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Julius Peppers
SELECTED BY OAKLAND , ROUND 1, PICK 2, OVERALL PICK 2
DE | (6-6, 283, 4.7) | North Carolina
By Pro Football WeeklyNotes: High school football All-American, all state in basketball and a track triple-jumper in high school. Played running back and defensive end in high school but was looked at as a tight end before moving to defense while redshirting in 1998. Freshman All-American in '99, when he started every game and had 50 stops, including 10 for loss, six sacks and one interception. All-Atlantic Coast Conference and earned some All-America honors in 2000, when he had 64 stops, including 24 for loss, and an ACC-best 15 sacks. Also picked off a pass and returned it for a score. Considered coming out for the NFL draft as a third-year sophomore but decided to return to school. In his final season, Peppers had 63 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and three interceptions. He led the Tar Heels in tackles for loss, sacks and interceptions, was on almost every All-America team and won the Lombardi Trophy. Has played college basketball and was a very important sixth man on a top team, but he did not rejoin the basketball team after the '01 football season, so that he could get ready for the NFL draft.Positives: Prototype size and speed and really looks the part. Has very long arms and the wingspan of a 747. Has very, very low body fat for a defensive lineman - just over six percent. Flashes outstanding, natural pass-rush talent coming off the edge and is starting to learn how to counter back inside. Has tremendous athletic ability and upside. Makes sensational plays nobody else can make. Had some great interceptions because of his athleticism and timing. Very hard to throw over and runs so well he can make plays all over the field. May also be able to drop into coverage. Has as much upside as anyone in the draft. If he ever puts it all together, Peppers can be a great pro and true impact player - the type who leads the league in sacks and passes batted down and who can also play the run.Negatives: Shows a lot of flashes of ability but is not that consistent on a down-in, down-out basis. Is just learning the game and what it takes to play the game, and he lacks great instincts and tenacity. Has yet to learn the best way to use his hands and arms to shed blockers. Will get wired to the blocker at times and has some trouble when teams run right at him. Gets hooked way too much and does not see a lot of things coming. Does not always play with a lot of tenacity and will disappear for long stretches. Still has too much of a basketball player mentality. At present, he does not come close to Lawrence Taylor in terms of passion, instincts, tenacity, nastiness or competitiveness.Summary: May never realize his potential, but if he does, he will be "King Kong in Shoulder Pads" and the star of stars of this draft. If he realizes 80 percent of his potential, he may be a bigger version of Simeon Rice.* Player biographies are provided by Pro Football Weekly.
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