The 2011 NFL draft is right around the corner and SB Nation’s Hammer and Rails has the full run down on DE Ryan Kerrigan, who could be a first round pick. Check out Hammer and Rails for more on Purdue football.
NFL Draft 2011: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
6’4” 263 Pounds | Defensive end | Senior
Defensive scheme: Ryan played mostly in a 4-3 scheme as a defensive end, but I could see him playing as a hyrbid in a 3-4 scheme. Kerrigan has hte size and speed to be an elite rush end at the next level.
A story you may not know: Few people remember that Ryan Kerrigan was also a basketball player in high school at Muncie Central and played against Mike Conley and Greg Oden in the 2006 Indiana High School State Finals.
Compared to which NFL player: It's hard to compare which current player Kerrigan is most like because he combines size and strength with speed and a variety of moves. He was a unanimous All-American this season and hte Big Ten's Defensive player of the Year while getting double and triple teamed on nearly every play. He still had 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and led the nation in tackles for loss with 26. Now imagine pairing him with another solid rush end like Clay Matthews or Dwight Freeney where he won't be getting double teamed on every play. His best games were against Ohio State in 2009 (3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) and Michigan 2010 (four sacks, two forced fumbles).
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