Alabama Football 2016 NFL Draft Profiles: Denzel Devall

Denzel Devall

Position: Jack LB/Defensive End

Pro Day Height/ Weight: 6' 2"/ 252 pounds

40 Yard Dash Time: 4.79, 5.14 (unofficial)

Bench Press Reps (of 225 lbs): *

Hand Size: *

Vertical Jump: *

Broad Jump: 8'5"

Short/ Long Shuttle: *

3-Cone Drill: *

* Devall was not invited to, nor participated in, the NFL Combine.

2015 Season: Played in 15 games as a reserve OLB/hybrid DE in the Jack position. Made the most of his appearances with 24 tackles (5 TFL,) 1 sack, 2 PBUs.

Strengths: Devall has one very specific skill set: pass rusher. He has a quick first step out his stance, but moves better as a stand-up pass-rushing LB. He is a very smart player and doesn't often get lost in misdirection. Excellent, strong hands and upper body allow him to break contain and play the run when needed, and when his mechanics are sound. Very good straight-line speed for, in essence, a DE in the 3-4, but actually plays faster than his 40 times suggest. Like Jarran Reed, can disrupt the throw even without making significant penetration.

Weaknesses: The NFL will pay for pass rushers, but they won't pay for ones with an upright stance. Devall needs to get much lower to exploit his upper body strength. When he played high, he was was too often swallowed up by the line. His tweener physique poses a concern as well. He is too large to play the outside against passing offenses (and honestly lacks the instincts to cover in the flats,) and any significant weight gain takes away his greatest asset: his first-step explosion.

Verdict: Devall was a Freshman All-American, so it's not like he can't play, and he's never complained about losing his starting role following an injury. He may be a depth chart casualty, but, remember, that depth chart becomes immaterial if Devall were more consistent in his mechanics. His motor, power, character and speed aren't a problem, but they're probably not enough to hear his name called in a draft which is exceptionally deep with pass rushing talent.

Predicted Round: Devall is unlikely to be drafted. He should, however, get a free agent call-up to show a team what he can do over the summer.