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STRENGTHS
Randy Gregory is an elite athlete for his size (6'5", 235 lbs), showing exceptional movement skills, flexibility and quickness in the open field. A former JUCO player, Gregory played at Nebraska for just two seasons and didn't really find his true position, leaving him with huge upside.
The Cornhuskers defense asked him to move around often—playing left and right defensive end, left and right outside linebacker and blitzing from middle linebacker—which has left him with a good total understanding of the defense.
He has a massive wingspan (34-inch arms) and uses that length well to fight off blockers. Against power blockers he showed an impressive ability to convert speed to power and counter quickness with an effective bull rush. He has a plan when pass-rushing and is an explosive, twitchy player with quick, strong hands.
WEAKNESSES
Gregory was coached to play off pressures or movements of the offensive line, which kept him from firing off the ball on the snap. That's something he'll have to change in the NFL while adjusting to linemen reacting to his movement instead of the opposite (which is a benefit to the defender).
Gregory lost weight before the combine (235 lbs) and weighed in at just 216 pounds when his offseason training began, bringing up concerns about his ability to maintain a high playing weight.
Gregory admitted to failing the drug test at the NFL combine and has at least two failed tests for marijuana from Nebraska.
2014 STATISTICS
Tackles Sacks Tackles for Loss
54 7.0 8.5
PRO PLAYER COMPARISON: Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers
Gregory isn't as filled out as Smith was coming out of Missouri, but they're both raw athletes with long arms, big hands and big athletic upside. Like Smith, Gregory projects best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, but he has the skills to bump down to defensive end in passing situations.
FINAL GRADE: 7.30/9.0 (Pro Bowl Potential)
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