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Rulon Gardner Eyes Olympic Comeback at 51; USA Wrestler Upset Russia for Gold in 2000

Dec 30, 2022
Athens, GREECE:  Rulon Gardner celebrates winning the bronze medal in the men's Greco-Roman 120 kg match against Iran's Sajad Barzi at the 2004 Olympic games 25 August 2004 in Athens. AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU  (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Athens, GREECE: Rulon Gardner celebrates winning the bronze medal in the men's Greco-Roman 120 kg match against Iran's Sajad Barzi at the 2004 Olympic games 25 August 2004 in Athens. AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)

Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner is looking to make it back to the Summer Games at age 51.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Gardner said he's been training with the goal of competing at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

"I still wanna give more back to the sport, the sport that I love and that's wrestling. When you have a goal like wrestling it makes you get into shape so I've lost a substantial amount of weight, getting healthy again, getting back after it, and now it's getting on the mat. Every day it hurts like heck but it's so fun to be able to get out there and throw with these young kids. It's crazy 'cause I'm wrestling kids half my age."

Gardner said he's lost about 150 pounds in training, with the goal of being able to show he "can still compete with the top-level wrestlers of the world."

This isn't the first time Gardner has attempted to make an Olympic comeback. He was training for the 2012 Games, but he missed the maximum weight limit allowed before the U.S. Olympic Trials.

It's not unheard of for an athlete over age 50 to compete at the Olympics, though it's often in sports that don't require the same type of physical ability as wrestling.

Laura Kraut, 55, became the oldest U.S. woman to medal since 1904 when she won a silver as part of the equestrian jumping team with Jessica Springsteen and McLain Ward at the Tokyo Games.

Sweden's Oscar Swahn is the oldest athlete to compete and medal at the Olympics. He won silver at age 72 as part of the 100-meter running deer shooting team double shots at the 1920 Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

More recently, Dara Torres was 41 years old when she won three silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Chris Campbell is the oldest American wrestler to medal at the Olympics. He won bronze in the freestyle 90-kilogram weight class as a 37-year-old in 1992.

Gardner became an Olympic legend for his performance during the 2000 Games in Sydney. The Wyoming native upset Russia's Aleksandr Karelin, who was the reigning three-time Olympic champion and had a 13-year unbeaten streak, in the finals of the 130-kilogram Greco-Roman event.

Four years later, Gardner won bronze in the 120-kilogram weight class. He will be 53 years old when the Paris Games begin.

The qualification period for wrestling at the 2024 Olympics runs from September 2023 through May 2024.


Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert Among People to Rescue Family from Helicopter Water Landing

Dec 30, 2022
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 25: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepares for a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 25: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepares for a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Blaine Gabbert was among the bystanders to help rescue a man and his family from a helicopter that had to make an emergency landing in the water near Davis Islands in Tampa on Thursday, according to Matt Cohen of the Tampa Bay Times.

Gabbert was on a personal watercraft at the time of the incident, per Cohen.

Hunter Hupp and his parents were taking a helicopter tour over Tampa and the city's beaches as a Christmas gift before he heard a "popping sound" from above his head. The helicopter's engine had failed and it wasn't going to make it back to the airport.

The helicopter made an emergency landing in the water around 200 yards from Davis Islands. As the aircraft began to sink, Hupp found himself entangled in seatbelts and other cords that made it difficult for him to escape.

Hupp's parents and the pilot made it out safely, but Hupp said he struggled under the water for between 45 seconds and a minute before he finally freed himself. Hupp, his parents and the pilot escaped with no injuries.

Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports Gabbert "was one of the first to respond on his jet ski" when the helicopter went down. The veteran signal-caller lives on Davis Islands, according to Auman.

As Hupp, his parents and the pilot treaded water, Gabbert and someone on another jet ski came along to help. Hupp said his father was helped up onto one jet ski and he and his mother onto the other.

Hupp, who had no idea an NFL quarterback was one of the rescuers, detailed the matter, via Auman:

"They slowly brought us back to the shore, a sandy beach near the yacht club, and hung out for a while, were really nice. We exchanged pleasantries upon reaching flat ground. They were really an asset to helping us out, because we were the only ones out there for a while. It was a handshake and a huge and 'Thank you so much.' They went out for a nice afternoon ride and just happened to come upon a stranded helicopter family."

