Chris Long SELECTED BY: St. Louis Rams Round 1(2)

SI Grade 4.55 GRADING SYSTEM

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter awarded All-Conference honors the past two seasons and named an All-American last year. Senior-year totals included 79/19/14 when he also intercepted one pass and broke up nine more. Registered 23 quarterback hurries as a senior. Junior-year totals included 57/12/4 when he was also credited with 21 quarterback hurries.

POSITIVES: Intense, athletic defensive end with a complete game. Plays with terrific pad level, quickly gets off the snap, and immediately changes direction or alters his angle of attack. Fundamentally sound, plays assignment football, and quickly diagnoses the action. Intense and goes as hard as possible to make positive plays. Slices through the small gaps of the offensive line, redirects to ball-carriers, and rarely off his feet. Shows an array of moves when working to get off blocks. Possesses a burst of closing speed and also shows ability in pursuit. Explosive and plays with a good degree of suddenness.

NEGATIVES: Lacks classic size and engulfed at the point by a single blocker.

ANALYSIS: Long is a smart, disciplined lineman with an outstanding work ethic. He's been a playmaker throughout his college career even though opponents constantly game-plan around him. Long is a polished prospect and he should be productive at the next level right off the bat.