Welcome Jatavis Brown, OLB, Akron

[Bolt-O]

Our fifth pick!

[Fleet]

Had a 3rd/4th round grade. Will most likely be a SS for us.

[Marshall/Boogie]

Holy moly, some of you guys were talking a little about him. Fill us in!

[Fleet]

Jatavis Brown, OLB, Akron
Selected: Round 5, Pick 38, Overall Pick 175 by Chargers

Name: Jatavis Brown
College: Akron Number: 1
Height: 5-11 Weight: 227
Position: OLB Pos2: SS/ST Class/Draft Year: Sr/2016
40 Low: 4.38 40 Time: 4.44 40 High: 4.54
Projected Round: 4 High: 3rd Low: 5th Stock:
Rated number 13 out of 204 OLB's 129 / 2774 TOTAL

Combine Results

Pro Day Results
Combine Invite:
Height: 5107
Weight: 227

PD3X AKA "Official"
40 Yard Dash (ET):

40 Yard Dash (HH):
20 Yard (ET):
20 Yard (HH):
10 Yard (ET):
10 Yard (HH): 225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump:
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:


Dates: 03/18/16
Hand: 09 Arm: 31
Wingspan: 74 1/2

Height: 5107
Weight: 227

40 Yard Dash (HH): 4.44
20 Yard (HH): 2.60
10 Yard (HH): 1.53 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 33
Vertical Jump: 35 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'05"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.31
3-Cone Drill: 7.19

40 Time Range: 4.42-4.45
Data Scout Notes: 2015: DPOYC/1stC...PLombardi...2014: 1stM...2013: 1stC...2012: NA
Jatavis Brown/Akron football Videos



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Overview

Brown received only FCS interest until three weeks before signing day when Akron offered and he accepted without visiting the campus. He earned the starting WILL linebacker spot as a sophomore and leaves the program as one of the most productive players in school history. Brown had his best season as a senior in 2015 with a career-high 116 tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks and four forced fumbles, earning MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Analysis

STRENGTHS: Athletic and effortless mover with explosive traits. Above average closing speed and chase range, covering a lot of green. Quickly narrows the gap in his hunt and goes from A-to-B in a flash. Heavy striker and makes his presence known at the contact point. Tackles behind his pads, driving through his target with timing.

Initial quickness and natural body bend to dip around blocks as a blitzer. Loose hips to redirect well in space. Versatile experience and was asked to cover every inch of the field in college - "loves" playing special teams. Quiet, unassuming demeanor with the competitive drive required in the NFL (Akron head coach Terry Bowden: "Some people are highly motivated, highly driven. He is one of them.").

Puts in the effort off the field and calls film work a "major" part of his preparation. Productive and durable resume with the school record for tackles for loss (41.5) and sacks (18.0), breaking Jason Taylor's long-time record.

WEAKNESSES: Undersized frame with a maxed out build. Short arms, which hinders his ability to take on blocks and shed, allowing blockers to eat him up. Hyper-focused on the ballcarrier and needs to improve his block recognition to avoid bodies in his path. Undeveloped backfield vision and late to recognize route concepts.

Overaggressive tendencies, biting on ball fakes and eye candy. Inconsistent tackling mechanics, leading with his helmet, hitting too high and not always wrapping. Lack of size leads to durability and fit questions in the NFL. Character needs investigated following sexual assault allegations by a classmate his senior year in high school (Nov. 2011) - was suspended for two playoff games, but no formal charges were filed.

IN OUR VIEW: A three-year starter at weakside linebacker in the Zips 4-3 base defense, Brown jumps off the screen with his athleticism, explosiveness and desire to get to the ball, earning All-MAC First Team honors three straight seasons - considered the Peyton Manning of the defense by defensive coordinator Chuck Amato. Brown stands out with his play speed and physicality, but struggles to avoid blocks and his lack of size will be tough to mask in the NFL.

Although his weigh-in results might scare off some teams, Brown has all the ingredients to be a special teams demon at the next level while providing versatility as a reserve on the depth chart.

