his size. He's a bit on the smaller size for his position, listed at 285 pounds, but the Lions could work him as an inside-outside option, similarly to the way they utilize his former teammate, Da'Shawn Hand.) (10-15-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-7
NCAA Midseason All-American Team (Defensive Interior
Quinnen Williams, Alabama (2018 Grade: 95.0): No player has dominated quite like Williams this fall, posting the top grade among all defensive players due to his disruptive nature against both the run and the pass. His 96.1 grade against the run tops all interior defensive linemen and he’s tied for second with a 90.4 pass-rush grade.) (10-15-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-midseason-all-american-team
Latest ‘Bama superstar, toolsy receivers highlight Week Seven NFL Draft risers (1. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama, 6-3, 295, 4.96, rSoph, # 92: Like the aforementioned Hill, standing out on a team as loaded with future early NFL draft picks as Ohio State (or Alabama) is a rare accomplishment, one even more remarkable for an underclassman, like Williams, whose combination of quickness and power is almost unfair for a player less than three years removed from high school. Like Da’Ron Payne – the 13th overall pick of last year’s draft (by Washington) – Williams’ stout frame and fantastic weight-room strength make him a virtually immovable object in the middle at nose guard. Williams is quicker than Payne, however, incorporating some of the initial burst and flexibility that is helping another former Alabama teammate, Jonathan Allen, stand out after the Redskins nabbed him with their top choice in 2017. As he has been all year long for Nick Saban, Williams was the Tide’s most dominant defender Saturday in the showdown against Missouri and NFLDraftScout.com’s top-rated senior passer Drew Lock, registering seven tackles (six solo), including two for loss and this third-quarter sack, which went for a safety in ‘Bama’s easy 39-10 win.) (10-15-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/latest-bama-superstar-toolsy-receivers-highlight-week-seven-nfl-draft-risers-0WTsYIjYAkuorCCUYIuokg/
NCAA Week 7 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
Quinnen Williams, Alabama (Week 7 Grade: 90.1): The nation’s highest-graded defensive player was at it again for Alabama as Williams proved unblockable once more. He recorded a sack and five solo tackles that all went for defensive stops, giving him six stops on the day.) (10-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-7-team-of-the-week
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 6 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Last week in the Hot Press, we wrote about how multiple team sources see Williams as a high first-round talent for the 2019 NFL Draft. In speaking to sources at multiple teams including one general manager, they feel that Williams will grade out as a high first-round pick if he is able to stay consistent with his early-season performance. Grading out as a high first-rounder could put him on a par with Houston's Ed Oliver and Auburn's Derrick Brown as the top interior defensive line prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft. Some team sources think Williams is better than Brown and have him higher, while a couple of others preferred Brown because he's bigger and could have more versatility for the techniques he could play in the NFL. Both Brown and Williams are viewed as having huge upside for the NFL because they are still very young players who are just scratching the surface of what they are capable of doing on a football field. Williams is extremely fast at the point of attack with the ability to fire a gap and cause havoc in the backfield. A number of sources view him as a three-technique for the NFL. Sources say they are hearing at Alabama that the redshirt sophomore Williams plans on filing paperwork with the NFL Draft Advisory Board for the 2019 NFL Draft. If Williams hears a high first-round projection, he could easily enter the 2019 NFL Draft, and that is what many NFL evaluators think is likely. Most redshirt sophomore return to school, but every year there are a few that skip their final two years of eligibility to go to the NFL.) (10-9-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_06.php
Alabama DT Quinnen Williams Projected as a High First-Rounder (10-4-18): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Alabama%20DT%20Quinnen%20Williams%20Projected%20as%20a%20High%20First-Rounder
The best college player at every position through Week 5 (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA 94.6: One of Alabama’s newest stars, Williams has been the nation’s most disruptive interior defensive lineman. He has the No. 3 pass-rush grade at 90.0, picking up five QB hits, 12 hurries and a batted pass on 98 rushes while ranking third among interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win percentage. Williams has done his best work in the run game where his 95.3 tops all defensive players in the country and his run-stop percentage of 19.4% is the nation’s best among interior defensive linemen with at least 50 snaps against the run.) (10-1-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-best-player-at-every-position-week-5
Scouting Report:
Walterfootball: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019eoliver.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018336
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/18/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-ed-oliver/
Ed Oliver NFL draft profile: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/04/ed-oliver-nfl-draft-profile/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (D-line freaks - A loaded class of edge-rushers did not disappoint. That included Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams, who are in a battle to be the first pick among defensive linemen, but they have competition. Montez Sweat ran a 4.41 40-yard dash. Rashan Gary ran a 4.58. Dexter Lawrence put up 36 reps in the bench press, and we haven’t seen a full workout yet from Ed Oliver. These guys will be the story of the first round of the draft.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
Winners and losers from the NFL Combine: Why D.K. Metcalf actually hurt his draft stock (Winners - Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
I don’t care that he didn’t quite clean up the mess from his tiff with Houston coach Major Applewhite. I don’t care that he had an impressive 36-inch vertical. I don’t care that at least one team was interested in working out Oliver at linebacker. All I care about is this quote: “I’ve never been a cow guy, but they’ve got bulls that you can sell their semen and make a lot of money like that. … Get you a Wagyu bull and make you a lot of money.” The sheer randomness of Oliver’s quote summed up the oddity that is the NFL combine. And to Oliver’s credit, there’s a strange sensibility to it. He was talking about cows in the context of owning horses, which can be pretty expensive. At least he’s trying to offset costs?) (3-4-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-combine-winners-losers
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: Twelve numbers that matter most (287 pounds: The plethora of difference-making defensive players in this draft class have been hyped for quite some time, including defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Ahead of the combine, though, people were worried the Houston product would weigh in the 270s, which would flag as too light for many pro teams. Not only did he check in at 287 pounds (at 6-1 7/8), but he also had a 36-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot broad jump. Both help contextualize potential for burst, and he's one of just three players since 2003 who weighed 285-plus pounds with at least a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot broad. J.J. Watt and Mario Williams were the other two. And for the record, no, I'm not comparing him to Aaron Donald, but I will note that Donald was 285 pounds with a 32-inch vertical and 9-8 broad jump at his combine.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021021/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-twelve-numbers-that-matter-most
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (While Oliver didn't do on field drills, his off the field stuff was impressive given the 32 reps he put up on the bench press and a solid 36 inch vertical leap. There's a freaky athlete and player there that could fit in well within the Detroit defense and really get after it up front. The Lions likely didn't have their mind changed negatively about Oliver this week, and will likely be watching the Pro Day very closely to see what he can do.) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
No Sweat, Mississippi State edge rusher leads dominant DL group at Combine (It wasn't just speed that should catch scouts' attention. After weighing in heavier than expected (287 pounds), Houston's Ed Oliver showed off his remarkable explosiveness, registering an eye-popping 36" vertical jump.) (3-3-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/no-sweat-mississippi-state-edge-rusher-leads-dominant-dl-group-at-combine-lIYXFAHcLk6MN-tMaysgUg/
Combine News And Notes: Day 3 (We know how much Ed Oliver weighs! Yesterday, the big story of the day was Kyler Murray and his weigh-in. On Friday, Ed Oliver didn't quite generate that kind of hype, but it was an important measurement with many analysts concerned about his size. Like Murray, the results came back positive for Oliver. The 2017 Outland Trophy winner came in at 6-foot-1 and 7/8 inches and 287 pounds. While that's far form elite size from a defensive tackle, it's certainly not unheard of for players in the middle of the defensive line to have similar measurements with success. In fact, that's two pounds heavier than All-Everything Aaron Donald came in at his combine. Now that we know Oliver has at least adequate size, we need to see how he tests at this weight. Oliver is by no means weak, but he wins because of quickness -- quickness is an understatement -- and he's long been expected by many to be a "workout warrior" in Indianapolis. If he puts ups the agility scores that we expect from the former five-star recruit, he's going to be get back into that top 10 -- maybe higher -- talk that we heard before the season. Today was a good day for Ed Oliver.) (3-2-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/all-star-circuit/combine-news-and-notes-day-3
Houston star Ed Oliver wants to use first paycheck on buying horses, selling bull semen (3-2-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/houston-star-ed-oliver-wants-to-use-first-paycheck-on-buying-horses-selling-bull-semen.html
Ed Oliver has some interesting ideas on how to spend his NFL paycheck (3-2-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/02/ed-oliver-has-some-interesting-ideas-how-spend-his-nfl-paycheck/3042330002/
Ed Oliver: I can be like Aaron Donald, if not better (3-2-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001020498/article/ed-oliver-i-can-do-same-as-aaron-donald-in-nfl-if-not-better
Combine: Oliver, Burns win weigh-ins (Winners - Ed Oliver, Houston. Heading into the combine, there were rumblings about Oliver potentially weighing in under 280 pounds. Those rumblings were wrong. While most expected him to have shorter arms than most defensive tackles, being nearly 6-foot-2 and 287 pounds means he has a nearly identical frame to Aaron Donald who was just under 6-1 and 285 pounds at the 2014 combine.) (3-1-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-ed-oliver-brian-burns-among-winners-as-dls-edges-lbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
Combine Confidential: News, Notes & Buzz (The buzz surrounding Ed Oliver has already begun after the Houston defensive tackle measured in at 6-1 7/8 and 287 pounds. An incredibly explosive athlete, look for Oliver to have one of the best testing performances during the combine. Word is that he’s expected to have close to a 40” vertical jump. His stock is up and he appears to be a top ten lock.) (3-1-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-news-notes-buzz-PMOAV5PN8EGeKyJ6tmHdtw/
Ed Oliver's combine measurements make any Lions projection more difficult (3-1-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/01/ed-oliver-nfl-scouting-combine-detroit-lions/
Ed Oliver's NFL Combine measurements alleviate size concerns (3-1-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019882/article/ed-olivers-nfl-combine-measurements-alleviate-size-concerns
Can Houston's Ed Oliver break paradigms like Kyler Murray? (2-28-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/can-houstons-ed-oliver-break-paradigms-like-kyler-murray-033332257.html
2019 NFL Combine: Here's a look at the drills and the prospects who could ace them (Three-Cone Drill - Despite not airing on NFL Network, to me, the three-cone drill is the most vital drill at the combine. While no drill can tell the future for prospects, the three-cone does the best job testing explosion and twitchiness. The truly special athletes with seemingly no problems changing direction, excel in this drill. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver won't have the fastest time in the three-cone at this year's combine. He'll probably set a record for defensive tackles though. There's even some buzz that Oliver could sneak over to the edge on occasion or ... even take some snaps at linebacker in the NFL. Seriously, he's that ridiculous of an athlete.) (2-28-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-heres-a-look-at-the-drills-and-the-prospects-who-could-ace-them/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (9. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Patricia can be a creative coordinator, and this draft might test how creative he wants to be. Ed Oliver was one of the big names coming into his senior year before some size and health questions came into play, plus the classic dilemma of deciding what position he'll play. His athleticism is off the charts for a three-technique and fits where the league has moved there, but there's an argument to play him at inside linebacker as well. He's not going to fit how Patricia typically plays his defensive tackles, which are solid in Detroit anyhow, so this kind of pick would be in the search of a chess piece for a defense that wasn't explosive enough last year.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
NFL Combine 2019: 10 players with most to gain ahead of NFL Draft (Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: Oliver was generally considered the best player in college football over the last two seasons, but he is a mid first-round pick in our latest mock draft because he is more a defensive end/tackle tweener instead of an edge-rusher. However, none of the edge-rushers in this class — with the exception of maybe Nick Bosa — can put on a Jadeveon Clowney-like display at the Combine. Oliver can, and doing so could bump him right back into the top 10 or top five heading into April.): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-10-players-with-most-to-gain-nfl-draft/1j1d2k4c3ohx811x4g9xind3yv
2019 NFL Combine: 7 Prospects With the Most to Gain (5. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver has the power to make most of the 2018 drama blow over during the course of the weekend. He was dealing with injuries during 2018, and sat for an extended period to heal. Perhaps because that took so long, Oliver and his coach Major Applewhite argued on the sideline over a coat, which was only for players who were actually playing in the game. Oliver was not, but wore the coat anyway. Yelling ensued. If Oliver puts his most polite foot forward off the field and his most agile foot forward on the field, he might just reestablish himself as one of the draft’s top talents.) (2-26-19): https://thebiglead.com/2019/02/26/2019-nfl-combine-most-to-gain/
10 players who could be stars of the NFL scouting combine (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Any controversy over Oliver's sideline confrontation with former Houston coach Major Applewhite regarding his wearing of a jacket should seem even sillier the two-time All-American reminds talent evaluators of how he can move. Though he might measure in lighter than most of his fellow defensive tackles, Oliver should record marks more commonly seen from a linebacker. Though he likely is not a fit for every scheme, Oliver could boost his case to be taken in the early portion of the first round rather than the middle.) (2-26-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/02/26/nfl-combine-2019-rashan-gary-dk-metcalf/2935457002/
Who and what to watch at the 2019 NFL Combine: Interior defensive line (Ed Oliver, Houston (Suggested by: Erik Schlitt and Scott Warheit): People are going to get hung up on Oliver being undersized for the position — est. 6-2, 290, though some believe he is closer to 280 pounds — but don’t get caught up trying to figure out how he fits into traditional defensive roles because the Lions defense is anything but traditional. Regardless of what he measures in at, his skill set offers rare athletic ability, freaky explosion, the ability to create speed to power, an understanding of how to leverage offensive lineman and take away their length, and the awareness to track the play which leads to excellent run defense. If the Lions draft Oliver, don’t expect them to play him at nose tackle like Houston did, instead, anticipate them moving him around like a chess piece with his base position being down defensive end, but with the ability to kick inside. At the Combine, watch how his athleticism separates him from the others in his group and project how that would look next to Harrison, Robinson and Hand.) (2-25-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/25/who-what-watch-2019-nfl-combine-interior-defensive-line/
Ten bold predictions for the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine (2. Ed Oliver wins the Combine: Characterized as a top five cinch since dominating as a true freshman, Oliver has plummeted down the boards of some draft analysts after junior campaign better known for a sideline dispute with then-Houston head coach Major Applewhite than for producing big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Just like how I held steady with Southern Cal quarterback Sam Darnold through his inconsistencies a year ago at this time, Oliver has maintained his position as a top three prospect on my board because of his rare traits - including a spectacular combination of explosiveness and agility that will make him one of the obvious stars of the athletic testing this year.) (2-25-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/ten-bold-predictions-for-the-2019-nfl-scouting-combine-Pujzj6Cxwk-9WVKUKgV1Xw/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Pre-Combine (Up - Oliver: Prior to Jeffery Simmons' torn ACL, Oliver probably would have been the third interior defensive lineman drafted. Simmons' injury, however, could bump Oliver up and will also help to improve his chances of being a top-10 pick. Oliver needs to have some solid weigh-in numbers at the combine because teams have size concerns with him. If Oliver is carrying quality weight and works out well at that weight, that would be great for his draft stock, but he still is a direct beneficiary of Simmons' injury.) (2-19-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_22.php
Five defensive linemen for Lions to watch at NFL Combine (3. Ed Oliver, Houston. Oliver, like Gary, hasn't been seen on a football field for a while and many have moved him down in the draft as a result. Still, there's a good football player inside the big Cougars lineman and Oliver could be a sneaky good fit for the Lions with his abilities inside and out. Oliver will have a chance to really impress people, and with their need along the defensive front, the team will no doubt be interested to see what Oliver can do on the field. He could make the case for being a top pick once again with a big week on the field and in the meeting room.) (2-18-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-Lions-defensive-linemen--129250976/
Previewing the 2019 NFL Combine: Studs, starters and sleepers at Defensive Tackle (Entering the 2018 season, Houston’s Ed Oliver was the big name but his stock has slid for some amid questions of just how “big” he really is (expect something close to 6-2, 275 pounds) and how “big” of a deal to make his well-documented sideline spat with his then-head coach Major Applewhite.) (2-15-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/previewing-the-2019-nfl-combine-studs-starters-sleepers-at-defensive-tackle-ydtblYhiqEqSUcntDzPOMw/
13 prospects who should blow up the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine (Ed Oliver: Oliver is one of the best overall prospects in this class. His undersized frame didn’t check out as eye-popping, but his athleticism, instincts and relentless nature did. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he had a vertical jump of 36 inches and a broad jumps 10-foot 1-inch broad jump in the summer of 2018. That athleticism is obvious on film, and should be on full display in Indy.) (2-8-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/08/2019-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-top-prospects-kyler-murray-ed-oliver-rashan-gary/
5 Most Controversial Prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft (2. DT Ed Oliver: After the 2017 season, Oliver was a favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is no longer. That’s natural for a player’s draft stock to fluctuate, especially when expectations get as high as they were for Oliver. Now, he’s looking like a top 15 pick, but he’s completely out of the discussion for No. 1 overall, even though the Arizona Cardinals are looking for defensive line help. Oliver had a bizarre incident during the 2018 season when he resorted to screaming at Houston coach Major Applewhite, who asked Oliver to take off a jacket which was reserved for players who were playing in the game. Oliver was not playing, and thus shouldn’t have been wearing the jacket, Applewhite argued. That triggered Oliver in a big way.) (2-6-19): https://thebiglead.com/2019/02/06/nfl-draft-kyler-murray-daniel-jones-controversial-prospects/
Lions draft: Which defender to take in Round 1? (First Round - DT Ed Oliver, Houston: Once considered in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick, Oliver is a tremendous talent who had a quiet year. The Lions are stacked at DT with Damon Harrison, A’Shawn Robinson and Da’Shawn Hand, but Oliver is a blue-chip talent.) (2-5-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/05/detroit-lions-2019-nfl-draft-prospects/2776240002/
