Rankings:
NFLDraftScout.com: #10 player overall, #1 defensive tackle. First-round grade.
Nawrocki: #13 player overall, #1 defensive tackle. Grade: 6.32, likely first-rounder capable of starting readily.
Mayock: #12 player overall, #1 defensive tackle.
Kiper: #11 player overall, #1 defensive tackle.
DraftCountdown.com: #10 player overall, #1 defensive tackle. First-round grade.
Scouts Inc.: #6 player overall, #1 defensive tackle. Grade: 94, rare prospect.
Biography/Honors:
2013: Outland Trophy winner (best lineman in nation). Nagurski Award winner and Bednarik Award winner (best defensive player in nation). Unanimous first-team all-America. First-team all-ACC. ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Team captain. Started all 13 games. 59 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 16 QB hurries, 3 passes batted down, 4 forced fumbles and a blocked extra point. Led NCAA in tackles for loss.
2012: First-team all-Big East. Started 12 games. 64 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 passed batted down, one forced fumble. Led Big East in tackles for loss.
2011: Second-team all-Big East. Played in all 13 games and in all three 3-4 down lineman positions. Five starts at end. 47 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 11 QB hurries, 4 passes batted down and a forced fumble. Finished 2nd in Big East in sacks and tackles for loss despite only starting five games.
2010: Played in all 13 games. 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 passes batted down.
Academics: Majored in communication.
Off-field:
Brother Archie played linebacker at Toledo.
Injuries:
2012: Had right knee scoped and missed one (meaningless) game.
NFL Combine Stats:
(2014 Combine averages for defensive tackles in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.68 (5.12 – Donald was fastest DT by over .2)
10-yard split: 1.64
Vertical jump: 32" (28.5")
Broad jump: 9'8" (8'8" – Donald had longest jump)
3-cone drill: 7.11 (7.78 – Donald had fastest time)
Bench presses: 35 (26 – Donald was best DT)
Wonderlic score: 25 on 2nd try, 7 on 1st try
Scouting Report:
Outstanding quickness. Impressive quickness off the ball. Explosive short-area quickness. Routinely wins with his first step. Good anticipation and explosion. Athletic freak for the position. His 1.64 10-yard time at the Combine was .01 behind Robert Quinn's. Gets low, plays with good leverage and is a disruptive penetrator. Has low center of gravity and is hard to budge. Has good feet and change of direction, making him effective on stunts. Has a good swim move (could use it more). Has heavy, violent hands. Locates ball well and closes hard and fast. At his best shooting the gap and making plays in the backfield. Makes it difficult for QBs to step up in the pocket. Terrific character, tough and competitive. Doesn't back down from anybody. Plays with pain. Works hard in the film room. Succeeded against a variety of schemes meant to slow him down. Hangs tough and maintains his gap when he doesn't win off the snap. Fastest DT at the Combine and one of the strongest. Was unblockable Senior Bowl week. Outstanding career production. Has the athleticism, first step and motor to excel in a fast-flowing 4-3 scheme. Could be an 8-10 sack threat. "Hyperactive disruptor who dazes opponents at the snap with a dazzling John Randle-type skill set." (Rob Rang) Easily the best disruptor in the draft against the pass and the run.
Undersized and won't be able to add much to his frame. Needs more pop and power in his hands. Can be overpowered in the running game and overwhelmed by double-teams. Bigger blockers with reach will lock him down. Has to win with speed or he's not winning. Not a two-gap player. Doesn't have the ideal height, reach or bend to play outside. Will probably be limited to a pass-rush specialist.
Compares to: Mike Mayock compared him to Geno Atkins; Rob Rang, who's hitting the hype button pretty hard this year, says John Randle.
Fun Facts:
Aaron's 4.68 40 at the Combine is the fastest recorded by a defensive tackle. With Barrett Jones, the Rams now have two Outland Trophy winners on the roster.
RamView:
Positionally, defensive tackle wasn't the Rams' biggest need, but Aaron Donald is a freak, the best player available and potentially as explosive as any defensive player in this draft. He gets off the ball like a shot and should be a major factor in the Rams' future attempts to stop Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. The Rams were already rich on the defensive line and are getting richer. Thumbs up, but make sure to go get some DBs.
Sources: NFL Draft 2014 Preview (Nolan Nawrocki), NFLDraftScout.com, DraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), Scouts Inc., University of Pittsburgh athletics, CBS Sports, Wikipedi, Ramview (Mike Franke)