While Jayson Oweh gets all the attention for Penn State’s defense heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. But Shaka Toney has just as much talent and pass-rushing ability. He could be a late-round steal with the potential he has.
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Player Bio
Name: Shaka Toney
Jersey: #18
Position: EDGE
School: Penn State
Class: Red Shirt Senior
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 238 lbs
Frame (6/10)
Toney is undersized for a defensive end and will have trouble keeping up with the big offensive lineman at the next level. He may be more suited for an outside linebacker in the NFL and makes up for his lack of size with his physicalness and speed.
Athleticism (9/10)
Oweh is slightly more athletic, but Toney is not that far off. He is extremely talented and athletic, while he sported tremendous production to back up his high potential. Toney is very explosive off the edge and is able to get upfield and downfield quickly.
Strength (7/10)
Toney lacks natural play strength, but he shows a lot of power behind his hits. With his lack of natural strength, he will have a tough time against stronger and more powerful linemen. Not being able to gain leverage on the line of scrimmage and up the field will hurt him, especially in the run game.
Bend (9/10)
The Philadelphia native has a great amount of bend in his game, one of the bendiest edge rushers in this class. His bend and flexibility allow him to turn the corner with ease and get to the ball carrier. Toney’s explosiveness with his bendiness makes for a great combination for an edge rusher.
Point of Attack (7.5/10)
Most of the time, Toney uses his explosiveness very well off the snap which allows him to get upfield and get a step on his man. But sometimes, he could get beat right away as he runs low on energy. With that said, when he plays with high energy, he is a force to be reckoned with.
Hand Placement (7/10)
With his lack of length, Toney isn’t always able to place his hands in the right spot. He can get beat by a stronger lineman if he doesn’t use the correct technique.
Block Shedding (7/10)
One of the major sticking points which makes Toney’s ceiling fall is his frame. With his lack of length and strength, he will not always easily get through blocks. But with his physicality and explosiveness, he can bull rush against similar-sized linemen.
Tackling (8/10)
Toney tackles very well and rarely fails to finish by wrapping a ball carrier up. While rushing downfield, he is very dangerous and uses his lateral agility to cut inside to make a play on the ball. He doesn’t allow too many yards after contact.
Versatility (8.5/10)
Toney showed the ability to play in a number of different schemes while at Penn State. He rushed as a defensive end from 3 and 4-point stances, lined up as both a 7-technique and wide-9 technique, and a rush linebacker in a 2-point stance in 3-man fronts.
Run Stopping (6.5/10)
Toney is disciplined in the run game and reliable enough. But as I mentioned, he does not possess much natural strength which allows for ball carriers to make him look silly. He never stops attacking, however, and can adjust to the change of direction. Toney won’t be the best run stopper in the NFL, but he can still make plays.
Player Summary
Toney is one of the most complete pass rushers in this draft class with a high ceiling if he can tap into his full potential. He needs to learn to play a full game and with more energy, as he has been seen to disappear at times. He is a classic example of a boom or bust guy, as he has plenty of toughness and tools, but has holes in his game that could do him in at the next level. Taking a flyer on him in a late-round wouldn’t be a bad decision with the potential he has.
Final Grade (77/100): Sixth Round Pick
Player Comp: Dante Fowler Jr.
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