Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina
Elevator Pitch
An interior defensive lineman with an imposing frame, Kinlaw is a lengthy and athletic player who offers value as an impactful three-down defender at the next level. Though still a work in progress technique-wise, he has the tools to be a game wrecker if he can put it all together.
Vitals
Height | 6-5
Weight | 324
Strengths
Just one look at Kinlaw shows one of the reasons why draft analysts view him so highly.
A tall interior defender with long arms and a frame that looks like it was chiseled from marble, Kinlaw has an impeccable size and fitness advantage against many blockers he goes up against. He packs a solid punch at the initial point of contact, and he delivers powerful jabs when stringing moves together as a pass-rusher. His ability to use his hands is admirable, as he plays with quick and active hands and possesses a solid array of pass-rushing techniques in his arsenal. He can also disengage from blockers and make tackles against the run well.
Kinlaw’s athleticism is noticeable, too. He fires off the ball with good acceleration, and he has impressive speed and mobility when making tackles in the open field. His lateral quickness makes him a threat on stunts, as well as when he goes up against reach blocks.
Weaknesses
As impressive as Kinlaw’s physical tools are, there are some times where he doesn’t capitalize on them. He doesn’t play with great pad level, which limits his anchor strength and the effectiveness of his speed-to-power conversions. He struggles with sinking his hips and finds himself giving up leverage to offensive linemen too often.
Kinlaw’s balance and overall body control can be improved a bit, as well. He ends up falling onto the ground on occasion, which can be attributed to poor technique and a lack of a concrete plan during the play. He also has a couple of injuries on his resume now, having missed the Belk Bowl due to a hip injury in 2018, as well as a knee injury that cut his Senior Bowl week short.
Projection: Top 15
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