COLLEGE PLAYER NEWS

Nebraska DE Gregory jumps into NFL Draft

The Sports Xchange

December 30, 2014 at 1:40 pm.

Randy Gregory is headed to the NFL. (Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports)

Nebraska junior pass rusher Randy Gregory decided to skip his senior season for the Cornhuskers and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

Gregory is NFLDraftScout.com’s No. 4 overall player in the 2015 NFL Draft and the top-rated defensive end prospect. He is expected to compete with USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams to be the first defensive player drafted in April.

“I’m ready for the next challenge in my life,” Gregory said in an email. “I look forward to the coaching I will receive and the chance to push myself alongside the best players in the world. Thank you to my coaches from all levels, the Nebraska fans, my teammates, and my family who have supported me from the start.”

Gregory originally signed with Purdue out of high school, but academics took him to Arizona Western Community College, where he spent two seasons. He arrived in Lincoln in 2013 and quickly emerged as a difference-maker with a team-best 19 tackles for loss and 10 1/2 sacks.

Gregory was limited by a few injuries as a junior in 2014 but still led the Huskers in sacks (7), quarterback hurries (16) and blocked kicks (2).
“I chose the University of Nebraska because of the rich tradition, the great academics and sense of family I felt when I stepped onto the campus,” Gregory said in the statement. “It has been everything and more for me and I’m thankful to the Nebraska faithful.

“(Former coach Bo) Pelini having an NFL background helped me understand what it takes to play at the next level. He and Coach (Rich) Kaczenski did a great job in helping me reach my goals this season,” Gregory said in a statement. “People expected me to come out last season, but I knew I had more work to do. (Former defensive coordinator John) Papuchis also helped me take my game to another level.”

At 6 feet 6 and 245 pounds, Gregory is a lean athlete with good length and plays with terrific athleticism off the edge. He shows easy redirection skills and explosive traits to be an impact player, winning with his first step and flexible frame to bend the edge. Gregory has the athleticism to stand up and play in space, making him appealing to 4-3 and 3-4 teams, either as a hand-in-the-ground pass rusher or stand-up linebacker.

Gregory developed his instincts and hand technique as a junior, showing considerable growth in both areas. But his functional strength and growth potential are two potential issues for the next level. He has a lean-muscled frame and his potential to bulk up and add muscle are concerns for scouts, leading to questions about his ability to match up physically in the trenches. Gregory was also routinely banged up in college and his long-term durability is something that will be debated among evaluators as well.

Dane Brugler is an analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, a property of The Sports Xchange distributed in partnership with CBSSports.com.