Colts Draft Profiles: Breaking Down the Top Nose Tackles

Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma defensive lineman Jordan Phillips talks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma:

The 6’5″, 329 pound Phillips has drawn comparisons to a poor man’s Dontari Poe of the Kansas City Chiefs, given his massive size, yet surprisingly impressive athletic measurables. Phillips didn’t always dominate the way in college that his size and physical gifts would typically indicate; however, if he can consistently put it all together at the professional level, some scouts think he can become a dominant pro:

"“He has the body type and length to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 front, but there is no reason to move him from the nose. If he gets that motor going, he could be a dominant pro.” — AFC North scout"

Phillips comes with his fair share of risk though, as he’s coming off of back surgery just two seasons ago, which may not bode well for his long-term future playing football. However, he has the size and athleticism that still has many scouts drooling despite playing only one full season as a Sooners starter:

"“Back surgery two years ago, only started 16 games in college, but he’s a dancing bear, and he’ll probably go in the first round,” –Mike Mayock, NFL.com"

For good reason too, as Phillips’ Draft Combine measurables compare quite favorably to both Dontari Poe and Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton, another player he’s often been compared to throughout the draft evaluation process:

While Phillips clearly isn’t the physical freak of nature that Poe is, who ran a 4.98 forty time and benched the bar 44 times at 346 pounds, his physical measurables still stack up quite favorably to both Poe and Knighton otherwise. In fact, Phillips actually bests Knighton’s past combine performance in every drill despite weighing nearly 10 pounds heavier.

His remaining measurables besides his forty time and bench press actually are right in-line with Poe’s measurables for the most part. Phillips actually boasts the best vertical jump (30.0) and 3-cone drill (7.88) of this talented trio.