Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
Nixon had a solid career at Iowa these past two seasons but stood out statistically in 2020. He accumulated 13.5 tackles for a loss, five and a half sacks, and one forced fumble. The six-foot-three defensive lineman also had one of college football’s most impressive highlights, returning an interception for 71 yards against Penn State.
Nixon’s instincts and are awareness are top-notch, he has a nose for the ball and proved he’s always breaking up plays in the backfield. Per PFF, stopping 16 runs last year is evidence of this, though his ability to shed blockers in the NFL will something to keep an eye on. Another one of Nixon’s strengths is his quickness and feet, both impressive for his size and position. His speed allowed him to penetrate offensive lines with ease but he’ll need technique as well in order to do that at the pro level.
At one point, ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked Nixon as his number one prospect at defensive tackle. If production such as eight and a half sacks over two years can translate into the NFL, the Raiders will have themselves a promising talent in the second round.
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