2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyus Bowser





  • Tyus Bowser, 6-2/244

  • Outside Linebacker

  • Houston


  • Tyus Bowser Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Fast
  • Athletic
  • Explosive
  • Good motor
  • Gives relentless effort
  • Dangerous edge pass-rusher
  • Speed to turn the corner
  • Uses hands well
  • Closes quickly
  • Excellent pursuit skills
  • Athletic in space
  • Closing speed
  • Run-and-chase defender
  • Natural in space
  • Makes big plays in the backfield
  • Has the athletic ability to potentially cover




  • Weaknesses:
  • Tackles high
  • Tweener defensive end/outside linebacker
  • Run defense could be a weakness
  • Teams will run at him
  • Has problems with physical blockers
  • Tough blockers wear him down
  • Undersized
  • Will have to learn more pass-coverage skills for the NFL


  • Summary: Houston’s football program has fielded a tough team in recent years with a lot of talent qho will end up playing on Sundays. Bowser was a tough defender over the past two years, elevating himself into being an early round prospect. In 2015, he had 51 tackles with seven tackles for a loss, six sacks, three passes batted, one interception, and one forced fumble. Bowser was better as a senior, when he had 47 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass batted.

    Bowser is a fast, athletic and explosive defender. He is very fast off the edge with serious closing speed to hunt down quarterbacks and ball-carriers. The senior has a relentless style of play with excellent effort.

    Bowser has some things to work on for the NFL. Tough, physical blockers wear him down and can shut him out even though he never stops fighting. Bowser is also undersized, and teams will run at him in the NFL. He is a bit of a tweener who will have to play more traditional linebacker as a pro, so some development is necessary.

    In speaking with scouting sources, they say that Bowser is athletic with explosive speed and edge rushing skills for the NFL. He is very good in space and versatile as a run-and-chase pursuit defender. His instincts need development, and he will have to get quicker to read his keys as a more traditional linebacker in the NFL. Offenses will challenge Bowser’s ability to make reads, and they are going to run at him consistently.

    Bowser would probably fit best in the NFL as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense given his body type. In time, his speed and pursuit skills would make him a good fit as a Will – weakside – linebacker. In obvious passing situations, Bowswer could be an edge rusher to use speed to put pressure on the quarterback. He would also be a good fit in a 3-4 defense as he could play inside and outside linebacker in that scheme.

    Sources have said they expect Bowser to go in the early rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. Some even think he could sneak into Round 1, although others have him graded on Day 3; Bowser’s projection is all over the place. Overall, going on Day 2 could be his most likely landing spot.



    Player Comparison: Jaime Collins. Bowser reminds me of a poor man’s Jaime Collins coming out of Southern Miss. Collins was another college defensive end who projected to linebacker for the NFL. He was a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, and Bowser could go that high on Day 2 in the 2017 NFL Draft.

    NFL Matches: Green Bay, New England, Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, Cincinnati, New Orleans, New York Giants and Atlanta

    There are a lot of teams that could consider drafting Bowser in the early rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. He could hope to go to some of the teams playing the conference championships. Green Bay could use an edge rusher to replace Julius Peppers and potentially Nick Perry. Bowser could also play some inside linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 scheme.

    New England could use another edge rusher to go with Trey Flowers and Kony Ealy, and the team is thin at linebacker after trading away Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins. If Bowser slips to the Patriots’ third-round pick, he could easily be their pick.

    Staying in the AFC East, the Bills could use a Will – weakside – linebacker to add to their change to a 4-3. Bowser could form a nice tandem with Reggie Ragland. Miami has a huge need at linebacker and edge rusher as Mario Williams was cut, Olivier Vernon left last offseason, and Cameron Wake is aging. Bowser would make a lot of sense for the Dolphins’ second-round pick.

    The Lions could use more linebacker talent and an edge rusher to go with Ziggy Ansah. Bowser could be a fit for Detroit in Round 2. Shortly later, the Giants also make sense as they need more talent at linebacker.

    The Bengals could use an edge rusher across from Carlos Dunlap and youth at linebacker. Cincinnati could play Bowser at linebacker on run downs and let him rush as an end in passing situations.

    New Orleans could use another edge rusher to go with Cam Jordan and also could use more talent at linebacker. Bowser could be in play for for the Saints on Day 2. Atlanta could use an edge rusher across from Vic Beasley, and Bowser could be a fit for the Falcons.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2017 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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