The Tampa Police Department is now "coordinating with local and federal agencies regarding the investigation and eventual recovery of the helicopter."

Gabbert, who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars 10th overall in 2011, has been with the Buccaneers since 2019 and serves as a backup to seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Dak Prescott Says 'a Win's a Win' as Cowboys Beat Titans Without Derrick Henry

Dec 30, 2022
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to throw a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to throw a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Dak Prescott doesn't care about style points after the Dallas Cowboys got a 27-13 win over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Prescott said "a win is a win" to justify the team's lackluster performance against a depleted Titans team.

"A win's a win, and we're going to take it and we're going to get better from the mistakes and make sure that we're improving," the Cowboys quarterback said. "But a road win, short week, you've got to take them all. And style points and all that, that's for y'all who think games are won on paper."

Knowing their result this week had no impact on their ability to win the AFC South, the Titans essentially punted the game to rest their key players for a Week 18 showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Derrick Henry and Kristian Fulton were ruled out shortly before kickoff, bringing the list of Tennessee starters not playing up to 10.

The Cowboys were without Tony Pollard because of a thigh injury, but otherwise, they were playing at relatively full strength.

Playing with Joshua Dobbs as their starting quarterback, the Titans were within four points at 17-13 after three quarters. The Cowboys did pull away with 10 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't pretty.

This marks the third time in the past four games that Dallas has looked underwhelming. Ezekiel Elliott's touchdown run in the final minute gave the Cowboys a 27-23 win over the Houston Texans on Dec. 11. They blew a 17-point third-quarter lead in a 40-34 overtime loss to the Jaguars on Dec. 18.

Even the Cowboys' Christmas Eve win over the Philadelphia Eagles required a late defensive stop against Gardner Minshew II filling in for the injured Jalen Hurts.

One of the big issues for Dallas during this recent stretch of games has been Prescott. The two-time Pro Bowler has thrown at least one interception in six consecutive games. His two picks against the Titans gave him 14 for the season, tied with Derek Carr for most in the NFL.

Those mistakes don't look as bad when playing teams with inferior talent like the Texans and Titans. But if the Cowboys want to make a deep playoff run, Prescott will have to do a better job of protecting the ball.

Eyabi Okie NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Michigan Edge

Dec 30, 2022
ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 03:  Michigan Wolverines defensive end Eyabi Anoma (18) wraps his arms around Colorado State Rams quarterback Clay Millen (11) during the second quarter of a non-conference college football game between the Colorado State Rams and the Michigan Wolverines on September 3, 2022 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 03: Michigan Wolverines defensive end Eyabi Anoma (18) wraps his arms around Colorado State Rams quarterback Clay Millen (11) during the second quarter of a non-conference college football game between the Colorado State Rams and the Michigan Wolverines on September 3, 2022 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 244

HAND: TBD

ARM: TBD

WINGSPAN: TBD


40-YARD DASH: TBD

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: TBD

BROAD: TBD


POSITIVES

– Impressive get-off with his quick reaction to the snap and good acceleration off the line of scrimmage; he can put pressure on offensive tackles vertically as a pass-rusher.

– Uses head/shoulder fakes during the stem phase of a rush to help set up his moves.

– He has the change of direction and quickness to develop an inside stick move if his use of his hands improves.

– Keeps his legs pumping through contact when bull-rushing or turning speed to power to collapse the pocket against weaker tackles.

– Has shown impressive strength as a tackler by bringing running backs and quarterbacks down with one arm.


NEGATIVES

– Lean frame, needs to add more size and functional strength when taking on blocks to hold his ground better versus one-on-one blocks from offensive linemen.

– Poor use of his hands as a run defender and pass-rusher; he'll get caught with his hands by his waist and exposes his chest, making getting off blocks and defeating the hands in pass rush extremely difficult.

– Needs a better pass-rushing plan throughout the game. For example, he'll try a ghost rush without setting it up by winning with a few one-arm stab moves, making the ghost rush less effective.

– Struggles to stay on balance and fight through chip blocks.

– Primarily a situational pass-rusher at Michigan and UT Martin.

– On his fourth team in five years, dismissed from Alabama and Houston.


