Kansas football doesn’t compare to what the Jayhawks do on the basketball court, but Dorance Armstrong Jr. could elevate the program to new heights when he makes his next splash.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. was the lone bright spot for a struggling Kansas football program the past three seasons as they won only three games.
He started five games as a freshman, but became a household name as a sophomore when he recorded 10 sacks — the second most in the Big 12. Armstrong Jr. also tallied more tackles for loss (20) and forced fumbles (3) than any player in the conference as a sophomore. Production dipped in his junior and final season in Lawrence, but Armstrong Jr. wasn’t concerned with the raw numbers.
“Even though my numbers were not the same, I grew a lot during my junior season,” said Armstrong Jr. to kuathletics. “Coach (Jesse) Williams taught me a lot about how important using your hands are as a defensive end. He brought a lot of things to my game.”
Armstrong Jr. chose the Jayhawks over more prestigious football schools, turning down offers from California, Michigan State, Purdue and Texas Tech, among others.
Stengths
Armstrong Jr. has great size at 6-foot-4 and possesses the ability to not only attack the quarterback, but to get there and make the play. He didn’t always jump off the tape while at Kansas, but very few of his teammates have a future playing in the NFL. What will he look like when he’s surrounded by talent? Teams threw double teams and chipped him with tight ends and running backs often in his junior campaign. He’ll surely benefit from having NFL-caliber teammates.
At the NFL Combine, Armstrong Jr. impressed in three particular areas: the three-cone drill (7.12 seconds), the 20-yard shuttle (4.23 seconds) and the 60-yard shuttle (11.82 seconds). These times ranked fourth, third and third, respectively, among all edge rushers at the combine.
Weaknesses
Aside from the obvious dip in production as a junior (63 total tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks), Armstrong Jr. has other areas he’ll need to improve to blossom into a star. He’s not as consistent with his technique as a player of his caliber should be, and often relies on his athletic ability alone to beat inferior blockers.
While he played almost exclusively at left end in Kansas’ 4-3 defensive front, Armstrong Jr. is expected to make the transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4 at the next level. This doesn’t mean the Pittsburgh Steelers already drafted him, but expect them to take a look at the former Jayhawk.
Draft Expectations
If it weren’t for the progressions of Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt, Armstrong Jr. would be the next outside linebacker drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. But instead, he’ll get a look from every team who aches for versatility in their front seven.
If he bulks up but retains his athleticism, Diet Ezekiel Ansah is his ceiling. He’s not as physically gifted as Ansah was, but he’s more mature in his understanding of the game than Ansah at this point in their careers.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round post-NFL Combine
I fully expect a team to fall in love with his athleticism and potential and take a chance on him early.
Prediction: Late second, early third-round pick