North Carolina vs. Temple: 5 2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Military Bowl

Jason Strowbridge is a very intriguing player when considering his fit at the next level. He arrived in Chapel Hill as a light, athletic edge rusher. He has since added about 40 pounds of bulk and muscle and moved to more of a defensive tackle position. He has enjoyed a fair amount of success from the move as he is the seventh leading tackler on the team with 42 total tackles as well as 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass defense, and three forced fumbles.

Strowbridge is listed at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds. Since he was a former defensive end, he still shows good athleticism and lateral agility from the inside. He flashes solid upper-body play strength, but he lacks the lower-body strength to anchor consistently at the point of attack on run plays. He also struggles at times with his ability to key and diagnose plays on a consistent basis. He will need to be coached up on how to better use leverage and hand technique at the next level.

Strowbridge will definitely be on the radar as a middle-round prospect for NFL teams that run a 3-4 defensive scheme. He projects very well as a five-technique or defensive end in a three-man front. His quickness and agility will allow him to contribute right away at the next level as a sub-package pass rusher.

Strowbridge can definitely develop into a solid starter if he can improve his leverage and hand usage. It will be fun to watch Strowbridge and the aforementioned Matt Hennessy go at it in the middle of the trenches. Whoever is able to win the matchup will certainly help give their team a leg up in the game.