Trysten Hill NFL Draft 2019: Scouting Report for Dallas Cowboys' Pick

MATT MILLER
APRIL 26, 2019

UCF defensive lineman Trysten Hill (9) during the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against LSU, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Glendale, AZ. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
STRENGTHS

—Twitchy, athletic pass-rusher who struggled to get on the field in 2018 after a coaching change but made the most of his opportunities, including 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

—Can beat blockers with first-step quickness, and naturally low center of gravity keeps his pad level down through gaps.

—High-energy player who works his tail off in pursuit and can often be found chasing the ball away from the middle of the field; shows an ability to produce pull-down sacks or tackles for loss by chasing down the line.

—Frenetic motor that always revs; looks for counter moves and ways to beat the initial block.

—Built for gaps and has the right body type (6'3", 308 lbs) to splash as a 3-technique in a 4-3 scheme.



WEAKNESSES

—Fell out of favor with new coaching staff and was relegated to backup status in 2018 despite being the team's best player.

—New staff hasn't vouched for him to scouts, complaining about maturity and laziness.

—Gets ahead of himself and will be countered in the backfield due to initial upfield push. Must learn to recognize blocking schemes and throttle down at times.

—Has a bit of Tasmanian devil to his game and must learn to play under control, more like what was seen in his freshman and sophomore tape.

—Scouts and coaches must vet his background and talk to Scott Frost's coaching staff to find out if his issues with the new staff (Josh Heupel) are new or longstanding problems.

Trysten Hill NFL Draft 2019: Scouting Report for Dallas Cowboys' Pick


OVERALL

Hill was UCF's best player when he was on the field, but that was far too infrequent in 2018 and leads to questions about his character and work ethic. Based on his tape, Hill should have been an all-conference performer instead of an afterthought. NFL teams could benefit from his struggles this season, though, as his slipping stock could give teams a starting defensive tackle in Round 3.



GRADE: 6.25 (ROUND 3 - ROOKIE IMPACT)

PRO COMPARISON: Star Lotulelei


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