NFC North needs, perfect first pick for 2019 (Perfect pick: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: The Lions have needs everywhere it seems, but they are in perfect position to add another piece to Matt Patricia's defense at the top of the first round with the eighth overall pick. Oliver was once seen as a contender to go No. 1 overall, but has slid a bit. Putting him at end in a 3-4 defense with Damon Harrison at nose tackle and Da'Shawn Hand on the other end would give the Lions one of the best defensive lines in the NFC and open things up for guys to make plays in the back seven. Some believe he has some Aaron Donald-like abilities in his game.) (1-23-17): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Draft-needs-NFC-North-2019-128219625/
Projecting The NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Line (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (Day 1) – A ferocious force on the interior, with the ability to disrupt, Oliver is explosive off the snap, slips off blocks like he’s lathered in soap and is often able to split double teams.) (1-16-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/projecting-the-nfl-scouting-combine-defensive-line-JnMnU1Uymk2YPB0birSorQ/
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Ed Oliver, Houston: Somewhat smaller defensive tackle with ridiculously, Aaron Donald-ian burst off the ball, natural athleticism, and low-center-of-gravity strength.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
5 realistic prospects for Lions' 1st-round pick in 2019 NFL Draft (Ed Oliver, DL, Houston: An athletic freak on the interior, Oliver moves like a strong safety at 280 pounds. He was quite productive (53 TFLs, 13.5 sacks in three years) despite being the entire focus of the opposing blocking scheme. Oliver did see his production decline each season, in part because of an injury that kept the 21-year-old out for four games in 2018. Still, comparisons to Bengals standout Geno Atkins and Saints star Cam Jordan fit Oliver nicely. He’s a high risk-reward player with the chance to be an impact star right away.) (12-31-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/5-realistic-prospects-for-the-lions-1st-round-pick-in-2019-nfl-draft/
Scout's Eye: Bowl Game Edition Part III (DT Ed Oliver, Houston, JR (6-2, 290, 4.92, #10): A blue-chip prospect, Oliver stated his intention to declare early before his junior campaign even began, so his decision not to play in this game isn't surprising. He came under scrutiny late in the year for his sideline blow-up during an argument with head coach Major Applewhite, but it shouldn't impact how teams value his ability. His aptitude to take on double teams and finish, along with the amount of ground he is able to cover for a man of his size is extremely rare. A sprained ACL hindered his final season in Houston, but Oliver will be in contention to be the top overall selection and has drawn comparisons to Casey Hampton.) (12-21-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Six NFL draft prospects whose 2018 production didn't meet the hype (ED OLIVER, DL, HOUSTON (92.7): Unlike others on this list, Oliver’s grading is still excellent. His 92.7 overall grade ranked third among all defensive tackles in the country, but it’s how that grade is comprised that’s concerning. Oliver has been one of the top run defenders in the country since the day he stepped on campus at Houston, but his pass-rushing prowess has never quite caught up. The projected top-10 pick has all of 25 pressures on the season. And that’s coming against a mostly favorable slate of AAC offensive linemen. Dre’Mont Jones (52), Jerry Tillery (50) and Quinnen Williams (48) have all vastly outpaced Oliver in the pressure department.) (12-17-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-six-over-hyped-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (Houston DT Ed Oliver (sitting out bowl game): Oliver was talked about as the potential No. 1 overall pick entering the season, but he missed time with injuries this year and had a public spat with his head coach. The Lions don’t need a defensive tackle with Hand, Damon Harrison and A’Shawn Robinson in the fold, but Oliver might be too good to pass up if he slides come draft day.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Quinnen Williams Leads Interior Defensive Linemen (ED OLIVER, HOUSTON: Oliver’s 2018 was marred by injury, missing four of the Cougars’ final five games due to a knee injury. But last season he put up enough dominant tape to likely garner a top-10 selection. Oliver destroys interior linemen and swallows up opposing backs, sporting an insane 53 tackles for loss in 32 career games. He’s also no slouch as a pass rusher—Oliver’s quick hands and explosion overwhelm guards and centers. Blocking him one-on-one is often an invitation for trouble. The Houston product has earned comparisons to Rams DT Aaron Donald. Both are undersized and elite bull rushers inside, but Oliver isn’t the same caliber of prospect. Donald can burst through double teams with ease, while Oliver can be thrown to the turf by a center-guard combo. Donald is an NFL unicorn. Oliver is a step below as a prospect, but should still be a Pro-Bowl caliber player early in his career.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-interior-defensive-linemen
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (4. ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON (Height: 6' 2" | Weight: 290 pounds): Will he come in at 280 pounds? How will he interview? Coming into 2018, Oliver looked like a sure thing to go atop the draft, maybe even in front of Bosa. But as scouts have taken a closer look, questions have arisen, as has a feeling that Oliver’s not for everyone.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston - Strengths: Extreme explosiveness, low-center-of-gravity power) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
PFF's Conference Players of the Year (AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
- Ed Oliver, DI, Houston: Long since a talented run stopper, Oliver increased his pass-rushing grade by almost 20.0 grade points in 2018, recording career-highs in overall grade (92.7) and pass-rush grade (88.4). While he didn’t set a personal record in total QB pressures with just 25 this year, he managed those pressures on 142 fewer pass-rush attempts in 2018 than he did when he set his career-best 27 pressures in 2017. Oliver trailed only Williams in run-defense grade among interior defensive linemen as well this season, giving him an astounding 117 run stops over the past three years.) (12-7-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-conference-players-of-the-year-2018
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Ed Oliver - Breakdown: An undersized defensive tackle with undeniable game-wrecking ability. Stop me when you've heard this before. And, yes, he's drawing some obviously unfair comps to Aaron Donald. Detroit passed on Donald in 2014, but there were people in that building who loved him over Eric Ebron. Alas, here we are, with neither in Detroit. Oliver could provide the club with another crack at a game-changing anchor for the defensive line, although injuries and that public blow-up with his coach over a jacket on the sideline could hurt his stock.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Ed Oliver, Houston: Oliver was a top recruit and shockingly decided to stay home to go to Houston, spurning Alabama and other gigantic programs. He lived up to the billing for the Cougars with 53 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in three seasons. Should he stay go? Go. Of course. Oliver is the most athletically gifted defensive tackle to enter the NFL since Aaron Donald came into the league in 2014. He's incredibly dynamic off the ball and a speed-to-power rusher with some pass-rushing moves.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
Houston stars shine on PFF's 2018 All-AAC selections (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
First Team: Ed Oliver, Houston: Not much more can be said about Oliver who was his usual dominant self this season. He not only led all AAC interior defenders in grade, but he also led all defensive players in the conference with a 92.7 overall grade.) (12-4-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-houston-stars-shine-2018-all-aac-selections
Scout Takes on the Loaded 2019 Draft D-line Class (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: "Explosive quick player that lacks length, size. Good football player that’s agile with instincts, awareness. On the ground more than I expected and gets covered up quite a bit. The double team blocks will overwhelm him at times. He's not Aaron Donald and teams are worried about his game transitioning at the pro level. He plays against marginal players on the offensive line in conference.") (11-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/21/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-line-pass-rusher-scouting-reports
Houston star DT Ed Oliver in heated incident with coach Major Applewhite (11-16-18): http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25289552/houston-star-dt-ed-oliver-heated-incident-coach-major-applewhite
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (3. ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON: Oliver has missed the last three weeks after taking an illegal low hit to the knee against Navy, and his status is up in the air for tomorrow’s home finale against Tulane. That said, he’s still the guy who was drawing comparisons to John Randle over the summer. And while not every team loves him (will he come in at 280 or 300 pounds?), for some, he projects as a foundational type player.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
All-American Ed Oliver to miss fourth straight game for Houston (11-14-18): https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/14/all-american-ed-oliver-to-miss-fourth-straight-game-for-houston/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver has now missed three games with a knee injury, and while he's still listed as day-to-day, I'm starting to think he's already played his final snap for the Cougars. If that's the case, Oliver ended his collegiate career on a tear with 24 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his final three contests.) (11-14-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-zach-allen-has-the-power-refined-game-to-be-star-defensive-lineman/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver just missed his third straight game with a knee injury. Previously, he totaled five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss against Navy. A week earlier, the Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (11-13-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Alabama's Quinnen Williams rising but not (yet) No. 1 (1. Oliver: Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 52 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man. His ability to penetrate from the interior makes him a difference-maker against the pass and run, alike - a rarity among defensive tackles. Oliver's status as a top five prospect remains secure despite a nagging knee injury which has sidelined him the past two games and threatens to do the same in Week 11 against Temple.) (11-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-alabama-s-quinnen-williams-rising-but-not-yet-no-1-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Quinnen Williams closing in on Ed Oliver as top DT prospect (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver remained on the shelf over the weekend with a knee injury that's certainly worth monitoring now that he's missed two games in a row.) (11-7-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-quinnen-williams-closing-in-on-ed-oliver-as-top-dt-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 12 Avg. 6.9 per 11): Oliver just missed his second straight game with a knee injury. Previously, he totaled five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss against Navy. A week earlier, the Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (11-7-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Alabama vs. LSU highlight must-see Week 10 matchups (1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston, Jr: Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 52 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early. Oliver's status as a top five prospect remains secure despite a nagging knee injury which sidelined him last week (South Florida) and threatens to do the same in Week 10 against SMU.) (11-2-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-alabama-vs-lsu-highlight-must-see-week-10-matchups-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 Draft Prospect Rankings: WRs Harmon, Johnson can do it all (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver didn't play over the weekend due to a knee injury. His play of late led to him returning to the top 5.) (10-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-wrs-kelvin-harmon-anthony-johnson-put-their-complete-games-on-display/
Houston Cougars DT Ed Oliver out vs. South Florida Bulls with knee contusion (10-27-18): http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25099216/houston-cougars-dt-ed-oliver-vs-south-florida-bulls-knee-contusion
Houston DT Oliver questionable for South Florida game with a bruised knee (10-25-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/houston-dt-oliver-questionable-for-south-florida-game-FiYMO9qCME-fegyE9quuXQ/
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 9 (DT Ed Oliver, Houston, JR (6-2, 290, 4.92, #10): Currently the No. 1 overall prospect on the NFLDraftScout.com big board, Oliver enters the game listed as questionable because of a knee injury. The Houston native stated his intent to declare for the draft prior to the season, so this situation bears monitoring if the injury continues to persist. A sprained ACL caused him to miss four games in 2017 and the thought of calling it quits on his college career to concentrate on the draft could be an idea that crosses his mind. Oliver has 52 tackles for loss in 31 career games.) (10-25-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-9-Dy7CuibxRky3_Tex6e2pMQ/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Washington's Ben Burr-Kirven the new-age linebacker prototype (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver actually notched a sack against an extremely run-heavy Navy team and had two tackles for loss. Sure, there were some times he was blown off the ball by double and even triple teams, but the Midshipman run a unique option-based offense. Solid outing for Oliver whose play has trended in the right direction of late.) (10-24-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-washingtons-ben-burr-kirven-the-new-age-linebacker-prototype/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (12. Oliver: Taking on Navy, Oliver had five tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss. A week earlier the, Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - eight solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (10-24-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (2. Oliver: Oliver is somewhat polarizing in NFL scouting circles. Everyone agrees he is a great player, but some don't view him as a top-10 talent. I'm still a believer. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (8. ED OLIVER, HOUSTON – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
(Week 3 Draft Board rank: 8th (no change)): Adding to his impressive three-year resume, Oliver is just four QB pressures away from his career-high total of 27 that he set in 2017. He has brought in 24 pressures already this year, on 165 fewer pass-rushes than last season..) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Add Miami's Gerald Willis to group of premier DT prospects (4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver notched two sacks against East Carolina and showed off some counter moves, including a spin, as a pass-rusher. Those were far from his only pressures of the game. Oliver also forced a fumble. It was the type of performance -- which included some "finishes" -- I've been looking for all season.) (10-19-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-add-miamis-gerald-willis-to-group-of-premier-dt-prospects/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: ACC, SEC defenders rising as rivalry games begin (1. Ed Oliver (2018: 46 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks (six games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 40 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-18-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-acc-sec-defenders-rising-as-rivalry-games-begin-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (13. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 14 Avg. 5 per 8): The Cougars beat East Carolina while Oliver had six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 46 tackles with 11.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass batted on the season.) (10-17-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
NCAA Midseason All-American Team (Defensive Interior - Ed Oliver, Houston
(2018 Grade: 93.3): Oliver is doing his usual fine work in the run game, raking second in the country with a 93.4 grade, but he’s taken his pass-rushing to the next level with an 88.0 grade, good for fourth.) (10-15-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-midseason-all-american-team
NCAA Week 7 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - Ed Oliver, Houston (Week 7 Grade: 91.4): Oliver has been on a tear recently and Saturday is just further proof of that. Entering the season with big concerns over whether he could rush the passer from the interior of the defensive line, Oliver bullied his way to seven QB pressures including two sacks, two QB hits and three more hurries. He has 20 pressures this season, matching his freshman year total and is just seven back of his career-high 27 pressures from a season ago.) (10-14-18):https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-7-team-of-the-week
Not All Teams Grade Ed Oliver as a High First-Round Pick (10-12-18): http://www.walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Not%20All%20Teams%20Grade%20Ed%20Oliver%20as%20a%20High%20First-Round%20Pick
2019 NFL Draft Big Board - Oregon's Justin Herbert to be tested by gifted UW DBs (1. Oliver (2018: 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, zero sacks (five games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 40 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His lack of sacks is disconcerting until you break down the tape and discover how many blockers are being dedicated to stopping him on virtually every play. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-12-18):https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-oregon-s-justin-herbert-to-be-tested-by-gifted-uw-dbs-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (5. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver was EV-ERY-WHERE against Tulsa. I mean, it was a legitimate highlight reel for the entire game. He recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, essentially unblockable against the run and looked like he was shot out of a cannon every snap. In nearly every passing situation, Oliver was doubled. He looked rejuvenated after the week off. Still want to see more pass-rush productivity from him. Oliver does not have a sack this season.) (10-10-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-lsu-cornerback-greedy-williams-nearing-top-of-the-list/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (14. Oliver: The Cougars beat Tulsa while Oliver had 13 tackles with 1.5 for a loss. He was superb against Arizona in early September, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 40 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season.) (10-10-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2018 NFL Draft Big Board - New duo boost already dominant defensive line class (1. Oliver (2018: 27 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, zero sacks (four games)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 38.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (10-4-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2018-nfl-draft-big-board-new-duo-boost-already-dominant-defensive-line-class-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver and Houston were idle over the weekend and take on Tulane Saturday.) (10-3-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-nc-states-kelvin-harmon-joins-pack-of-receivers-in-top-20/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. (Previously: 2 Avg. 2.2 per 6): The Cougars blew out Texas Southern in a contest that saw Oliver notch three tackles. He was superb against Arizona two weeks earlier, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 27 tackles with five tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season.) (10-3-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (3. Ed Oliver, DT, School: Houston,Year: Junior (BB: 3; DJ: 3) (Previous rank: 2): The most disruptive interior defender in college football continues to enchant scouts with his exceptional first-step quickness. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: There's no doubting Oliver's athleticism is on an entirely different level from every other interior defensive linemen in the country. And that fact leads to him manufacturing major problems for offenses when they try run the football. But the NFL has become a passing league, and after an encouraging start to the season as a pass-rusher, Oliver didn't create much pressure in a trouncing over Texas Southern.) (9-25-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-d-k-metcalf-climbs-into-top-20-after-another-game-with-big-plays/
NFLDraftScout.com Prospect Notebook: Week 5 (As it stands today, Ohio State junior defensive end Nick Bosa (6-3, 270, 4.76, #97) and Houston junior defensive tackle Ed Oliver (6-2, 290, 4.92, #10) will be heavy favorites to be the first two players off the board.)(9-24-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/nfldraftscout-com-prospect-notebook-week-5-ANpeh6VaeEeJFbu9ZUVRGg/
