Name: Quinton Coples- Height: 6’6
- Weight: 285
- School: North Carolina
- Year: Senior
- Draft Projection: 1st Round (Top 15)
Quinton Coples entered the 2011 season as the consensus top draft eligible defensive line prospect in the nation. Entering the draft season, however, there is serious doubt as to whether or not he still maintains that crown. Watching Coples in 2011 often left you wondering how in the world he garnered so much preseason hype. His inconsistent motor often resulted in him being dominated by lesser talents and completely overwhelmed at the point of attack. Still, it is tough to be dominant when you’re the focus of an offense’s attention, and the production was still solid (7.5 sacks) despite disappearing acts.
Perhaps his greatest attribute is his positional versatility. A monster at 6’6, 285 pounds with more than adequate athleticism, Coples could man multiple spots in a 4-3 and has the tools to hold the edge in a 3-4. Much like Justin Tuck, he has the size to swing inside on pass rushing downs and give his defense a pass rushing threat on the interior. He’s a bull when his game is on and seldom gets overpowered; strength is not a concern. Despite a somewhat nondescript senior season, he has displayed dominance, perhaps most notably at the Senior Bowl where he was downright unblockable. His upside may not be huge as a pass rusher, but if he can bring his effort consistently, he should be a solid two-way end who can be stout against the run and offer the ability to get to the quarterback from multiple spots on the field. In a draft short on defensive line talent, that may be enough to get him in the top ten.
Fantasy Outlook: While he may never be an elite sack artist, Coples all-around game could make him an asset as a fantasy DL. His upside could be the aforementioned Tuck, who has established himself as one of the elite fantasy defensive lineman around despite a down year. After the top rookie linebackers are off the board, Coples will likely be next in line.
