CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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WILLIE GAY JR.
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-1
243 pounds
22 years old
BIG PICTURE
Wilie Gay Jr. flashed during his three-year college career at Mississippi State when he was on the field. But a promising junior season was compromised by an eight-game suspension for fighting with a teammate. Gay registered five sacks as a sophomore but none as a junior in limited snaps. The sample size is small, but he's graded well in coverage and his measurables at the combine were toward the top of the class. His athleticism alone may earn him a Day 2 look.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.46 40-yard dash (2nd)
21 bench reps (T-5th)
39.5-inch vertical (2nd)
136-inch broad jump (1st)
7.08 3-cone drill
4.3 20-yard shuttle
VIKINGS' COMPATIBILITY RANKING
1 out of 5. Linebacker is low on the Vikings' needs list, and Gay has some off-field concerns.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Gay has experience lining up in a variety of linebacker roles, but might not have the feel to play in the middle on the next level. He's hard to miss on the field with his flailing arms and energetic playing style. He's a healthy hitter once he squares and attacks ball-carriers. He lacks instincts and angles to mirror ball-carriers from the gaps to the flanks, but he does a nice job of sticking and finishing when he's in position. His play speed and athleticism appear to be average and he has some zone cover talent. Carving out a defined role will be important if he is to make an NFL roster."
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: "Willie Gay Jr. is an athletic defender who would be best served in a space role to scrape and flow to the football. His explosiveness and tackle radius is evident on tape, but his processing power and consistency in reading his keys is something that needs to be honed before he's handed a role as a MIKE linebacker or given significant reps. With an impressive physical profile, Gay Jr. deserves the chance to be coached up (just 6 starts) and with higher play recognition could be an NFL starter."
WHAT PFF SAYS
90.0+ coverage grade last two years
Less than 1,000 career snaps played
10% missed tackle rate in 2019 (below average)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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