NOTES

– DOB: June 7, 1999

– A 5-star recruit in the 2018 class, No. 4 overall, No. 1 WDE, per 247Sports' composite rankings

– Dismissed from Alabama reportedly for tardiness, skipping class, clashing with teammates and insubordination and was dismissed from Houston for "some of the same issues," according to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports; left UT Martin on good terms

– 10 career starts

– 2021 Honors: OVC All-Newcomer Team, All-OVC Third Team (Phil Steele)

– 2018 Honors: SEC All-Freshman Team

– Had 46 sacks in last two years of high school

– Averaged 11.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in basketball during the 2015-16 season


OVERALL

Before even talking about football or what he can do on the field, Eyabi Okie (formerly Anoma) will have to answer questions about what happened at Alabama and Houston. He's said his issues at those two stops had to do with maturity, and to his credit, he's stayed out of trouble since leaving the Cougars.

On the field, Okie has shown off a few of the traits that made him a top-five recruit, as he's clearly a good athlete, most notably with his impressive get-off/acceleration. He could be an effective pass-rusher in the NFL, but his lack of success as a run defender is concerning.

Both Michigan and UT Martin used him primarily as a situational pass-rusher, which is surprising for a player who was once considered one of the top recruits in the country. He's just not strong enough to hold up at the point of attack against the run, and that coupled with his poor use of his hands makes getting off blocks a challenge.

Also, while the Baltimore native did rack up six sacks for the Skyhawks, he didn't dominate at the FCS level as one might expect. And it's concerning that he didn't take over the starting role at Michigan when Mike Morris went down at the end of the regular season.

All of that being said, he has enough traits and a good enough resume to still be draftable for an odd-front team that is looking for a standup outside linebacker and/or a third-down pass-rusher toward the end of Day 3.


GRADE: 5.6 (Backup/Draftable, Rounds 6-7)


Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

Olusegun Oluwatimi NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Michigan IOL

Dec 30, 2022
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 08: Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Olusegun Oluwatimi (55) looks over the defense before snapping the ball during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on October 8, 2022 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 08: Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Olusegun Oluwatimi (55) looks over the defense before snapping the ball during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on October 8, 2022 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'2.5"

WEIGHT: 309

HAND: 8 5/8"

ARM: 32 3/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD


40-YARD DASH: 5.38

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 29"

BROAD: 9'2"


POSITIVES

— Alert player with good spatial awareness and processing skills to diagnose line games and stunts and identify the most dangerous man.

— Quarterbacks the best offensive line unit in the nation, with a firm grasp on the checks, calls and adjustments in the pre-snap phase of the game.

— Shows a good understanding of the play's intent by knowing when and how to manipulate body positioning and leverage to create seals and alleys in the run game.

— Works best in tandem with his guards having help on slide protections, combo and double-team blocks using the proper timing and spacing to get defenders covered up.

— Solid steer and sustain skills in the run game; plays with a good hip-to-elbow relationship to keep his hands tight and inside while continually driving his feet and applying force on defenders through the whistle.

— Capable blocker on the move up to the second level and on pulls to line up and dig out his target.


NEGATIVES

— Smaller stature with below-average play strength and power.

— Struggles to consistently root his feet, absorb force and anchor when isolated against the bull rush.

— Will get stood up and flattened at the point of attack when asked to uproot or reach defensive tackles without help.

— Inconsistent set points on shaded interior rushers with tardy strike timing that leaves him vulnerable to losing quickly across his face.

— Lack of position flex limits versatility in the NFL.


NOTES

— Former 2-star guard recruit out of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, per 247Sports composite rating

— Originally committed to the Air Force Academy before transferring to the University of Virginia and starting 32 consecutive games there, all at center, before transferring again to Michigan prior to the 2022 season

— Named a consensus All-American in 2022

— Won the 2022 Rimington (best center) and Outland Trophies (best interior lineman), becoming the third Michigan player to win the former and first to win the latter

— Part of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2022, given to the nation's top OL unit

— His brother Oluwaseun is a defensive lineman at the University of Maryland


OVERALL

Olusegun Oluwatimi is a four-year starter with 45 career starts, all at center for two different programs, most recently for Michigan's run-heavy, downhill ground game that emphasizes gap and man-blocking concepts with some zone sprinkled in. Oluwatimi has adequate arm length with a lean, narrow frame and more thickness in his lower than upper half.

