Nebraska Cornhuskers
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Mohamed Barry, ILB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 112 tackles (10 for loss) with two sacks as a junior in 2018. Made 89 tackles (3.5 for loss) with one sack as a senior in 2019.
Positives: Undersized run-and-chase linebacker who breaks down well, displays a good head for the ball and effectively makes plays in space. Sells out on the blitz, covers a lot of area on the field and shows ability in zone coverage. Displays speed in both a straight line and laterally and has a quick closing burst. Makes the defensive calls and gets his teammates in proper position.
Negatives: Inefficient, takes poor angles to the action and removes himself from plays. Occasionally misreads the action. Somewhat disappointing senior season.
Analysis: Barry was considered a mid-day three pick by scouts entering the season, but he seemed to regress in many areas of his game. He’s a terrific pursuit linebacker at the top of his game, but Barry needs to play more under control and improve his instincts.
Darrion Daniels, DT
Career Snapshot: Graduate transfer from Oklahoma State who started one season with the Cowboys before he joined Nebraska and started his lone season with the Cornhuskers. Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 34 tackles (3.5 for loss) with 1.5 sacks as a senior in 2019. Suffered a season-ending finger injury after four games in 2018 and took a medical redshirt.
Positives: Oklahoma State transfer who displayed dominance in the middle of the defensive line at Nebraska. Displays terrific first-step quickness, fires through the gaps behind the line of scrimmage and slides laterally to get outside the box and defend the run. Viciously attacks opponents and plays with proper pad level. Good athlete for his size. Shows power in his lower body, gets a lot of push up the field and easily discards blocks on his way to the action.
Negatives: Must develop more moves with his hands and disengage from blocks quicker. Despite flashes of athleticism, won’t cover a lot of area on the field. Not a top pass rusher.
Analysis: Daniels returned with a vengeance last season and stood out in a variety of ways. He’s a powerful nose tackle and zero-technique lineman who is best as a gap occupier, but he can make plays on occasion.
Alex Davis, OLB
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who made 30 tackles (3.5 for loss) with one interception and one forced fumble as a senior in 2019. Combined to start nine games and make 22 tackles (three for loss) with one sack during his sophomore and junior seasons.
Positives: Underrated linebacker who has shown flashes of ability the past three seasons. Breaks down well, defeats blocks and flies around the field to make plays. Shows ability in pursuit, easily changes direction and sacrifices his body to make the tackle. Plays faster than his 40 time, flows well laterally and gives effort.
Negatives: Has been marginally productive at the college level. Won’t wow anyone with his testing numbers.
Analysis: Davis is an underrated linebacker whose game took off last season. He possesses nice length, solid size and enough skill to get looks in camp this summer as a potential eighth linebacker and special-teams player.
Khalil Davis, DT
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors and made 44 tackles (11 for loss) with eight sacks as a senior in 2019. Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 41 tackles (7.5 for loss) with three sacks as a rotational lineman in 2018.
Positives: Explosive defensive tackle who showed significant improvement last season. Breaks down well, plays with proper pad level and effectively uses his hands. Quick, rarely off his feet and easily changes direction. Agile, nicely redirects to the action and shows the ability to immediately alter his angle of attack. Plays with a nasty attitude and attacks opponents.
Negatives: Struggles to get off blocks and gets controlled by a single opponent. Lack of height and arm length will be an issue for some teams.
Analysis: Davis showed consistent improvement throughout his Nebraska career and really stood out during Shrine Bowl practices in January, where he was one of the best defensive tackles on the field. Though he has height limitations, he’s an explosive athlete with a good amount of upside and scheme versatility.
Carlos Davis, DT
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter at defensive end who was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 27 tackles (2.5 for loss) with one sack and five pass breakups as a junior in 2018. Set career highs with 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior. Made a career-best 42 tackles as a sophomore. Made four starts at defensive tackle and two at nose guard during his career.
Positives: Athletic defensive lineman whose game has leveled off the past three years. Plays with terrific pad level and leverage and fights with his hands. Resilient, works hard to chase the action and displays good movement skills. Fires off the snap, shows great quickness and attracts double-team blocks. Easily changes direction and moves well laterally.
Negatives: Marginal production the past two years. Played uninspired football at times. Struggles to get off blocks once engaged at the point.
Analysis: Davis is a terrific athlete and he was a champion discus thrower at Nebraska outside of football. He struggled the past two seasons and was out of place when used at nose tackle and defensive end in the Cornhuskers’ three-man line. Davis is a natural three-technique tackle and comes with a large amount of upside, but his play the past two seasons may have pushed him out of the draft altogether.
Lamar Jackson, CB
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and made 40 tackles (3.5 for loss) with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Made 28 tackles with two INTs and seven PBUs as a junior. Played a key role as Nebraska’s nickel corner during his true freshman season.
Positives: Nice-sized college cornerback who may ultimately move to safety at the next level. Plays physical football and throws his body around the field. Hard hitter who viciously attacks opponents. Mixes it up with receivers throughout the route, works to locate the pass in the air and shows good hands for the interception. Quickly makes his way up the field to defend running plays and screen passes and wraps up tackling.
Negatives: Must improve his footwork and backpedal. Deep speed is a concern. Struggled during Senior Bowl practices.
Analysis: Jackson is a physical defensive back who flashed coverage abilities, but he’s better when he faces the action. His size, temperament, and lack of deep speed make a move inside to safety a real possibility.
Northwestern Wildcats
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Joe Gaziano, DE
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and made 49 tackles (17 tackles for loss) with nine sacks, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and made 44 tackles (12.5 for loss) with 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three PBUs as a junior. Named Third Team All-Big Ten and posted 36 tackles (12.5 for loss), nine sacks, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a sophomore.
Positives: Hard-working defensive lineman with growth potential. Displays solid first-step quickness, gives tremendous effort and plays through the whistle. Flashes the ability to bend off the edge, immediately alters his angle of attack and pursues the action from the back side. Rarely off his feet, plays with proper pad level and leverage and uses his hands to protect himself. Flashes power in his lower body.
Negatives: Lacks speed off the edge and closing burst despite his 40 time. Has a long, thin build and gets taken from the action by tight ends. Athletically limited.
Analysis: Gaziano is a try-hard prospect who gets the most from his ability and offers potential as a defensive end in a three or four-man line, or even as a defensive tackle in time. He must get bigger and stronger, but his intensity and approach to the game will get him consideration as a seventh or eighth defensive lineman.
View more scouting reports
Page 2: Illinois Fighting Illini
Page 2: Indiana Hoosiers
Page 3: Iowa Hawkeyes
Page 4: Maryland Terrapins
Page 5: Michigan Wolverines
Page 6: Michigan State Spartans
Page 7: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Page 8: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Page 8: Northwestern Wildcats
Page 9: Ohio State Buckeyes
Page 10: Penn State Nittany Lions
Page 11: Purdue Boilermakers
Page 11: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Page 12: Wisconsin Badgers