With the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams have selected Aaron Donald out of Pittsburgh.
Position: Defensive Tackle
Measurables: 6’1”, 285 lbs, 32 5/8” arm length, 9 7/8” hands
Donald took home a litany of awards in his fourth and final season of his impressive career at Pittsburgh in 2013, winning All-American honors at defensive tackle in the process. He posted 59 tackles (28.5 for a loss), 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and one blocked kick in 13 starts. He also ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.68 seconds) of any defensive tackle at the NFL Combine, along with exhibiting his raw strength by benching 225 pounds 35 times.
Donald has natural quickness which shows itself in all levels of his game. He is highly adept at getting under blockers’ pads to assert leverage with force, and has all the moves to be an extremely disruptive force when penetrating. Donald has a natural instinct for the ball, and has an advanced understanding of body positioning when it comes to both engagement and recovery. Donald can generate a lot of power in a short span, along with being able to use his footwork to close in on the ball when farther out.
Check out Aaron Donald's highlight video for a closer look into what he brings to the Rams:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMmpIKvvnV4
