Dallas Cowboys Potential 2012 Draft Pick: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
Jonathan Bales
I absolutely love Jerel Worthy, ranking him No. 3 in my 2012 Defensive Tackle Rankings. After watching him in even greater detail, there’s a good chance I’m going to move him to No. 2, ahead of Devon Still. I doubt there’s another board in the world which has Brandon Thompon and Jerel Worthy as the top two defensive tackles (so I am probably wildly off). Nonetheless, that is what I see. I urge you to compare my scouting reports and watch tape on all of the defensive tackles I have assessed this off-season, listed below.
Michael Brockers, DT/DE, L.S.U.
Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State
Fletcher Cox, DT/DE, Mississippi State
Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington
Now, head over to the Times to compare those players to today’s feature, Jerel Worthy. Here’s a preview of that post:
Jerel Worthy has the best snap anticipation of any defensive lineman I have reviewed this year. He times the snap count and uses his quickness to get into the backfield faster than any tackle in this class. I’m really not sure how he does it on such a consistent basis. As you might expect, Worthy jumps offside more than average, but so do some of the top pass-rushers in the N.F.L.
To see examples of Worthy’s quickness, watch him get off the line at the 36-second and 2:50 marks against Georgia below, as well as at the 51-second clip in the second video against Ohio State. Perhaps the king of all such plays comes at the 2:07 mark against Ohio State, when Worthy jumps the snap, knifes his way into the backfield and tackles the quarterback before he can hand off. I watched five full games of Worthy’s, and I saw multiple plays like this in each of them. He’s a play-making defensive tackle who is going to be a terror as an inside pass-rusher at the next level.
For the Cowboys, Worthy’s fit is speculative. While most consider the prospect a better fit as a three-technique, I believe he can play the five. He will be a top 15 player on my board. A player with such talent, athleticism, upside and versatility can be molded into a five-technique. Plus, at 310 pounds, he could play some nose tackle. He’s not your prototypical space-eating nose, but hey, neither is Jay Ratliff. The two could rotate along the defensive line. Worthy could get selected in the back of the first round, but if he falls into the second, he should absolutely be a consideration for Dallas.
Previous Scouting Reports
Michael Brockers, DT/DE, L.S.U.
Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State
Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida/North Alabama
Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
Fletcher Cox, DT/DE, Mississippi State
Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington
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Finally someone I am excited for. For some reason I am not feeling the draft this year(I must be sick or something). Just want to get it over and start the damn season already. Thank you for doing this report.