Nick Perry Scouting Report

USC Trojans defensive end Nick Perry has the potential to play either a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB at the next level due to his quickness off the edge and above-average athleticism.

Perry hasn't quite lived up to his own high standards. A sub-par sophomore season hurt his draft stock, but he might have been playing through injury. After a really nice junior campaign, he should be regarded as one of the better defensive end prospects in this draft class due to a strong season in which he has 9.5 sacks and 55 total tackles.

On the edge he explodes off the line, shows good snap count awareness, and can find the edge to apply pressure on quarterbacks. He has a nice array of pass-rushing moves and has quick enough feet to change directions inside with a nice swim move. Perry really improved his motor this season and there are many who feel he could transition seamlessly to a 3-4 OLB role. That might take more time, but it is certainly possible.

He does well to seal the edge and stay within his assignment. Perry is strong, but could afford to add more bulk. He shows nice patience and doesn't get overly aggressive in pursuit. The next big leap he needs to make is using his hands to his advantage. Perry will sometimes get eaten up by blockers and struggle to get loose. If his quickness doesn't win the battle at the point of attack, he needs to fight through it and battle because he can tend to get ineffective.