Tanoh Kpassagnon DE Villanova

[tm1119]

Has anybody seen this kid?? If you haven't yet you will soon, he's going to be getting 1st round hype in no time. His measurements are kinda all over the place but he's somewhere between 6'6/6'7 and 275-290 lbs, he's shredded muscle and freakishly athletic. Very fluid athlete for a guy his size. FCS 1st team All-American with 11 sacks and 21.5 TFL last year, 6.5 and 9.5 the year before. Team captain and 3 time academic all-american as well. He's definitely raw and strength of competition question is obvious, but you're just not going to find many like this kid. He might get overdrafted too high, but his ceiling is incredibly high and the gamble could be more than worth it.

Here's what CBS has to say about him:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2006627/tanoh-kpassagnon
STRENGTHS: Blessed with a remarkable combination of size and explosiveness that simply screams NFL. Possesses an imposing frame with broad shoulders, long arms and a sculpted physique that testifies to his commitment to the weight room. Fires off the ball, routinely blowing past offensive tackles with his initial burst to the outside. Complements his speed rush with an effective counter back to the inside off of a strong jab step. Strong hands to rip through the reach of tackles, slapping them away. Good flexibility and core strength to fight through contact on his way to the backfield, including through double-teams. Prototypical wingspan for the position, using his long arms to reach out to knock the ball free from quarterbacks, disrupt passing lanes, block kicks and drag down ball-carriers while still engaged with would-be blockers. Voted a team captain and is highly respected by the Villanova coaching staff and teammates for his commitment towards maximizing his potential on and off the field. Signed with Villanova in part due to its academics. A three-time member of the CAA All-academic team with one degree earned last May in finance and another on the way in accounting. Appears to be just scratching the surface of his potential.
COMPARES TO: Jason Pierre-Paul: Comparing Kpassagnon to Pierre-Paul, a two-time Pro Bowler, might seem like hyperbole but he too was quite raw as a one-year starter out of South Florida back in 2010. Kpassagnon has a long ways to go before warranting this comparison but few - even in the NFL - possess his combination of length and explosiveness

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Great set of physical tools. That's the kind of development player you want in the 3rd-4th round.

 

[timb2]

I got a low round sleeper to add to the mix for DT.

Grover Stewart(6-5,295 lbs) DT Albany State
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2817113/grover-stewart

 

[timb2]

Small school safety I like is Donald Payne from Stetson. In 2014 he led all of the NCAA in tackles with 185 he had in one game 30 tackles

Donald Payne(6-0",217 lbs) S Stetson

 

[Biggems]

I want him.

 

[Biggems]

Small school safety I like is Donald Payne from Stetson. In 2014 he led all of the NCAA in tackles with 185 he had in one game 30 tackles

Donald Payne(6-0",217 lbs) S Stetson

I believe I had him on my list of UDFAs, but I would throw a 7th at him.

 

[Biggems]

I got a low round sleeper to add to the mix for DT.

Grover Stewart(6-5,295 lbs) DT Albany State
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2817113/grover-stewart

Nice find....UDFA all the way

 

[waving monkey]

Yhis kid will be drafted higher then you think. He looked like a man among boys on those high lites

 

[VACowboy]

He looks like a prototypical 4-3 DE with monster athleticism and unlimited upside, but I'd think a "man among boys" would have even better numbers at the FCS level. Combine will be especially interesting this year, I think.

 

[ThreeandOut]

He's playing both outside and inside but looks to be primarily a RDE for his team. I wonder if the Cowboys think he could play RDE.

 

[timb2]

i cant post topics yet but I did the whole draft(every team) as a mock and this is what I have for the Cowboys draft picks..

1-Rasul Douglas(6-2,203 lbs) CB West Virginia


*Why Rasul Douglas?-He is leading the nation in interceptions with 8. He has only started one year and lead the nation in INTs. he came from a junior college where he got notice.We have Brandon Carr & Orlando Scandrick both over 30 and Mo Claiborne a free agent who also is injury prone if we do re-sign him.



2-Adam Shaheen(6-7,277 lbs) TE Ashland


*Why Adam Shaheen? We are going to lose Jason Witten to retirement. Escobar is a free agent and really be a 2nd round bust. Every other TE on our roster is a question mark. Shaheen is a Jason Witten clone. We wouldnt skip a beat here IMO.



3-Jourdan Lewis(5-10,186 lbs) CB Michigan


*Why Jourdan Lewis? We need corners and most of the best pass rushers are gone by now. Lewis to eventually replace Scandrick as the nickel corner. Talented corner just little which limits him to nickel at the pro level.




