Star Lotulelei, Senior, DT, Utah
Overview:
Although Utah struggled last year Star Lotulelei still shined bright. There is much to love about the 6’4, 320 pound prospect. He is very strong and does a great job eating up space. He is also a great athlete, showing flashes of great quickness and explosion. This helps him disrupt the running game as well as collapse the pocket on passing plays. He does a great job getting to the quarterback as an interior lineman, tallying five sacks a season ago.
Final Projection:
Star Lotulelei is drawing rave reviews from all scouts, coaches, and GMs. He has the size and ability to play both in a 4-3 scheme and a 3-4 scheme. This versatility will only help his draft stock. His ability to take on blockers and occupy space really helps those around him. He appears to be a prospect that not only can be the anchor of a defensive line, but also improve the play of those around him. Expect to hear his name early in April, and like his name implies, to be a star at the next level.
4/11/2013 Update by Joel Welser:
Lotulelei's draft stock hit a bit of a snag when a medical exam during the NFL combine raised some concerns about his heart. Lotulelei has since been cleared medically and his stock is moving back up. If the teams believe he is healthy and that it will not be an issue moving forward, Lotulelei could be the second overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. He is a top talent worthy of the top overall selection in the draft, but do not be surprised if he slips down a couple spots.
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