2019 NFL Draft Profile: Jaylon Ferguson, LA Tech

HEIGHT: 6’5”

WEIGHT: 271

ARM LENGTH: 34 1/2”

HANDS: 9 1/8”

PROJECTION: 2nd Round

40 YD DASH (Pro Day): 4.75 seconds

BENCH PRESS (Pro Day): 24 reps

VERTICAL (Pro Day): 32”

BROAD JUMP (Pro Day): 117”

3 CONE DRILL (Pro Day): 8.08 seconds

20 YD SHUTTLE (Pro Day): 5.12 seconds

Jaylon Ferguson was a 3-star prospect hailing from Saint Francisville, Louisiana. Despite out of state offers from the likes of Houston, Memphis and Mississippi State, Skip Holtz was able to keep Ferguson in-state.

After redshirting in 2014, Ferguson made an immediate impact the following year. He led the team with 6 sacks, beating out senior end Vontarrius Dora. A year later, he broke the school’s single-season sack record with 14.5.

Despite just 7 sacks as a junior, “Sack Daddy” exploded his senior season. He broke his own single-season record with 17.5 sacks in 2018. With 2.5 in the Hawaii Bowl, Ferguson broke Terrell Suggs’ NCAA career sacks record, finishing his career with 45.

Ferguson initially received an invite to the NFL Combine, but was later uninvited after the NFL learned of an incident his freshman year involving a fight at a McDonald’s.

The incident does not seem to have scared off NFL teams, as he had interviews with all 32 franchises. All 32 teams also sent scouts to Louisiana Tech’s pro day. Despite the combine drama, NFL.com still projects him as a 2nd round selection.

Group of 5 prospects are often criticized for the level of competition they face, but not even SEC quarterbacks were safe from Ferguson.

His pro day was disappointing in some ways, but the film tells the story. He will need to work on his run defense, and facing NFL offensive lines will be a new challenge, but Ferguson’s potential can’t be challenged.

If Ferguson goes in the first round, he would be the sixth Bulldog taken on the first day. The most recent was former teammate and fellow defensive lineman Vernon Butler, who went 30th overall to the Panthers in 2016.