Oluwatimi orchestrates the pre-snap phase of the game, making all of the line calls for the Wolverines and did so throughout his career at Virginia. He shows above-average processing skills and spatial awareness to sort line games and stunts and identify the most dangerous man when necessary (late loopers, delayed blitzes, etc.).

He maintains proper depth and spacing with his guards on slide protections and utilizes the drag or backside hand to "feel" and overtake adjacent pressure when needed. He also has a nice snatch technique to defeat power when facing the bull rush.

Due to his middling stature, length and power, though, Oluwatimi struggles to root his feet and brace and absorb force when isolated against bigger interior rushers that get into his frame. This causes him to get walked back, pried open or shed too easily. His strike timing against shifty interior rushers can also be late, leaving him vulnerable to losing across his face without enough foot quickness to reliably recover.

In the run game, Oluwatimi shows a firm grasp of the play's intent by knowing when and how to manipulate body positioning and leverage to create seals and alleys based on the runner's path. He does a nice job working combination and double-team blocks using proper spacing, timing and aiming points to get into good initial position on blocks. He also aligns his hips and elbows prior to contact, leading to tight hand placement while consistently running his feet through the whistle, allowing him to apply consistent force on defenders with enough leverage and control so lanes can open up around him.

However, Oluwatimi struggles to uproot and sustain on base, drive and down blocks against defensive tackles without help, frequently getting stood up, knocked back and shed.

Overall, Oluwatimi is a highly decorated, experienced and smart player with good processing skills, spatial awareness and an understanding of leverage. He will need to overcome below-average physical traits and a lack of proven versatility to become a starter but has the makeup and smarts to develop into a role player over his first contract.


GRADE: 6.4 (High-Level Developmental Prospect/Round 5)

OVERALL RANK: 155

POSITION RANK: IOL15

PRO COMPARISON: Ted Karras


Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Jaquelin Roy NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for LSU DL

Dec 30, 2022
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 15: LSU Tigers defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (99) during the game between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 15: LSU Tigers defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (99) during the game between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 305

HAND: 10 1/8"

ARM: 32 3/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD


40-YARD DASH: 5.17

3-CONE: 8.01

SHUTTLE: 5.0

VERTICAL: 26"

BROAD: 8'5"


POSITIVES

— Get-off gets better/faster as the game goes along.

— Gets his hands up quickly against the run and has plenty of strength at the point of attack to get extension and lock out offensive linemen.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base when he isn't slanting. Is hard to move one-on-one.

— Has a solid arm-over move that he uses to escape blocks as a run defender and as a pass-rush move.

— Decent push-pull move with solid hip fluidity to clear his lower half.

— Showed flashing of being able to win with a club-by move as a rusher.

— Carries his frame well with little to no bad weight. A lean 305 pounds.


NEGATIVES

— Stands up out of his stance and stops his feet on contact, causing issues versus double-teams and limiting the effectiveness of his bull rush.

— Narrows his base significantly and struggles to stay on balance when he slants, making it easier for offensive linemen to wash him out of the play.

— Not violent when block-shedding, allowing offensive linemen to hang onto him, which makes it more difficult for him to make tackles.

— Drops and doesn't use his hands well as a pass-rusher. Will allow blockers to get into his chest.

— Subpar agility limits his effectiveness in line games, especially as the looper.

— Limited pass-rush arsenal overall. Most moves are developmental/need to be flushed out.


2022 STATISTICS

— 13 GM, 49 TOT, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 SK


NOTES

— DOB: Oct. 22, 2000

— A 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 41 nationally, No. 6 DT, per 247Sports' composite rankings

— 13 career starts; played behind Neil Farrell Jr. (fourth-round Raiders pick) and Andre Anthony (seventh-round Buccaneers pick) for two years

— Won back-to-back state championships in high school (2017 and 2018)


OVERALL

Jaquelin Roy showed a ton of potential as a sophomore that many had hoped would shine even more this season as he took over the starting role. However, he didn't appear to have the same quickness and twitch that he showed in the past, which impacted his productivity and effectiveness as a pass-rusher.

Part of that had to do with the coaching and scheme changes at LSU following the arrival of head coach Brian Kelly. Roy went from primarily playing as a 3-technique in even fronts to playing as more of a nose tackle. His best fit would probably be closer to his previous role, which should hopefully help unlock some of the potential he showed as a sophomore.