4-Keionta Davis(6-4,270 lbs) DE UT-Chattanooga



*Why Keionta Davis? We need pass rushers and Davis recorded 13 1/2 sacks his senior season. My hope is for David Irving to continue improve,but we could use a 3rd down specialist. here comes Davis.




6-Josh Thornton( 6-1,188 lbs) CB Southern Utah
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2417276/josh-thornton


*Why Josh Thornton? He by many is considered the fastest corner in this draft and he might be. He is from a smaller school and only played 2 years at Southern Utah. Not sure what is his background,but speed can make up for some mistakes even some character baggage. He challenges Anthony Brown for the #2 corner spot after Carr,Scandrick,and Claiborne are gone.





7-Nick Callender(6-6,325 lbs) OT Colorado State



*Why Nick Callender? We need a reserve OT after Doug Free is gone and the hopes Chaz Green steps in at RT. Callender also is agile enough to be a OG if needed. He is not talked about and the only reason why I believe is because Ty Sambrailo played at Colorado State and hasnt turned out in the pros. An unfair judgement but Callender looks good.








7-Algernon Brown(6-1,250 lbs) RB BYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DYy2bma3kY



* Why Algernon Brown? Both Morris and McFadden are at the end of their careers and a capable backup to Ezekiel Elliott is needed. Brown is a load at 250 lbs and he is under the radar because he played behind BYU RB Jamar Williams. Brown reminds me of when early 90s we had Ricky Blake or Lincoln Coleman behind Emmitt Smith. Defenses were so tired in the 4th quarter by Emmitt and here comes Blake to blow them up even more. Coleman was Blake's replacement and he was another battling ram we had.to punish teams

 

[timb2]

2017 Projected 53 man roster

QB Dak Prescott,Mark Sanchez,Jameill Showers

FB-Keith Smith

RB-Ezekiel Elliott,Alfred Morris.Algernon Brown

WR -Dez Bryant,Cole Beasley,Lucky Whitehead

WR-Brice Butler,Vince Mayle

TE-Geoff Swaim,Adam Shaheen,Rico Gathers

LT-Tyron Smith

LG-Ron Leary,Lael Collins

C-Travis Fredrick,Joe Looney

RG-Zack Martin

RT-Chaz Green,Nick Callender




RDE-Demarcus Lawrence,Randy Gregory,Charles Tapper

RDT-Tyrone Crawford,Jack Crawford

LDT-Maliek Collins,Terrell McClain,Cecil Thornton

LDE-David Irving,Keionta Davis


WOLB-Sean Lee,Damien Wilson

MLB-Anthony Hitchens,Mark Nzcheoa,Andrew Gachkar

SOLB-Justin Durant,Jaylon Smith

CB#1 Brandon Carr,Rasul Douglas

CB #2 Orlando Scandrick,Anthony Brown,Josh Thornton

FS-Byron Jones, Jeff Heath

SS-J.J. Wilcox, Barry Church,Kavon Frazier


P-Chris Jones
K-Dan Bailey
LS LP LaDoucer


Lost in free agency
Terrance Williams
Mo Claiborne
Kyle Wilber
Gavin Escobar


Cut
Rolando McClain
Lance Dunbar
Ryan Davis
Benson Mayowa
Emmett Cleary
Jonathan Cooper



Retirement
Tony Romo
Jason Witten
Darren McFadden
Doug Free

 

[Bluefin]

NFLDraftinsider chats with Tanoh Kpassagnon HUGE DE from Villanova

Q: Where are you training pre-draft and which agent is representing you?
A: I’m training at Bommarito [Performance] in Northern Miami, my agency is Goal Line and I’m with Drew Smith.

Q: Heading into the NFL combine and pro-day, what is your ideal height, weight and 40-time?
A: My ideal height, weight and 40-time would be 6’7, 280-285, and hopefully a 4.5-ish on the 40-time.

Q: This class is pretty deep at edge rusher and DE, where would you rank yourself among the guys in this class?
A: I haven’t really looked at the draft class but I think I’m a pretty good pass rusher and I know I’m really good at stopping the run.

Q: With that being said, what would you say your biggest strength on the field is?
A: My biggest strength is my size and my speed and really just my speed for my size. I’m good at coming off the edge and dipping and running past guys because of my size and speed.

Q: What is one area you could improve on, heading into the next level?
A: All the guys are pretty athletic and big. So, technique wise, guys that have been in the league for a while are guys that have played football for a little longer than me. So, really just working on technique before the combine and before the draft.

