The NFL’s efforts to minimize the impact and spread of COVID-19 included cancelling all pre-draft workouts and visits for prospects. One of the players impacted was James Madison defensive end Ron’Dell Carter, who told Draft Wire’s Justin Melo that he had a pre-draft workout scheduled with the 49ers.
Carter initially joined the college football ranks with Rutgers, but transferred to James Madison in the FCS after two years. He made the most of his jump to a lower level.
His redshirt-sophomore campaign was a promising start. Carter didn’t start any of his 15 games, but he tallied 4.0 sacks and eight tackles for loss. His production climbed each of the next two years. As a redshirt-junior he started all 13 games and posted 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. His final season is likely what put him on NFL teams’ radar. He had 12 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in 16 games.
A player that steadily improves the way Carter did is enticing for NFL clubs aiming to find high upside options later in the draft or as priority free agents. He has good size as a thick-muscled, 6-3, 269-pound defensive end. There may not be a ton of room to add bulk to his frame, but he should have enough size to kick inside and rush from the interior.
He’s not extremely quick off the ball and he’s not a super flexible athlete around the edge. However, he’s constantly in pursuit of the football and could have value as a rotational player who can play all over the line if he proves strong enough to take on and shed NFL offensive linemen.
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