Uchenna Nwosu NFL Draft Preview: Stock, Mock Drafts and Projections

Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu tore it up in his senior season at USC, but how will that All-American level translate to the 2018 NFL Draft?

Draft time is coming up for Trojan linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.

Nwosu finished off his USC Football career in style. He earned All-American honors with 75 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, leading the nation’s linebackers with 13 deflections as a playmaker around the line of scrimmage.

Now he’s looking to take that production and prove he can achieve similar success at the next level.

With impressive numbers at the NFL Combine, including a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, a 32-inch vertical and a 119-inch broad jump, Nwosu is all set to reach the pros.

Scout’s Take

“Flashes the athletic traits and speed off the edge that teams will be looking for but the overall tape is very uneven. Nwosu may not have the edge strength to handle run downs, however, if he tests well at the Combine as expected, teams may fall in love with his burst and eyeball a future role as a designated pass rusher.”— Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Nwosu has adequate-to-good initial burst, but great closing burst as a pass-rusher. He’s a sudden player, with just average height. He’ll likely be a sub-package contributor early in his career and it’s possible he could develop into an every-down starter in the right situation.”— ESPN.com

More from Reign of Troy

“A versatile defender who can line up at any linebacker spot and get the job done, Nwosu is an every-down prospect who will be scheme-versatile at the next level. Any NFL defensive coordinator should be thrilled to add him to his arsenal.”— Luke Easterling, USA Today

Prediction

It’s tough to get a handle on where Nwosu will land on draft day with projections rising as high as second round or as low as Day 3.

Mel Kiper’s three-round “Grade A” draft, which involves the ESPN analyst playing GM, included the outside linebacker in the second round to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That would be a fun place for Nwosu to land with an elite defense to grow into.

Over at Walter Football, Walter Cherepinsky projects the Los Angeles Chargers to nab Nwosu in the third round. USC fans looking to catch as many Projans in action as possible would appreciate that possibility.

Also at Walter Football, Charlie Campbell puts him a little bit later in the fourth round to the Buffalo Bills.

The consensus seems to see Nwosu as a Day 2 pick. If he falls to Day 3, it’s likely he won’t have to wait too long to hear his name in the fourth or fifth rounds.

Wherever he lands, he has the skills to thrive in an NFL which increasingly covets the versatility of hybrid defenders.

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