Draft Prospect rankings: Alabama's next elite safety (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: One tackle for loss and six tackles for Oliver against Texas Tech in a shootout everyone saw coming. Oliver does look to have taken a step forward as a pass rusher, I just need to see him create more havoc on pass plays for him to stay in the No. 2 spot.) (9-19-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-alabamas-deionte-thompson-emerging-as-elite-safety-prospect/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. : Houston lost to Texas Tech, but Oliver had six tackles with 1.5 for a loss. He was superb against Arizona a week earlier, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 24 tackles with five tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season. ) (9-19-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3 (8. ED OLIVER, HOUSTON – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Oliver is outstanding against the run but we’ve had our questions when it comes to his lackluster production as a pass-rusher. He’s off to a good start, grading at a career-high 84.1 when rushing the passer, and he’ll have to continue that improvement in order to move up the PFF draft board.) (9-18-18): PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Clemson's Dexter Lawrence proving to be more than space-eater (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Back into the No. 2 spot for Oliver after what was probably the finest pass-rushing performance of his career over the weekend. His insane acceleration made him unstoppable when attacking upfield, and of course he used his hands to get the leverage advantage when needed. While he only registered a half tackle for loss, Oliver took a big step forward in the pass-rushing department against Arizona.) (9-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-clemsons-dexter-lawrence-proving-to-be-more-than-space-eater/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. Previously 2: Oliver was superb against Arizona, causing disruption while routinely beating double teams and some triple teams. In Week 1, Oliver was all over the field against Rice, recording 13 tackles - 8 solo - with 3.5 for a loss. He has 18 tackles with four tackles for a loss and a pass batted on the season.) (9-12-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 2 (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Over the first two weeks of the season, Oliver has been as good as advertised. He dominated Rice and Arizona in successive weeks despite facing double and triple teams. For the next level, Oliver is the real deal. There is so much about him that is extremely impressive. Off the snap, Oliver is extremely fast with special first-step quickness. His great get-off lets him fire into his gap and achieve quick penetration into the backfield. On top of the speed, Oliver plays with great leverage that allows him to push his way into the backfield or hold up against double teams. While Oliver needs to gain more weight for the NFL, he has functional strength to shed blocks. Oliver is a good run defender despite being undersized for an interior defensive lineman. From the inside of a line, Oliver has the potential to be a dynamic pass-rusher. Beyond his great skill set, Oliver has a non-stop motor and gives a great effort every snap. His 2018 tape is on track to help him to grade out as one of the top prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver looked worthy of a top-five selection against Rice and Arizona.) (9-11-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_02.php
Video Breakdown: Houston Cougars DT Ed Oliver (9-9-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/video-breakdown-houston-cougars-dt-ed-oliver-qWqC73WGWEC0KefJ5VuF8w/
Five possible Lions draft prospects: Week 2 (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (No. 10) (Arizona at Houston, noon, ABC/ESPN2): Here’s the deal with Oliver, with the way things are trending, if the Lions are in position to take him next spring they either a) Had an awful 2018 season or b) Made a bold trade on draft day. But if we didn’t put this defensive lineman on the list at least once this season, we’d be doing you a disservice. He has all the makings of a dominant interior lineman, something the Lions have desperately lacked since the departure of Ndamukong Suh. The 6-foot-3, 292-pound Oliver racked up 73 tackles, including 16.5 for a loss, last season. In last week’s season-opening victory over Rice, he picked up right where he left off, dropping an opponent in the backfield four times.) (9-8-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/09/08/five-possible-lions-draft-prospects-week-2/1224074002/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: More D-linemen added after wowing in Week One (1. Oliver (2018: 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss (one game, Rice)): Preferring to help build a program rather than join a powerhouse, Oliver turned down offers from virtually every team in the country to sign with then-Houston coach Tom Herman two years ago and all he has done since is dominate. Using a slippery explosiveness that has earned comparisons to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Oliver has arguably been the most consistent difference-maker in college football regardless of position during that time, registering an eye-popping 38.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Oliver lacks prototypical size for defensive tackle but he offers exceptional quickness and agility for a big man and has already announced his plans to enter the 2019 draft early.) (9-6-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-more-d-linemen-added-after-wowing-in-week-one-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
20 PFF college stats to know from week 2 (Ed Oliver & Dexter Lawrence, interior defensive linemen: Oliver notched a career-high six pressures, all hurries, on 33 rushes while Lawrence also accumulated six pressures but on 34 pass-rushes.) (9-9-18):https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-2
20 PFF College stats to know from Week 1 (Ed Oliver, DI, Houston: The nation’s best run defender was at it again with six run stops, tied for the national lead among interior defensive linemen.) (9-2-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-1
2019 NFL Draft Big Board (2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. Oliver (6-3, 290) is extremely fast at the point of attack. He explodes out of his stance and immediately gets penetration into the backfield. On top of his speed and tremendous pad level, Oliver possesses active hands with functional strength to slap away blockers hands. Oliver has a quality motor and doesn't quit on plays that go downfield. While they have different body types, Oliver reminds me of Warren Sapp with his explosive speed off the ball and the way he lives in the backfield. In 2017, Oliver had 73 tackles with 16.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. He continued the strong play from his debut season despite seeing extra blocking attention all year. As a freshman, Oliver dominated at the point of attack, starting with his debut game against Oklahoma. From the beginning, Oliver overwhelmed offensive linemen with his quickness, athletic ability, and physicality. He totaled 66 tackles with 22.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and nine passes batted that season.) (8-30-18): http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftbigboard
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (2. DT Ed Oliver: Energetic interior pass rusher with outstanding first-step quickness and burst. Oliver is a destructive force at the line of scrimmage with the kind of game that could make him the apple of scouts' eyes, despite his less-than-ideal physical dimensions. -- BB) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft prospect rankings -- top 5 at every position (2. Ed Oliver, Houston: Strengths – An incredible athlete, Oliver moves up and down the line of scrimmage like a linebacker and his 94.7 grade against the run is the third-best we’ve seen in our four years of grading. Best finisher in the nation, posting a run-stop percentage of 12.0 in each of the last two years (ranked fifth in nation in 2016, seventh in 2017). Room to improve in 2018 – Pass-rush production has been lacking for an expected top-end pick and his 69.2 pass-rush grade ranked only 75th in the nation last season.) (8-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-5-at-every-position
2018 college football season: Top 11 defensive linemen to watch (1. Oliver: The word that best describes Ed Oliver is "troublemaker" because once the football is snapped, he is nothing but trouble for interior linemen. Oliver has rare athletic ability and some of the quickest feet that you will see for a defensive lineman. While his 38.5 tackles for loss, including 10.5 sacks, are indicative of the type of disruption he's capable of, we could see even greater sack production if Houston moves him out wider from time to time. Some scouts believe Oliver weighs quite a bit less than his listed weight of 290, so that will be something to keep an eye on come draft season. Oliver has already stated his intention to enter the 2019 draft as an underclassman.) (7-13-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000940247/article/2018-college-football-season-top-11-defensive-linemen-to-watch
Who Are the Defensive Linemen Expected to Dominate the 2019 NFL Draft? (DT Ed Oliver, junior, Houston: Oliver, who basically declared for the 2019 draft in March (he can’t actually make it official until after the season), was considered a program-changing recruit for the Cougars in 2016, and became the first freshman or sophomore to win the Outland Trophy in ’17. His height (he’s listed at 6' 3") could be an issue—as was the case with Donald in 2014—but he’s so good, it likely won’t affect his stock much.) (7-12-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/07/12/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-linemen-nick-bosa-dexter-lawrence
Houston DT Ed Oliver — Explosive Cougars tackle has natural talent to become Aaron Donald-type NFL player (6-29-18): http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/06/29/gabriels-early-2019-nfl-draft-breakdown-houston-dt-ed-oliver/ate39y/
18 for '18: College football's most freakish athletes (1. Oliver: Along with being arguably the best player in college football, Oliver brings downright scary athleticism to the interior of the Cougars' defense. At 290 pounds, his vertical jump has improved to 36 inches, which would have tied him for second with fifth overall pick Bradley Chubb among 2018 NFL combine defensive linemen. He can broad jump 10-1, the same as safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Miami Dolphins' first-round pick, performed at the combine. Add in Oliver's freakish weight-room strength (650 squat, 405 bench press, 385 power clean), and the total package is an ultra-rare combination of physical gifts.)(6-29-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000938992/article/18-for-18-college-footballs-most-freakish-athletes
Scouting the AAC - Houston (Defensive lineman Ed Oliver seems to be everyone’s favorite prospect these days and is drawing comparisons to Aaron Donald. To this point in time from what I’ve watched on film, Oliver is a terrific prospect -- but I don’t see much Aaron Donald in his game. Unlike Donald, who was a brute force in the middle of the line, Oliver is more athletic and much more of a first-step lineman who must beat defenders off the snap. He has an explosive first step and plays with a great deal of quickness as well as terrific fundamentals. Oliver also shows the ability to run down ball carriers outside the box in lateral pursuit.) (6-26-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-aac-houston-0
Scouting Ed Oliver: Houston DT has Aaron Donald-like promise (6-12-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000936825/article/scouting-ed-oliver-houston-dt-has-aaron-donaldlike-promise
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (1. Ed Oliver, the rare five-star recruit to sign with a Group of 5 team, has been dominating since he stepped foot on campus. He posted 16.5 TFL last year despite constant double teams, and also ranked No. 1 among returning FBS interior defenders with 39 stops in run defense. A special prospect drawing deserved Aaron Donald comps, Oliver may have been a top-five pick had he been eligible for last year’s draft. As disruptive as they get, Oliver has already announced he’ll enter next year’s draft. He’s in a head-to-head battle with Nick Bosa to become the first defensive linemen off the board in what could be a historical DL class. The winner of that battle has a real shot to go 1.1—unless Justin Herbert goes supernova in 2018.) (6-8-18):http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (6-3, 288, 4.95, junior): Oliver, a rare five-star recruit to sign at a non-Power Five program, has more than lived up to the hype with his ability to be a one-man wrecking crew. He gives blockers fits with his sudden quickness and uncanny ability to unglue himself from contact. Oliver, who already declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, will hear plenty of Aaron Donald comparisons throughout the process.) (6-4-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
2019 NFL Draft: 10 prospects to watch from Non-Power 5 conferences (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Debuted in the No. 2 overall spot in my pre-season Top 100 Big Board. The guy's a freak of an athlete. He looks like an oversized linebacker playing defensive tackle. He wins with burst, speed to the football, and a nice repertoire of pass-rushing moves. How good has Oliver been in his first two seasons at Houston? Oh, IDK ... how about 38.5 tackles for loss good. And he already declared for the 2019 draft. Love it.) (5-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-10-prospects-to-watch-from-non-power-5-conferences/
2019 NFL Draft: An early introduction to nine of the potential top defensive linemen (Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Experience: In 24 games over two years for the Cougars, Oliver has amassed a whopping 38.5 tackles for loss to go along with 10.5 sacks and 138 tackles. Strengths: Possesses the athleticism and speed of an off-ball linebacker but is 6-3 and 280-ish pounds. Incredible suddeness off the snap and into the backfield. Twitchiness is elite. Routinely wins at the point of attack with that rare burst. Good, not overwhelming power and decently active hands. Scrapes down the line with immense effort and effectiveness. Uses a super-quick spin to get backside on stretch runs or cutbacks to his side. Weaknesses: At this point, he's better getting into the pads of an offensive linemen then springing off him to make an impact play against the run than he is deploying an intricate pass-rushing move to get to the quarterback. Sometimes, his lack of weight leads to him not playing with tons of power. Early comparison: Aaron Donald) (5-24-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-an-early-introduction-to-the-potential-top-dl-in-next-years-draft-nick-bosa/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (1. Ed Oliver: Oliver is the top player on my list for the second straight year. He can play anywhere on the line, and has rare sideline-to-sideline range for a 300-pound interior player. He's a difference maker who should garner Heisman consideration in 2018, but probably won't get his proper dueWith the quickness to put blockers at an immediate disadvantage, and the strength to overpower them, Oliver rises from No. 8 on last year's list to No. 1 this season. In 2017, he became the first sophomore to win the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) in the award's 72-year history. In two seasons with the Cougars, he's racked up 39.5 tackles for loss. For an interior player who is the weekly focus of opposing offensive line coaches, that's the definition of dominance. Oliver has already announced he intends to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.. Oliver has already stated that he intends to apply for early entry in the 2019 NFL Draft.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
DE Jachai Polite:
Scouting Reports:
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018437
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/01/04/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-jachai-polite/
Jachai Polite NFL draft profile: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/07/jachai-polite-nfl-draft-profile/
Articles:
Combine: Murray, Metcalf among winners (Losers - Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida: There is so much to love about Polite when you see him terrorizing SEC opponents -- he had 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles last season -- but things took an awkward unexpected turn in Indianapolis this week. Instead of focusing on his on-field production, Polite suggested that many of the teams he interviewed with were only interested in "bashing" him. His combine workouts were also pedestrian (Polite ran a 4.84 40, and his vertical jump ranked in the 37th percentile among all edge rushers) and things went from bad to worse when he pulled out of several drills because of an injury. The good news, if you can call it that, is that Polite said he had a good interview with the Rams though his draft stock could go from top-15 pick to Day 2 selection based solely on what has transpired the last 48 hours.) (3-5-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-kyler-murray-d-k-metcalf-jamel-dean-win-combine-jachai-polite-has-bad-week-in-indy/
U-M DE Gary, LB Bush among NFL combine winners (Losers - 1. Jachai Polite, OLB/DE, Florida: By any measure, it was a strange week for an edge rusher who should have fared well on this stage. Polite pulled out of combine drills early with a hamstring injury after running a 4.84 40, a mark teams will want to see him substantially improve upon at his pro day. He also took an odd tone in interviews, telling the media that the 49ers and Packers were "bashing" him during meetings. After several of his peers showed off, Polite needs to make a better impression on teams.) (3-5-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/03/05/nfl-combine-winners-losers-dk-metcalf-montez-sweat-draft-stock/3049233002/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (Jachai Polite - The nature of Combine interviews is always subject to debate. This year, Polite made his feelings known about the 49ers’ interview tactics, saying, “They just bashed me the whole time.” He said the Rams meeting was his favorite because they didn’t bash him. Is that a big deal? Maybe. Maybe not. But campaigning to play for the Rams is risky in a 32-team league, especially considering the number of edge-rushing options like Polite available in this draft.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
Winners and losers from the NFL Combine: Why D.K. Metcalf actually hurt his draft stock (Losers - I’ve never seen a prospect crumble like Polite did during the course of the combine. My colleague Steven Ruiz wrote that it was one of the worst combine performances of all time. It’s hard to argue with that. The no-good, very-bad combine performance started on Saturday when he addressed the media. He basically admitted he didn’t do much film study on himself. He also said he hadn’t expected teams to “test his character” by “bashing” him. (He absolutely should have expected that. That’s what teams do at the combine. And Polite failed those mind games by complaining to reporters about it.) His frustrations on the podium were likely a product of poor meetings, and he flunked a few, according to B/R’s Matt Miller. Then when he hit the field, he looked like a mess. There wasn’t a measurable element to his game that impressed.) (3-4-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-combine-winners-losers
Combine Confidential: Defense Risers and Sliders (One player who created a firestorm in Indy was Florida defensive end Jachai Polite, who flunked his team interviews, according to sources. He also provided the assembled media with some unflattering quotes and failed the testing portion of the combine as well. Polite, who reportedly has been dealing with a hamstring issue, has now forced his agents into full-fledged damage control mode. Once considered a potential first round pick, it’s possible he doesn’t hear his name called until the middle rounds.) (3-4-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-defense-risers-sliders-dkFc3m7x1kKIO0nTKpPs6A/
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: EDGE winners, losers from Sunday (Losers - Polite’s day was short lived after he ran a 4.84 40 on his first try after sustaining a hamstring injury and had to call it a day. It was disappointing to not be able to compare him to the other potential first-rounders in terms of pure athleticism after being listed as a top-5 player at his position. Polite will look to give it another go at Florida’s Pro Day. He is a very good player, but he’s probably locked into the 15-32 range as a guy who can thrive as a 3-4 edge rusher.) (3-3-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-edge-defender-winners-losers-montez-sweat/
Brooks: Winners and losers from combine Day 3 (Losers - Jachai Polite, edge, Florida: The former Gator was expected to be one of the top performers in the building based on his reputation as an A-plus athlete. However, scouts walked away a little disappointed. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury for the past 10 days, per my colleague Ian Rapoport, which may explain why he ran an unimpressive 40 (4.84 seconds) and didn't post an eye-popping vertical jump (32 inches) before ending his workout on Sunday. With scouts also murmuring about some uninspired team interviews, Polite has some work to do to reverse his sliding stock.) (3-3-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001020821/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-montez-sweat-soars
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Linemen (Down - Yikes. Jachai Polite killed his draft stock in Indianapolis. He looked out of shape, and that was reflected in his slow 40 (4.84 at 258 pounds.) He couldn't finish his workout because of an injury. His arm length (32 5/8) was disappointing. And worst of all, Polite wasn't good in the interviews, with two teams telling Charlie Campbell that they were thinking of removing Polite from their draft boards entirely. Polite may have dropped out of first-round consideration.) (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDL.php
Combine takeaways: Big day for D-linemen (Florida's Jachai Polite ran a 4.84 40 on his first try but sustained a hamstring injury and had to call it a day. Disappointing to not be able to compare him to other potential first-rounders in the drills.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-montez-sweat-quinnen-williams-devin-white-josh-allen-dominate/
Jachai Polite might've had the worst NFL combine of all-time (3-3-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/jachai-polite-combine-40-time-interviews
Jachai Polite: Injures hamstring at NFL Combine (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jachai-polite-injures-hamstring-at-nfl-combine/
2019 NFL Combine Draft Rumor Mill: Two Teams Close to Removing Jachai Polite from Their Draft Board (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Two-Teams-Close-to-Removing-Jachai-Polite-from-Their-Draft-Boards
Florida's Jachai Polite: 49ers 'just bashed me the whole time' in meeting (3-2-19): https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/02/jachai-polite-49ers-combine-meeting-nfl-draft/
Combine Notes- Saturday (Another update from our podcast: many were surprised when I mentioned that Jachai Polite was rated as the No. 2 edge rusher in the draft, ahead of Nick Bosa. This does not mean Polite will be drafted before Bosa, as I explained during the podcast, which you can listen to here. I’m told the Green Bay Packers really like Polite at this point in the process, and we had them selecting the Florida junior during our mock draft immediately after the Super Bowl.)
