February 26, 2016

Some interesting stuff from the measurement session for defensive linemen earlier today. Ohio State DE Joey Bosa and Oregon 5T DeForest Buckner, for example, who are both considered to be potential top 5 prospects for this year’s opening round both at least passed the eyeball test. Bosa measured in at 6-5, 269 with 33.5″ arms and 10-plus inch hands, while Buckner almost blocked out the sun at 6-7, 291 with 34.5” arms and almost unheard of 12″ clubs for hands.  Also of note, Eastern Kentucky DE Noah Spence measured in at 6-2.5, 251, about what was expected, but his arms were a full 33″ while his hands were close to 11″, both of which were significantly higher than were expected. Other notable numbers: Oklahoma State DE Emmanual Ogbah measured in at 6-4, 273 with nice long (35.5″ arms). And talking about long arms, Florida junior Alex McCalister looked like the second coming of the story as he measured in at 6-6, 240 with 36″ arms. Louisiana Tech Vernon Butler also has exceptionally long (35″) arms for an interior defensive linemen. Meanwhile, in the battle of Clemson DEs, give a leg up to Kevin Dodd in the eyeball test as he measured in at 6-5, 277 with 34″ arms, compared with former bookend teammate Shaq Lawson who measured in at 6-2.5 and 269 pounds with 33″ arms. At the same time, neither of quick DTs Andrew Billings of Baylor nor Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins were all that big as expected. Billings is a bowling ball type at under 6-1, but 311 pounds, while Rankins was barely 6-1 and 299. Both though have over 33″ arms.