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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalen Green, EDGE, James Madison

Jalen Green’s ascension from a rotational EDGE to one of the most productive defensive lineman in FBS speaks volumes about his work ethic, character, and coachability
Jalen Green’s ascension from a rotational EDGE to one of the most productive defensive lineman in FBS speaks volumes about his work ethic, character, and coachability

 Player Data

Name, Jersey #Jalen Green, #10
School (Code)VAJM
DOB, Class Yr03/15/2001, Fifth-Year Senior
Height, Weight6020, 245
40 Yd DashN/A
Position/DepthEDGE, #1
Honors/Captainship2023 National Defensive Player of the Year (CFN); 2023 AP First Team All-American; 2023 Second Team All-American (ESPN, CBS/247, FWOA, SN); 2023 Sun Belt Defensive POY; 2023 First Team All-Sun Belt
Season Viewed (yr)2023
Games Watched@VAUN, @UTST, VAOD, ALST
Scout Name / DateRyan Vidales 02/21/24

Per Year Stats

20239 GP (8 GP), 50 Tkls, 21.0 TFL, 15.5 Sks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 PD
202211 GP (1 GS), 22 Tkls, 6.0 TFL, 2.5 Sks, 1 INT
202113 GP, 14 Tkls, 2.5 TFL, 2.0 Sks, 1 FF, 1 PD
2020DNP (Medical Redshirt)
201914 GP, 11 Tkls, 2.0 TFL, 0.5 Sk

Player Summary:

Jalen Green is a fifth-year EDGE with a sturdy, thickset upper half, narrow/slender lowers, and a filled-out frame with questionable growth potential. He recorded moderate production in limited snaps throughout the first four years at James Madison but went on to have a historic breakout season in 2023. Started eight of nine games at Defensive End in JMU’s base 4-2-5 defense. Produced elite TFL & sack numbers through the first nine games of the season before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Georgia State in Week 10. Still finished the 2023 season as the FBS leader in TFLs and fell 0.5 sacks short of winning the FBS sack title, despite playing five fewer games than the eventual champ. Green lined up mostly in the 7-tech but saw frequent action as a down lineman in the 5-tech and a 9-tech WILL OLB in JMU’s 3-4 package. Explodes off the ball with swift initial quickness and exemplary pad level out of his two and three-point stances. Maintains a low COG and displays minimal wasted motion when transitioning from speed to power. Uses his club-rip and swipe-rip as his primary means of pressuring the quarterback. Pairs his rip move with quality lower-body flexibility/knee bend to dip below contact and run tackles around the hoop. Lacks a true countermove when his rip attempts get thwarted at the POA. Sufficient play strength compliments his bull rush when attempting to push the pocket. Exhibits nimble twitch to force tackles to lean and lose leverage in their pass sets. Cuts off the tackle’s backside to take the tightest path to the quarterback as a free rusher. Flashes fluid functional mobility and lateral agility to move from gap to gap on twist stunts. Provides adept short-area quickness to string together a series of pass-rush moves in condensed spaces. Engages at the POA with powerful hands and adequate arm length to stack and shed at the LOS. Operates with emphatic, energetic use of hands to prevent contact with his chest plate. Boasts strong read/react, awareness, and vision to locate the ball before the runs break out of the first level. Scrapes down the LOS with squared shoulders and an active motor to string out runs to the sideline. Presents instinctual body control to get skinny when working through double teams. Shines as the outside contain defender; Targets and works through the tackle’s inside shoulder to force the ball back inside against wide zone concepts. Offers the requisite play speed to drop efficiently to his zone when tasked with hook/curl and flats responsibilities but was not asked to drop into coverage often. 

Scheme Fit:

3-4 Buck Linebacker who will focus most of his attention on rushing the passer. He will be asked to hold the POA, scrape down the LOS, and protect outside contain as a run defender. 

Power Statement:

Green’s ascension from a rotational EDGE to one of the most productive defensive lineman in FBS speaks volumes about his work ethic, character, and coachability. He appears to be a late-bloomer with a very compelling ceiling if he goes to an organization that complements his strengths and scheme fit.

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