(3-2-19): http://draftanalyst.com/combine-notes-saturday
Combine: Oliver, Burns win weigh-ins (Winners - Jachai Polite, Florida. Watching Polite during his tenure at Florida, you think he'd be an edge rusher who'd weigh between 240 and 250 pounds. That thought, coupled with the fact that he was mainly used as a pass rusher, only could conceivably push the super-talented and adequately refined Polite down into the middle or late portions of Round 1. Weighing in close to 260 at nearly 6-foot-3 provides a better physical profile to set the edge, thereby raising his value.) (3-1-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-ed-oliver-brian-burns-among-winners-as-dls-edges-lbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (15. Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida: It's possible the Lions look for more of a balanced defensive end to replace Ansah, perhaps in free agency, freeing up their edge linebacker spots for some pass-rush specialists. If so, Jachai Polite will get a look. He broke out last year with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, and pass rushing is what he offers with a frame that likely measures less than 250 pounds. He's not likely to become a great run defender, but how well he tests will show what his ceiling could be as a rusher.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Who and what to watch at the 2019 NFL Combine: EDGE rusher (Jachai Polite, Florida (Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield and Ty Finch): Shifting away from Gary to the opposite end of the EDGE rusher spectrum we find Polite. Analysts are quick to point out Gary has underachieved as a pass rusher, ignoring some of his other positive traits, but when it comes to Polite he is such an accomplished pass rusher, his other flaws are largely being minimized. In Detroit, Polite would likely settle in at the JACK position, and with Kennard already in the role, it would be interesting to see how coaches would approach the down defensive end position — Would they shift Kennard over to a hybrid role? Would they ask Polite to put weight back on and occupy that spot? Regardless, Polite would give the scheme even more opportunity to show multiple looks While Polite would offer the Lions flexibility and a large influx of pass rushing potential, there are few things he can do at the Combine to show improvement in his flawed areas. He is expected to test well, and if he does he will stay in the mix for the Lions, but he if he doesn’t, it could be the final nail in the coffin for his projection to Detroit.) (2-26-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/26/who-what-watch-2019-nfl-combine-edge-rusher/
NFL Combine 2019: 10 players with most to gain ahead of NFL Draft (Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida: Speaking of edge-rushers, there are seven such players from the SEC at the Combine, including Kentucky’s Josh Allen and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat. Polite is already slotted in a favorable mock position, as his 2018 production (11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss) speaks for itself. That was Polite’s only big year with the Gators, however, and he still needs to separate himself from the others from his own conference, not to mention players such as Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. This is a talented position group in which player stock will fluctuate before April.) (2-26-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-10-players-with-most-to-gain-nfl-draft/1j1d2k4c3ohx811x4g9xind3yv
Jachai Polite: 2019 NFL Draft Film Room (2-18-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-pff-film-room-jachai-polite
2019 Combine Preview: Edge rusher (Clelin Ferrell - Best trait: Speed. He is a pure speed rusher off the edge. He led the Gators with 17.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He led the nation with six forced fumbles. Concern: He’s undersized. Polite might have to add some muscle and weight to be an every down outside linebacker in the NFL. Skinny: Explosive and productive player who projects to be a 3-4 pass rusher at the NFL level.) (2-15-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-edge-rusher
NFL Draft: 5 prospects whose combine performances loom especially large (Florida EDGE Jachai Polite: Few squads will doubt the on-field credentials of Polite, who had 11 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss last season and who plays the game with unbridled energy, terrific power and instincts. Instead, it's his measurables that could mean the difference between him being a surefire first-rounder and slipping, even possibly into early on Day 2. Polite is listed on his Florida bio as 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, but there are concerns he might not reach the 6-2 threshold, where every first-round pass rusher since Melvin Ingram (18th overall in 2012) has measured at the least.) (2-14-19): https://www.profootballweekly.com/lists/2019/02/06/6050ee3a80b64293957a9b432d58e9b8/index.xml?page=1
Pass-rushers to target in the 2019 NFL Draft and free agency (JACHAI POLITE, FLORIDA EDGE: The love for Florida’s Jachai Polite is growing for all the right reasons. The 20-year-old edge prospect has an array of pass-rush moves and should continue to develop at the next level, all adding to his high-end pass-rush potential.) (2-12-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pass-rushers-to-target-in-the-2019-nfl-draft-and-free-agency
Lions draft prospect of the day: Florida EDGE Jachai Polite (1-29-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/29/jachai-polite-scouting-report-detroit-lions/
2019 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Rumor Mill (Tillery and Williams aren't the only early-rounders with some character concerns, another player who has some questions about his makeup is Florida's Jachai Polite. Sources with the Gators said that Polite was a good teammate and liked in the locker room, but some NFL evaluators have concerns about Polite having issues with maturity and accountability. One team source said Polite's talent level is worthy of late top 10 to early teens, and if he slides into the mid-to-late teens, it will be because of the character concerns.) (1-22-19): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2019rumors2.php
10 defensive ends the Detroit Lions could target in NFL draft (Polite finished his junior season with 45 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. The potential first-round pick is another defensive end/outside linebacker but when announcing he was leaving for the draft said he would be one of the bests defensive linemen in the NFL.) (1-17-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/fa9ca596088576/10-defensive-ends-the-detroit-lions-could-target-in-nfl-draft.html
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Jachai Polite, Florida: Smaller, speed demon around the corner with intense flattening-to-the-quarterback skills and some pass-rushing moves.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Bowls (Jachai Polite, DE/OLB, Florida: To close out the 2018 season, Polite stayed consistent with his impressive junior year and had his way with the Michigan offensive line. In the second quarter against the Wolverines, Polite flew around the corner to get a third-down strip-sack of quarterback Shea Patterson that ended up forcing a field goal for Michigan. Polite lost track of the ball and turned the wrong direction or he could easily have recovered the fumble. Still it was a great rush showing his lightning speed and athleticism to turn the corner. Just before the half, Polite ducked under the inside of the right tackle to start a tackle for a loss. Polite had some other good pass rushes as well, and the Michigan tackles could not handle his speed off the edge. Polite has the skill set to be a top-16 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is very fast off the edge with a nose for the quarterback. Polite could work on polishing up more moves, but he has double-digit sack potential with his speed and agility. In the ground game, Polite is a solid defender, and that is surprising considering he is short and a bit light. As a pro, Polite would be a great fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. While he is worthy of going in the top half of the first round, Polite might slide some as some team sources have concerns about his makeup.) (1-1-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_18.php
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (OLB Jachai Polite, Florida, JR (6-2, 242, 4.65, #99): An explosive edge rusher, Polite serves as the Gators third down specialist, racking up 18 tackles for loss (11 sacks) thus far this season. While lacking elite size, Polite makes up for it with an explosive burst upfield and terrific agility, allowing him to scrape the edge in a flash to close on unsuspecting quarterbacks, while using his disproportionately long arms and strong hands to consistently rip at the ball. He will play in the bowl game, despite rumors that he intends to declare for the draft, where he’ll have the opportunity to be be a first round pick.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Peach Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Michigan vs. Florida bowl game (Jachai Polite, EDGE: Polite tallied 11 sacks and a whopping 18 tackles for loss in 2018 ... as a rotational pass-rusher. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, the Gators rarely used Polite on early downs but let him pin his ears back on second and long and third down, and he consistently demonstrated elite pass-rushing traits. From burst off the snap to bend/dip around the corner to an array of counter moves, Polite has the tools to be an All-Pro edge-rusher at the next level, he just needs to get a little more reliant on his hands at the point of attack and add some strength to his game so he's not a one-trick pony.) (12-29-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/peach-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-michigan-vs-florida-bowl-game/
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell the Top Edge Rushers (JACHAI POLITE, DE, FLORIDA: After registering just four sacks in his first two seasons in Gainesville, Polite dropped 20 pounds and broke out in a major way in 2018, with 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He’s a fear-invoking edge rusher with no shyness for creativity and bold twitter handles. Polite creates openings for himself using his precise footwork. For example, in the first quarter against Florida State a few weeks ago, Polite lined up on the right side against FSU left tackle Derrick Kelly. As the ball was snapped, he dug his right foot into the ground, leaning almost all the way to his right to woo Kelly in that direction. Like lightning, he shot into the hole he created to the left and charged towards quarterback Deondre Francois. A few seconds later, he was on top of Francois, credited with a sack. That was a key third-and-eight, the kind of situations Polite thrives in. If he can replicate that big play-drive on every down, he’ll get a leg up once he goes pro.(12-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/21/nfl-draft-2019-top-edge-rushers-nick-bosa-clelin-ferrell
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (Florida junior edge rusher Jachai Polite (6 feet 2 inches, 242 pounds) is a light pass rusher but could be a schematic piece in a defense like the Lions.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
Defensive Risers and Sliders - 2018 (Jachai Polite/Florida: Many will grade Polite as a defensive end, but he’s best standing over tackle in my opinion -- hence the rating as a linebacker. Polite watched his production as well as his draft stock take off in 2018, as he established himself as one of the most prominent pass-rushing terrors in the nation. He went from a watch-list player to a first-round prospect, and for the past month I’ve been reporting that Polite is expected to enter the draft.) (12-12-18): http://draftanalyst.com/defensive-risers-sliders-2018
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (25. Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida - Strengths: Bend, burst, pass-rushing moves) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Jachai Polite, Florida: Polite had a respectable 2017 in a limited role with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. As a junior, he was a demon on the edge for the Gators with 11 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He is the ideal stand-up outside linebacker who can get after the passer with explosiveness. Should he stay or go? Go. Polite isn't a three-down, edge-setting defensive end, but there's certainly a role for him at the next level as a pass-rushing specialist. I thought Polite scaled back his motor a bit in 2018 and wasn't especially consistent, but when he played with reckless abandon his flattening ability and occasional hand use were tremendous.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (EDGE DEFENDER - First Team: Jachai Polite, Florida - Few players at any position had the breakout year that Polite had as he finished the season with 38 pressures on just 240 pass-rushes. He recorded 31 defensive stops and missed just two tackles on 32 attempts.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 13 (Up - Jachai Polite, DE, Florida: Polite had a dominating performance against Florida State, overwhelming the Seminoles' offensive line from start to finish. On the first drive of the game, he tossed off a pulling right guard to stuff a running back and notch a tackle for a loss. In the third quarter, Polite used his speed to loop around the left tackle and then fully extended to get a strip-sack that was recovered by Florida inside the Seminoles' 25-yard line. On the next drive, Polite destroyed Florida State's right tackle and used his speed to chase down Deondre Francois for another sack. Polite will probably be a late first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is very fast off the edge with a nose for the quarterback. Polite could work on polishing up more moves, but he has double-digit sack potential assisted by his speed and agility. In the ground game, Polite is a solid defender, and that is surprising considering he is short and a bit light. Polite would be a great fit in the NFL as a 3-4 outside linebacker.) (11-27-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_13.php
Lions NFL Draft watch: 5 prospects for Week 9 (Jachai Polite, LB, Florida (No. 99): After bouncing inside as an emergency fill-in earlier in his college career, Polite has found a permanent home on the edge, where he's terrorized quarterbacks this season. Thanks to an extremely explosive first step, he's nearly doubled his sack total from the previous two seasons, bringing down opposing passers seven times in seven games. Looking at the tape, there are times he looks like he's been shot from a cannon, exploding into the backfield from a two-point stance before his linemates are even moving forward. Polite's motivation is one of the purest there can be. Look no further than his Twitter handle, "@RetireMoms," to know what drives the 6-foot-2, 245-pounder.) (10-26-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/26/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-watch-five-prospects-week-9/1764452002/
Jachai Polite Has the Drive and the Talent to Make His Twitter Handle a Reality (10-23-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/10/23/jachai-polite-florida-gators-mom-twitter-nfl-draft
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (12. Jachai Polite: I loved studying Polite's tape. He has an explosive burst off the edge and a very nifty inside spin move. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (21. JACHAI POLITE, FLORIDA – EDGE DEFENDER (Week 3 Draft Board rank: NR (-)): 10 of Polite’s 24 total pressures have ended with the quarterback on the ground either by a sack (5) or a QB hit (5).) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
4 prospects for Lions fans to watch in CFB Week 7 (Jachai Polite, DE, Florida, (Florida at Vanderbilt, 12:00 PM EST): Polite excites me when I watch him play, and that is an understatement. His first-step quickness has brought me out of my chair multiple times, but his second step might be more lethal than his first. He is listed at 6-2 and 245 pounds and is an assassin coming off the edge to pressure the passer. Polite is not a one-trick pony as he is relentless and will chase the ball all over the field. He consistently shows fantastic effort and does not take plays off, pursuing the ball and making plays down the field. Polite is also sound versus the run and will set the edge to force the runner back inside. Some pass rushers are excellent when rushing the passer, but they disappear when asked to do anything else, and Polite is not that type of player. He can win in a variety of ways, and while he needs refinement in how he uses his hands, he can be an asset to a defense in many ways. He would help the Lions defense get to the quarterback with more frequency, and that would be a very good thing.) (10-13-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/10/13/4-prospects-for-lions-fans-to-watch-in-cfb-week-7/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 6 (Jachai Polite, DE, Florida: Polite was fantastic versus LSU, making some huge plays to help the Florida defense. In the first quarter deep in Gators territory, Polite went by the left guard to get a back-side strip-sack that was recovered by the Gators. Late in the fourth quarter, Polite worked upfield before peeling back to the line of scrimmage to get a sack of Joe Burrow. Polite was getting other pressures and drawing double teams that allowed freed up other rushers like Jabari Zuniga. The 2019 NFL Draft is loaded on the defensive line, so Polite would be better off returning for his senior year and getting stronger. A good year in 2019 could make Polite a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.) (10-9-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_06.php
Risers and Sliders - Week 6 (Jachai Polite/Edge/Florida: Polite is consistently improving on the field and has become a constant nuisance for opponents. The Gators' upset victory over LSU may have been his finest performance to date, as Polite finished with two sacks and two tackles for loss, forced one fumble and also broke up a pass. He’s a natural pass rusher with a large degree of athleticism and a burst in his game. He needs to improve his playing strength and step up his run defense, but Polite’s ability to disrupt the action will be very attractive to NFL teams.) (10-8-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-6
Gators’ Jachai Polite, sleeper RBs highlight Week Six NFL Draft risers (1. Jachai Polite, DE/OLB, Florida, 6-2, 242, 4.65 (est.), Jr, # 99: With a tip of the cap to fellow Gators’ linebacker Vosean Joseph, the most impressive player I saw Saturday was Polite, an explosive edge rusher whose six tackles, including two for loss (both sacks) and a forced fumble helped Florida shake up the SEC and the national polls Saturday with a 27-19 win over previously undefeated LSU. While lacking elite size, Polite makes up for it with an explosive burst upfield and terrific agility, allowing him to scrape the edge in a flash to close on unsuspecting quarterbacks, using his disproportionately long arms and strong hands to consistently rip at the ball. Polite’s forced fumble was his fourth over the first six games of the season. He now has 24 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and a team-leading six sacks on the year, a huge jump from last season in which he recorded just 22 stops, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks (along with one forced fumble) before a shoulder injury ended his year early. To be clear, Polite had help in Saturday’s big win. The Gators controlled the line of scrimmage in this game, collecting 11 tackles for loss and five sacks overall compared to just two stops behind the line by LSU (neither of them quarterback takedowns). But make no mistake, Polite was decidedly rude in this contest, instigating big plays with a classic speed to power conversion that has helped similarly-built edge rushers like the Bears’ Khalil Mack (6-3, 247), Broncos’ Von Miller (6-3, 249) and Falcons’ Takk McKinley (6-3, 250) rank among the NFL’s leading sack artists so far this season.) (10-7-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/gators-jachai-polite-sleeper-rbs-highlight-week-six-nfl-draft-risers-foRNoQO_J0a2YQt8-3gv1Q/
2019 Draft: Five unsung edge-rushers (Jachai Polite, Florida: Want juice off the edge? Then Polite's your guy. The Florida junior is an ultra-twitchy, explosive athlete with plus bend around the corner, active hands, and a spin move to beat offensive tackles if his speed-rush doesn't get him home. He typically leans on his speed-rush, which is smart because he's that dynamic of an athlete. However, he's not a one-trick pony on the edge. Polite doesn't have elite, Von Miller-esque bend, but oftentimes he's simply so quick to the corner, the arc he can take to the quarterback doesn't have to be extremely tight. Polite is utilized primarily as a rush specialist in obvious passing situations, and he was dominant in Florida's upset win over Mississippi State. He had two tackles for loss and two sacks, and one of the quarterback takedowns came on an outstanding speed-rush on the Bulldogs' final possession. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Polite has ideal size to be a stand-up edge-rusher who can threaten the kick-slide speed of every offensive tackle in the NFL. Right now, he looks like a classic second-round pick, but if Polite continues on his current trajectory, the first round isn't out of the question.) (10-2-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-jachai-polite-oshane-ximines-and-the-unheralded-edge-rushers-with-serious-nfl-talent/
2019 NFL draft stock watch: Which prospects are moving up, down? (Stock Up | Jachai Polite | EDGE | Florida: Just one sack so far, but a pair of forced fumbles and constant disruption from this well-rounded defender.) (9-17-18): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/gallery/2019-nfl-draft-stock-watch-jarrett-stidham-jake-browning-tyree-jackson-college-football/
PFF NCAA Week 3 – Team of the Week (EDGE DEFENDER - Jachai Polite, Florida (Week 3 Grade: 91.4): Like Jelks, Polite constantly got to the quarterback on Saturday, recording five total pressures including one sack and four additional hurries. Had it not been for two missed tackles, his overall grade would have been much higher, buoyed by a forced fumble and two stops for an offensive failure in Florida’s blowout win over Colorado State.) (9-16-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-3-team-of-the-week
LB Devin White:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019dwhite.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018893
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/01/05/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-devin-white/
Devin White NFL draft profile: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/03/devin-white-nfl-draft-profile/
TWENTYMAN: 10 players who impressed at 2019 Combine (Devin White, LB, LSU: White’s speed shows up right away on tape, and he backed it up with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash. He showed the kind of explosion teams like in that position with a 39.5-inch vertical. He recorded 256 tackles the last two seasons at LSU. His measurables and drill work showed he has the speed to get to the ball sideline to sideline and has bad intentions when he gets there.) (3-5-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-10-players-who-impressed-at-2019-combine
U-M DE Gary, LB Bush among NFL combine winners (Winners - 8. Devin White, LB, LSU: The combine wasn't likely to knock White from his pedestal as the pre-eminent linebacker available, and he instead used the platform to reaffirm his standing. Before a smooth on-field display, he paced his position with a 4.42 40 and added a 39 1/2-inch vertical. Though off-ball linebackers often aren't prized as highly as other positions, White deserves to be considered one of the premier defensive players in this draft class.) (3-5-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/03/05/nfl-combine-winners-losers-dk-metcalf-montez-sweat-draft-stock/3049233002/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (Devin White, Devin Bush - White and Bush, both first-team SN All-Americans last season, exceeded expectations at the Combine. White ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and had a 39.5-inch vertical. Bush ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and had a 40.5-inch vertical. Both lived up to their first-round potential and should be the top two linebackers off the board.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
Athletic White, paired with Davis, could elevate Lions' LBs to next level (3-4-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/04/devin-white-jarrad-davis-could-elevate-detroit-lions-linebackers/3054589002/
2019 NFL Scouting Combine Team: Top defensive prospects (Devin White, LSU - Best team fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Analysis: The Day of Devins continued Sunday, with White blazing a 4.42 40. He leapt out of the building with a 39.5-inch vertical and met expectations with his other tests (9-10 broad, 4.17 short shuttle, 7.07 three-cone). During positional workouts, it was easy to picture him back in his LSU garb chasing down ball carriers. While others may have performed better than White in various drills, his cumulative effort gave him the boost he needed to compete for a top-10 spot in the draft.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021076/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-team-top-defensive-prospects
Winners and losers from the NFL Combine: Why D.K. Metcalf actually hurt his draft stock (Winners - Linebackers named Devin (Devin Bush, LB, Michigan/Devin White, LB LSU): The Devins put together complete combine performances, with their 40-yard dashes being most impressive. They are athletic freaks at linebacker with the tape to back it up. A passing-heavy NFL demands that linebackers can keep pace with running backs and speedy tight ends in the passing game. Well, the Devins proved they can do that. They clearly have the athleticism to play on every down.) (3-4-19): https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-combine-winners-losers
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: LB winners, losers from Sunday (Winners - White showed why he’s been the top linebacker in the class, following up a position-best 4.42 40-yard dash by looking smooth through every drill. During the on-field drills, White displayed his athletic traits, speed, and fluidity. He moved with purpose all the way until the end of the drill, which speaks to his ability to finish plays. With the performance, White solidified himself as a top-15 selection in April’s draft.) (3-4-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-linebacker-winners-losers-devin-white-devin-bush/
Sunday's 2019 Combine winners: Linebackers (Devin White, LSU
Like Bush, White tested well in every area, performing slightly better than Bush in the speed drills — 4.42 (the 3rd fastest 40 ever recorded at the Combine for a linebacker), 4.17 (short shuttle) — and slightly lower in explosion scores — 39.5″ (vertical jump) and 9-10 (broad jump). On the field, White was the final linebacker through every drill and he closed each one out with technique and quickness. I don’t think White is in play for what the Lions are looking for at pick 8, but don’t be surprised if White isn’t even an option when the Lions get on the clock.) (3-4-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/sundays-2019-combine-winners-linebackers/
