2015 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Eric Kendricks
Jan 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Eric Kendricks (6) sacks Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Jake Waters (15) during the first half of the 2015 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Bottom Line
What’s not to like about this kid?
He’s as smart, instinctive and as prepared for his opponent as any collegiate linebacker I’ve seen. He comes from a football family as his brother plays the exact same position for the Eagles and his game is similar. They’re both very athletic as they can run and cover but the cherry on top of it all is boy can they hit.
Like his brother brother a few years ago, Kendricks will come into the NFL wanting to prove that he belongs. He’ll have that angry, Napoleon-complex type of chip on his shoulder because he’s only 5’11”. I didn’t see it in the scouting reports but I bet his height is the reason why he’s not projected to go in the first round.
And as for his not having a tackle behind the line of scrimmage this year, it just didn’t work out for him. But I’ll tell you right now his tackles were for big gains where he ran the play down from behind. He’s a 1st-rounder to me but he’ll go in the second as the personnel world should have learned from Chris Borland last year.