aints Nation Blog ‏@SaintsNationBlg 46s46 seconds ago
Saints sign Notre Dame OT Doniel Gambrell


OVERVIEW
Married with three children. Originally attended Eastern Michigan, but left to be with his then-*girlfriend (and now wife), Shardai, and his infant son, Levi. Worked in a factory to make ends meet until 2012, when Ted Ginn, Sr., helped him land at Notre Dame College (Ohio). Spent three seasons playing right tackle for NDC and was considered one of the top tackles in the Mountain East Conference during that time. Works a third*-shift job during the football season to support his family. Father was murdered when Doniel was 11 years old.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Athletic big man with an NFL frame and long arms. Excellent first-step quickness and lateral movement. Has the footwork necessary to crossface or hook defender. Has athleticism necessary to play tackle but might fit inside at guard. Plays from two- and three-point stance. Flashes ability to play with desired hand placement and punch. Smooth glider to second level and can mirror and finish in space. Has enough length and natural ability to redirect from guard position when pass rushers get to his edge. Praised by scouts for his maturity and leadership. Gambrell more than held his own against FBS-level competition during practices for the College Gridiron Showcase in Arlington, Texas.

WEAKNESSES Needs to improve his instincts and understanding of offense. Will seek to go get defensive end on running plays where he simply needs to hold his ground and run the defender upfield. Has decent kick*-slide and set-up, but relies on quick* sets and will set out too wide, opening door for inside moves. Struggles to redirect back inside and shut down inside moves. Tends to panic and rush to edge when he sees blitzer coming. Needs more consistent leverage and hip snap to capture and contain in run game.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 7 or priority free agent

NFL COMPARISON Brennan Williams

BOTTOM LINE Intriguing small-school player with big-school athleticism and talent. While his feet are NFL*-caliber, his instincts and anchor need work. With his family life and hectic schedule, Gambrell hasn't had the opportunity to work in the weight room like he will need to. He will require patience and technique work, but has a shot of playing on Sundays. Some project him inside to guard, but teams might want to give him a shot to play tackle initially.