As a run defender, there's a lot to like about the Baton Rouge native. He's strong at the point of attack and has some pop in his hands to gain control of the block. He can be a good space-eater, too, as he's hard to move one-on-one. If he can get better at shedding blocks, he'll start making more plays.

Roy's pass-rush skills need quite a bit of work, though. Right now, his best move is a push-pull, and he even has room for growth there as well. He'll be a more effective bull-rusher if he gets his pads down, and improving his use of hands will help develop a finesse move or two. He showed a nice inside/outside stick move as a sophomore.

If a team is looking for an immediate run defender with upside as a pass-rusher in the middle of the draft, Roy should be on its radar.


GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player/Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 107

POSITION RANK: DL15

PRO COMPARISON: Jarren Reed


Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

Mazi Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Michigan DL

Dec 30, 2022
Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) rushes against Connecticut offensive lineman Noel Ofori-Nyadu (62) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) rushes against Connecticut offensive lineman Noel Ofori-Nyadu (62) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 323

HAND: 9 3/4"

ARM: 33 3/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD


40-YARD DASH: TBD

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 29.5"

BROAD: 8'11"


POSITIVES

— Unique blend of size, strength and athletic ability. He carries his frame well, too, with little to no bad weight.

— Tons of power in his hands to stand up to offensive linemen at the point of attack. He can gain control of the block fairly easily, and his upper body strength will occasionally allow him to recover if he gets beat initially against the run.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base.

— When he anticipates the second blocker coming, he can absorb contact and split double-teams.

— Sheds blocks pretty easily and has shown the ability to escape with a swim move/arm over, too.

— Has the potential to be an effective power rusher at the next level if his get-off can improve to be more consistent with his bull rush.

— Also showed flashes of winning with hump and club-by moves and can develop a push-pull move if he gets more limber with his lower half to clear his hips and get a clean win.

— When slanting as a pass-rusher, he has a little more time to get his hands up and has a decent hand-swipe move that he can win with.


NEGATIVES

— Late reaction to the snap and doesn't have much initial quickness off the ball. This could become a big issue against scoop blocks and reaches at the next level.

— Likes to stand up out of his stance. Quick interior offensive linemen who play with good leverage will be his nemesis against the run at the next level.

— He's slow to get his hands up as a run defender, which will expose his chest and can lead to his shoulders getting turned versus combo and scoop blocks.

— The effectiveness of his bull rush is inconsistent because of his poor get-off and wide hand placement.

— Needs to add a violent rip to the end of pass-rush moves to get offensive linemen off of him when he does win. He lets them hang on too long and will get ridden past the quarterback.

— Doesn't pass rush with much of a plan or a motor. He'll quit if his first move doesn't work.


2022 STATISTICS

— 14 GM, 48 TOT, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 SK, 1 FF


NOTES

— DOB: June 16, 2001

— No. 1 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering the season, 22 bench reps at 325 lbs, 550 lbs close-grip bench, 33" vert, 6.95-second 3-cone

— A 4-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 105 overall, No. 11 DT, per 247Sports composite rating

— Charged with felony weapons possession, per Detroit Free Press, pled guilty to misdemeanor weapons possession, per ESPN, from a traffic stop on Oct. 7

— 27 career starts

— 2022 Honors: First-team All-Big Ten

— 2021 Honors: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media), Academic All-Big Ten

— 2020 Honors: Academic All-Big Ten


OVERALL

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman ranked the 6'3", 337-pound Smith first on his list of players with "unique physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes every day". Mazi Smith caught everyone's attention heading into this season with his rare blend of size, strength and athleticism. He's shown flashes of some All-Pro caliber traits, but consistency has been a major issue and a large reason why he's been fairly unproductive in college.

Heading into the playoffs, Smith only had half a sack and five tackles for loss in two seasons as a starter, and he would disappear on tape far too often for someone with his physical gifts. Conditioning might play a factor in that, too, as his pass-rush motor is sub-par.

A lot of Smith's lack of production is rooted in his get-off—or lack thereof—and being faster off of the ball will solve a lot of his problems as a run defender and pass-rusher. Michigan did have him two-gap a lot, which can hinder a defensive lineman's initial quickness, but he was still slow off the ball, even when one-gapping or penetrating.

