A pro-ready prospect with a troubling off-the-field history, D.J. Pettway must prove his character to NFL scouts.
Few have taken the path to the NFL Draft that D.J. Pettway has.
Arrested on two counts of robbery in 2013, Pettway was dismissed from Alabama indefinitely. He would go on to play his sophomore season at East Mississippi Community College, earning junior-college All-American honors.
Soon after, Nick Saban would welcome Pettway back to the Crimson Tide. The troubled defensive end would make the most of his second chance, recording a combined 41 tackles and four sacks over his final two collegiate seasons.
Did Pettway do enough in his second stint at Alabama to earn himself a look in the pros, or are his past troubles too much to overcome?
Let’s break down his draft stock.
Vitals
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 270 pounds
Class: Senior
Hometown: Pensacola, FL
Strengths
With a strong core and base, Pettway is a difficult man to move on the line, despite his shorter stature. The former standout from Alabama uses his hands well and possesses a nice swim move amongst his solid repertoire. Pettway is an effective pass-rusher and closes in on ballcarriers much quicker than you’d think.
If he indeed finds his way onto a 53-man roster, it may actually be because of the impact he makes with the field goal unit.
Weaknesses
Pettway doesn’t have ideal size for a defensive end at 6-foot-2, and will likely struggle against more imposing blockers at the next level. The biggest concern with him obviously is with his character and if he’s actually committed himself to football.
Verdict
Athletically and, for the most part, mechanically, Pettway is ready for the pros.
Sure, his disturbing past troubles may rub many teams the wrong way, but there are few weaknesses in Pettway’s game outside of his smaller stature, which is something he can overcome.
A fifth to sixth round selection is what the Alabama product can realistically expect come draft day.