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Dion Dawkins - OL
| 40-Yard Dash: | Bench Press: | Vertical Jump: | Broad Jump: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-Yard Dash: | Bench Press: | Vertical Jump: | Broad Jump: |
| 5.11 sec | 26 reps | 26 in | 106 in |
After having the first defensive player from a Group of 5 school drafted in the first round, the Temple Owls also are the first G5 school to have two players selected as Dion Dawkins was the Buffalo Bills choice with the 63rd pick.
Dawkins joins Arizona Cardinals top pick Haason Reddick to give the Owls two picks in the top 65 picks. It is only the second time in school history that Temple has had players selected in the first two rounds of the same draft. Muhammad Wilkerson (30th) and Jaiquawn Jarrett (54th) were taken in the top two rounds of the 2011 draft.
Dawkins' high selection is a result of a relatively weak offensive line class. He is the sixth offensive lineman to be taken thus far, but make no doubt about it, he has the potential to be Pro Bowl-caliber player.
Dawkins played tackle at Temple, but will likely play guard for the Bills. His strength and speed should make him a dominant interior lineman at the next level. He has the power to dominate the player in front of him and the athleticism to take out a defender at the second level.
He showcased those skills in matchups against Notre Dame and Penn State, as well as at the Senior Bowl, where wowed NFL scouts. He will have to work on his technique as he shifts to guard, but showed he can handle NFL defenders.
Dawkins will have the fend off the likes of Wilkerson, Marcell Dareus and Ndamukong Suh, who all hail from the AFC North. He will have his ups and downs as a rookie, but Dawkins is a raw talent that has the physical traits to be an effective guard for many years to come. If offensive line coach Juan Castillo can clean up his mechanics, Dawkins could be a permanent fixture on the Bills offensive line.