It's funny that an Alabama guy thinks highly of one of our guys more so then we do. You have to consider he may have a better eye for talent since Bama has it in spades every year. Btw, PSU_NUT... nevermind.[roll]
Cubuff- you and there is one more poster that I respect in regard to defensive play. Our problem as a fanbase is that we have "Wfan itis" where we go by sacks, Int's TD's or if a guy is talked about a lot. And we don't understand that the game is so much more then that. Most NFL teams will have 1 guy at most with double digit sacks so what the hell are all the other DL doing on that team?
So, with Turay...as a Freshman, he had those highlite film plays...OMG we are going to have an All American Sack machine!!! His next couple of years you saw what appeared to be a serious drop off. But no one is considering the injuries this kid went through and the piss poor evaluation of those injuries and what was causing them. What many don't know is that he also had to deal with non football BS here as well. So, top that off with his religion which basically makes him a vegan but he has to put on weight.
We get to this year. Let's go back to the "Wfan itis" of fans around here. Where are his sacks? He isn't playing well! Where are the highlite film plays? He isn't playing well. But...he pretty much had his career year this year. He became a 3 down player. He was asked to drop into coverage. He did rush the passer at times and often was just a hair short but he disrupted the play. What he did was showcase what he could be at the next level.
6ft4 252lbs is respectable as a DE and scary as a LB. What will be the difference maker for him is how he grew as a leader. Outside of SJD, he was the vocal leader on the D in the locker room. We still have some bad eggs in this program and between him and SJD they got into those kids faces and warned freshmen away from them.
Also- getting invited to the combine actually pushes him up a round or two in my mind. If he was a "pro day" guy. 6/7 rd or FA...If he is healthy for the combine, he is one of those guys that have a shot to really bump himself up. He is going to do well in the interviews, he will have some good to amazing film...He measured well. If he puts up some numbers and kills the interviews(yes, they will ask about the injuries) he could be a big riser.
But heck, our fans didnt see the sacks so he sucks.