2017 NFL Scouting combine: 10 DE participants to watch for the Dallas Cowboys
7 of 10
Dawuane Smoot, Illinois (6’3″, 255)
Dawuane Smoot really interests me mostly because he played under Lovie Smith at the University of Illinois, a Rod Marinelli disciple. That alone should have him on the radar for the Dallas Cowboys.
Smoot is another high-motor/high-effort DE prospect and he knows how to close in when making a play on the quarterback. He needs to develop his skill set a little more to be effective at the NFL level, but there is a lot to work with.
He has the speed and power to be effective at the NFL level, but really needs to become more consistent with his hands as a pass rusher. If the Cowboys don’t address the DE position in the first round of the NFL Draft, Smoot would be a really good option in the second or third round.
I will personally watching to see what his 10-yard split and 40 yard dash times are. Sometimes his explosiveness just doesn’t really pop out at you when watching his game tape.
