Name: Damien Wilson
Position: Linebacker
College: Minnesota
Height/Weight: 6-2 / 254
Highlights/Awards: 2nd Team All Big 10 Honors
Draft Position: 4th round, 127th pick overall
STRENGTHS
Solidly built frame with above average arm length for the position – lost 15 pounds prior to his senior season…quick first step and loves to throw his body around with very good closing burst…reliable tackling technique, lowering his head and opening arms to wrap and drive through his target…physical pop at contact with good take-on skills, using his long arms to work off bodies and keep blockers at bay.
Dialed-in instincts and plays with a chip – appeared more confident as a senior with a full year under his belt at Minnesota…passionate player who loves to compete and hates to come off the field…high threshold for pain and toughs through injuries…productive senior season, finishing third in the Big Ten in tackles per game (9.2).
WEAKNESSES
Needs to keep his weight under control and maintain consistent conditioning…aggressiveness hits both extremes, waiting for the action to come to him on some plays and then overpursuing misdirection on others – needs to find balance between his eagerness and discipline…has some hip tightness that shows in coverage when covering down the seam…room to improve his spatial awareness in zone coverages.
Needs to control his intensity and play smarter, eliminating late hit penalties…good speed, but struggles to make up ground after a false step…durability could be a long-term issue due to his propensity for physical collisions – tore the meniscus in his knee (Nov. 2013) that required surgery, but didn’t miss a game.
Via Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com
video credit: Minnesota Gohpers
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