Marcus Davenport can win in three ways. He can win with power on the bull rush, he can beat you inside with a rip move, and he can beat you to the edge with a speed rush. This is all because Davenport is a natural athlete. He can win in different ways in college, and that is why he was so productive at a small school. The bright side of that is that his small school did play against bigger schools like Texas A&M, Baylor, Rice and Marshall. He also adds the ability to stop the run. He can function as a 4-3 defensive end because he can get off blocks and fill gap lanes. He also is enough of an athlete to be able to set the edge in an odd front playing the outside linebacker position. He could also succeed at that position because he is quick in dropping into coverage. He has good balance to complement his athleticism. Another thing to like about him is that he has the awareness to stay home on trick plays.
The problem I see in Davenport’s game is that he needs to get more of a pass rushing arsenal. He can win the edge in college but will need more moves to win the speed rush in the NFL. Despite his good combine numbers, pure athleticism won’t win in the NFL. His speed rush to the edge can also be somewhat hot and cold, and he will need to improve his motor in the NFL.
I see Marcus Davenport as a mid-first round pick. If he played at a bigger school and were more developed, he would be a top 10 pick. He can function as both a 4-3 defensive end and a 3-4 outside linebacker; however, using him in a 4-3 may be a waste of a very good athlete in coverage. Look for Marcus Davenport to be the second edge rusher off the board after Bradley Chubb.
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