Hau'oli Kikaha: The 'What-If'
Edge-rushers are always in demand, especially in today's NFL, when quarterbacks are more important than ever. It makes sense that as quarterbacks become more critical to higher win percentages, those pass-rushers who can stop them from getting anything done on a regular basis would rise in importance as well. The Houston Texans proved this when they took South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney first overall in the 2014 draft, and though Clowney's rookie campaign was cut short due to injury, the point stands -- true pass-disruptors will make a lot of money and have a lot of impact in this league.
NFL
La'el Collins and Dante Fowler
Combine O-lineman survey: Who's the best defensive player you've faced?
by Chris Burke & Doug Farrar
Kikaha is ranked behind the group of elite 2015 pass-rushing outside linebackers, but that has more to do with his two ACL injuries than anything else. When he's been healthy, Kikaha has proven to be one of the more consistent pass-disruptors in the NCAA. Washington's all-time sack leader, Kikaha combined for 40.5 tackles for loss and 32 sacks in his last two seasons. He led the NCAA with 19 sacks last year, and as a pure burner off the edge, there aren't many in his class.
"He's one of the most beastly pass-rushers I've ever played with," Shelton said of his teammate. "Kikaha is someone I look up to, he's like an older brother for me. He definitely pushed me to step up my pass-rush game. I definitely challenged him at the beginning of the season with my sacks. It's something we do at Washington. We love to compete. Our defense is filled with athletes. If you're going to produce, you've got to show effort and make the plays that you need to make."
Kihaha is a quiet assassin who is known to turn on his teammates for bringing anything less than optimal effort -- his compatriots describe him as the conscience of that 2014 defense.
"He's basically a technician," Shelton said. "He's going to kill you with speed, kill you with power, but he's very detailed. Just working with him in practice, sometimes he gets on you for making little mistakes. That's something you need on a team."
The tape shows that Kikaha can be an NFL-level pass-rusher, but the second- to third-round grades have more behind them than his injury history. At 6'2'' and 253 pounds, Kikaha sometimes fails to bring optimal strength to the run game, and he's not always an optimal asset in pass coverage. He could also use a few more pass-rush moves, especially a dominant inside counter -- there are times when bigger and more agile tackles will make him disappear, and that will only increase in the NFL. Some teams may look to put him at defensive end in a 4-3 front, or he could be a straight-up hand-off-the-ground "endbacker" in a 3-4 base defense. Either way, if he rounds out his skillset, Kikaha could be a major bargain in the middle rounds.
Edge-rushers are always in demand, especially in today's NFL, when quarterbacks are more important than ever. It makes sense that as quarterbacks become more critical to higher win percentages, those pass-rushers who can stop them from getting anything done on a regular basis would rise in importance as well. The Houston Texans proved this when they took South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney first overall in the 2014 draft, and though Clowney's rookie campaign was cut short due to injury, the point stands -- true pass-disruptors will make a lot of money and have a lot of impact in this league.
NFL
La'el Collins and Dante Fowler
Combine O-lineman survey: Who's the best defensive player you've faced?
by Chris Burke & Doug Farrar
Kikaha is ranked behind the group of elite 2015 pass-rushing outside linebackers, but that has more to do with his two ACL injuries than anything else. When he's been healthy, Kikaha has proven to be one of the more consistent pass-disruptors in the NCAA. Washington's all-time sack leader, Kikaha combined for 40.5 tackles for loss and 32 sacks in his last two seasons. He led the NCAA with 19 sacks last year, and as a pure burner off the edge, there aren't many in his class.
"He's one of the most beastly pass-rushers I've ever played with," Shelton said of his teammate. "Kikaha is someone I look up to, he's like an older brother for me. He definitely pushed me to step up my pass-rush game. I definitely challenged him at the beginning of the season with my sacks. It's something we do at Washington. We love to compete. Our defense is filled with athletes. If you're going to produce, you've got to show effort and make the plays that you need to make."
Kihaha is a quiet assassin who is known to turn on his teammates for bringing anything less than optimal effort -- his compatriots describe him as the conscience of that 2014 defense.
"He's basically a technician," Shelton said. "He's going to kill you with speed, kill you with power, but he's very detailed. Just working with him in practice, sometimes he gets on you for making little mistakes. That's something you need on a team."
The tape shows that Kikaha can be an NFL-level pass-rusher, but the second- to third-round grades have more behind them than his injury history. At 6'2'' and 253 pounds, Kikaha sometimes fails to bring optimal strength to the run game, and he's not always an optimal asset in pass coverage. He could also use a few more pass-rush moves, especially a dominant inside counter -- there are times when bigger and more agile tackles will make him disappear, and that will only increase in the NFL. Some teams may look to put him at defensive end in a 4-3 front, or he could be a straight-up hand-off-the-ground "endbacker" in a 3-4 base defense. Either way, if he rounds out his skillset, Kikaha could be a major bargain in the middle rounds.
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