With the NFL draft only a few days away, many NC State fans are awaiting a resurgence of Wolfpack representation in the world’s premier football league.
Over half a dozen Wolfpack players will likely be drafted by NFL teams. One of the most talented prospects, defensive end Kentavius Street, has caught the eye of many NFL franchises.
Throughout his career for the Wolfpack, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive end served as an essential part of a powerful defensive line. Many NFL analysts admire Street’s versatility and ability to make critical plays inside or outside.
“Teams love Street’s versatility and feel he can line up on the edge in a 4-3, and be used as a three-technique tackle in subpackages,” Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com said.
During the 2017 campaign, the Greenville, North Carolina native displayed this versatility tallying 38 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, 3.5 pass break ups and two fumble recoveries.
This would particularly prove to be beneficial for teams such as the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and the Detroit Lions, who are all in need of defensive ends.
Street’s raw strength and ability to deliver hard hits are other assets.
Prior to the 2017 campaign, a video of the J.H. Rose High School alumnus squatting 700 pounds went viral. At the NFL combine, Street also produced 28 reps during the 225-pound bench press.
Despite his swift 4.87 40-yard dash time, good for top 10 among defensive linemen, Street’s weaknesses are his lack of physical length and slightly less than ideal reflex speed.
“Street has the level of strength and toughness that defenses are looking for on the edge, but his lack of reactive quickness and lack of desired length is a concern against NFL tackles,” Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said.
According to projections by NFL.com, Street is projected to go anywhere from the fourth round to fifth round.
However, an April 4 ACL injury during training with the New York Giants could shift this projection to the later rounds, as Street will likely miss the entire 2018 season while he undergoes knee repairs.
“It crushes my heart for that kid,” Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren told Brett Friedlander of the North State Journal. “We feel for him and we’re praying for him.”
With the character and determination Street exemplifies on and off the field, a full recovery is still hopeful. The surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews, a well-known sports surgeon, was successful as well.
“He’s handling it really well,” former teammate Darian Roseboro said. “He’s always been a high-spirited guy. He’s looking forward to getting back to where he was.”
While Street will have to negotiate an additional hurdle on his route to the NFL, he’s sure to be a major asset to whichever NFL team takes a chance on him.
