With the 103rd overall pick, the Rams select Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson

[Nick]

Analysis coming soon!




Height: 6'3"
Weight: 312
College: Clemson
Conference: ACC
Hometown: Columbia, SC
High School: Ridge View
View Combine Page >>

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.97 seconds
Bench Press : 29.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 30.5 inches
Broad Jump : 107.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 8.28 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.84 seconds


Overview
The three-year starter at nose guard, Scott was expected to emerge from the shadows of former teammate, Philip Merling, to take over leadership responsibilities for a young defense in 2008. Scott struggled early in the season, resulting in the university deciding to change coaches at midseason. Scott responded briefly, but then limped through the late stages of his final season with a knee injury.

The 2008 preseason Outland Trophy candidate failed to make much of an impact through the first six games. Freshman backup Brandon Thompson was considered to be performing at the same level until Clemson's coaching change, which included defensive line coach Chris Rumph initiating a candid chat with Scott. Scott responded with a season-high eight tackles against Georgia Tech and lived up to his preseason billing.

At Ridge View High School, Scott was rated the 30th-best defensive tackle in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com and 32nd by Super Prep. The three-year starter was also named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and an All-Atlantic Region pick by Prep Star. The Super Southern 100 team pick by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he added All-Mid Atlantic honors from Super Prep and was a two-time All-Area and All-Conference choice.

Scott recorded had 242 career tackles, 31 stops for loss, seven sacks, 35 quarterback pressures, four caused fumbles, six recovered fumbles, and one defensive touchdown. He was named team defensive MVP three times. He posted 101 tackles and 12 stops for loss on defense and graded 89% for blocking consistency as an offensive lineman in his final campaign. As a junior, he posted 70 tackles with three forced fumbles and five stops behind the line of scrimmage, making 71 stops, including 13 for loss during his sophomore season.

Scott chose Clemson over Auburn, Florida, and South Carolina, enrolling in 2004. He spent the season redshirting. Prior to the start of the 2005 campaign, his frustration at being third on the depth chart. Scott briefly left the team, resulting in the coaches sitting him down for the first three games upon his return. He appeared in nine contests, producing 10 pressures along with 18 tackles (10 solo) and two sacks.

Scott took over nose guard duties in 2006, going on to start the next 38 games he appeared in. He collected a career-high 54 tackles (32 solos) that included three sacks and eight pressures. The following season, he finished third among Tiger down linemen with 50 tackles (32 solos), adding three sacks and eight pressures while also picking off a pass.

The 2008 Outland Trophy Watch List member never got untracked as a senior. He sat out the Duke game and missed most of the Florida State clash with a knee sprain. He delivered 39 tackles (29 solos) with 7.5 stops for loss, including one sack and added ten pressures.

High School
Attended Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Kirk Burnett...Rated the 30th-best defensive tackle in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com and 32nd by Super Prep...The three-year starter was also named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and an All-Atlantic Region pick by Prep Star...The Super Southern 100 team pick by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he added All-Mid Atlantic honors from Super Prep and was a two-time All-Area and All-Conference choice...Recorded had 242 career tackles, 31 stops for loss, seven sacks, 35 quarterback pressures, four caused fumbles, six recovered fumbles, and one defensive touchdown...Named team defensive MVP three times...Posted 101 tackles and 12 stops for loss on defense and graded 89% for blocking consistency as an offensive lineman in his final campaign...As a junior, he posted 70 tackles with three forced fumbles and five stops behind the line of scrimmage, making 71 stops, including thirteen for loss during his sophomore season.


NFL Draft Countdown analysis:

Strengths:
Good athlete...Ideal size and bulk...Terrific speed and quickness with a burst...Very strong...Stout at the point of attack...Can occupy multiple blockers...Uses his hands well...Shows the ability to shed blocks...Can shoot gaps and disturb passing lanes...Able to penetrate...Has upside.

Weaknesses:
Wasn't a productive pass rusher...Does not always play with proper leverage...Poor stamina...Not very tough or physical and lacks a killer instinct...Stiff...Bad balance...Marginal instincts...Inconsistent motor.

Notes:
Experienced three-year starter for the Tigers...Was named Honorable Mention All-ACC as a junior in 2007...Played in 47 of a possible 51 games...Talented underachiever whose production does not match his impressive physical tools...An intriguing prospect with a considerable amount of unfulfilled potential ... Could be a steal if the light comes on.

