From day one, Christian Wilkins has been one of the biggest difference makers on one of the best teams in the country. As a freshman in 2015, he led the defensive line with an amazing 84 tackles,12 of which were for a loss. That was just a sign of things to come, as the versatility and athleticism package he brings to the table could be one of a kind in this draft class. Wilkins is the kind of player who will impact the game in any role, in any scheme. He can be moved around to exploit matchups and even when he appears to be beat, he still finds way to make plays.
What He Does Well:
For a 300+ pound defensive lineman, Wilkins shows the kind of easy speed and agility that may not be matched by any prospect in this class relative to his size. He makes plays all over the field, sideline to sideline and even up the field against the pass. He is a terror to block off the snap because of his easy and quick power. Wilkins can stand a blocker up with ease because of his natural, come-easy knee bend and movement ability that is always in the mind of the blocker. He is a smart player who understands situations and the intentions of an offense based on the situation.
Where He Needs Work:
As many plays as his athletic ability will make, it can become a negative when he over pursues. Blockers will sometimes simply bring him and ride him where he wants to go, creating massive lanes in the middle of the field. That kind of aggression can be hard to contain in certain situations and/or against certain plays. Wilkins also struggles to be a stay at home defender against the run. His staying power isn’t something that will be strong enough to hold ground against NFL double teams.