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Linebackers (Up - Devin White was in tears after his first 40-yard dash. That's because he sprinted a 4.42. White, who also had a 39.5-inch vertical and a 7.07 3-cone time, cemented his top-10 status with his awesome showing at the combine.): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockLB.php
Combine Confidential: Defense Risers and Sliders (The linebacker group should also be acknowledged, as they too broke the previous combine record as a group overall, averaging 4.64 in the forty, the fastest group time since 2004, which averaged 4.65. Linebackers Devin White (4.42) of LSU, Devin Bush (4.43) of Michigan and Gary Johnson (4.43) of Texas were amongst the standouts.) (3-4-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-defense-risers-sliders-dkFc3m7x1kKIO0nTKpPs6A/
Combine: How Sweat won the day (Devin White, LB, LSU (Draft range: Top 15): This is a weak linebacker draft class, at least when compared to defensive line, edge rusher and the secondary. But even in a deep group Devin White would stand out. He's every bit as talented as Roquan Smith, Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch, and has the physical traits NFL teams now look for in their inside linebackers. Oh, White also needed just 4.42 seconds to travel 40 yards. White is one of the five best athletes in this draft class but because teams value quarterbacks and edge rushers more, there's a chance he slips to the middle of the first round. That said, the Bengals shouldn't let him get past them at No. 11.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-montez-sweat-steals-the-show-with-blazing-40-time-and-how-dl-lb-workouts-affect-the-first-round/
Amid Kyler Murray-to-Cardinals Rumors, Nick Bosa Pleads Case for Top Pick and other notes (We’ve talked a lot about the loaded defensive line class, but this linebacker class is stacked with really impressive athletes. Michigan’s Devin Bush, LSU’s Devin White and Texas’ Gary Johnson now own the third, fourth and fifth-best 40 times by linebackers in the history of the combine (2003). There’s good depth at this position, and teams with a linebacker need will be able to find a solid player in later rounds.) (3-3-19): https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-combine-nick-bosa-returns-makes-case-first-overall-pick
Dueling Devins - All-American LBs Bush, White record blazing 40-yard dashes and other LBs (3-3-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/dueling-devins-all-american-lbs-bush-white-record-blazing-40-yard-dashes-feONOWWx6UyuGpQ2dMFS8Q/
LB prospect Devin White would love to play with Jarrad Davis (3-3-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lb-prospect-devin-white-would-love-to-play-with-jarrad-davis
LSU's Devin White, Michigan's Devin Bush dominate NFL Combine (3-3-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-devin-bush-devin-white-michigan-lsu/
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (White smoked the 40 yard dash running a white hot 4.4 time and also impressed with his athleticism on the field. Obviously, he will rise up draft boards now, but the Lions likely already know what and who White is given their interview with him.) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
Video - LSU LB Devin White runs an official 4.42 40-yard dash at 2019 combine (3-3-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/video/lsu-lb-devin-white-runs-an-official-4-42-40-yard-dash-at-2019-combine
LSU's White 'knocked interview out of park' with Lions (3-2-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/02/detroit-lions-lsu-linebacker-devin-white-nfl-combine/3043258002/
NFL combine 2019: Devin White headlines linebacker options for Lions (Devin White, LSU: Devin White is the headliner name in this class, the guy being propped up as a three-down player. He finished off an impressive career at LSU with 256 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss combined over the past two years, leading one of the best defenses in the nation. At a listed 6 feet 1 inch and 240 pounds, he has some intangibles he still needs to show, but he's considered a first-round prospect. Could the Lions consider moving Davis to outside linebacker and using him more as an edge rusher, given his success last season? It'd be a luxury pick, but White brings a lot to like.) (2-27-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/a46c9630069823/nfl-combine-2019-devin-white-headlines-linebacker-options-for-lions.html
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (16. Devin White, LB, LSU: The Lions took a three-down linebacker in the first round just two years ago, but it's worth debating whether Jarrad Davis might be better off the ball, especially given his pass rushing success last year. Devin White is a classic do-it-all player who brings all kinds of production with 256 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss combined over the past two years in the Southeastern Conference. This would be a luxury pick in Detroit but could be one that helps elevate its 2017 first-round pick.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Devin White's NFL Combine goal: Be true to himself (2-26-19): http://www.nfl.com/labs/rr/pathtothedraft/white
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Devin White, LB, LSU: The Lions have definitely kicked around making Jarrad Davis more of a pass-rusher -- see his role last season -- and if that happens, it would make sense to find another high-caliber linebacker next to him. White has fantastic speed and strength. With 123 tackles and six passes defended for the Tigers last season, he has shown that he can produce, and there’s definite developmental room.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
Five linebackers for the Lions at NFL Combine (4. Devin White, LSU. Perhaps White is the most interesting player to watch at the Combine from the Detroit perspective, White is a super athletic player who can fly all over the field and do tons of things. Is he worth a top 10 pick? That's possible, but the Lions will be interested to see what he can do in order to get things going and figure out how he might fit in with the defense. If he is that explosive, the Lions will find out.) (2-25-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-Lions-linebackers-129477175/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Pre-Combine (Up - White: In speaking with an AFC general manager, they thought that White would steadily rise during the leadup to the 2019 NFL Draft. They said outside of some defensive line talent, this is not a very good draft, and believe White is a pure football player who will continue to win admirers as the coaching staffs get involved in the draft process. White looks like a lock to go in the first 16 choices right now, and he could easily end up being a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.) (2-19-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_22.php
2019 Combine Preview: Linebacker (Devin White: Best trait: Versatility. White looks to have the kind of skill set and athleticism to run, cover and blitz at the NFL level. He led the SEC with 133 tackles in 2017, and followed that up by winning the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the nation last year with 123 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Concern: He has to continue to learn the techniques required to take on and disengage from blockers. Skinny: He has uncanny playing speed, which allows him to be a true sideline to sideline defender. His versatility and multiple skill set should allow him to play a number of different roles within a defense.) (2-19-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-linebacker
Previewing the 2019 NFL Combine: Studs, starters and sleepers at Linebacker (Grade: C+. A First Round Prototype: Devin White, LSU: The 2019 NFL draft might be best known for the talent playing along the defensive line but a strong argument could be made that the best defender in the country last season was White, LSU's consensus All-American and Butkus Award-winning linebacker. Despite missing half of the much-anticipated rivalry game against Alabama due to a highly questionable targeting call the week before, White led the SEC with 123 total tackles in 2018, nearly doubling his number of solo stops (62) from his 2017 campaign when he averaged a conference-best 10.2 tackles per game. White earned First Team All-SEC honors after both his junior and sophomore seasons after making the power conference's All-Freshman list in 2016, leaving as one of the accomplished athletes in LSU's storied history. With all due respect to Roquan Smith - the 2017 Butkus Award winner and eighth overall pick last spring to the Chicago Bears - White was arguably the top linebacker in college football each of the past two seasons. As I recently shared with the Los Angeles Chargers, on and off the field, White looks like a future franchise pillar and a rare inside linebacker worthy of top 20 consideration.) (2-18-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/previewing-the-2019-nfl-combine-studs-starters-and-sleepers-at-linebacker-iswDuRo-S06O78Gg6Wh_QA/
Ask 5: Which draft prospect will generate most buzz at combine? (Executive 2: LSU LB Devin White: "I would say (Mississippi State DE) Montez Sweat, but he already generated enough buzz when he walked across the stage at the Senior Bowl. I'll go with Devin White. I've been told he's consistently running (the 40-yard dash) in the 4.4s and that will create some attention. Also, I wouldn't sleep on (Iowa TE T.J.) Hockenson. He's more athletic than people think.") (2-7-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001017284/article/ask-5-which-draft-prospect-will-generate-most-buzz-at-combine
2019 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Rumor Mill (One player who could rise in the lead up to the draft is LSU linebacker Devin White. As we reported yesterday in the Senior Bowl rumor mill, the defensive line class did not materialize into the legendary status that everybody thought it would. With the draft not having as much high first-round talent as anticipated, some prospects will rise to take their place, and White is viewed as having that kind of potential. The reason for that is he is a pure football player. One AFC general manager said he thought White would climb because of his talent on the field and his makeup of being a team leader. It can be difficult for non-pass-rushing linebackers to get drafted highly, but White could be similar to Roquan Smith and make it two years in a row.) (1-22-19): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2019rumors2.php
ESPN’s Mel Kiper sends LSU LB Devin White to Lions in first mock draft (1-17-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/01/espns-mel-kiper-sends-lsu-lb-devin-white-to-lions-in-first-mock-draft.html
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Devin White, LSU: Hair-on-fire linebacker who packs a serious punch, is relentless getting to the football, and is an outstanding blitzer but possesses slower-than-normal play-recognition skills and tackling reliability.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
Fiesta Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in LSU vs. UCF bowl game (LSU - Devin White, LB: White has already declared for the draft but will play in the Fiesta Bowl. A freakish athlete at 6-1 and 240 pounds, White checks the physical boxes and improved his tackling this year, although he's not a super reliable tackler at this point. He's good, not great in coverage and projects similarly to Myles Jack of the Jaguars. He's the favorite to be the first off-ball linebacker picked in April. If he plays out of control less often, White can be an All-Pro player at the next level.(12-31-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/fiesta-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-lsu-vs-ucf-bowl-game/
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Linebacker Devin White is this season’s Butkus award winner as the nation’s top linebacker, and a first-round talent as a three-down linebacker and playmaker who is seen as a potential Pro Bowler.) (12-27-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (5. DEVIN WHITE, STACK LB, LSU (Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 240 pounds): He’s not as instinctive as Roquan Smith and may not be quite the college player Smith was, but his athletic traits are superior to Smith’s, which is really saying something. And that’s why White is seen as a potential Pro Bowler as a middle linebacker.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (LSU will be without star cornerback Greedy Williams, who is opting to sit. It will have his teammate who could also go in the top half of the first round in junior linebacker Devin White (6 feet 1 inch, 240 pounds), an All-American with an absurd 248 total tackles the past two seasons. He's like another Jarrad Davis, so one would have to move off the ball, but he's at least fun to watch.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (29. Devin White, LB, LSU - Strengths: Explosiveness, speed, power) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Linebackers (DEVIN WHITE, LSU: White, the winner of the 2018 Butkus Award, is the crown jewel of middle linebackers in this draft class. He’s hit 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a solid time for a 240-pound player. His ball pursuit is off the charts—when White is within striking distance, the junior launches himself full force at the ball carrier, a skill that propelled him to 115 total tackles in the regular season. Perhaps most impressively, he finishes his tackles exceptionally well, driving players into the ground; it’s rare to see White wrap up a runner then let him go. White’s relentless ball-hawking sometimes leads to him struggling against slow-developing plays and patient runners, and he needs to be wary of overcommitting to tackles. But this hard-hitting, horseback-riding linebacker is a given first-rounder, maybe even a top-10 pick.) (12-7-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/07/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-linebackers
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Devin White - Breakdown: Does he play inside, with Jarrad Davis bumping outside? Does Jarrad Davis continue anchoring the middle, while White bumps outside? Who knows. But either look would put a whole lot of size and speed on the field at the second level. And Matt Patricia's defense, let us not forget, is built from the middle-out.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - LB: Devin White, LSU - Allen may have taken home the Nagurski, but White beat him out for the Dick Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in college football. (He's LSU's first recipient of a national award since Odell Beckham Jr. took home the Paul Hornung Award in 2013. White finished second in the SEC with 115 total tackles and became the seventh Tiger with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons.) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Devin White, LSU: White exploded in 2017 with 133 total tackles and followed that up with a 115 tackles in 2018. At 6-1 and 240 pounds, White is a blur from sideline to sideline and a train as a blitzer. Should he stay or go? Go. White needs to fine-tune his play-recognition skills and clean up his tackling consistency, but he's shown enough to be a first-round pick and a starting middle linebacker in 2018. With him ... think Myles Jack.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (LINEBACKER - First Team: Devin White, LSU - White flew around the field for the Tigers in 2018 making a ridiculous 82 solo tackles. His presence was felt by opposing quarterbacks as well as on 98 pass-rushes, he got home with a pressure on 28 of them.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (4. DEVIN WHITE, STACK LB, LSU: Positional value being what it is, I doubt White—an off-the-ball linebacker—goes this high. But he’s a very good player who could be the nerve center for an NFL defense for a lot of years. He’s a better athlete than last year’s top inside ’backer, Roquan Smith, but isn’t quite as instinctive or productive as the Bears rookie was at Georgia.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (9. Devin White: Ultra-athletic defender with a non-stop motor and sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability. White is capable of destroying the offense's game plan. -- BB) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (22. DEVIN WHITE, LSU – LINEBACKER (Week 3 Draft Board rank: NR (-)): Among linebackers with fewer than 70 pass-rush attempts, White ranks second in the nation with 17 QB pressures. He’s recorded those on just 58 pass-rushing snaps.) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
Risers and Sliders -- Week 7 (Riser - Devin White/LB/LSU: The Tigers beat the odds once again, this time handing heavily favored Georgia its first loss of the season, and while it was a team effort, White led the way. His 13 tackles helped hold the usually lethal Georgia running game to 113 yards for the contest and less than four yards per carry. What stood out was the quickness, speed, instincts and explosion White played with, something he does each and every Saturday. His ability to cut off the corners from running backs and make plays in pursuit is impressive. So too is the discipline White plays with as he’s not a linebacker who bites on play-action or ball fakes. The junior grades as the highest and most complete linebacker on our board.) (10-15-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-7
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (15. Devin White: The LSU standout might be the best athlete in college football. He possesses a combination of size, speed and explosiveness that could make him a star at the next level. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 3 (ILB Devin White, LSU, JR. (6-0, 240, 4.64, #40): The speedy linebacker flies around the field, hovering sideline-to-sideline and possesses natural football instincts, which helps him to quickly shoot the gaps and swarm to the ball. White, who accumulated 133 tackles last season, is already off to a fast start, collecting 19 tackles through the first two weeks. While naysayers will be quick to point out his lack of height, observers should be able to recognize that this Tigers' heart outweighs his size. He appears destined for the first round whenever he decides to head to the next level.) (9-14-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-3-w1xKBgS0-kWsj9shkXo7Mw/
20 PFF College stats to know from Week 2 (Devin White, LB, LSU: Seven stops, 95.5 grade against the run, the highest run-defense grade among Power-5 linebackers in Week 2.) (9-9-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-2
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (18. LB Devin White: White is an explosive player in the mold of previous LSU linebackers Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander. He has sideline-to-sideline range and the ability to match up with tight ends in coverage. -- DJ) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
Scouting the SEC - LSU (Devin White comes up a little shy on the measuring tape, but he’s a dynamic defender and a next-level linebacker. White is smart, tough and very athletic. He plays with terrific speed and fundamentals and can stack against the run or drop into coverage. As mentioned throughout these reports all summer, the league does not mind smaller or shorter linebackers, and I doubt White is penalized much for barely touching six feet on the tape.) (8-13-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-sec-lsu-0
2018 college football season: Top 13 linebackers to watch (1. Devin White: White follows in the footsteps of former Tigers Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander as a speedy playmaker with the ability to run and chase from sideline to sideline all game long. White's increase in playing time as a sophomore led to a huge spike in tackle production and impact plays. He has rare acceleration ability for a linebacker his size (6-1, 240, per school measurements) and mirrors running backs from gap to gap if they start bouncing it outside. White is a voracious student of the game and is always looking to improve. The areas where he needs the most improvement are tackle technique and consistency as a finisher.) (7-20-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000941211/article/2018-college-football-season-top-13-linebackers-to-watch
2019 NFL Draft: Here's an early introduction to six of the potential top linebackers (Devin White, LSU: Experience: Enters the 2018 season with 22 games of experience at LSU. Exploded in 2017 with 133 total tackles -- but just 37 solo -- with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Also defended three passes and had an interception. Strengths: Incredibly dynamic athlete who plays with noticeable urgency. Elite twitch and plus speed. Is not limited physically whatsoever. Unafraid of blockers getting to the second level. Usually avoids them but very willing to deliver a powerful pop to initiate contact with blockers before shedding. Capable of manning up in coverage and decently aware in zone. Effective blitzer. Weaknesses: Plays out of control and at top gear too often, which leads to a plethora of missed tackles. Early comparison: Myles Jack) (6-25-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-heres-an-early-look-at-six-of-the-potential-top-linebackers/
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (Devin White is a 6-foot-1, 248-pound former running back who ran for over 5,000 yards in high school. He posted a ridiculous 133 tackles, 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks and an interception last year to earn Second Team All-American honors. He’s been drawing raves since the summer before his true freshman season, when coaches couldn’t stop talking about him to the media. Can you blame them? White came to school as a four-star athlete. Two years later, he’s drawing Ray Lewis comparisons (White plays ILB for the Tigers but can play whatever position his NFL team asks of him). White may end up with a grade rivaling that of Roquan Smith (White finished with more stops last year). I ranked Smith as the No. 3 overall player in this past class.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (9. Devin White, LB, LSU (6-1, 243, 4.76, junior): Watching LSU's defense last season, it was impossible not to notice White, who finished with a team-high 133 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss. His combination of play speed and point-of-attack power are already on a NFL level.) (6-4-18): https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (11. LB Devin White: Like the aforementioned Devin Bush, White's career took a major freshman-to-sophomore step forward last season. His 133 tackles ranked ninth in the FBS and second only to Georgia's Roquan Smith in the SEC. At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, he's stoutly built to defend power rushing attacks, but has the speed (LSU has clocked him in the 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash) to make plays outside the box. He's also a true student of the game -- after home games, White's been known to beat the LSU coaching staff to the football building on Sunday mornings to watch film.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
CB Greedy Williams:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019gwilliams.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018905
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/09/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-greedy-williams/
Greedy Williams NFL draft profile (2-2-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/02/02/greedy-williams-nfl-draft-profile/
Articles:
Why T.J. Hockenson should be in play for the Lions, and other combine thoughts (Not greedy for Greedy - There are some who like Greedy Williams as a top-10 pick, and Greedy Williams crushing the 40 in 4.37 seconds won't hurt that any. And in case you hadn't noticed, the Lions could really use another cornerback. But after listening to Matt Patricia talk about how much he requires his cornerbacks to tackle, I stood there in the Indianapolis Convention Center just thinking about Greedy and how bad of a fit he would be. "I put a high priority on tackling," Patricia said. "You’ve got to find the right balance, because obviously the biggest thing they’ve got to do is be able to cover in those situations. But understand that some of the players on the other side of the ball are pretty good too. They’re going to catch the ball and what you want to make sure that happens is that they’re tackled right away and they don’t turn those plays, whatever they are, into bigger plays. So, it’s kind of a good balance that they need." Consider me a hard pass on Greedy for Detroit.) (3-5-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/03/1402076a367787/why-tj-hockenson-should-be-in-play-for-the-lions-and-other-combine-thoughts.html
Brooks: Winners, losers from day 4 of combine (Winners - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: The LSU standout confirmed his status as one of the draft's most explosive athletes with a strong workout on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. Williams clocked a 4.37-second 40-yard dash time and looked every bit as explosive as scouts expected prior to the workout. Although Williams didn't participate in the on-field drills or positional workout due to cramping, he made a strong impression on coaches seeking an A+ athlete at the CB1 spot.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021067/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-from-day-4
Monday's 2019 Combine winners: Cornerbacks (Notes: Greedy Williams (LSU) flew through the 40, as was expected, officially running a 4.37, but when the group switched to on-field drills, he needed multiple redirections from coaches, looked stiff, then cramped up didn’t finish drills. Physically he checks the boxes but mentally he is still very much a project.) (3-4-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/04/mondays-2019-combine-winners-cornerbacks/
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Backs (Down - Charlie Campbell broke a story where he spoke to several teams that graded Greedy Williams in the second round. Williams blazed a 4.37 in Indianapolis, yet he's still getting a stock-down arrow, which may seem odd if you didn't pay attention to Williams in the drills. He was all over the place in those. He did not look like a first-round pick.) (3-4-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDB.php
Greedy fast, Murphy shines at DB workout (LSU's Greedy Williams ran a strong 4.37 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, a time that tied him for second at the cornerback position. With that speed at that length, he's an easy one to fall in love with. But he wasn't that impressive in the pedal-and-react, had to restart in the next drill multiple times and then said he was done for the day due to cramping.) (3-4-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-greedy-williams-shuts-it-down-after-fast-40-byron-murphy-and-juan-thornhill-excel/
CB Greedy Williams wants to show NFL teams he can be physical (3-4--19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/cb-greedy-williams-wants-to-show-nfl-teams-he-can-be-physical
Combine makes it tough to see Lions drafting CB at No. 8 (LSU's Greedy Williams, who came into the event perceived to be top option at the position, did little to weaken that argument with his on-field testing.
