Not a particularly great athlete, but Cole Fisher’s intangibles and natural instincts will get him some solid looks in the draft.
In his senior season, Cole Fisher finally saw meaningful playing time and enjoyed a breakout year for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
He compiled 116 total tackles and was all over the field on a week to week basis.
Teams will love his tenacity and ability to consistently find the ball, but was the standout Hawkeye’s excellent 2015 season enough to show scouts that he’s athletically capable of making a similar impact at the next level?
Let’s break down Fisher’s draft stock.
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Vitals
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 236 pounds
Class: Senior
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Strengths
As written above, Fisher has a knack for tracking down ball carriers. He locates, wraps up and thoroughly finishes his tackles. With a pro-ready physic, Fisher moves well laterally and is a solid cover linebacker downfield when called upon to do so.
To the delight of many scouts, Fisher is a typical Iowa product: disciplined, smart, and never lacking effort.
Weaknesses
Where Fisher will be overlooked is when it comes to his athleticism. The former Hawkeye is fine in this regard, but his hip and ankle flexibility aren’t quite at the level they should be compared to many of his peers in the draft. Fisher’s inexperience hurts him a bit too, with only one year of experience as a collegiate starter under his belt.
Verdict
Iowa’s magical season may have ended on a sour note – or two – but Fisher’s story will continue in the pros.
He’s not the most athletically gifted, but there’s still ample room for overall growth and development. Given some time, Fisher could become a productive weakside linebacker in the NFL.
Though it’s likely that he’ll go undrafted, Fisher may potentially be selected as high as the sixth round.