Thread: DT/B.J.Raji/Boston College

B.J. Raji, DT
Height:6'1"
Weight:337
College:Boston College
Conference:ACC
Hometown:Washington Twp., NJ
High School:Westwood Regional

Projected Round: 1

Top Performer In:
Bench Press - 33

Other:
40 - 5.13

Overview

Built like a Coke machine and almost as difficult to move, Raji's dominant strength inside makes him the elite run-stuffer of the 2009 draft. An immediate standout for the Eagles, Raji worked his way into the rotation as a true freshman and started 38 of his final 40 games. A second-team All-ACC selection in 2006, Raji was expected to be the dominant cog in the BC defensive line in '07, but didn't fulfill his academic obligations and missed the Eagles' magical season. The increased expectations that came with his return to the field in 2008 didn't slow Raji at all. In fact, despite constant double-team attention, Raji emerged as arguably the most dominant defensive lineman in the country, registering 42 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks. An even more dominant performance throughout the week of practice at the Senior Bowl made Raji a top-10 player on some boards.



Analysis

Positives: Flashes rare burst off the snap for a man his size and can penetrate into the backfield and disrupt the play without necessarily making the tackle. ... Good strength and mass at the point of attack to create a pile. ... Good short-area lateral quickness. ... Experienced. Missed the 2007 season due to academics, but leaves BC with 38 career starts. ... Locates the ball quickly and works to make the play. ... At his best lining up at the nose, though he flashes the initial burst off the snap to be effective as the under-tackle in the 4-3 alignment. ... Strong enough to pull down ballcarriers with just his arms. ... Arguably the single-most dominant player during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

Negatives: Marginal height for the position. ... Only adequate to shed blocks due to his short arms and lack of sustained quickness. ... Rare quickness in confined space, but lacks the speed to sustain and struggles to make an impact outside of the guard box. ... Flashes the burst off the snap for the three-technique (under tackle in the 4-3 alignment), but is only a marginal pass rusher. ... Relies on his initial burst off the snap and an occasional spin move to pressure. ... Reliable tackler, but lacks the balance and lateral quickness to break down and make the tackle in space. ... Most effective when operating as part of a rotation. ... Maturity is a concern. ... Has struggled with his weight, playing in 2006 at more than 350 pounds. ... Was suspended for the first half of the Clemson game in 2006 for throwing a punch at a Central Michigan player. ... Missed the entire 2007 season due to academics.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/...e-tab-analysis

Height is overrated for NT.

Originally Posted by LALALALALALAFONTAINE

Height is overrated for NT.

Him next to Stroud would be a match made in heaven.

Defensive tackle B.J. Raji, whose draft stock has soared over the past six months, had a positive drug test at February's combine, NFL team sources have told SI.com. It's unknown to SI.com which drug triggered the positive result, but NFL scouts were made aware before the 2008 season that Raji had tested positive for marijuana during his time at Boston College.

NFL teams will receive the official list of those who tested positive in Indianapolis later this month, and Raji's name will be on it, according to a source who attended last week's owners meetings in California.

Brian Murphy, Chief Operating Officer of Athletes First, which represents Raji, told SI.com: "We will not comment on rumors from unnamed sources. I do know that B.J. has been one of the hardest workers and nicest individuals that we at Athletes First represent. There is no doubt that he will be an invaluable addition to an NFL team both on the field as a player and in the community as a role model."

Raji declined comment when reached by SI.com.

According to the NFL's drug policy, a positive test for street drugs, which includes marijuana, puts a player into the initial stage of the NFL's drug program. He's then subject to random testing and subject to a fine or suspension if he tests positive again.

How this affects Raji's draft grade remains to be seen. He missed the 2007 college season with academic issues, returned to Boston College and had a terrific senior campaign, recording eight sacks and 42 tackles, with 16 tackles for loss. He was a dominant force during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl and continued his momentum up draft boards after turning in good combine and pro-day workouts. His performances the past three months have some scouts believing he'll be taken in the top third of the first round of the April 25 draft.

One source familiar with the positive drug test assessed Raji's draft prospects by saying, "It's a roll of the dice. If Raji stays clean and plays to his potential, you could have a dominant defensive lineman on your team. Then again, it does nobody any good if the kid is on the sidelines serving a suspension for a failed test."

Prior to the 1995 draft, top-rated defensive tackle Warren Sapp saw his stock slip after reports surfaced of positive drug tests during his time at the University of Miami, which he denied. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers eventually selected Sapp with the No. 12 overall pick. Sapp went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL, earning seven trips to the Pro Bowl.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...fl/04/02/raji/

Why? So he can miss 4 games and a season in the next few years?

