Texas A&M Football: Justin Madubuike could make immediate NFL splash

Texas A&M football’s star defensive lineman Justin Madubuike has declared for the NFL draft. Where will he be sacking and pressuring quarterbacks next?

Texas A&M’s 2019 season was mediocre, at best, but its only losses came to top teams.

However, what junior defensive lineman Justin Madubuike put together was anything but mediocre. His 5.5 sacks on the season and 45 total tackles were a huge part of the success of the Aggie defense. The numbers don’t pop off the screen, but he is a game-changer for a defense.

Let’s talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Madubuike.

Strengths

When he does come off the ball cleanly, he shows up big time and was an absolute game-changer for the Aggies. With the right coaching and a razor-sharp focus on his technique as he moves up to the next level, he should be able to become more fine-tuned as a pass rusher, allowing his consistency to improve and the issues with being late to be resolved.

Weaknesses

First of all, he is for sure undersized in comparison to others and as a result, he faces some limitations and will likely continuously go up against bigger blockers during his time in the NFL. He also lacks consistency and can be late coming off the ball.

Draft Projection

As of where he could end up, there are a few teams that could need a pass rusher in the second round. The Vikings and the Lions both need pass rushers and are expected to focus on defense in this draft, so either team could pull the trigger on Madubuike in round two.

Projection: Second round