Just a week until the 2012 NFL Draft, and we’re working hard updating our mock drafts and positional rankings. But we go even further as we look ahead to the 2013 draft. Next April when teams go looking for an interior pass-rushing presence, they’ll find it in Kawann Short from Purdue.
He’ll likely be a top 15-20 pick next year, after Short will likely be a dominant force for the Boilermakers in the Big Ten. He notched 6.5 sacks in 2011 – a really good number for a 310-pound lineman, and should get even more this year. And he could find himself as coveted a pro prospect as former teammate Ryan Kerrigan was last year.
His coach Danny Hope described what makes Short so special on conference call.
“He really changes the game from the defensive tackle position,” Hope said.
“He could really be a dominant player on a national level. He’s a 325, 330 pound tackle with a special athletic ability, so the better he gets the better we’re going to get.”
Short was voted co-captain by his teammates in 2011 following spring drills. In 2010 he was second team All-Big Ten after finishing fourth in the Big Ten in both sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (12.5). He led Purdue with eight passes broken up, and during the course of the season he blocked an extra point and a field goal.
This year he was projected to be a third round pick in the draft, but decided to come back and increase his stock.
“As far being third round projected, I thought I could do better if I come back and do what I need to do to get there. As far as being more consistent and getting a little stronger and having the ability to come of the game and not even look tired. If I do that in summer, everything else will fall into place,” Short said about how he’ll reach his goals.
It sounds like conditioning will be the key. A whole year of conditioning at the highest level will get Short ready to wow ’em in Indianapolis at the combine.
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