Q: In your days at Villanova, who would you say the best Offensive Tackle you faced was?
A: Probably the Offensive Tackle I go against everyday. His name is Brad Seaton. Part of that comes from knowing some of my moves and tendencies but he’s a solid guy and always hard to beat. He’s made me as good as I am. The toughest guy I’ve had to play against during a game would have to be the Pitt tackle or the Richmond tackle.

Q: Growing up, did you have a favorite NFL team?
A: Yeah it’s always been the Eagles. I moved right outside of Philly when McNabb and T.O. were there and they were a great team. I loved watching them so, the Eagles.

Q: If you had to compare yourself to an NFL edge rusher, or a DE, who would it be?
A: J.J. Watt. I love his motor and he is the size I’d want to be.

Q: What are you going to do with that first NFL paycheck?
A: Probably give half to my mom, invest the rest of it and just live within my means.

Q: If I’m an NFL GM, why do I need Tanoh Kpassagnon on my team?
A: I’d be an awesome addition because I feel like I’m the total package. I can stop the run and I can rush the edge when you need me to. I did everything at ‘Nova and I feel like I can bring that to the NFL. Off the field, I always get along with people.

Q: Right now, a lot of websites and many self-appointed draft experts have you going 2nd to 3rd round. If for some reason, you don’t get picked in the 2nd or 3rd round, are you going to be disappointed?
A: I’d be disappointed if I wasn’t in the 1st round, actually.

Q: What’s one thing outside of football, the average fan might not know about you?
A: I like art. I like to paint and draw and I get into music sometimes. Mostly just painting and drawing, though.


Interview by Evan Morrison @EJMorrison26

 

[tm1119]

NFLDraftinsider chats with Tanoh Kpassagnon HUGE DE from Villanova

Q: Where are you training pre-draft and which agent is representing you?
A: I’m training at Bommarito [Performance] in Northern Miami, my agency is Goal Line and I’m with Drew Smith.

Q: Heading into the NFL combine and pro-day, what is your ideal height, weight and 40-time?
A: My ideal height, weight and 40-time would be 6’7, 280-285, and hopefully a 4.5-ish on the 40-time.

Q: This class is pretty deep at edge rusher and DE, where would you rank yourself among the guys in this class?
A: I haven’t really looked at the draft class but I think I’m a pretty good pass rusher and I know I’m really good at stopping the run.

Q: With that being said, what would you say your biggest strength on the field is?
A: My biggest strength is my size and my speed and really just my speed for my size. I’m good at coming off the edge and dipping and running past guys because of my size and speed.

Q: What is one area you could improve on, heading into the next level?
A: All the guys are pretty athletic and big. So, technique wise, guys that have been in the league for a while are guys that have played football for a little longer than me. So, really just working on technique before the combine and before the draft.

Q: In your days at Villanova, who would you say the best Offensive Tackle you faced was?
A: Probably the Offensive Tackle I go against everyday. His name is Brad Seaton. Part of that comes from knowing some of my moves and tendencies but he’s a solid guy and always hard to beat. He’s made me as good as I am. The toughest guy I’ve had to play against during a game would have to be the Pitt tackle or the Richmond tackle.

Q: Growing up, did you have a favorite NFL team?
A: Yeah it’s always been the Eagles. I moved right outside of Philly when McNabb and T.O. were there and they were a great team. I loved watching them so, the Eagles.

Q: If you had to compare yourself to an NFL edge rusher, or a DE, who would it be?
A: J.J. Watt. I love his motor and he is the size I’d want to be.

Q: What are you going to do with that first NFL paycheck?
A: Probably give half to my mom, invest the rest of it and just live within my means.

Q: If I’m an NFL GM, why do I need Tanoh Kpassagnon on my team?
A: I’d be an awesome addition because I feel like I’m the total package. I can stop the run and I can rush the edge when you need me to. I did everything at ‘Nova and I feel like I can bring that to the NFL. Off the field, I always get along with people.

Q: Right now, a lot of websites and many self-appointed draft experts have you going 2nd to 3rd round. If for some reason, you don’t get picked in the 2nd or 3rd round, are you going to be disappointed?
A: I’d be disappointed if I wasn’t in the 1st round, actually.

Q: What’s one thing outside of football, the average fan might not know about you?
A: I like art. I like to paint and draw and I get into music sometimes. Mostly just painting and drawing, though.


Interview by Evan Morrison @EJMorrison26

If he really runs close to a 4.5 at 280+ we may not even have a shot at him in the 1st. Don't appreciate him being an eagles fan tho lol