New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Featured Discussion 2015 NFL Draft Day Discussion Thread

OVERVIEW
Three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014). First-Team FCS All-American as a senior with 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. As a junior, was named First-Team FCS All-American with 9 sacks and 15 tackles for loss while posting a 4.0 GPA during the fall. In 2012, became first SoCon sophomore to be selected as SoCon Defensive Player of the Year since Dallas Cowboys 1997 third-round pick Dexter Coakley. Set single-season UTC sack record with 12.5 and was fourth in the nation with 19 tackles for loss. Made the SoCon All-Freshman team, starting all 11 games at defensive end. Former walk-on. Colleges stopped recruiting Tull after he broke his femur in the second game of his senior season and missed the rest of the year. Was an Honor Society member at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee.

PRO DAY RESULTS
40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Four-year starter. Outstanding production and works as hard from snap to snap as any defensive lineman in this draft. Plays stronger than his listed weight. Stays square against the run and leverages his run gaps. Plus hand-eye coordination. Has what scouts call "snap-winning" hand usage against run or pass. Relentless in pursuit. Frenetic off snap, giving tackles darting movement inside and out. Has power and toughness to set the edge and turn plays back inside. Leverage rusher who can dip shoulder and turn corner as well as bull-rush weaker tackles. Has lightning-quick spin move but needs to sharpen technique when using it. Held his own against Tennessee this year with a sack and two tackles for loss.

WEAKNESSES Marginal upfield burst by NFL standards. Needs to instill more fear around the edge to open up room for his inside moves. Short arms. Long tackles can get to his chest and divert his rush track. Racked up gaudy stats against inferior competition. Average athlete with average size. Won with great hands and effort, but athletic NFL tackles could stymie those traits. Too small to play defensive end and has limited experience standing up.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 3 or 4

NFL COMPARISON Dan Skuta

BOTTOM LINE Tull uses smarts, skill and toughness to dominate his level of competition. Tull has the athleticism to play outside linebacker in an odd front and his relentless nature and ability to outplay expectations could make him an NFL surprise.