He wasn't smart enough not to smoke right before the biggest job interview of his life, in order to make millions... Why would he be smart enough not to smoke after he;s already got millions?

He just looks fucking stupid.

Sports agency Athletes First took two very different positions regarding two clients, USC linebacker Clay Matthews and Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji, in response to recent reports that both players had tested positive at the Scouting Combine.

The distinction prompted some league observers to conclude that Athletes First was conceding that Raji had tested positive for marijuana.

According to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, however, that might not be the case.

Mark Humenik of Athletes First told Cole that Humenik has not confirmed that Raji received a letter informing him of the positive test result, and Humenik believes Raji received no such letter.

Still, Humenik’s account doesn’t account for the difference between the statements emanating from Athletes First last week.

As to Matthews, Humenik strongly refuted the report, and later demanded a retraction.

As to Raji, Brian Murphy of Athletes First said: “We will not comment on rumors from unnamed sources. I do know that B.J. has been one of the hardest workers and nicest individuals that we at Athletes First represent. There is no doubt that he will be an invaluable addition to an NFL team both on the field as a player and in the community as a role model.”

Meanwhile, the folks at NFLDraftBible.com still have not acknowledged the sh-tstorm that these reports created. The report regarding Matthews and Brian Cushing still appears at the web site, in an archived page. The report about UTEP kicker Jose Martinez currently is on a separate archived page. For reasons not apparent on the site, the report regarding Raji, Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis, and Florida receiver Percy Harvin is gone.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/...ombine-result/

One of the loose ends remaining from the flurry of reports regarding positive drug test results from the February Scouting Combine is that the agents for USC linebacker Clay Matthews issued a strong denial of the report that Matthews tested positive for steroids, but issued a curious non-denial regarding their other client implicated by reports of a positive marijuana result, Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji.

In a joint statement, Athletes First COO Brian Murphy and V.P. and general counsel Mark Humenik have now said that the reports regarding Raji are false.

The full text of the statement from Murphy and Humenik appears below.

“We issued a statement last week that we do not like to comment on rumors from unnamed sources. Unfortunately, rumors of a failed drug test by our client BJ Raji were erroneously reported as ‘fact’ by at least two websites, even though neither the NFL nor BJ confirmed the rumor’s accuracy in any way, shape, or form. The complete facts are as follows:

“Last Thursday, at least two websites [SI.com and NFLDraftBible.com] published malicious rumors — characterized as fact — that our client BJ Raji failed a drug test at the NFL Combine, citing unnamed ‘NFL team sources.’ On Friday, the NFL issued a statement challenging the foundation for these reports and indicating that neither the League, nor its member clubs, know the results of drug or steroid tests taken at the 2009 Combine and that the independent medical advisors who administer the tests have notified in writing those players — and only those players — who tested positive at the Combine. BJ Raji has NOT received any letter from the NFL or the Independent Administrator indicating that he tested positive for drugs at the Combine. Further, after these unsubstantiated reports surfaced, BJ contacted the independent medical advisor’s office (Dr. Brown) to confirm that he had not been sent any letter and has not been entered into the NFL’s Drug Intervention Program. BJ did not receive a return call from Dr. Brown, but learned today that Dr. Brown is not allowed to talk to any player directly unless that player was sent a letter informing him that he had failed a drug test at the NFL Combine and/or been instructed to contact Dr. Brown. That Dr. Brown will not talk to BJ — as Dr. Brown would otherwise be expected to do under the NFL Substance Abuse Policy if BJ had failed a drug test or being sent a letter directing him to contact the medical advisor’s office — is further proof that these reports are untrue.

“In short and as we have known all along, the media reports accusing BJ of a failed drug test at the Combine are false. Given the cowardly attacks and damage to BJ’s character as a result of these vicious rumors, we sincerely hope that the responsible parties are discovered and held accountable for their actions. For the sake of BJ and his family, we look forward to putting this hurtful allegation behind them and seeing BJ fulfill his lifetime dream of being drafted by an NFL team.”

The 32 NFL teams have not yet been informed of the players who tested positive. Based on the above, Athletes First and Raji seem to be under the clear impression that Raji’s name won’t be on the list.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/...test-positive/

Originally Posted by treYdaWg

I remember a certain DT from Miami that was too stupid as well...

I'm trying to remember one that wasn't.