DeAngelo Malone OLB/EDGE Western Kentucky | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
DeAngelo Malone OLB/EDGE Western Kentucky
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/23/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (86%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 24.9 DOB: 07/12/1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |
| Last Updated: 03/23/2022 | |
| Draft Year: 2022 | |
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (86%*) | |
| Age: 24.9 DOB: 07/12/1999 | |
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| NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results |
| Overall Rating: | 81.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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67% |
| Pass Rush: |
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73% |
| Run Defense: |
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69% |
| Coverage: |
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63% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#130
Position rank:
#16
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| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 3035 | ||
247 RATING: 74/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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Drafted: ROUND: 3 - Pick Number: 82 (ATL)
Draft Profile: Bio
DeAngelo Malone was rated a three-star prospect after racking up 49 tackles, including eight tackles for loss during his senior year at Cedar Grove High School in Georgia.He agreed to join Western Kentucky and in his freshman year in 2017, he saw action in 11 games, started three, and finished with 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Malone made an impact as a sophomore in 2018 and logged 60 tackles (31 solo, 29 assisted) to lead WKU defensive linemen, including nine for loss, while adding six sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
In 2019 he chalked up 11.5 sacks (ranked 12th in the nation), 16 quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. He also added 99 total tackles which was the third-most by an FBS defensive lineman in a single season over the past decade. As a result, he became the first Hilltopper to be voted Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.
Malone continued to put up impressive stats as a junior in 2020 with 71 total tackles (42 solo, 29 assisted) – including 11 for loss – with six sacks, nine quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks. He completed the season by being voted on to the 2020 All-Conference USA First Team.
As a senior in 2021 Malone started all 14 games and totaled 94 total tackles – including 17.5 for loss – with nine sacks, four forced fumbles, and four pass breakups. His 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles tied for the C-USA lead, while the nine sacks tied for second. At season's end, the league's head coaches voted him the 2021 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for a second time,
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Fast and agile athlete with good overall length. Uses long arms and skinny frame to squeeze through gaps
- Best attribute. Extreme quickness off the edge - has the flexibility to turn the corner.
- Best when lined up as a stand-up linebacker although has had success in both the three-point and four-point stance
- Constant motor who won't give up on the play - plays sideline to sideline
- Very developed upper body strength with very strong hands to keep blockers ay bay
- Explosive off the snap - has a very quick first step
- Good athlete. Shows a natural feel for pass rushing. Very good lateral agility to shake pass blockers.
- Ferocious against the run and surprisingly good in coverage - is extremely versatile. Despite his build, he holds up well in traffic and makes a lot of plays by engaging a block, shedding, and pursuing.
- Reads the quarterback to anticipate and is a candidate to play outside as a full-time linebacker
- Is contributor on special teams - has the speed to help on kick return and field goal units
- Very quick feet - keeps his feet moving - exceptional change of direction ability
- Always is looking to strip the ball from the ball carrier
- Good overall football IQ who is quick to detect and blow up screen plays
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Locates the ball but takes circuitous routes to go get to it. Should use power and long arms to take on and disengage from blocks. Inefficient with his angles.
- Has limited overall strength - a converted wide receiver who has bulked up - has a limited frame. Undersized to play on the line as a rusher
- Skinny lean legs with poor lower body strength and limited power
- Not elite against the run - can be overpowered at the POA. Much better in pursuit as a run defender
- Mainly played defensive end in college - but is too small to do that in the pros. Will need a full-time conversion to OLB
- Does not blow up targets. Many inside tackles are catch-and-drags, which will be more difficult to make at the next level.
- Lacks pop and strength to anchor, though. Most effective when uncovered inside and chasing stretch plays to the sideline.
- Plays upright. Ducks his head and fails to wrap up at times. Inconsistent in giving full effort to be the second man in on the play
- Finesee linebacker who wins speed and quickness - will struggle when matched up against equally agile blockers
Scouting Report: Summary
DeAngelo Malone is a bit of a tweener - he was primarily a defensive end on the edge at Western Kentucky and put up a constant stream of gaudy pass-rushing numbers (although with far more pressures than sacks), but will likely be unable to play that position, (especially at only 234lb) in the NFL.He possesses good speed and is a nice tackler who's great in pursuit but struggles against bigger more powerful players. He really should be looked at as a full-time linebacker with pass-rushing skills rather than a traditional edge player and at that position, he shows some upside - who could eventually develop into a pro starter and in the meantime will contribute as a special teamer.
Expect Malone to be looked at as a developmental prospect with limited upside - due to his small frame, and as a result, we see him as a fourth/fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
DeAngelo Malone percentiles vs other Outside Linebackers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate DeAngelo Malone (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
89.1
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.