2020 NFL Draft: Scouting South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw
By Ian Higgins
Motor
As previously mentioned, “the defensive tackle position is not for the glamorous or egotistical, but instead for the grinders.” Kinlaw has embodied that quote with not only his football IQ and willingness to drop out of the play, but also with his motor and high-effort snaps.
Defensive tackles (being in the middle of every play) make their biggest impact when chasing the play and cutting down angles. Normally, individuals weighing upwards of 300 lbs struggle to keep up in space, but Kinlaw has demonstrated freakish mobility for his size.
When in the pass-rush, Kinlaw keeps his eyes pointed to the quarterback and continues his push into the backfield. As mentioned in his technique, his dedication to the bullrush relies upon maximum effort every single snap. This kind of continuous drive infects other parts of his game and makes him a dynamic presence in the middle of the defense.
When pinned down in the pass-rush, Kinlaw positions himself to cut down the quarterback on any scrambles into his area and continues to try to free himself with some of his unpolished pass rush moves such as spins.
Finally, Kinlaw is a freak in open field for a player of his size and uses that athleticism to chase down players in open field near the line of scrimmage.
Next. Top 50 Big Board. dark
Against Alabama, South Carolina struggled to defend the short dump-off passes by Tua Tagovailoa to the running backs, and many of those plays ended downfield with Kinlaw either in pursuit or in on the tackle. 300+ lbs players have no right to be chasing speedy running backs downfield, yet Kinlaw breaks the mold and does so every game.