Montravius Adams | Defensive Tackle | Auburn | 6'4" - 304 lbs.
OVERVIEWThe former national top-five defensive tackle high school recruit reached his potential in 2016, earning second-team all-conference honors (8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks). Adams was a three-year starter after contributing as a true freshman (20 tackles, sack), lining up with the ones in 2014 (8.0 TFL, three sacks, INT) and earning third-team All-SEC honors as a junior (three TFL, 2.5 sacks).
ANALYSISSTRENGTHS Low out of his stance and with good explosiveness. Springs into gaps to stress guards and split double teams. Usually first into neutral zone. Disruptive when working the gaps. Burly lower half with good thickness through his hips and thighs. Powerful leg drive pushes him through blocker's shoulder and into the backfield. Motor seemed to be revved more consistently in 2016 than in 2015. Pursues from backside with hustle. Has some bull rush potential if he keeps pads low.
WEAKNESSES Strikes head first with eyes down losing sight of the play. Doesn't utilize hands well enough to keep himself clean. Needs to improve punch and extension to add value as a two-gap tackle. Sticks on blocks and labors to disengage. Short stepper with limited lateral effectiveness as pass rusher. Active as rusher but fails to stress the edge often enough. Has carried label as underachiever at times. Has talent but needs to more consistently play to it.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 2-3
NFL COMPARISON Jay Bromley
BOTTOM LINE Adams disappointed the scouting community with a pedestrian junior season that lacked passion and production. This season, he played with greater consistency of effort and found his way into the backfield far more often. Can be disruptive off the snap but is not the type of player to recover quickly if beaten early in the rep. He is a rotational defensive tackle for gap-attack defenses, but is unlikely to offer much as a pass rusher.