Strengths: Has some versatility. Can play outside and hold up extremely well versus the run. Also has shown decent quickness and penetrating skills as an interior pass rusher. He has good initial quickness and anticipation skills. Gets consistent penetration when playing inside and is a mobile DL that will find the ball carrier or quarterback and pursue. He has good overall bulk for a DE and shows the consistent ability to hold his ground versus the run on the perimeter. Can be very tough versus the run when he plays with leverage. Is tough and has a powerful upper body. Does a very good job of using his hands to control blockers. He isn't fast or explosive, but he is a smooth athlete for his size. Will be able to change directions after he finds the ball and will pursue. He has a good motor and is a hard worker.
Weaknesses: A DE/DT 'tweener. Does not have a great fit in terms of a potential position in the NFL. Lacks the bulk of a DT and the top-end speed of a DE. He is quick and has decent athleticism, but he's not explosive. He needs to play with more consistent leverage versus the run. Does not have the speed to turn the corner. Also lacks explosiveness and closing burst as a pass rusher. Is really limited as an edge rusher.
Overall: Verdon redshirted in 2000 and played sparingly as a reserve in 2001 but has been a fulltime starter since his redshirt sophomore season in 2002. He finished with 44 tackles, six for loss and three sacks as a junior in 2003 and had 40, 8.5 TFL and two sacks as a fulltime starter in all 12 games as a senior in 2004. Verdon played some DT at the collegiate level but he is a much better fit as a DE prospect in a traditional four-man front in the NFL. Verdon has the potential to develop into a quality "wave" DE that will be at his best filling in as a power-DE on running downs. However, he doesn't show the speed or athleticism to provide much as a pass rusher and he does not make enough plays to ever develop into a fulltime starter. Look for Verdon to come off the board in the last few rounds of the 2005 draft.
* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.
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04-21-2005
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