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Third Round #99: LB Paul Dawson


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OVERVIEW

Had dominant 2014 campaign, leading TCU with 136 tackles, including 20 for losses, and making 4 interceptions on his way to being selected Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Big 12. Played in 12 games (7 starts) in 2013 while leading the team with 91 tackles (10 for losses). Had five 10-plus tackle games. Transferred to TCU in 2012 after one season at Trinity Valley Community College and was leader in special-teams tackles with seven. Wasn't recruited by many out of high school, so enrolled at Trinity as a receiver out of Dallas Skyline High School.

PRO DAY RESULTS

40-yard dash: 4.75 and 4.77 seconds

Vertical jump: 30 inches

Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches

3-cone: 6.76 seconds

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Flexible, agile athlete with good lower-body build. Outstanding instincts. Sees what is happening on the field and senses what is about to happen. Always plays downhill, attacking line of scrimmage. Second-level ghost who is a nightmare for offensive linemen to engage. Instantly unlocks hips and bursts to chase outside. Smooth lateral movement with ability to change direction and mirror running back into the hole. Gets skinny and slips blocks. When blocked, doesn't stay wired to blocks. Chases sideline to sideline. Excels in pass coverage, allowing just 35.7 percent of passes against him to be completed. Tough play demeanor. Plays hard and practices hard.

WEAKNESSES Not a wrap-up tackler and needs work in finishing blocks. Freelances and sometimes lacks discipline to maintain assignments. Instincts of a middle linebacker but likely too small for the position. Has to win with speed over power as a blitzer. Scouts are very worried about his personal character and say he's not beloved within the program. Questions have been raised about his commitment to the process. Not a film studier.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 2

SOURCES TELL US "He's an early round player without any question, but you don't have to dig around very deep or very long to realize that his personal character is going to be a major issue for some teams. My grade will be two rounds later than just the talent grade. It has to be factored in." -- AFC West regional scout

"I'll make sure he stays alive in our building because he's that good." -- NFC national scout

NFL COMPARISON Jessie Tuggle

BOTTOM LINE Outrageously productive linebacker with a nose for the ball. Dawson averages a tackle every 5.3 snaps and either caused or recovered a total of 8 turnovers during the 2014 season. Evaluators understand that Dawson has been a handful while at TCU and that will turn some teams off to him completely. Dawson can play inside in a 2-gap scheme but is a natural fit at 4-3 WILL.

RELATED LINKS

Dawson among draft's biggest boom-or-bust prospects

Dawson improves 40 time, meets with two teams at pro day

Brandt: Official TCU pro day results

Dawson among most polarizing draft prospects

#Meetmeonthefield: Dawson fires back at combine critics

-Lance Zierlein

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