NFL Home
 
Home > NFL Headlines > Player Spotlight; Vernon Gholston

Player Spotlight; Vernon Gholston

DJ Boyer  |Apr 07,2008
Print Del.icio.us! Del.icio.usDigg! Digg
Image
Player Spotlight; Vernon Gholston
Want a dark horse for the top overall pick in the draft? It looks to be none other than Vernon Gholsten. Gholston wowed all the people in attendance at the Combine with his amazing strength and his prowess in his positional drills and although he played defensive end at Ohio State, he could project as a pass rushing linebacker at the NFL level.

*Vernon Gholston Defensive End Ohio State*
Junior, 6-3, 265

*Strengths:* Pass rushing ability
*Weaknesses:* Run support

*Statline:* 30 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks in the last two seasons at Ohio State.

*Technique:* pass rushing specialist who may be the best at his craft available in this draft. Not particularly strong in run support which is why he may be a pass-rushing specialist at linebacker in the right scheme.

*Known Injuries:* No major injuries to speak of, played in all 12 games for the third consecutive year.

*Combine / Workout Assessment:* 4.58 in the 40-yard dash and led all defensive ends with 37 reps at 225 on the bench.

*DJ Boyer's Analysis:* Vernon Gholston to me is the most intriguing prospect at the top of the draft board for a couple of reasons. Gholston has the ability to go #1 overall and is the dark horse to be the new pass rushing specialist in the Dolphins new defensive scheme. Gholston could conceivable go much lower but will not doubt be a top ten pick and would more than likely be selected at #6 by the New York Jets or #7 by the New England Patriots if he was still on the board. The physique possessed by Gholston is amazing in itself as was the 37 reps at 225-pounds at the combine and beating about 90% of the guys who outweighed him by 50 pounds or more. Workout numbers and strength very reminiscent of Shawne Merriman when he came out of Maryland a few years back and much like Merriman Gholston could be a defensive end that could be asked to be a linebacker at the NFL level. Only liability seems to be run defense because Gholston is so good at getting after the quarterback
that he tends to get sucked upfield and teams can run right at him. Tremendous footwork to go along with his pass rushing skills and he has made some of the best tackles at the NCAA level look bad. Had a monster game against Michigan tackle Jake Long, who is considered to be the best tackle in this draft. Seems to come up with big performances and plays at the right times in critical junctures of football games.



To post a comment, you need to login or sign up.
Fan Comments