The Wolverine is more traits and tools than a finished project, but it's going to be hard to find more defensive tackles with more potential than he has, meaning his best football could be ahead of him.

Schematically, Smith would be best as a 0- to 2i-technique in either odd or even fronts, and he could potentially play as a 3-technique if he adds some quickness down the line. It's just a matter of how patient teams are willing to be with him as a team hoping for a defensive tackle to make an immediate impact might be looking elsewhere.


GRADE: 7.3 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 63

POSITION RANK: DL7

PRO COMPARISON: DJ Reader


Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

Jack Campbell NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Iowa LB

Dec 30, 2022
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell (31) looks to make a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Dakota State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell (31) looks to make a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Dakota State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 249

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 31 7/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD


40-YARD DASH: 4.65

3-CONE: 4.24

SHUTTLE: 6.74

VERTICAL: 37.5"

BROAD: 10'8"


POSITIVES

— Quick to key and diagnose zone versus gap runs to put himself in a good position to make plays.

— Comes downhill in a hurry to fill his gap on the front side of gap runs. Takes good angles in pursuit against stretch runs or outside zone.

— Physical and strong at the point of attack to get extension against offensive linemen. Has plenty of upper-body strength to stack and shed.

— Wraps up and uses good pad level when tackling.

— Gets his hands on and can force reroutes against receivers and tight ends when playing underneath in zone coverage.

— Has good eye discipline. Locates threats coming into his area and can read the quarterback's eyes to step into throwing windows.

— Impressive ball skills for a linebacker. Uses his height and long arms well to force quarterbacks to try to make perfect throws to beat his coverage between the second and third levels over the middle. Has shown the hand-eye coordination to make one-handed interceptions.

— Hustle player who will make tackles down the field in pursuit.

— Great size for an NFL linebacker.


NEGATIVES

— Falls for a lot of pre-snap eye candy and can get caught out of position against motion.

— Has a habit of taking on blocks square and stopping his feet on contact, which can cause him to lose ground if he doesn't win at the point of attack. Reliant on his upper-body strength.

— Only adequate hip fluidity. Doesn't have enough speed when spot-dropping/running backward to play a lot of Tampa 2 coverage.

— Subpar change of direction is an issue in man coverage against running backs and shifter tight ends and on scramble drills.

— Doesn't have any moves as a pass-rusher. Just runs full speed and tries to run through blockers as a blitzer.


2022 STATISTICS

— 13 GM, 128 TOT, 5.5 TFL, 1 SK, 1 FF, 3 PBU, 2 INT


NOTES

— DOB: Aug. 22, 2000

— A 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 662 overall, No. 44 OLB, per 247Sports' composite rankings

— Injuries: Knee (2022, missed spring ball)

— 27 career starts

— 2022 Honors: First-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media), Consensus All-American, Butkus Award winner (nation's best LB)

— 2021 Honors: Team MVP on defense, Academic All-Big Ten, second-team All-American (FWAA and Phil Steele), first-team All-Big Ten (league media and Phil Steele), third-team All-Big Ten (coaches)

— 2020 Honors: Academic All-Big Ten


OVERALL

The combine will be key for Jack Campbell, as questions remain about his athleticism when it comes to his transition to the NFL. He was athletic enough to be the most decorated linebacker in college football this season, but his change of direction and hip fluidity are questionable for a modern-day NFL linebacker.

With that being said, Campbell isn't devoid of traits that will translate to the NFL. He has impressive speed when coming downhill, which helps him plug gaps against the run and close on pass-catchers in zone coverage. He's also arguably the best linebacker at stack-and-shedding in this draft class, and he has good instincts in zone coverage.

Schematically, the Hawkeye would be best as a middle linebacker in a system that uses a lot of one-high looks and Cover 3. That would give him some help over the top and keep him from having to carry wide receivers in Tampa 2, while still taking advantage of his ability to tighten throwing windows as an underneath defender in zone coverage.

Campbell is not a one-size-fits-all type of player. He could slide in the draft if teams are looking for a linebacker with more man-coverage skills. However, he could be a great Day 2 pick for a team seeking an impact run defender on the second level of its defense.


GRADE: 7.8 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 27

POSITION RANK: LB1

PRO COMPARISON: Leighton Vander Esch


Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder