Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
STRENGTHS
Kentwan is a DT with an excellent size/speed ratio that
makes him an intriguing prospect. He has the potential to
be a 1-gap or 2-gap DT that can play in any type of
defensive system. He has the potential to be used inside or
outside in a 4-3 defense or a 3-4 defense. Kentwan has the
potential to be the type of D-lineman you can build your
defense around because he can rush the passer as well as
stop the run. Unfortunately, he has not come close to
reaching that potential as a college player.
NEEDS TO IMPROVE
Kentwan is another one of those kinds of players that
decided to show up for his senior year, but never showed up
in any other years. He does not fight through double teams
and once he engages the offensive lineman in front of him,
he quits and does not continue to play. His techniques are
inconsistent and marginal at best. He shows no leadership
skills and does not attempt to make the players around him
better. He has the potential to impact at the next level
but, because of his work ethic, I do not believe he will be
anything more than a solid DT at the next level.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 3
I’m not suggesting that Kentwan will not be a good player.
I am suggesting that if your team drafts him in the first
round thinking that he will be a consistent impact player
then they are making a big mistake. Kentwan has the talent
and potential, but does not have the passion or work ethic
to become the player that I believe a 1st round
player should become. For me personally, I’m not interested
in drafting players who have not shown a good work ethic --
especially in the first round. Let’s look at Sedrick Ellis
for a minute and compare him to Kentwan. Do you really
think that both players should be considered as first round
players? Do you really believe that Kentwan, who is bigger
and has the same type of talent as Sedrick, is as good a
player as Sedrick is?! If you are suggesting to me that
because it has been reported that most scouts are
considering Kentwan a late first rounder that it is all
right to give Kentwan a first round grade then I have to
disagree. Okay, let’s look at it this way. If you had the
choice to pick Sedrick Ellis and you needed a DT are you
suggesting to me that you would think about trading down to
take Kentwan instead because you think he will be as good a
player in the NFL as Sedrick? If you are a scout or a GM
and you think a DT with a questionable work ethic is worth
picking as even the last player in the first round then I
guess there is nothing more for me to say. Kentwan has the
talent to be an impact player; however, in my opinion, until
now, has only shown the passion and work ethic to be a good,
solid player for the next level.
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