Haloti Ngata (07/2004)

Position:

DT

School:

University of Oregon

Height:

6' 5"

Weight:

345 lbs.

General Variables:

36 out of 40

Size:

10

Strength:

10

Speed:

8

Athleticism:

8

Position Variables:

34 out of 40

Run defense:

9

Pass defense:

8

Versatility:

8

Tackling:

9

Positives:

Haloti Ngata is a physical freak.  He is a giant kid with a broad chest, and huge arms.  Technically, he’s just a redshirt sophomore, but he’s as ready for the NFL as any defensive tackle in the country.  Of the top 5 defensive tackle prospects listed, he’s the biggest and one of the two or three fastest.  When healthy, Ngata is almost completely unblockable.  His combination of speed and strength, coupled with the fact that he never takes a play off (rare for a big man), makes him a great prospect as either a 4-3 DT, or a 3-4 DE.  His versatility, plus his almost perfect combination of run stopping and pass rush skills, makes him the most complete package of the top DT prospects.

Negatives:

The dreaded injury issue looms large for Ngata.  Only a redshirt sophomore, and coming off a season-ending torn ACL, from the first half of the first game of the 2003 season, he’s been held out of all of the spring practices and scrimmages to allow him to recover.  If Ngata isn’t 100 percent this year, his draft stock will surely drop, but at least he’ll have two years of eligibility to fall back on.  Ngata plays his best around 345, but he can get bigger.  In order to dominate at the next level, he’ll need to keep his weight in check to maximize his athletic ability.

Overall:

I, and no doubt many others, hope that Ngata doesn’t declare after this season.  After watching him as a freshman, having played at such a high level, you hate to see a kid who’s so much fun to watch jump to the NFL.  But if he’s healthy, you really can’t blame him.  He’s an awesome talent and if he’s 100 percent, the Duck faithful will get to watch the top interior defensive lineman in the nation.  With all due respect to Rod Wright and Anttaj Hawthorne, Ngata is the man in the middle.  He’s young and has only begun to scratch the surface of what he’s capable of.

Final Word:

HEALTH — No one likes to see a young man with so much potential and talent get hurt, but last year, that’s what happened to Ngata.  My guess is that how he plays this year will be what pushes him either to the NFL or back to Oregon.  If he’s 100 percent all year and blows up opposing offensive linemen, he’d be foolish not to head to the NFL, rather than risk another injury.  If he’s not well and his play suffers, he’s a bright kid and he’ll come back healthy and then blow guys up.  Either way, guys lined up in front of Ngata will get blasted. 

Curtis Popejoy

Scouting Director