New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - NewOrleansSaints.com New Orleans Saints select LB Davis Tull in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft

NFL.com Bio: 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.

New Orleans Saints select LB Davis Tull in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft

Davis Tull talks about being drafted by the Saints

You were projected as a third round pick. Was it disappointing to last until midway through the fifth?

“I really didn’t have any expectations. I would hope to go as high as possible. Right now, all I’m thinking about is getting to work for the Saints. I’m very appreciative of them for taking me.”

How is your shoulder and when do you expect to be ready?

“I had surgery about a couple of months ago and I’m right on track with rehab. Everything is looking great. I’m not going to rush anything, but at the same time, I’m looking forward to getting better right now.”

Was your shoulder a concern of some of teams as you went through this pre-draft process and interviews?

“I think it was a little bit, I’m sure, just because of the timing of it. At the same time, it was just a labrum, and a lot of people have the surgery, and it’s right on track to heal. I should be ready to go.”

Was it a torn labrum?

“Right.”

Out of high school, you didn’t get recruited as high as you wanted. Do you think you played with a chip on your shoulder throughout your career?

“I think all of the things that have happened in my life and my football career up to this point have built that chip. It gives me extra motivation and it helps me play with that extra edge. I think at the end of the day, it’s all helped me and adds fuel to the fire.”

NFL.com said no player plays more intensely snap to snap like you do. Where does that come from?

“I feel like I owe it to the people I played for and my teammates; that I need to play as hard as I can and I always try to do that. We were just talking about losing scholarships in high school and having a broken leg and having people not believe in you and having that chip, you always want to prove other people wrong. I think that’s where most of this comes from.”

Did you have personal contact with the Saints as they were scouting?

“Yes, I talked with the Saints at the combine. They came to the school, and I had a visit down there. I felt like that went pretty well. It was one of my favorite visits, so I’m super excited to be a Saint.”

Who did you meet with and how did that visit go?

“I met with Joe Vitt, the linebackers coach, for most of it. He liked the way I play. He got me going and I’m really excited about it.”

Read more: Davis Tull talks about being drafted by the Saints

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.

Davis Tull Draft Profile

2015 NFL Pro Day at Chattanooga - YouTube