Scouting The 2017 NFL Draft: Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado

The Jets have been showing a fair amount of interest in Tupou. I managed to speak to someone who was at the Colorado Pro Day who specified that the Jets were spending a lot of time with the big nose tackle. Something that Tony Pauline confirmed later that day.

Tupou was the anchor of the Colorado defensive line, lining up as either a zero or one technique a lot of the time. He was an immovable object in the middle of that line and although those big nose tackles don’t get a ton of credit and don’t flash up on the stat sheet all that much, the Jets know how important it is to have a run stuffer in the middle, Damon Harrison comes to mind.

Tupou was arrested in March 2015 on suspicion of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, criminal mischief, trespassing and reckless endangerment. All of this was dismissed, but Colorado suspended Tupou for the entire 2015 season, although they would not clarify that the arrest was the reason, it’s widely accepted in draft circles that it was.

I like him as a late round interior player who could come in and do some of the dirty work. It’s easy to see why the Jets are interested, so don’t be surprised if you hear his name being called this Spring.

Personal

Hometown: Buena Park, California

Height: 6'2

Weight: 353 lb’s

Vertical: 23 ½”

Hands: 9 7/8"

Bench: 29 reps

40 Yard: 5.3 seconds

10 Yard Split: 1.9

Broad: 7’5”

College Statistics

2012 – 16 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, 1.0 sack

2013 - 34 tackles, 3.0 for a loss, 0.5 sacks

2014 – 29 tackles, 4.0 for a loss, 3 sacks

2015 – Did Not Play*

2016 – 45 tackles, 4.0 for a loss, 2 sacks

NFL Comparison

Damon Harrison – New York Giants

Obviously he’s not as good as Damon is now, but in terms of entering the league, I see some of Damon’s game in him. Whether he develops the way that Damon did? That’s the real question. Harrison ran a 5.4 at his Pro Day with a 1.91 split, similar to Josh, I think Damon was the better player coming in, but unlike Harrison...I think Josh gets drafted.

Positive Attributes

• Has been productive from inside.
• Plays with a good base, hard to move off the ball.
• Great motor, never takes plays off.
• Finishes plays when he gets the chance.
• Shows good ability to plug lanes
• Can work with inside power move, good play strength

Negative Attributes

• Doesn’t have the quickest first step.
• Could improve on using his hands a little more efficiently.

Draft Grade

I think he'll get drafted in the 6^th Round – He should hear his name called.

Tupou On Tupou

“If it helps my team win, I don’t mind doing it at all. You get hit a lot and stuff. But I like hitting. So it’s fun” – on playing NT and not getting a great deal of credit.