--Dane Brugler (2/13/16)

2015 Season

2015 MAC Defensive Player of the Year … first-team All-MAC selection … participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl … MAC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 16) … Zips’ Student-Athlete of the Week (Nov. 9, Nov. 16) … 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List … preseason first-team All-MAC selection by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports …Team captain … set the career record for tackles for loss (41.5) as well as the season records for tackles for loss (20.0) and sacks (12.0) … started all 13 games at WILL linebacker … one of 12 Zips to start every game … team tackling leader with 116 tackles, including a season record 20.0 TFL and a season record 12.0 sacks, six hurries, four forced fumbles, and an interception … in the win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, had eight tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble … with his two sacks against Miami, set the school record for sacks in a season … in the shutout of Kent State, led the Zips with eight tackles, a forced fumble, and a hurry … led all defenders with 12 tackles and two hurries in the win over Buffalo … had a very busy day n the win at Miami (Ohio) … led all defenders with 11 tackles, two sacks, a career-high 4.5 TFL, a forced fumble, a break-up, and the first interception of his career en route to MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors ... in the win at UMass, led the Zips with 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and an eight-yard sack … against Central Michigan, led the Zips with six tackles and a nine-yard sack … at Bowling Green, had nine tackles and a team-best two sacks for a loss of 13 yards … in the win at Eastern Michigan, had nine tackles, including five solo stops and a TFL … had seven tackles in the MAC opener against Ohio … had five tackles, including 2.0 TFL, and a hurry n the win at Louisiana … in the win over Savannah State, had seven tackles … against Pittsburgh, led all defenders with a career-high 16 tackles, including eight solo stops, 2.5 sacks for a loss of 18 yards, and a forced fumble … had seven tackles, including a two-yard sack at No. 19 Oklahoma.

2014 Season

First-team All-MAC ... second-team All-MAC by Phil Steele and College Sports Madness ... MAC East Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 29) ... MAC Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness (Sept. 29, Oct. 5) ... Midseason first-team All-MAC by Phil Steele ... named team's Defensive MVP ... started all 12 games at WILL linebacker ... team's top defender with 99 tackles, including a team-best 64 solo stops, a team-best 14.5 TFL, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and a break-up ... led the Zips on defense at Kent State with 10 tackles, including a career-high three stops for a loss of 13 yards ... in the win over UMass, led the Zips with nine tackler, including 1.5 TFL ... against Bowling Green, forced two fumbles and led the Zips with a career-high 16 tackles ... had seven tackles at Ball State ... had five tackles, including 2.0 for a loss of seven yards, at Ohio ... in the win over Miami, had six tackles, 1.5 TFL, and a sack for a loss of nine yards ... in the win over Eastern Michigan, led the defense with a game-high 14 tackles, including a career-best 12 solo stops, a career-high two sacks, and a career-high two TFL ... in the win at Pittsburgh, led the Zips with a career-high 11 tackles, including 10 solo stops and a sack ... against Marshall, led the Zips with eight tackles, a TFL, and a forced fumble ... had six tackles, including three solo stops and 1.5 TFL, at Penn State ... had five tackles, a TFL, and a break-up in the win over Howard.

2013 Season

Named first-team All-MAC after leading the team with 107 tackles (57 solo) ... named Akron's Fred S. Sefton Defensive MVP ... started all 12 games ... became the first sophomore to post 100 or more tackles in a season since Brian Wagner (2010, 130) ... his 8.9 tackles per game were tied for 37th in the nation (eighth in the MAC) ... named MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 2 ... added 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups ... posted at least two tackles in 11-of-12 games ... recorded 10 or more tackles in five games, including each of the last four ... recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including eight solo stops, against Kent State ... had 15 tackles at Northern Illinois and against Toledo ... added 13 tackles at Massachusetts and 12 stops vs. Ball State.

