#88 - 3rd Round - NY Jets, Sione Pouha DT, UTAH

[Hostile]

Jets select...Sione Pouha DT, UTAH

[jterrell]

another potential target for dallas

[Juke99]

Sione Pouha, DT, Utah
Height: 6:03.2 Weight: 329

Overview: The All-Mountain West Conference tackle was a four-year letterman and a two-year starter. He is regarded as the team's strongest player, as he bench presses 475 pounds and squats 675 pounds. He also tied for the team lead in the hang clean (375 pounds), which tests explosive power. Pouha signed with Utah back in 1997, then left for an LDS church mission to Pittsburgh, Pa. (1998-00). He received a heroism award from the Mountain West Conference for rescuing a woman from smoke-filled apartment in fall 2002. A member of the Utah's Student Athlete Mentor (SAMS) program, Pouha played in 40 games, starting 22 times during his career. He recorded 90 tackles (34 solos) with seven sacks for minus 43 yards and 12.5 stops for losses of 64 yards. He caused a fumble and recovered two others. Pouha also had an interception and five pass deflections.

Analysis: Positives...Thick-framed athlete with large hands and great leg drive...Shows power in his initial burst off the ball...Locates the ball carrier quickly when stepping in to fill the rush lanes...Very effective at plugging the gaps at the line of scrimmage...Gives total effort when flushing the quarterback out of the pocket...Very active pass rusher who maintains balance while using his hands forcefully to gain leverage...Shows his nimble foot speed as he spins and turns in order to disengage from blockers on the rush...Gets his arms up immediately in passing situations, riding the blockers wide with his hands in their chest.

Negatives...Struggles to handle combination blocks, losing balance when having to move laterally in order to contain the outside run...Not a consistent separation defender, needing to better utilize his functional strength in order to get through the pile...Lacks the lateral agility to consistently chase down the ball carriers...Does a nice job of leveraging blockers, but he lacks the change of direction skills and balance to consistently break down the play...Needs to add some more rush moves, as he generally will rely on his straight-ahead speed.

Agility tests: COMBINE: 5.02 in the 40-yard dash...2.83 20-yard dash...1.76 10-yard dash...4.44 20-yard shuttle...7.83 three-cone drill...32.5-inch vertical jump...8'11" broad jump...Bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times...33 -inch arm length...10 3/8-inch hands...21 Wonderlic score.

High school: Attended East (salt Lake City, Ut.) High School...USA Today honorable mention All-American as senior in 1996...Deseret News and Tribune first-team all-state...Two-year first-team all-region selection...Captained East High's state championship team in 1996.

Personal: Behavioral science & Health major...Son of Sonasi and Susana Pouha (pronounced bo-oo-ha)...First name is pronounced see-oh-nee...Married...Born Sione Sonasi Pouha on 2/03/79...Resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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