Ourlads' Profile:
2022 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about CAMERON THOMAS:
San Diego State, 6040 267 4.80. Junior entry, three-year starter, Carlsbad, CA. Earned first-team All-Mountain West honors all three seasons capped off with a 2021 Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award. The second-team All-America was a defensive tackle until a few games into the 2020 season. Played in a three-man front and was moved up and down, left and right routinely. The versatile skill set allowed him to make a strong impact in multiple ways from multiple positions. His steadiness week to week when it comes to pressuring the quarterback and making tackles behind the line of scrimmage can be a difference maker right away at the next level. The concerns revolve around his overall mass and presence if he lines up inside the tackle. He is not an every down player, but the speed and explosion is not enough to impact the edge rushing play to play. He will fit into a 3-4 scheme but should be shifted to an outside shade on running downs. Can be used by a creative defensive mind on passing downs and that is where he will make his money, but there is power development needed. Tall and long with a strong and well-developed upper body. Hands are country-strong and he has a twitchy pair of arms that know what to do pre and post-engagement with the blocker. Has an array of rush moves that are in sync with his lower body. Has a plan and knows when to adjust. Shows a nice shock with his initial punch with easy inside moves. Initial snap and burst out of his stance gets on the blocker in a hurry and will win the initial engagement with fancy upper body techniques. Productive inside the tackle box against both the run and pass. Has a nose for the ball. Works through traffic well and finishes when he is within closing distance. High effort in pursuit. Makes a lot of plays away from the initial point of attack. Frame does not have a lot more room for growth. Lower body does not play powerfully. Has a hard time against the double team against the run. Impact inside will be much tougher at the next level than it was in college. Does not have the extra gear to pose as a real edge threat via speed. Rounds the corner and will look stiffer the further he gets into space.
2021 stats: 71 T, 20.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 17 QBH, 1 FF. Third/fourth round. (A-32 1/2, H-10 1/4, BP-24, 10-1.60).