DJ PACE
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Brief Biography: Ricky Sapp was born in Bamberg, South Carolina on November 14, 1986. His high school career was as illustrious as anyone could have possibly hoped for, as the Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School phenom recorded 70 tackles (27 for a loss) and 11 sacks in an all-state junior year, and 82 tackles with 11 sacks in an All-American senior campaign. Sapp also played basketball and was a standout in track, which might explain the athleticism and burst that he shows on the gridiron. Football was obviously his calling, as he earned a 5-star ranking from Rivals and was ranked the #1 weakside defensive end in the country, two accolades which made him one of the most sought after players in the nation. Sapp had a myriad of suitors, but eventually went with Clemson University. At Clemson, Sapp was penciled in as the "bandit" defensive end, which is a designated stand-up pass rusher. His freshman year was spent backing up Gaines Adams(who ended up getting picked #4 overall in the following NFL draft), but Sapp didn't let limited snaps stifle him. Despite not starting a single game, he finished 2nd on the team with 4 sacks, and 2 of his pressures caused interceptions. He became a starter in his second year, and finished with 44 tackles (10 for a loss), and 6 tackles. Things went downhill from there. He tore his right ACL during his junior campaign, and admitted to "playing at 60%" during his senior year. His numbers suffered, and his draft stock plummeted accordingly. Once considered a likely 1st-round pick, Sapp dropped all the way to the 5th round, where the Philadelphia Eagles scooped him up in a move that was widely applauded as a "steal". Fast forward 2 years and nobody is applauding anymore. Sapp got injured in his first preseason and missed his entire rookie year, and was then released before the 2011-12 season because he reportedly "quit" on his team.
Why should he be given a chance? Ricky Sapp's athleticism can be considered above-average, even on the NFL level. He has phenomonal quickness and burst, which makes for a tantalizing mix when paired with his size. He locates the ball well and his pursuit skills are great, leading to a package that has proven very effective at rushing the passer. His hands stay active and he uses his agility to set up a praiseworthy swim move. Although he didn't see many plays in pass coverage during his college years, his physical tools indicate that he has the potential to be quite adequate at this facet of the game. His lack of upper-body strength make it difficult for him to excel against the run, but he does use his speed and pursuit to catch runners all over the field.
Things to Improve on: Coming out of college, Sapp was mainly criticized on two fronts. He lacked the bulk to play the run well, and his time at Clemson was marred with injuries. The lean frame wasn't expected to present too big of a problem, as some sites even billed this as a "positive" to his game.
Positives: Lanky build with plenty of room for additional muscle mass, especially in his upper body.
-CBS Sports
Why should he be given a chance? Ricky Sapp's athleticism can be considered above-average, even on the NFL level. He has phenomonal quickness and burst, which makes for a tantalizing mix when paired with his size. He locates the ball well and his pursuit skills are great, leading to a package that has proven very effective at rushing the passer. His hands stay active and he uses his agility to set up a praiseworthy swim move. Although he didn't see many plays in pass coverage during his college years, his physical tools indicate that he has the potential to be quite adequate at this facet of the game. His lack of upper-body strength make it difficult for him to excel against the run, but he does use his speed and pursuit to catch runners all over the field.
Things to Improve on: Coming out of college, Sapp was mainly criticized on two fronts. He lacked the bulk to play the run well, and his time at Clemson was marred with injuries. The lean frame wasn't expected to present too big of a problem, as some sites even billed this as a "positive" to his game.
Positives: Lanky build with plenty of room for additional muscle mass, especially in his upper body.
-CBS Sports