2012 Season

Played in 11 games with one start ... chosen as a starter at Ohio ... tallied five tackles and one tackle for loss against the Bobcats ... made a season-high seven stops, including five solo stops versus Northern Illinois ... also forced a fumble in the game with the Huskies ... totaled 23 tackles, including 13 solo stops, for the season.

High School

All-Area Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Glades Central HS ... led the program to an undefeated regular season, posting five shutouts ... recorded 100 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.

Personal

Born Feb. 18, 1994 ... organizational supervision major.


Draft Scout Player News
12/07/15 - 2015 ALL-MAC CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (COACHES): Outside Linebacker - Jatavis Brown, Akron...A team captain, Brown started all 12 games this year and led the Zips to the team's first year of bowl eligibility since 2005 with a 7-5 overall record. Brown led Akron with 108 tackles, a team-best 17.5 tackles for loss, and a team-best 10.5 sacks. Brown also had three forced fumbles, two break-ups, and an interception. Among the MAC, Brown led the league in sacks, tackles for loss, and ranked seventh in total tackles. A preseason first-team All-MAC selection by various media outlets, Brown's 10.5 sacks ranks No. 8 in the nation, and his 17.5 tackles for loss ranks No. 13 in the country. He earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 16. - Akron Football
12/06/15 - 2015 MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): LB Jatavis Brown, Akron...Brown, a native of Belle Glade, Fla., played in all 12 games this past year and led the Zips to the teams first year of bowl eligibility since 2005 with a 7-5 overall record. Brown led Akron with 108 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Brown also added one interception, two passes defensed and three forced fumbles for the Zips. Among the MAC, Brown led the league in sacks, tackles for loss and ranked seventh in total tackles. His 10.5 sacks ranks tied for eighth in the nation and his 17.5 tackles for loss ranks tied for 13th in the country. - MAC Football
10/13/14 - SEPT 29 MAC EAST DIVISION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Akron LB Jatavis Brown...Akron junior linebacker Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) led the Zips' defense with 11 tackles, including a career-high nine solo stops, and a sack for a loss of eight yards in a 21-10 win at Pittsburgh. A starter in all four games, Brown is the Zips' top defender with 30 tackles, including a team-best 19 solo stops, 4.0 TFL, a sack, a forced fumble, and a break-up. - MAC football
12/15/13 - 2013 ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM: Inside Linebacker - Jatavis Brown, Akron...Brown, the Zips' first First-Team All-MAC selection since Brian Wagner in 2011, highlighted the list of seven student-athletes named to one of the three All-MAC teams. The seven selections are tied for the second-most for Akron since joining the MAC in 1992, trailing only the eight selections in 2007. The Zips also had seven selections in 2008. Brown led a much-improved Akron defense with 107 total tackles (57 solo) in addition to 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. - Akron football
12/02/13 - WEEK 14 MAC EAST DIVISION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Akron LB Jatavis Brown...Sophomore linebacker Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) tallied 15 tackles, including five solo stops, to help the Zips to a 31-29 win over Toledo on Friday and their third-straight victory to end the season. That number was one off tying his career high that was set against Kent State on Nov. 2 and gave him 107 tackles for the season to make him the first Akron sophomore to post 100-plus stops since Brian Wagner in 2010 (130). - MAC football

[Bolt-O]

Good prospect.

[blueman]

Nice. Another nailed-it pick.

[Marshall/Boogie]

"Heavy striker and makes his presence known at the contact point"

"Special Teams Demon"

Love those comments..

Of course I focus on the positive, until it's proven otherwise.

Was hoping for trenches, but our ST and S are anything but special. TT focusing on hammers and attitude. So there's that.

[Formula 21]

Speed and physicality. Football IQ. Hard worker, competitive.

What's not to like?

[Den60]

Nice. Another nailed-it pick.

Likely a bad choice of words with the sexual assault allegation in his profile.

[Formula 21]

Likely a bad choice of words with the sexual assault allegation in his profile.

Yeah, that's not good.

[Formula 21]

Commentary from ESPN

I love this pick. This could be one of the steals of the draft.

[Faded blues]

4.4 speed

Wow for a guy that siZe