Defensive Tackle/3-4 Defensive End

North Carolina

6-2 309

Draft board overall prospect rank: #36

Draft board overall defensive tackle rank: #8

Overall rating: 79 (early 2nd)

40 time: 4.80

4/23/11: Marvin Austin could end up being the best defensive tackle in this strong defensive tackle class when we look back on it in 5 years time. However, he’s got a lot of red flags. He missed all of last season with a suspension. Though that suspension was for something stupid, much like Dez Bryant and Austin’s teammate Robert Quinn, he still didn’t get a chance to play his senior season, which really hurts him because he underachieved in his first 3 years as a starter at North Carolina and he has a lot of bad tape.

He came to North Carolina as an elite prospect with amazing athleticism and guy seen as a future first round pick. However, he disappointed with just 9 sacks in 3 years. He took a lot of plays off and coasted on his natural athleticism. He had a reputation for being lazy, having a poor work ethic, and a poor motor.

A few months ago, he was regarded as a late 2^nd or early 3^rd round pick, which is probably what he would have been regarded as had he come out last year as a junior. However, he has had a great offseason and raised his stock about a whole round and could go as high as 24 to New Orleans. You need to be wary of late risers like that.

Of course, he’s not rising for no reason. He’s rising because he dominated in the East/West shrine game, his only real game this season. He’s rising because he showed up to The Combine in excellent physical condition, even after missing a season, which basically destroyed his poor work ethic reputation. He exceeded possibly even what people thought he would do at The Combine, and he had high expectations. He ran a 4.80 at 6-2 309 and looked great in drills.

However, I’m not joining the love fest with him. You have to go back and look at the tape. He didn’t produce a lot of good tape in 3 years as a starter at North Carolina and certainly not enough to be a first rounder. What he’s done in these past few months has been great, but the tape is still there.

Defensive linemen picked in the first round have been busting at a high rate in recent years and Austin shares a lot of the same red flags as these busts. He doesn’t play up to his athleticism on tape. He has off the field character concerns and on the field character concerns, with a weak motor on tape. He hasn’t played organized football in a year, always a concern. I would take him in the mid to early 2^nd round because he’s got upside, but I’d let someone else use a first rounder on him.

NFL Comparison: Tank Johnson