Sporting News War Room analysis:

Strengths: Is a well-built DT with the strength to be a force at the point of attack when he stays low and uses his hands aggressively. Shows the ability to stand up one-on-one offensive lineman run blocks, shed those blocks and tackle the running back. Flashes the quick hands and feet to defeat offensive lineman run blocks and can get into the backfield to disrupt the play before it gets started or make the tackle in the backfield. When he has a clear path, has shown the playing speed to chase down running backs in pursuit between the tackles. When he rushes the QB aggressively, has the playing strength to jolt the offensive lineman and drive him backwards into the QB's lap. Can then disengage and sack the QB.

Weaknesses: Is not a quick-twitch or explosive athlete, which limits his ability to make impact plays outside of a small area. Does not use his hands well to protect his legs from cut blocks and gets chopped to the ground too easily. Does not see or feel side blocks coming consistently and can be driven out of the play too easily. Has a tendency to get upright and high too often at the point of attack; when he does, gets tied up and eliminated from the play too easily. When he rushes the passer, if he does not jolt the offensive lineman backwards with his initial charge, has a tendency to get high, get stopped in his tracks and stop rushing the QB.

Bottom line: Scott is frustrating to evaluate because he simply does not make enough of the plays that a big, strong defensive tackle with his talent should make. He is not a quick-twitch athlete and is more of a two-gap DT who would not fit in a defensive scheme that requires gap shooting to blow up and make plays in the backfield consistently. His size, strength and athleticism do make him a good fit to slide outside to play DE in a 3-4 defensive scheme like the Browns and Patriots use. Overall, we would be cautious not to over-draft Scott, but we would consider him late in the draft, as he has the tools to develop as a two-gap DL.

[Mooselini]

Welcome to the team!

[tdog08]

Got that big DT we needed

[39thebeast]

Rams needed a bigger body in the middle to protect the LBs and they got it in Scott.

Rams obviously are verry comfortable in their current WR group and are focusing on the defense. I think all the major defensive needs are filled unless we are looking to add another DE. We need to start looking at offense especially WR and RB

[Rambos]

Draft Prospect: DL Dorell Scott - CBSSports.com Defensive Linemen Video

[bruce4life]

So this guy is a poor man's Ron Brace? I did not watch many ACC games since I live in the west coast and am a USC fan. Did anyone watch his games and give a lilttle bio of the games he played?

[general counsel]

I dont think it means that the rams are comfortable at wr, i think it means that given all of our needs, they thought this was a better option that any available receivers. No reason to reach at this point for one need when you have many needs. Lots of upside on this pick.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[39thebeast]

So this guy is a poor man's Ron Brace? I did not watch many ACC games since I live in the west coast and am a USC fan. Did anyone watch his games and give a lilttle bio of the games he played?

He had a much better year last year and he was a candidate for many pre-season rewards. This year he was banged up with a knee injury I believe, but he still recorded a career high in tackles for loss.

[Ramblin` Ram]

im cool with this pick..can stop scratching my head after the Fletcher pick and wonder where we were gonna get our much needed DT help from..

i hope he can make more of an impact on our team than the last two Clemson boys weve drafted...(Hill & Fry).


his speed for a NT is very impressive..

[KoaKoi]

every profile i can find on this guy talks about how streaky and inconsistent he is, but the physical tools and size are there. Like you said counselor... lots of upside.

let's hope Spag's can turn that light on.

[Truth]

I'm happy to get a big guy for the middle. It sounds like he is a bit of a project. Hopefully our new staff and his excitement to be in the NFL will have a positive effect. Welcome to the team Mr. Scott (Scotty, we need more power).

[Curly Horns]

Don't know who writes the "Overviews" but IMO they are poorly written.

No measurables. I have to look that up elsewhere everytime.

The negatives on this guy make him sound like a 7th rounder at best.

[codeman123]

Would of rather gotten Vaughn Martin he seems to have alot more potential. He was only taken a couple spots down.

[RamsFanSam]

The only two things about this guy I worry about are the knee and the much-mentioned inconsistencies. Then again, if you look at the official NFL site's analysis, they contradict themselves on this guy more than I could believe...

Spags has taken a basically average defense, and molded them into patriot slayers in the Super Bowl. I'm sure he sees something in this kid that grabbed his attention - let's hope he likes eating offensive linemen for lunch.

[tomahawk247]

he is going to be a bit part, rotational player
he doesnt need consistency, thats for every down players

he just needs to turn it on in spurts, which it sounds like he can do