Not traditionally known as a football powerhouse, the Temple Owls made a name for themselves and put out multiple defensive prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft.
One of those prospects is defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis (eye-an-NYE-dis). He brings reliable run defense and showed off his raw strength at the NFL Combine by lifting 225 pounds an incredible 32 times during the bench press.
Will that raw strength help Matt Ioannidis get drafted in this years NFL Draft? Check out his measurables, statistics, and overall playing ability below.
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Measurables
Height: 6’3
Weight: 299 lbs
Arm Length: 32 3/8″
Hands: 10 1/8″
Statistics
36 Games
112 Tackles
30 Tackles for Loss
10 Sacks
Eight Pass Deflections
One Forced Fumble
Two Fumble Recoveries
Awards/Honors
All-America Third Team by Phil Steele (2015)
AAC All-Conference First Team by American Athletic Conference (2015)
All-Conference First Team by Phil Steele (2015)
American Athletic Conference Honor Roll (2015)
All-Conference Second Team by American Athletic Conference (2014)
All-AAC Second Team by College Sports Madness (2014)
Midseason All-AAC Second Team by Phil Steel Publications (2014)
Preseason All-AAC Third Team by Athlon Sports (2014)
Strengths
Matt Ioannidis showed off his muscle at the NFL Combine with his 32 reps. He uses that strength to hold his own against offensive lineman and become a wall running backs have no choice but to avoid.
He becomes that wall by being quick off the line and using good footwork to keep his feel planted. He also showed good lower body bend.
Ioannidis will pull out a spin move every once in a while that leaves offensive lineman scratching their heads, but he does not do it consistently enough.
His leadership will take him a long way if he makes an NFL team.
Weaknesses
Do not rely on Ioannidis to be a reliable option on the pass rush. Despite his weight-room strength, he struggles to get off blocks and create any push when battling with offensive lineman. Some of that may also be linked to hand technique.
His inability to push the pocket will limit the number of packages he will be included in.
Lateral movement will also be an issue with Matt Ioannidis. He struggles to show explosiveness going east to west and will lose technique in his lower body.
Final Thoughts
While he has the weight-room strength, Matt Ioannidis’s inability to push the pocket and be a multi-dimensional player will tank his draft stock.
Look for him to be drafted as early as the sixth round with the chance of slipping into the final picks of the seventh.