DT, Evander Hood, Missouri

DT, Evander Hood, Missouri

Pros: Very physical, great football attitude.  Demanded specialized attention his senior season, yet maintained consistent, if not eye-popping, production.  A warrior in the trenches, who enjoys the contact.  Intelligent and able to play 2-gap, but was very successful in one gap.  Ironman mentality, played with consistency after having a broken foot repaired, missing only two weeks of practice.

Cons: Only marginal burst and quickness, seems to lack the explosiveness his measurables say he should have.

Styg's Broncos "fit":   The middle of the second round may be too early for Hood, but he has a tremendous football attitude and ethic. But as a NT he may not be the ideal choice. Sliding him over to DE in the 3-4 would suit him well, and provide a significant runstopping and pocket collapsing presence. My guess is that we would end up weighing his value against any number of talented safeties and LBs at this spot, but his four star rating may be hard to beat.

Around MHR:

From "Getting Defensive":

During his senior campaign for the Tigers, Hood tallied 62 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks. Like the rest of the defense, he was overshadowed by Missouri's highflying, potent offense, but Hood has made a name for himself with his consistent play. If Hood impresses at the NFL Combine as much as he did during Senior Week, he could be a late first round selection. There are quite a few teams towards the bottom of the first round (like Atlanta, Indianapolis and Tennessee) that need some help at tackle and if Hood can separate himself from prospects like Fili Moala of USC and Sen'Derrick Marks of Auburn, he will sneak into the first round."

                                                                ~Steve'O 

 From "Something different, some thoughts on the 2nd Round":

Evander Hood, Missouri, Hood is a solid defender who plays with a high motor. He has great size and quickness, and plays with leverage. He’s fast off the line, blades through the gap and quickly locates the ball carrier. He’s physical at the point of attack and holds his own against a bigger opposition and double teams. He’s a durable, reliable defender who demonstrates great toughness in the trenches. - Chris Steuber, Scout.com

                                ~Broncoman 

SBNation Says:

From Scouting Report on Mocking the Draft

Hood saw his production drop dramatically in 2008 following a stellar junior season. His senior year exposed his flaws as a pass rusher and inability to handle two blockers. What a team will get in Hood is a consistent, hard working player who can handle the run fairly well. Reportedly showed a lot of effort during Senior Bowl practices. Played in 48 games at Missouri, starting 32.

Highlights

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

• Pros: Hard as a rock. Has the ability to penetrate from any angle. Has incredible endurance and keeps going until the last whistle...[see more]
• Very good size and bulk...Naturally athletic...Active with a non-stop motor...Excellent speed and quickness...Uses his hands well...Strong with some power...Nice instincts and awareness...Stout at the point of attack....[see more]
• To many, Evander Hood came out of nowhere during Senior Week and emerged as a top defensive tackle prospect. His performance during the one-on-one drills quickly put him into the minds of NFL scouts and he is considered a possible first-round talent. Yet, his story started long ago for followers of Missouri and the Big 12 conference. Even as a freshman Hood was an impressive player who saw spot duty in 12 games. After struggling through much of the 2006 season with a broken foot, Hood emerged as a star in 2007 and 2008.  [see more...]
•  Evander "Ziggy" Hood improved every year at Missouri and is an impressive player on tape. He does not have one part of his game that stands out, but can contribute both versus the run and versus the pass. His intangibles, added to solid, if not spectacular physical tools should add up to a valuable NFL player, even if he does not develop into a star. He has ideal size and strength with a solid work ethic, which can be hard to find.  [see more...]
• He is arguably the most consistent DT available and his toughness and physical play have gotten him a lot of attention. He performed very well at the Senior Bowl, proving that he has a place in the NFL. He may never be a star but will earn a spot in a rotation and make a position coach very proud. He should hear his name called in the mid 2nd round to the late 3rd round in the 2009 NFL Draft. He will likely compete with Auburn's Sen' Derrick Marks and USC's Fili Moala for the 3rd defensive tackle taken after BJ Raji and Peria Jerry.  [see more...]