Standing 6-foot-2, the long-limbed Williams showcased world-class speed in the 40, clocking in at at brisk 4.38 seconds. Combined with his playmaking skills on the outside — eight interceptions the past two seasons — he checks almost every box for NFL decision-makers. Except one for the Lions, which might be a disqualifier, especially so early in the draft. Williams is a subpar tackler, especially in run support, something he acknowledged during his combine media session.) (3-4-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/04/tough-see-detroit-lions-drafting-cornerback-no-8-after-nfl-combine/3055524002/
Several Teams Have Graded Just One First-Round Cornerback (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Several-Teams-Have-Graded-Just-One-First-Round-Cornerback
Weigh-in: Baker wins, not Greedy (Greedy Williams measured in with much less length than expected, while Georgia's Deandre Baker was longer than many thought he'd be, and Vanderbilt's Joejuan Williams displayed incredible length. CB losers - Greedy Williams, LSU. Many people expected Williams to be one of the longest corners in the class. He wasn't. Arms under 32 inches and a sub 75-inch wingspan. Not great.) (3-2-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-joejuan-williams-deandre-baker-winners-as-dbs-weigh-in-and-get-measured/
2019 NFL Combine Notebook, Day 2 (I asked one Detroit Lions staffer about the common sight of LSU CB Greedy Williams as the team’s first-round pick in mock drafts. His answer was curtly dismissive, “Our cornerbacks need to tackle.” Ouch.) (3-1-19): https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3142/2019-NFL-Combine-Notebook-Day-2
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (3. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: You've probably seen a number of mock drafts with Greedy Williams going to the Lions. The combine isn't likely to change that, unless he rises too high. At a listed 6 feet 1 inch and 182 pounds, Williams has the spider length Patricia likes in his No. 2 cornerback as well as a blend of speed and hops you don't often find at that size. I want to see a little more fluidity in his field drills, and he'll have to explain his disdain for run defense, but his vertical and 40 could are only going to boost his hype.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
Josh Allen or Clelin Ferrell could help Lions fix pass rush and other defensive players at the Combine (Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: Williams can cover -- that is no question -- and his 6-foot-2 frame would give a strong option opposite Darius Slay in the secondary, allowing the Lions to move Nevin Lawson to nickel, where he’ll compete with Agnew. Tackling is a concern there, but if Patricia believes he can teach that -- and last year he spent a lot of time with the DBs in portions open to the media -- then Williams is a smart pick.) (2-26-19): http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35183/josh-allen-or-clelin-ferrell-could-help-lions-fix-pass-rush
NFL Combine 2019: Could Greedy Williams or Byron Murphy be the Lions' No. 2 CB? (Greedy Williams, LSU: Greedy Williams comes in as the leader in the clubhouse to be the first cornerback selected, which makes him a prime candidate for the Lions at No. 8. At a listed 6 feet 3 inches and 184 pounds, he's the best combination of length and athleticism at the position, which appeals plenty to the Lions. His lack of strength and tenacity in run support is less appealing. Just where he tests physically will set his floor, but with two interceptions last year (and a third he essentially gave to a teammate in the above video) in just 12 games, he's ready to be a starter in this league from the get-go.) (2-24-19): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/4543d47c8e4973/nfl-combine-2019-could-greedy-williams-or-byron-murphy-be-the-lions-no-2-cb.html
Five cornerbacks for Lions to watch at NFL Combine (1. Greedy Williams, LSU. Arguably the top cornerback available, Williams will have to put on a show at the Combine and really wow folks off the field as well with his maturity and skills in order to convince a team like Detroit to take a chance on him high in the draft. With a good performance, that might make things a bit easier, but Williams will have to show up and show out for the Lions in order to make this a bit easier. No doubt the Lions will be watching him closely all week long.) (2-22-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/NFL-Combine-cornerbacks-Lions-129370659/
$.05 For President's Day (Three Draft Prospects I’m low On - LSU CB Greedy Williams. Good playmaker with outstanding length, but there are a lot of missed assignments and guesses on his tape. He might wind up being special, but he’s got the highest “bust” factor of any of the top CBs. Will not be a top 30 overall prospect on my board.) (2-18-19): https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3139/$05-For-Presidents-Day
2019 Combine Preview: Cornerback (Greedy Williams - Best trait: Length. He’s long and athletic, and really burst onto the scene in 2017, when he recorded six interceptions as a redshirt freshman. Williams was named First-Team All-SEC in 2017 and 2018. Concern: He needs to add some muscle to his frame, which will better help him challenge ball carriers in the run game and shed blockers. Skinny: He’s a press-man cornerback, who will probably have more opportunities to succeed early on in a man scheme. He’s smooth and athletic, and has a history of production. If Williams tests well at the Combine, he has a chance to be the first cornerback off the board.) (2-17-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2019-combine-preview-cornerback
Birkett: Here's who Lions should draft at No. 8 (There’s still a lot of research I need to do on the top prospects, but under this scenario, with those five players gone and from what I know now, I’d be picking from a group that includes LSU cornerback Greedy Williams, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and defensive ends Rashan Gary (Michigan) and Clelin Ferrell (Clemson). Oliver is the player of the group who most intrigues me because of his insane pass-rush ability inside, but he didn’t have a great 2018 and I’m not completely sold on his fit within coach Matt Patricia's defense. Both Gary and Ferrell would fill a significant need, but Williams is the player I’d take if I had my choice of the four. He might not be as good in run defense as Patricia wants in his cornerbacks, but I think he’s a difference maker who would have an immediate impact on the secondary.) (2-14-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/14/detroit-lions-news/2868515002/
Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address cornerback (Greedy Williams is projected as one of the first corners to be taken in the upcoming draft. Because of his length, speed, and ball skills, he fits the persona of a lockdown cornerback. His lack of effort has been brought into question, showing on various occasions not finishing plays or being a passive tackler. Early in the draft process, he was almost a consensus top ten pick, but with this new light, his draft stock is falling. If the Lions want him, they will probably have to use their first round pick, begging the question, is the risk worth the reward?) (2-11-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/11/draft-them-or-sign-them-how-the-lions-will-address-cornerback/
Detroit Lions take LSU CB Greedy Williams in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft (2-7-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/02/detroit-lions-take-lsu-cb-greedy-williams-in-todd-mcshays-latest-mock-draft.html
Lions draft: Which defender to take in Round 1? (First Round - CB Greedy Williams, LSU: Williams is the No. 1 cornerback in this class and the Lions could use a cover man to play opposite Darius Slay. At 6 feet 3, he’s got tantalizing traits, though his aversion to run support seems counter to what Patricia wants.) (2-5-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/05/detroit-lions-2019-nfl-draft-prospects/2776240002/
2019 Senior Bowl: Tuesday Rumor Mill (Yesterday, we discussed that teams were concerned with the character issues of Notre Dame defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. Another high-profile prospect with similar issues is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. Evaluators have some concerns about how Williams is going to respond to getting a multi-million dollar contract. They also are worried about family pressure and those around him being a distraction. Some sources feel that Williams is one of the most overrated players in the 2019 NFL Draft. They say the Georgia and Alabama tape illustrate that. They felt that he took his foot off the pedal on his late-season tapes and was protecting himself. A few sources said they graded Williams a late first-rounder, while another AFC scout said they graded Williams in the second round. On top of the character worries, Williams; thin frame is providing some on-the-field concerns about how he will translate to the NFL. Williams will be in store for some interesting interviews at the combine, and it would help him if he could add weight to his frame.) (1-22-19): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2019rumors2.php
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Greedy Williams, LSU: Long, smooth athlete with plus speed and stellar ball skills who lacks bulk.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
5 realistic prospects for Lions' 1st-round pick in 2019 NFL Draft (Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: Andraez “Greedy” Williams is a long (listed at 6-3) cover man with excellent ball skills and closing speed. He’s emerged as one of the best back-end playmakers in college football with eight INTs and 20 PDs in his two seasons for the Tigers. His small frame (listed at just 184 pounds) and propensity for holding receivers when they make breaks are issues that must be improved, but there might not be a more naturally savvy cover man in the draft.) (12-31-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/5-realistic-prospects-for-the-lions-1st-round-pick-in-2019-nfl-draft/
If Detroit Lions get a top-five pick, what position should they take? (LSU CB Greedy Williams (sitting out bowl game): Williams is one of the best cornerbacks in the draft and a potential top-five pick. He has unusual size (6 feet 3), excellent play-making ability — he led the SEC in interceptions in 2017 — and would be the perfect complement to Darius Slay in the Lions’ inconsistent secondary.) (12-17-18): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/12/17/detroit-lions-draft-watch-hard-knocks/2336838002/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (8. GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU (Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 185 pounds): Williams is tall and talented, which would make him a fit for Seattle-style defenses. But he’s also not the most physical corner; there will probably be varying opinions here.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (3. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU - Strengths: Length, fluidity, ball skills) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
2019 NFL Draft: Tracking the underclassmen (Greedy Williams, LSU (6-2, 185. 4.5): The redshirt sophomore's length, smooth acceleration and awareness of the ball in the air have scouts drooling. He's No. 2 overall on NFLDraftScout.com analyst Ric Serritella's initial mock draft.) (12-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-tracking-the-underclassmen-P4F7AwSa1kiZ2vxwEA9MbQ/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Haskins hurdles Herbert as top eligible quarterback (5. Greedy Williams: No program in the country has a more impressive track record when it comes to producing NFL defensive backs than LSU and insiders there suggest that Williams, still just a redshirt sophomore, may be the best out of Baton Rouge since Patrick Peterson. Williams' length, smooth acceleration and awareness of the ball in the air have scouts drooling. Perhaps the greatest concern with Williams is his slim frame, with concerns about his durability growing after missing time earlier this season.) (12-8-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-haskins-hurdles-herbert-as-top-eligible-quarterback-8tPJSEazH0KiLlaXB8a8tg/
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Greedy Williams - Breakdown: Man, the Teez Tabor misfire hurts. Just two years after burning a second-round pick on him, Detroit probably has to spend another early pick on a cornerback. Darius Slay is still around, but there's nothing but question marks behind him in a secondary that has allowed the second-worst QB rating in the league. This draft won't offer a lot of depth, either, but it is top-heavy with some elite talent. And there's no one better than Williams. Listed at 6-foot-3, he has that rangy frame that Detroit craves in cornerbacks. He can run, too. He's smart. He allowed a 43.0 QB rating for his career, and did it while playing in the SEC, which Bob Quinn has put a premium on in past draft prospects. There's a lot to like about the idea of Slay locking down one side of the field with his speed, and Williams the other side with his size. Get ready to hear a lot about Greedy in the coming months, because it's a fit that makes a whole lot of sense.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Greedy Williams, LSU: Williams is a tall, super-fluid corner with impressive ball skills and speed for days. He had six interceptions in 2017 and two picks to go along with nine pass breakups in 2018. Should he stay or go? Go. I don't know what another year of stymieing opposing receivers would really do for his long-term success at the NFL level. Williams needs to be challenged by bigger, faster, quicker pass-catchers at the NFL level to continue to develop as a corner. He could be the first player at his position off the board in April.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 14 (Down - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU: Another prospect who multiple team sources feel is very overrated is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. "[Williams] is extremely overrated, just watch the Georgia tape," said one general manager. In speaking to a director of college scouting, they said this about Williams, "I have him late [in Round 1]. I like him, but he doesn't have the speed to get an elite grade." There are some draft sites that project Williams going as a top-five pick, but team sources aren't nearly as high on Williams as the media believes.) (12-4-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_14.php
Top defensive backs in the 2019 NFL draft class (GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU: Williams is the consensus top defensive back prospect, slated to be selected in the first ten picks. The redshirt sophomore is an elite lockdown corner, a complete prospect in every sense of the word. Williams’s 6' 3" frame separates him from recent top corner selections—Denzel Ward is listed at 5' 11'—and his impressive wingspan makes him one of the best deep-ball corners in the country. Offenses won’t dare challenging Williams on a fade or isolation route near the sidelines. It’s not just Williams’s size that sets him apart. He changes directions with ease and doesn’t possess tight hips like other tall corners. Williams can stop on a dime and change directions, bursting from a backpedal into attack mode on slants and comeback routes. Williams is a great anticipatory corner, adept at reading a quarterback’s tendencies. His combination of brains and braun will quickly translate to the pros. LSU had a long history of impressive NFL defensive backs, and Williams is well on his way to joining the club.) (11-30-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/30/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-defensive-backs
End-of-Regular-Season Scouting Scuttlebutt (Another prospect who multiple team sources feel is very overrated is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. "He's extremely overrated, just watch the Georgia tape," said one general manager. In speaking to a director of college scouting, they said this about Williams, "I have him late [in Round 1]. I like him, but he doesn't have the speed to get an elite grade." There are some draft sites that project Williams going in the top-five picks, but team sources aren't nearly as high on Williams as the larger media believes.) (11-29-18): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/304
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (9. GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU: He’s tall and skinny, and isn’t perfect for everyone. But the Seattle-style Cover-3 defense teams will love him, and, of course, he comes from a school with great lineage at his position.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (5. Greedy Williams: Crafty cover corner with outstanding instincts, awareness and ball skills. Williams can blanket receivers in press coverage or sit back and jump routes using superb "off" technique. Size is a concern, but his skills could make it hard to bypass him as a potential CB1. -- BB) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (4. GREEDY WILLIAMS, LSU – CORNERBACK (Week 3 Draft Board rank: 5th (+1)): Williams has allowed a 40.1 passer rating into his coverage, just 0.5 points higher than if the quarterback threw the ball in the dirt on every pass,) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
Rankings 2.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (7. Greedy Williams: Playmaking cover corner with a knack for finding the ball. Williams will be the next LSU standout to make his mark in the league as a lockdown CB. -- BB) (9-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000966534/article/rankings-20-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
6 potential Lions prospects to watch in college football Week 4 (Greedy Williams, CB, LSU (LSU vs. Louisiana Tech, 7:00 PM EST): Williams has very good size at 6’1” and 185 pounds, and he is a very strong press-coverage cornerback, and that is Patricia’s preference in a cornerback. Williams utilizes his long arms to bully receivers at the line of scrimmage, but he also brings excellent athleticism and fluidity to the position. Williams is versatile as he can be seen playing outside and over the slot receiver and that only adds to his value. The addition of Williams to the Lions secondary would give them an outstanding one-two combination, and analytically, the No. 2 cornerback position may be more important than filling a need at defensive tackle.) (9-22-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/22/6-potential-lions-prospects-to-watch-in-college-football-week-4/
PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3 (5. GREEDY WILLIAMS, LSU – CORNERBACK: Perhaps the best press-man corner in the class, Williams has allowed only four receptions on 14 targets this season to also go with two interceptions and two pass breakups. 8.3 passer rating when targeted.) (9-18-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-2019-nfl-draft-board-top-32-prospects-after-three-weeks-of-college-football
Greedy Williams, LSU shut down Auburn, projected first round QB Jarrett Stidham (9-15-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/greedy-williams-lsu-shut-down-auburn-projected-first-round-qb-jarrett-stidham-TzLBb3fxW0qyUZ_CxaMAqQ/
Five possible Lions draft prospects: Week 1 (Greedy Williams: Maybe Teez Tabor will end up being the solution opposite Darius Slay, but so far, the former second-round pick out of Florida hasn’t shown he’s ready for that role. If the Lions are still lacking certainty at the end of this season, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility they address the need early in the 2019 draft. Williams figures to be one of top options, if not the top option in next year’s class. He’s tall and long, listed at 6-foot-3, and has already shown a knack for making plays, recording six interceptions as a sophomore last season. That earned him first-team All-SEC honors. He draws a tough matchup in Week 1, lining up across from 6-foot-1 Miami receiver Ahmmon Richards, who is trending toward being a Day 2 selection next year.) (8-31-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/09/01/five-possible-detroit-lions-draft-prospects-week-1/1158714002/
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 1 (CB Andraez Williams, LSU, So. (6-1, 182, 4.50, #29, Day One): "Greedy" burst onto the NFL radar last season, leading the SEC in interceptions (six) and passes defended (17) as a redshirt freshman. Williams shows fluid footwork, quick hips and seems able to stick just about anyone. The lengthy corner is also speedy -- he has reportedly been timed in the 4.2-range per reports and does a phenomenal job locating the football. He's the complete package with the ability to be a lockdown corner at the next level.) (8-30-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-1-E9td6AYRWEGJriM9IMPOAA/
Ranking the top 25 prospects in 2018: Bosa's bro to wreak havoc? (6. CB Greedy Williams: Crafty cover corner with outstanding instincts, awareness and ball skills. Williams can blanket receivers in press coverage or sit back and jump routes using superb "off" technique. Williams' slender frame could be an issue for some scouts and coaches, but his turnover prowess will make it hard for many teams to bypass a playmaking CB1. -- BB) (8-30-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000952266/article/ranking-the-top-25-prospects-in-the-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft prospect rankings -- top 5 at every position (2. Greedy Williams, LSU: Strengths – Excellent size, speed and length allows him to play press-man coverage and stick with receivers in man coverage. Room to improve in 2018 – Less comfortable playing off coverage. Can lose at the catch point down the field, leading to big plays.) (8-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-5-at-every-position
Scouting the SEC - LSU (Cornerback Greedy Williams has incredible size and the athleticism to match. He’s fast, battles opponents and plays tough football. He engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, slows their releases from the snap of the ball and battles throughout the action. Williams is still very rough around the edges, and I dare say he’s not NFL-ready. The redshirt sophomore is slow in his transition, struggles locating the pass in the air and does not show a real good feel for coverage at this point.) (8-13-18): http://draftanalyst.com/scouting-sec-lsu-0
2018 college football season: Top 10 defensive backs to watch (1. Greedy Williams: In recent years, LSU has put out defensive backs like Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Jalen Mills, Donte Jackson, Tre'Davious White and Jamal Adams. Williams is the next big thing coming from the Tigers' secondary. The redshirt sophomore put together one of the best freshman years that you will see, with six interceptions and a completion rate against of just 34.3 percent. Greedy is a long-limbed speedster with disruptive ability, but he still needs to improve at finding the football quicker when his back is to the ball. Once he gets that fixed ... Look out!) (7-6-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000939556/article/2018-college-football-season-top-10-defensive-backs-to-watch
NFL Draft Defender Ranks (Greedy Williams (6’2/182) is a tall, skinny corner who’s extremely difficult to shake due to his combination of long speed and quick-twitch agility. He shows natural ball skills on the rare occasions that SEC quarterbacks decide to test him. As a redshirt freshman, Williams was a third-team All-American and first-team all-conference player after recording five interceptions. LSU’s offense may be a dumpster fire in 2018, but the defense, led by White and Williams, is going to be nasty.) (6-8-18): http://rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/80349/325/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-ranks
Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft (7. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU (6-1, 189, 4.51, redshirt sophomore): After redshirting in 2016, Williams made a splash in his first season on the field, leading the SEC with six interceptions. A tall, lanky player, he has a chance to cement his status as a top-tier prospect if he continues his development in 2018.) (6-4-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/brugler-early-top-12-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-g3Y8aWBH3EmWOgw8z-eLjA/
18 for '18: Defensive prospects who will be NFL stars (11. CB Greedy Williams: Opposite Donte Jackson, who was supposed to be LSU's top playmaker in the secondary last year, Williams took that distinction himself as a first-year starter. His six interceptions tied for fourth in the FBS and tied for first in the SEC. Williams is 6-foot-2, giving him the length NFL scouts covet at the cornerback spot, and is known to be quite chatty with opposing receivers. He'll be a redshirt sophomore this fall, and figures to be one of the SEC's top two cornerbacks along with Georgia's Deandre Baker.) (5-22-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933757/article/18-for-18-defensive-prospects-who-will-be-nfl-stars
