Calijah Kancey NFL Draft scouting report: Why Pitt star is drawing Aaron Donald comparisons
Pitt’s defensive tackle Calijah Kancey became an overnight sensation at the NFL Combine in March when he lit up practice on the field despite playing a position not well known for his athleticism.
The allure of Kancey’s combine show boiled down to one simple truth: people his size shouldn’t move as fast as he does.
Whether the impressive performance will be enough to boost Kancey’s shares significantly into draft weekend remains to be seen. He’s considered too small for the position, which could put teams off in the first round.
If there’s one player who knows a thing or two about success, despite being labeled “undersized,” it’s a certain former Pitt defenseman.
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The Sporting News takes a look at Kancey’s scouting report and NFL comparison ahead of the draft.
Calijah Kancey NFL Scouting Report
Kancey was a standout in Pitt and served as the anchor of the Panthers’ defensive line. He has high motor skills and proved to Pitt that he can also get to the quarterback as an interior defensive lineman.
Kancey proved to be one of the most athletic defensive tackle prospects in recent memory at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, the fastest by a DT at the combine since 2000.
SN’s Vinnie Iyer describes Kancey as “devastating inside-pass rush pop.”
College production is here and the tools are obvious, but Kancey’s size is a concern he can’t shake. He’s at just 6-1 and weighs just 281 pounds, which could be an issue against bigger and stronger NFL competition.
MORE: Calijah Kancey 40 times: Pitt DT draws comparisons to Aaron Donald after lightning fast NFL combine run
Calijah Kancey NFL Comparison
A prospect on the Pitt line of defense had the same questions before. Rams DT Aaron Donald was one of the best defensive players in the nation in his final season with the Panthers, but he didn’t come off the board until the 13th pick in 2014, largely due to concerns about his size.
Donald measured just under 6-1 and 285 pounds at the 2014 combine, and there were questions about how he would stack up against bigger, stronger NFL opponents. Apparently, he quickly dispelled those concerns. Donald is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl Champion, and Hall of Fame ban.
That doesn’t mean Kancey’s career will follow the same path. He’s still not expected to be drafted as early as Donald, and the Rams DT has epic strength that helps offset its size. Few players can replicate this profile.
Donald paved the way for Kancey and all players labeled “undersized,” proving that sometimes teams shouldn’t rethink collegiate production.
The fact that Donald played the same position at the same school as Kancey makes the comparison that much more intriguing.
MORE: The NFL’s highest-paid players on defense, from Aaron Donald to Jaire Alexander
Calijah Kancey NFL Mock Draft
Iyer lets the Saints pick Kancey with the 40th pick overall in his final three-round mock draft.
Kancey is the fourth defensive tackle selected in Iyer’s mock draft, with Georgia’s Jalen Carter, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee and Baylor’s Siaka Ika coming off the board ahead of him. However, the projections vary. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah lets the Lions pick Kancey with 18th overall pick.
While Kancey’s size will worry some teams, all you have to do is fall in love with his game and make him a first-round pick.