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2019 NFL Draft Profile: Nevada DB Asauni Rufus
The former Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back is getting ready for the 2019 NFL Draft
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Here are the strengths and weakness for the former Nevada Wolf Pack DB Asauni Rufus
With the 2019 NFL Draft starting on Thursday April 25th, NFL teams will be on the lookout for collegiate players to draft to help bolster their defensive backfield.
Former Nevada defensive back Asauni Rufus is a player who hopes to have his name called during the draft this week in Nashville. Rufus is hoping that he can take part in being a contributing player in a NFL secondary.
Rufus, a three year starter for the Wolf Pack, had a hand in helping turn the fortunes around for Nevada during the 2018 football season going from three wins in 2017 to eight wins in 2018. Rufus is third all time in Nevada Wolf Pack history in tackles with 340 total career tackles. He was named on the All-Mountain West Honorable Mention team for three straight seasons during his time in Reno.
Rufus does have some serious drawbacks that could cost him not getting drafted by a NFL team, but his skills could warrant a NFL team adding him on a roster once the draft has concluded.
Measurables (via DraftScout)
Height – 5′ 11″
Weight – 202
Wingspan – 73 1/8″
Arm Length – 31″
Hand Size – 9 7/8″
40-Yard Dash – 5.04 seconds
Vertical Jump – 32″
Broad Jump – 119″
3-Cone Drill – 7.31 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle – 4.47 seconds
Bench Press – 16 reps
Strengths
Rufus has great speed and he uses that speed to get to the ball carrier or use it to disrupt the passing attack of the opposition. Rufus is also a very good tackler, tallying up to 300 tackles in his career in Nevada.
During his senior season, Rufus tallied 65 tackles and five tackles for a loss. His best performance during his senior season was when the Wolf Pack defeated Arkansas State in the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl, where he recorded ten tackles and two and a half tackles for loss in Nevada’s victory over the Red Wolves.
Asauni Rufus’s athleticism, speed and tackling ability should be enough to make NFL teams give him a look at possibly drafting him this weekend.
Weaknesses
For all of his abilities in being a very good tackler out of the secondary, Rufus is not much of a ballhawking secondary player. In his entire career at Nevada, Rufus as recorded only three interceptions. If Rufus is looking to contribute in the NFL where teams are passing the ball at a high rate, Rufus must be more of a ballhawking secondary player to stick at the pro level.
Rufus has had times in his career at Nevada where he has struggled in pass coverage where he has had difficulties defending against more physical receivers. His coverage skills must improve at the next level and because of his poor coverage skills, NFL teams are less inclined to use a draft pick on Rufus in this upcoming draft.
Draft Prediction
While Rufus is a very good tackler and possesses good athleticism, he does not have the pass coverage abilities to make a NFL team take the chance and draft him. Because of his struggles defending the pass and his low number of interceptions during his career at Nevada, Rufus will more than likely have to wait until after the draft to hear from a NFL team who would like for him to come in to provide secondary depth.
Prediction: Free Agent
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