ivotuk
Well-known member
Matt Judon, Preston Smith, and Za'Darius Smith are all fairly successful DEs in the NFL. So I went back and looked at their combine profiles, and draft status.
It's interesting that these guys has some positive indicators, that it looks like teams ignored. Good combine, success at the College level, East-West Shrine Game, and Senior Bowl.
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Za'Darius Smith #55 OLB Height: 6-4 Weight: 272 Age: 27
Born: 9/8/1992 Montgomery , AL College: Kentucky Experience: 5th season
Draft 2015 Pick No.122 Selected By: Baltimore Ravens Round: 4
Pick (Overall): 23 (122)
Pick Analysis: Selected Defensive MVP of East-West Shrine Game and was a late addition to Senior Bowl roster. Played in all 24 games at Kentucky after transferring from East Mississippi Community College, where he was selected second-team NJCAA All-American in 2012. Grew up playing basketball and began playing football his senior season at Greenville High School (Ala.). Older brother, Bob Meeks, played center at Auburn and for Denver Broncos. Smith briefly played AAU basketball with Wildcats teammate Bud Dupree as youth.
Preston Smith #91 OLB Height: 6-5 Weight: 265 Age: 27
Born: 11/17/1992 Lithonia , GA College: Mississippi State Experience: 5th season
Draft 2015 Pick No.38 Selected By: Washington Redskins Round: 2
Pick (Overall): 6 (38)
Pick Analysis: Recorded 5 tackles (one sack) in the 2015 Senior Bowl. Started all 13 games in 2014 and led team with 15 tackles for loss and 9 sacks en route to being selected first-team All-SEC. Had an interception return for a touchdown against UAB. In 2013, played in 12 games (11 starts) and made 44 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (2.5 sacks). Selected Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Liberty Bowl in win over Rice. In 2012, played in 13 games and led team with 4.5 sacks. Made 11 starts in 2011.
Matt Judon #99 OLB Height: 6-3 Weight: 261 Age: 27
College: Grand Valley State Experience: 4th season
Draft 2016 Pick No.146 Selected By: Baltimore Ravens Round: 5
Pick (Overall): 7 (146)
Pick Analysis: This Michigan native earned just about every honor he could for his play in 2015. He won the Gene Upshaw Trophy as Division II's top lineman and was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) Defensive Lineman of the Year and Associated Press Little All-American squad. He led all of college football with 20 sacks among his 23.5 tackles for loss, made 81 total tackles and forced three fumbles. Judon showed promise beating D2 tackles off the edge with length and speed as a junior, as well, winning first team All-GLIAC honors with 19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. All of this success came after losing four games in the middle of the 2012 season (seven TFL, 3.5 sacks) and all but the first seven plays of the 2013 season with injuries.
It's interesting that these guys has some positive indicators, that it looks like teams ignored. Good combine, success at the College level, East-West Shrine Game, and Senior Bowl.
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Za'Darius Smith #55 OLB Height: 6-4 Weight: 272 Age: 27
Born: 9/8/1992 Montgomery , AL College: Kentucky Experience: 5th season
Draft 2015 Pick No.122 Selected By: Baltimore Ravens Round: 4
Pick (Overall): 23 (122)
Pick Analysis: Selected Defensive MVP of East-West Shrine Game and was a late addition to Senior Bowl roster. Played in all 24 games at Kentucky after transferring from East Mississippi Community College, where he was selected second-team NJCAA All-American in 2012. Grew up playing basketball and began playing football his senior season at Greenville High School (Ala.). Older brother, Bob Meeks, played center at Auburn and for Denver Broncos. Smith briefly played AAU basketball with Wildcats teammate Bud Dupree as youth.
Preston Smith #91 OLB Height: 6-5 Weight: 265 Age: 27
Born: 11/17/1992 Lithonia , GA College: Mississippi State Experience: 5th season
Draft 2015 Pick No.38 Selected By: Washington Redskins Round: 2
Pick (Overall): 6 (38)
Pick Analysis: Recorded 5 tackles (one sack) in the 2015 Senior Bowl. Started all 13 games in 2014 and led team with 15 tackles for loss and 9 sacks en route to being selected first-team All-SEC. Had an interception return for a touchdown against UAB. In 2013, played in 12 games (11 starts) and made 44 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (2.5 sacks). Selected Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Liberty Bowl in win over Rice. In 2012, played in 13 games and led team with 4.5 sacks. Made 11 starts in 2011.
Matt Judon #99 OLB Height: 6-3 Weight: 261 Age: 27
College: Grand Valley State Experience: 4th season
Draft 2016 Pick No.146 Selected By: Baltimore Ravens Round: 5
Pick (Overall): 7 (146)
Pick Analysis: This Michigan native earned just about every honor he could for his play in 2015. He won the Gene Upshaw Trophy as Division II's top lineman and was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) Defensive Lineman of the Year and Associated Press Little All-American squad. He led all of college football with 20 sacks among his 23.5 tackles for loss, made 81 total tackles and forced three fumbles. Judon showed promise beating D2 tackles off the edge with length and speed as a junior, as well, winning first team All-GLIAC honors with 19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. All of this success came after losing four games in the middle of the 2012 season (seven TFL, 3.5 sacks) and all but the first seven plays of the 2013 season with injuries.