DT Quinnen Williams:
Scouting Reports:
Walterfootball: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019qwilliams.php
NFL Draft Scout: https://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1018917
The Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/09/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-greedy-williams/
Quinnen Williams NFL draft profile (1-28-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/01/28/quinnen-williams-nfl-draft-profile/
Articles:
Combine: Murray, Metcalf among winners (Winners - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: This draft is stocked with physical freaks and Williams is another manifestation of that. He ran a 4.83 40 at 303 pounds, which makes your head hurt if you think about it too much. But running in a straight line isn't what's going to make Williams a top-five pick -- that'll happen because of everything he put on tape during the 2018 season. He has one of the quickest first steps in this draft class, and he dominates one-one-one blocking situations and regularly wins against double teams. Yes, edge rushers are the second-most important position after franchise quarterback but we're making an exception for Williams, who can change games from the interior of the defensive line.) (3-5-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-kyler-murray-d-k-metcalf-jamel-dean-win-combine-jachai-polite-has-bad-week-in-indy/
U-M DE Gary, LB Bush among NFL combine winners (Winners - 6. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Even in a forum that seldom affords the spotlight to interior defensive linemen, the Outland Trophy winner managed to shine. His 4.83-second 40 was the fourth-fastest since 2003 for any lineman weighing over 300 pounds, and he stood above all others in his position group when he took the field. Already a virtual lock to be taken in the top five picks, Williams affirmed his standing in this class' first tier of prospects.) (3-5-19): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2019/03/05/nfl-combine-winners-losers-dk-metcalf-montez-sweat-draft-stock/3049233002/
NFL Combine winners, losers: Kyler Murray critics take L; D-line freaks show off (D-line freaks - A loaded class of edge-rushers did not disappoint. That included Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams, who are in a battle to be the first pick among defensive linemen, but they have competition. Montez Sweat ran a 4.41 40-yard dash. Rashan Gary ran a 4.58. Dexter Lawrence put up 36 reps in the bench press, and we haven’t seen a full workout yet from Ed Oliver. These guys will be the story of the first round of the draft.) (3-5-19): http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2019-winners-losers-kyler-murray-critics-defensive-linemen/csnr73i17bkm1gyz9c56j81cc
2019 NFL Scouting Combine Team: Top defensive prospects (Quinnen Williams, Alabama - Best team fits: New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers. Analysis: Williams led all 300-pounders (on either the defensive or offensive lines) with a blazing 4.83 40. Even though he did not participate in the bench press or the agility drills, I'm including Williams on this list, because he really impressed in the positional workouts. His extreme explosiveness off the snap was evident when coaches had players go down in a three-point stance. The thump you heard when Williams used his hands to pound pads during drills was just stronger and more decisive than what you heard with other players -- and he did not have to slow down to make that happen. I'm not sure how he'll perform on the bench or in agility drills at Alabama's pro day on March 19 -- but I don't think those results will stop teams from considering Williams an elite prospect.) (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021076/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-team-top-defensive-prospects
DJ's takeaways from scouting combine (Quinnen Williams, Alabama (No. 2 to 49ers): Williams had an impressive showing Sunday, running a 4.83 40-yard dash. The 2018 season was a breakout season for the Alabama product, leading the Tide in tackles. "He's my No. 2 player. He's dominant on tape.") (3-4-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001019889/article/daniel-jeremiahs-day-1-nfl-scouting-combine-takeaways
Quinnen Williams somehow ate only 4 Oreos as his pre-combine breakfast (3-4-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-quinnen-williams-ate-only-4-single-oreo-cookies-combine-breakfast-221216981.html
Sunday's 2019 Combine winners: Interior defensive line (Quinnen Williams: Heading into the Combine, Williams’ tape said he was in contention to be the top pick in the draft and today he reinforced that with a 4.83 (40) and a 1.67 (10-yard split), as well as looking sharp in drills. He did have a few slips, which happens when you’re trying to be too fast, but responded by making adjustments and finished the day playing under control and looking strong.) (3-3-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/sundays-2019-combine-winners-interior-defensive-line/
2019 NFL Scouting Combine: DL winners, losers from Sunday (Winners - Williams wowed NFL decision makers with a 4.87 unofficial 40-yard dash. His second attempt was much better, though with a scorching 4.84 seconds. The NFL later listed him, officially, at a 4.83 40-yard dash. On top of that, the 1.67 10-yard split also gave teams at the top of the first round get a better feel for the former Alabama star. Williams slipped a few times during some of the on-field drills, but he showed great technique throughout at all. I wouldn’t expect Williams to get past the first three selections, as the tape shows a player with a rare skillset that has All-Pro potential.) (3-3-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-defensive-line-winners-losers-quinnen-williams/
Brooks: Winners and losers from combine Day 3 (Winners - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Don't dismiss Williams' chances of finishing as the No. 1 overall player on most boards after the Alabama standout shocked the NFL scouting community with a sensational showing on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 6-foot-3, 303-pound defensive tackle has a rare combination of size, speed, strength and power, as evidenced by his effort throughout his workout. Considering his high-quality tape and nasty on-field demeanor, Williams is making a strong push to be the first player selected on draft night.) (3-3-19): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001020821/article/2019-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-montez-sweat-soars
2019 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Linemen (Up - Quinnen Williams is considered a potential top-overall selection for a reason. He's very athletic for a 303-pound lineman, and he showed that in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.83 40 with a 1.67 10-yard split, which is comparable to how Aaron Donald performed prior to the 2014 NFL Draft. Williams then went on to thrive in the drills. There was a report from Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area that Oakland will not pass on Williams if he's available at No. 4 overall.) (3-3-19): http://walterfootball.com/combine2019stockDL.php
Combine: How Sweat won the day (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (Draft range: Top 3): Williams confirmed he's one of the best players in this draft by running a 4.83 40-yard dash after dominating the entire 2018 season. He beat one-on-one blocks regularly and double teams almost as often, and his combine performance puts him firmly in the running to be the first player taken -- assuming some team doesn't take a quarterback with the top pick. Williams has only one year of production after sitting behind Da'Ron Payne in 2017 (Payne was the 17th pick of the Redskins last year) but there's no denying his talent.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-combine-montez-sweat-steals-the-show-with-blazing-40-time-and-how-dl-lb-workouts-affect-the-first-round/
Combine takeaways: Big day for D-linemen (Alabama's Quinnen Williams is an absolute beast. He blew the doors off the 40 with an unofficial 4.87 in his first 40, then topped it on his second run. His official time: 4.83 seconds. At 303 pounds, that's more impressive than what we saw from D.K. Metcalf on Saturday. Williams slipped a few times during a few of his drills, but he showed great technique throughout and proved why he's a top-three overall pick.) (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-combine-results-montez-sweat-quinnen-williams-devin-white-josh-allen-dominate/
Amid Kyler Murray-to-Cardinals Rumors, Nick Bosa Pleads Case for Top Pick and other notes (Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams had an impressive combine workout and just might challenge Bosa for the first defensive player off the board. Williams, a single season starter at Alabama, ran a 4.84 on his second 40-yard dash run, with a blistering 1.69 split. Not many interior defensive linemen run split times faster than Williams. Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald (1.63) and Eagles All-Pro Fletcher Cox (1.66) are recent examples. NFL Network played into the hype on Williams and simulcasted his run with Donald’s 4.68 run. Williams (302 lbs.) is heavier than Donald was when he ran (282 lbs). Williams’agent Nicole Lynn tweeted that she advised Williams not to run his second 40 because his first time (4.87) was so good. But Williams decided to try to beat himself anyway.) (3-3-19): https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/03/03/2019-nfl-combine-nick-bosa-returns-makes-case-first-overall-pick
Alabama DL Quinnen Williams is faster than NFC West QBs (3-3-19): https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/03/nfl-combine-results-quinnen-williams-40-time/
2019 NFL Combine: Quinnen Williams blew off agent's advice and ran a second 40-yard dash that was better than his first (3-3-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2019-nfl-combine-quinnen-williams-blew-off-agents-advice-and-ran-a-second-40-yard-dash-that-was-better-than-his-first/
Top linemen and linebackers for Lions from NFL Combine (The Lions probably won't get a shot at Williams, but with a speedy 40 yard dash and some nice fundamentals, he showed that he is in the obvious conversation for one of the top picks in the draft. If something crazy happens and Williams slips, the Lions need to be all eyes on) (3-3-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/NFL-Combine-top-linemen-linebackers-for-Lions-129680744/
No Sweat, Mississippi State edge rusher leads dominant DL group at Combine (Projected top five picks Quinnen Williams and Nick Bosa did everything they needed to do (athletically-speaking)) (3-3-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/no-sweat-mississippi-state-edge-rusher-leads-dominant-dl-group-at-combine-lIYXFAHcLk6MN-tMaysgUg/
Raiders Like Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams (3-2-19): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Raiders-Like-Nick-Bosa,-Quinnen-Williams
Quinnen Williams set for finger surgery (2-27-19): https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/02/27/quinnen-williams-set-for-finger-surgery/
NFL Draft 2019: A big board of the top 25 Lions targets entering the combine (4. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Some will debate Quinnen Williams as potentially the best overall prospect. I don't see that, but he is going to be higher on the lists of other teams that need help on the interior and play more one-gapping concepts. Detroit has A'Shawn Robinson starting to come into his own alongside Snacks. It could certainly make it work with Williams, namely as a third-down pass rusher and perhaps as an end on other downs, such as it did with Da'Shawn Hand this year. Alabama players do appeal to this team, particularly on the defensive line.) (2-26-19): https://expo.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/02/25732221735574/nfl-draft-2019-a-big-board-of-the-top-50-lions-targets-entering-the-combine.html
How Alabama DT Quinnen Williams turned grief into greatness (2-18-19): http://www.nfl.com/labs/cfb247/quinnen-williams/quinnen-williams
Pass-rushers to target in the 2019 NFL Draft and free agency (QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA DI: Alabama’s Quinnen Williams tied for first in pass-rush grade (92.5) and pass-rush win percentage (20.6) this past season, exploding onto NFL radars seemingly overnight largely because of said pass-rush ability. His 60 total pressures (31 hurries, 17 hits, 12 sacks) led all interior defensive linemen in the country, as well.) (2-12-19): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pass-rushers-to-target-in-the-2019-nfl-draft-and-free-agency
Projecting The NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Line (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (Day 1) – His size, speed, strength and athleticism, along with his quickness off the ball, allow him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher from the interior.) (1-16-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/projecting-the-nfl-scouting-combine-defensive-line-JnMnU1Uymk2YPB0birSorQ/
Draft: Analysis of top underclassmen (Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Hand-work master with plus athleticism, non-stop motor, and impressive power.) (1-15-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-here-are-the-top-underclassman-draft-prospects-you-need-to-know/
National championship: Christian Wilkins and other prospects whose draft stock changed in Alabama-Clemson title game (Up - Quinnen Williams, DT: Against Clemson, Williams didn't have a vintage performance -- based on what he showed this season -- but he was the most disruptive Alabama defender on the field in the blowout loss. He was exceptionally quick off the ball, flashed his swim move, and pressured Trevor Lawrence, mostly early in the game. And, he faced a ton of double teams. No, Williams' stock couldn't improve much after a remarkable season. He did help himself though -- albeit slightly -- against Clemson.) (1-8-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/national-championship-christian-wilkins-and-other-prospects-whose-draft-stock-changed-in-alabama-clemson-title-game/
McShay: Quinnen Williams could go No. 1 overall in 2019 draft (1-8-19): https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Quinnen-Williams-Alabama-football-2019-NFL-Draft-127540714/
Ranking the Top 10 NFL draft performances of the National Title game (7. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama, Redshirt Sophomore: Clemson’s explosive offense kept the most dominant draft-eligible player in the country this season from taking over to the extent that he has in most games this season but Big Q still registered four tackles, including 1.5 for loss despite facing constant double teams.) (1-7-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/ranking-the-top-10-nfl-draft-performances-of-the-national-title-game-MCzJPKKw6UGjGKKGv39oNg/
7 draft prospects in CFP title game for Lions (DT Quinnen Williams
He's a first-year starter who redshirted in 2016, but Williams was dominant enough this year that he could go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Williams has seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season and commands double teams nearly every play. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound nose tackle is a significantly better prospect than former Alabama linemen Da’Shawn Hand and A’Shawn Robinson, both of whom are off to nice starts in their NFL careers with the Lions. The Lions don’t have a need at defensive tackle, but Williams is too good a prospect to pass up if he somehow makes it to eight.) (1-6-19): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/01/06/alabama-clemson-nfl-draft-prospects/2495356002/
Scout’s Eye: 2019 CFB National Championship Game (DT Quinnen Williams, rSO (6-3, 297, 4.96, #92, Day 1): His size, speed, strength and athleticism, along with his quickness off the ball, allow him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher. Williams shows sound technique with his hand placement and the athleticism necessary to split double teams. Another dominant performance would strengthen his case to be the potential number one pick in the draft.) (1-5-19): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-2019-cfb-national-championship-game-IQSmXls_9kqHZrH38_RBEA/
Top players for Lions to watch in Alabama-Clemson (2. Quinnen Williams, DT. Detroit may have finished outside the zone with which to nab Williams, considering he might be an easy top five pick given how he dominated up front much of 2018. Still, the Lions will watch and see what Williams can do in this game and perhaps hope he slips down to them considering his obvious talent on the field and ability to wreck a game up front from the middle of the line. Williams might be top pick material when all is said and done, but the Lions will keep tabs on him just in case given what he can do.) (1-5-19): https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Alabama-Clemson-Lions-top-players-to-watch-127351902/
Scout’s Eye: Bowl Edition – Part IV (DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama, rSO (6-3, 297, 4.96, #92): A redshirt sophomore, Williams will be eligible for this year’s draft and was arguably the best defensive player in college football this season. His size, speed, strength and athleticism, along with his quickness off the ball, allow him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher. Williams shows sound technique with his hand placement and the athleticism necessary to split double teams. Nick Saban has praised his work ethic and leadership, while teammate Jonah Williams calls him a 300-pound bar of soap. This is a blue chip prospect who should be taken within the first five picks.) (12-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-bowl-edition-part-iv--IHTlG89Bkq--cT8bCVQDA/
Orange Bowl: 2019 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Alabama vs. Oklahoma bowl game (Quinnen Williams, DT: Williams had an otherworldly season for the Crimson Tide after contributing as a part-time player in 2017. He's essentially unblockable because of his efficient hand work, point-of-attack power, and surprising acceleration off the football. Though only a redshirt sophomore, don't be surprised when Williams declares early for the draft and hears his name called in the top 10.) (12-29-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/orange-bowl-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-alabama-vs-oklahoma-bowl-game/
Video - Quinnen Williams is deservedly one of the top 2019 NFL Draft prospects (12-28-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-quinnen-williams-top-draft-prospect
The Draft Prospects the NFL Is Watching This Bowl Season (Alabama: DT Quinnen Williams will likely be a top-five pick. In a draft loaded with interior defensive linemen, Williams is regarded by many as the top defensive tackle—he won the 2018 Outland Trophy for best interior lineman in college football. Alabama also has the best safety in the draft.) (12-27-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/27/2019-nfl-draft-bowl-season
How Alabama DT Quinnen Williams turned grief into greatness (12-25-18): http://www.nfl.com/labs/cfb247/quinnen-williams/quinnen-williams
Prospect Rankings – top 2019 NFL Draft prospects in the College Football Playoff (1. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – DI: The biggest breakout player of the season, Williams went from productive backup to the most dominant player on the defensive side of the ball and a potential top-five pick. He has the No. 1 overall grade in the nation, at 96.1, including the No. 1 pass-rush and run-defense grades among interior defensive linemen.) (12-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-top-50-prospects-in-college-football-playoff
A Lions NFL Draft prospect viewing guide for all 40 bowl games (Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (6 feet 4 inches, 295 pounds) has broken out in a huge way in his first real starting season, notching eight sacks and 18 tackles for loss with a game or two to go.) (12-15-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/342cde279e7273/a-lions-nfl-draft-prospect-vie.html
NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Quinnen Williams Leads Interior: Defensive Linemen (QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA: The redshirt sophomore is just 19 years old and some may be concerned about his experience level when squaring off against more experienced offensive linemen early on. But his tape against the SEC should dissipate most concerns. Williams racked up 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks against LSU, and Georgia faced similar problems in the SEC championship game. Williams was the best lineman in his conference by a solid margin in 2018, and is the best interior defensive lineman in the draft.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/nfl-draft-2019-position-primer-top-interior-defensive-linemen
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0: Herbert Moves Into Top 10, Uptick in Offense in Latest Rankings (2. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DL, ALABAMA (Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 295 pounds): A great example of the Tide machine at work. Williams wasn’t even a starter last year, and now he faces a decision on whether to go pro or not. It really shouldn’t even be much of a decision, because he has played his way into the Top 5.) (12-14-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/12/14/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Defensive Risers and Sliders - 2018 (Quinnen Williams/Alabama: While honorable mention goes to Gerald Willis of Miami, who went from street free agent to potential second-day choice, Williams deserves to top the list without question. He entered the season as a potential third-round pick, but now the underclassmen grades as a top-three choice and possibly the first overall pick of the draft.) (12-12-18): http://draftanalyst.com/defensive-risers-sliders-2018
2019 NFL Draft: Strengths of all prospects in top 32 (6. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama - Strengths: Pass-rushing moves, surprising power, hip fluidity) (12-12-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-strengths-of-all-prospects-currently-in-top-32/
2019 NFL Draft breakout players (QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DI, ALABAMA: After just 151 snaps last season, Williams has gone from relative no-name, small-snap count guy to college football’s most dominant player. He is the highest-graded player in college football at 95.9 and has dominated both against the run and as a pass-rusher this season.) (12-11-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-breakout-players-of-2018
PFF's Conference Players of the Year (SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE - Quinnen Williams, DI, Alabama: What Williams did in 2018 was extraordinary for the Crimson Tide. He entered the season as a small sample size talent and ended it with the highest ever grade that we’ve given to an interior defensive linemen in a single season at 95.7 (next closest was Maurice Hurst in 2017 at 94.4). Williams impressed both as a pass-rusher and as a run defender, despite just 151 snaps to his name before the season began. On 288 pass-rushing snaps. he recorded 43 total QB pressures that included nine sacks and 15 additional QB hits. He led the nation’s interior defensive linemen by winning 18.7% of his pass-rushing snaps this year while he was by far the nation’s best run defender at any position. He recorded 18 tackles for either a loss or no gain and made a tackle in run defense an average of just 0.96 yards past the line of scrimmage this year. Williams not only dominated, he went from a name only Alabama fans recognized to a household name to a potential top 10 draft pick in a matter of 13 games this season.) (12-7-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-conference-players-of-the-year-2018
7 players the Lions could take with a top-five NFL draft pick (Quenin Williams - Breakdown: Defensive end is the bigger need up front, but don't sleep on Williams as a potential fit either. After all, Bob Quinn has already drafted two defensive tackles out of Alabama, and both A'Shawn Robinson and Da'Shawn Hand are playing at a really high level in this scheme.) (12-7-18): https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/12/583e085bc13932/7-players-the-lions-could-take.html
NFL Draft 2019: Prospects at each position who improved their stock the most this season (Defensive Line Quinnen Williams, Alabama: No prospect in the entire country has done more for himself as a draft prospect in 2018 than Williams. A redshirt sophomore, like many defensive linemen at Alabama, he has buried on the depth chart behind future top 100 picks early in his career but seized his opportunity this season after Da'Ron Payne and Da'Shawn Hand moved on to the NFL. A hand-work master with impressive burst off the ball and enough strength to overpower interior linemen in the SEC, Williams has a complete skill set and is equally as scary as a pass-rusher as he is stopping the run. He was basically an unknown after 2017... now he could go in the top 10.) (12-6-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2019-prospects-at-each-position-who-improved-their-stock-the-most-this-season/
SI's 2018 College Football All-America Team (First Team Defense - LB: DL: Quinnen Williams, Alabama - We knew that the Crimson Tide would replace its NFL-bound front seven studs from a year ago with equally talented underclassmen; we just didn't know who would break out and when. Williams was at his most disruptive down the stretch as Alabama's margins of victory tightened somewhat, finishing the regular season with 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks after spending the past two years on the bench.) (12-5-18): https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/05/postseason-all-america-team-roster-kyler-murray
Prospects: Who should stay, go (Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Since Bosa went down with injury in September, Williams has been the best defensive player in college football in 2018 ... as a redshirt sophomore. A deceptively smooth athlete with a developed array of pass-rushing and block-shedding skills to go along with good power, Williams is much more advanced than his experience would indicate. Should he stay or go? Go. Instead of earning the "he's beat up" label many Crimson Tide defenders receive before entering the draft, Williams would be smart to strike while the iron is hot, and he's not a defensive lineman who simply overwhelms his competition with size or power. He's ready to be a disruptive pass-rusher in the NFL. I think another year at Alabama would likely do him more harm than good.) (12-4-18): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-underclassmen-tracker-who-should-declare-who-should-go-back-to-school/
2018 PFF All-American Team (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR – QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA: No defensive player graded as well as Williams did this season as he was dominant in every contest. He racked up 43 total QB pressures including a ridiculous 24 combined sacks and QB hits that tied for the national lead among interior defensive linemen. His 48 defensive stops were seven clear of the next-best defensive interior as he constantly wrecked opposing offensive schemes.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-2018-pff-all-americans
Quinnen Williams – the highest-graded FBS player – highlights PFF's All-SEC selections (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - First Team: Quinnen Williams, Alabama - No defensive player graded as well as Williams did this season as he was dominant in every contest. He racked up 43 total QB pressures including a ridiculous 24 combined sacks and QB hits that tied for the national lead among interior defensive linemen. His 48 defensive stops were seven clear of the next-best defensive interior as he constantly wrecked opposing offensive schemes.) (12-3-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-quinnen-williams-2018-all-sec-selections
College Football's best at everything (BEST OVERALL GRADE – DEFENSE
Quinnen Williams, Alabama – 95.3: What Williams has been able to accomplish this season from the interior of the Alabama defense is astounding. On a defense full of playmakers, Williams has quietly transformed from a small-snap-count guy to the nation’s most dominant defensive player. His 95.5 overall grade is nearly 3.0 grade points higher than the next closest defensive player and still much higher than that of Nick Bosa before injury sidelined him for the year. BEST INTERIOR PASS-RUSHER Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Chalk up another honor for Williams here as this one’s not even close. On 244 pass-rushing snaps, he’s recorded 38 total pressures, winning 19.3 percent of his pass-rushes to lead the nation’s interior defensive linemen. Williams has recorded eight sacks, 14 QB hits and 16 additional hurries and his straight pressure-per-pass-rush-snap of 15.6 percent is also the best in the country. BEST INTERIOR RUN DEFENDER Quinnen Williams, Alabama: By now, you get it: Williams is good. On 228 snaps against the run, he’s made 48 total tackles and missed just two while making 16 tackles for either no gain or a loss — the most of any interior defensive linemen. BEST SWIM MOVE Quinnen Williams, Alabama: Williams has a rare quick twitch for a nose tackle. In the blink of an eye, he can go from engaged with an offensive lineman to slipping by with his swim move that is the best in the country this season.) (11-30-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-footballs-best-at-everything
Scout's Eye: Top NFL Prospects to Watch in Week 14 - nfldraftscout.com (DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama, rSO (6-3, 297, 4.96, #92): Not many prospects possess Williams' size, speed, strength and athleticism. A first-year starter, he bulked up 12 pounds during the offseason in anticipation of his move from edge defender to nose guard. Williams' quickness off the ball, along with his power to gain leverage, allows him to be a dominant run stuffer but also an effective pass-rusher. He shows sound technique with his hand placement and can hold his ground against just about anyone, while demonstrating the athleticism necessary to split double teams. He has been described as a 300-pound bar of soap by Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams, and head coach Nick Saban has praised Williams for his work ethic and leadership. This is a bonafide top 10 prospect when he does decide to declare for the draft.) (11-29-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/scout-s-eye-top-nfl-prospects-to-watch-in-week-14-SkyfQCAuNEWZdnMUyJnjYw/
Scout Takes on the Loaded 2019 Draft D-line Class (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: “He is a one-year producer for them, but he has had a breakout year. He’s slippery, he can win with quickness and power which is hard to find. Really good technician, knows how to use his hands so he’s hard to block. He’s put together a really nice season, I think he and Raekwon [Davis] play off each other well. Raekwon is so disruptive with power and this guy can be so disruptive with his quickness and power. He is a really instinctive player. He has a really good feel of where the ball is going. As much hype as he’s getting he might come out for the draft, but he is only 19 years old. Is he ready to be a grown man and be an adult in the league?”) (11-21-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/21/2019-nfl-draft-defensive-line-pass-rusher-scouting-reports
Examining the top 5 players connected to the Lions in 2019 Mock Drafts (DT Quinnen Williams: Williams is absolutely dominant and will likely be considered one of the top picks in this draft (if he declares). He plays nose tackle for Alabama because of his ability to anchor but he’s not the Harrison type of interior defender, as he has the foot quickness to rush the passer with aggression. In Detroit’s scheme, he would play a role similar to Robinson at the 3/5T while also being an option to spell Harrison at nose tackle when he needs a rest. Bottom line, there would be zero drop off in talent when the Lions rotate their defensive lineman and would give them the versatility to go big using three and four of them at a time.) (11-16-18): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/16/mailbag-2019-nfl-mock-drafts-point-to-lions-looking-defense-early/
2019 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0: Nick Bosa No. 1, Justin Herbert Top QB at No. 13 (2. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DL, ALABAMA: Williams didn’t start for the Tide in 2017. A year later, he has a shot to go in the Top 5, which is a good example of how the Nick Saban Machine rolls. And while it may seem a little off to see him ranked higher than Ed Oliver, the disruptive Williams is more scheme versatile than his more ballyhooed counterpart.) (11-15-18): https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/15/2019-nfl-draft-big-board-rankings-nick-bosa-justin-herbert
Risers and Sliders -- Week 11 (Quinnen Williams/DL/Alabama: Williams name could’ve have been added to this list at any time during the past two months, but his performance against one of the best centers in the nation was nothing short of dominant. Williams finished with six tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack against Mississippi State, but his dominance went further than stats. His ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage caused a great deal of discomfort for quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and forced MSU running backs to alter the angles of their runs. His ability to anchor against double-team blocks allowed teammates to make plays on the ball. Williams beat Bulldogs center Elgton Jenkins, graded as a potential first-rounder by scouts, with quickness, power and athleticism. It was a tremendous performance by a prospect who projects as a top-10 pick in next April’s draft.) (11-12-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-11
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 10 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Weeks ago in the Hot Press, WalterFootball.com was the first outlet to report that NFL teams were projecting Williams as a high first-round pick. If there was any doubt about that, it was erased in Baton Rogue when he dominated LSU. Williams recorded 2.5 sacks against the Tigers, beating double teams on a few of those plays. He also notched 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss. Williams destroyed the Tigers left guard, right guard, and center in overwhelming fashion. Williams against LSU was one of the most impressive performances I've seen by a defensive lineman in years. It was probably the best since Myles Garrett (2015) or Jadeveon Clowney (2012) during their amazing sophomore seasons. There is no doubt that Williams is a freak athlete. He is extremely fast off the snap with the ability to fire his gap and close on the quarterback in a hurry. He has functional strength to bull rush through blockers, or grab them and toss them aside. On top of his great skill set, Williams shows impressive technique with his hand placement and variety in pass-rushing moves. With his sawed-off body, Williams has natural pad level and leverage. In speaking with NFL sources, some are grading Williams higher than Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Auburn's Derrick Brown, Alabama teammate Raekwon Davis, Mississippi State's Jeff Simmons, and either of the Clemson duo of Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. None of those players have a tape from this season as impressive as how Williams dominated LSU on Saturday night. This performance should help him to be one of the first players drafted next April, and it could make him a strong contender to go No. 1 overall depending on how the team needs and the quarterback prospects shake out.) (11-6-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_10.php
The best college player at every position through Week 10 (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – 96.2 OVERALL GRADE. The best defensive player in the nation this season, Williams is on pace for the best season by an interior defensive lineman in our five years of grading. He has the number one grade in the nation as a pass-rusher (91.9) and the top mark against the run (96.6). Williams ranks second in the nation with 32 pressures (six sacks, 12 hits, 14 hurries) and also he’s first with 33 defensive stops.) (11-5-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-the-best-college-player-at-every-position-through-week-10
NFLDraftScout.com Prospect Notebook: Week 11 (Alabama redshirt sophomore DT Quinnen Williams (6-3, 285, 4.98, #92) continues to state his case as being the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft with a dominant performance against LSU, registering 10 tackles, including 3.5 loss and 2.5 sacks.) (11-5-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/nfldraftscout-com-prospect-notebook-week-11-uoYto63TFEmccx-zvzQ7jQ/
NCAA Week 10 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR Quinnen Williams, Alabama Week 10 Grade: 91.7 - It was yet another incredible game by Williams, who has been the best defensive player in the nation this season. This time, the entire country was watching as he finished with seven pressures (four sacks, one QB hit, two hurries) on 29 rushes to go with four more stops in the run game.) (11-4-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-ncaa-week-10-team-of-the-week
Rankings 3.0: Top 25 prospects in 2018 college football season (14. Quenin Williams: Williams reminds me a lot of former Tide star Jonathan Allen. He is outstanding with his hand usage and stands out on a very talented defensive front. -- DJ) (10-23-18): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000977769/article/rankings-30-top-25-prospects-in-2018-college-football-season
2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 8 (5. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN (Week 3 Draft Board rank: 16th (+11)): Williams is joined by Temple’s Michael Dogbe as the only two interior defensive linemen to currently rank in the top five in terms of most pressures and most defensive stops. Dogbe, however, has spent 164 more snaps on the field than Williams.) (10-22-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/2019-nfl-draft-board-32-prospects-week-8
NCAA Week 8 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - Quinnen Williams, Alabama (Week 8 Grade: 91.3): Proving to be basically unblockable this season, Williams continued what has become the highest-graded season from any defender this year. With a 91.3 overall grade against Tennessee (and 4 pressures on 21 pass-rushes), Williams now has an overall grade of 95.7 (2.3 grade points higher than the next closest interior defensive lineman) and 25 pressures.) (10-21-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-8-team-of-the-week
Lions NFL Draft watch: 5 prospects for Week 8 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (No. 92): We could feature a different Alabama defender every week and it wouldn't feel out of place. The Tide have a roster filled with draftable talent and Williams has surged to the front of the line. Coming off a dominant performance last week -- seven tackles, two for a loss and a sack -- the powerful interior lineman is solidifying his first-round stock. Last week, one prominent national analyst listed him as the No. 2 overall player in the class. Williams is quick and powerful. The downside is his size. He's a bit on the smaller size for his position, listed at 285 pounds, but the Lions could work him as an inside-outside option, similarly to the way they utilize his former teammate, Da'Shawn Hand. ) (10-19-18): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/10/19/lions-nfl-draft-watch-5-prospects-week-8/1685463002/
Risers and Sliders -- Week 7 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (No. 92): We could feature a different Alabama defender every week and it wouldn't feel out of place. The Tide have a roster filled with draftable talent and Williams has surged to the front of the line. Coming off a dominant performance last week -- seven tackles, two for a loss and a sack -- the powerful interior lineman is solidifying his first-round stock. Last week, one prominent national analyst listed him as the No. 2 overall player in the class. Williams is quick and powerful. The downside is his size. He's a bit on the smaller size for his position, listed at 285 pounds, but the Lions could work him as an inside-outside option, similarly to the way they utilize his former teammate, Da'Shawn Hand.) (10-15-18): http://draftanalyst.com/risers-sliders-week-7
NCAA Midseason All-American Team (Defensive Interior
Quinnen Williams, Alabama (2018 Grade: 95.0): No player has dominated quite like Williams this fall, posting the top grade among all defensive players due to his disruptive nature against both the run and the pass. His 96.1 grade against the run tops all interior defensive linemen and he’s tied for second with a 90.4 pass-rush grade.) (10-15-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-midseason-all-american-team
Latest ‘Bama superstar, toolsy receivers highlight Week Seven NFL Draft risers (1. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama, 6-3, 295, 4.96, rSoph, # 92: Like the aforementioned Hill, standing out on a team as loaded with future early NFL draft picks as Ohio State (or Alabama) is a rare accomplishment, one even more remarkable for an underclassman, like Williams, whose combination of quickness and power is almost unfair for a player less than three years removed from high school. Like Da’Ron Payne – the 13th overall pick of last year’s draft (by Washington) – Williams’ stout frame and fantastic weight-room strength make him a virtually immovable object in the middle at nose guard. Williams is quicker than Payne, however, incorporating some of the initial burst and flexibility that is helping another former Alabama teammate, Jonathan Allen, stand out after the Redskins nabbed him with their top choice in 2017. As he has been all year long for Nick Saban, Williams was the Tide’s most dominant defender Saturday in the showdown against Missouri and NFLDraftScout.com’s top-rated senior passer Drew Lock, registering seven tackles (six solo), including two for loss and this third-quarter sack, which went for a safety in ‘Bama’s easy 39-10 win.) (10-15-18): https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/latest-bama-superstar-toolsy-receivers-highlight-week-seven-nfl-draft-risers-0WTsYIjYAkuorCCUYIuokg/
NCAA Week 7 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
Quinnen Williams, Alabama (Week 7 Grade: 90.1): The nation’s highest-graded defensive player was at it again for Alabama as Williams proved unblockable once more. He recorded a sack and five solo tackles that all went for defensive stops, giving him six stops on the day.) (10-14-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-7-team-of-the-week
2019 NFL Draft Stock - Week 6 (Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Last week in the Hot Press, we wrote about how multiple team sources see Williams as a high first-round talent for the 2019 NFL Draft. In speaking to sources at multiple teams including one general manager, they feel that Williams will grade out as a high first-round pick if he is able to stay consistent with his early-season performance. Grading out as a high first-rounder could put him on a par with Houston's Ed Oliver and Auburn's Derrick Brown as the top interior defensive line prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft. Some team sources think Williams is better than Brown and have him higher, while a couple of others preferred Brown because he's bigger and could have more versatility for the techniques he could play in the NFL. Both Brown and Williams are viewed as having huge upside for the NFL because they are still very young players who are just scratching the surface of what they are capable of doing on a football field. Williams is extremely fast at the point of attack with the ability to fire a gap and cause havoc in the backfield. A number of sources view him as a three-technique for the NFL. Sources say they are hearing at Alabama that the redshirt sophomore Williams plans on filing paperwork with the NFL Draft Advisory Board for the 2019 NFL Draft. If Williams hears a high first-round projection, he could easily enter the 2019 NFL Draft, and that is what many NFL evaluators think is likely. Most redshirt sophomore return to school, but every year there are a few that skip their final two years of eligibility to go to the NFL.) (10-9-18): http://walterfootball.com/draft2019stock_06.php
Alabama DT Quinnen Williams Projected as a High First-Rounder (10-4-18): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Alabama%20DT%20Quinnen%20Williams%20Projected%20as%20a%20High%20First-Rounder
The best college player at every position through Week 5 (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA 94.6: One of Alabama’s newest stars, Williams has been the nation’s most disruptive interior defensive lineman. He has the No. 3 pass-rush grade at 90.0, picking up five QB hits, 12 hurries and a batted pass on 98 rushes while ranking third among interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win percentage. Williams has done his best work in the run game where his 95.3 tops all defensive players in the country and his run-stop percentage of 19.4% is the nation’s best among interior defensive linemen with at least 50 snaps against the run.) (10-1-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-best-player-at-every-position-week-5
College football's biggest breakout stars of 2018 (1. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DI, ALABAMA: Williams not only tops the list of breakout stars, but his 94.7 overall grade also tops ALL FBS defensive players this season. He’s been a menace to opposing offensive lines all season long, racking up 11 QB pressures and all 12 of his solo tackles have been for a defensive stop. Throw in a batted pass at the line of scrimmage for good measure and you’ve got yourself a player wreaking havoc from the defensive interior that’s allowed Alabama fans to move on from Da’Ron Payne and Da’Shawn Hand, quickly.) (9-25-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-footballs-biggest-breakout-stars-of-2018
PFF 2019 NFL Draft Board – Top 32 prospects after Week 3 (16. QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA – INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN:
Another breakout star for the Crimson Tide, Williams has the top grade among all defensive players as he’s dominated against the run (96.0 grade) and his 86.2 pass-rush grade ranks fifth. The redshirt sophomore is headed for stardom, but we’re also cautious as he’s only 258 snaps into his career.) (9-18-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-2019-nfl-draft-board-top-32-prospects-after-three-weeks-of-college-football
20 PFF College stats to know from Week 3 (Quinnen Williams, DI, Alabama: Currently our highest-graded defensive player, Williams racked up five run stops on just 19 snaps in run defense against Ole Miss, giving him the national-best 26.3 percent run-stop percentage in Week 3.) (9-17-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-20-pff-stats-to-know-from-week-3
PFF NCAA Week 3 – Team of the Week (DEFENSIVE INTERIOR - Quinnen Williams, Alabama (Week 3 Grade: 94.1): Ole Miss couldn’t stop Alabama and that was no more apparent than Williams’ impressive display from the interior of the Crimson Tide defensive line. He got home to the count of three QB pressures but more impressively, on 19 snaps in run defense, Williams recorded five run stops for an offensive failure. His 26.3 run-stop percentage was by far the highest of the day at the position.) (9-16-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-pff-ncaa-week-3-team-of-the-week
NFL Prospect Matchups: Alabama vs Ole Miss (Quinnen Williams, a fast-rising nose tackle prospect, is the next top interior defensive line prospect from the Alabama program. He offers size and power and has flashed big-time potential.) (9-14-18): http://draftanalyst.com/nfl-prospect-matchups-alabama-vs-ole-miss
The five best defensive players in college football through Week 3 (1. DI QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA 94.6: After grading at an impressive 82.7 on only 151 snaps last season, Williams was a prime breakout candidate given his strong performance in a small sample. He’s been that and much more through three games, leading the nation with a 96.0 grade against the run and his 86.2 pass-rush grade ranks fifth among interior defensive linemen. Williams has the No. 3 run-stop percentage among interior players at 24.4, and he has three QB hits and five hurries on 64 rushes.) (9-7-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-the-five-best-defensive-players-in-football-week-3
The five best defensive players in college football through Week 3 (1. DI QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ALABAMA 94.6: After grading at an impressive 82.7 on only 151 snaps last season, Williams was a prime breakout candidate given his strong performance in a small sample. He’s been that and much more through three games, leading the nation with a 96.0 grade against the run and his 86.2 pass-rush grade ranks fifth among interior defensive linemen. Williams has the No. 3 run-stop percentage among interior players at 24.4, and he has three QB hits and five hurries on 64 rushes.) (9-7-18): https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-college-the-five-best-defensive-players-in-football-week-3
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