Jaguars' Player Biography: Nader Abdullah DT

by silencecs on May 12, 2009 4:07 AM EDT in Biography Comment 7 comments

Somebody forgot to tell Nader he was just camp fodder...

The Jaguars brought in some players during mini camp for tryouts, and they awarded two of those players with contracts for their efforts. Nader Abdullah is the big UDFA DT out of Ohio State. He saw limited action starting 8 games his Jr. year and 7 games his Sr. year. However, he did well for himself in the workouts and drills, and some scouts had him going as high as the 3rd round.

Don't count him out, as he is a competent, big bodied interior lineman, something the Jags are sorely lacking in. He's got a real shot to make the team with the lack of talent at DT. Nader stands 6'4" and weighs 295 lbs; that is a nice size for a rookie. It's unrealistic to expect many guys to come in with a build like Terrence Knighton of 6'3" 323 lbs.

Abdullah performed well in the "Texas Vs. The Nation" games and practices. Here's an excerpt from his performance for scouts there.

Nader Abdullah (DT-Ohio State) - Abdallah put on a show in the pit, clubbing his opponent to the ground on one decisive win, freeing himself with a spin move on another, and pushing back his opponent with a irresistable bullrush on yet another. He also defeated blockers to make plays against the run in 11 on 11s. Abdallah turned heads as much as any Texas player today.

Abdullah was a 5th year senior at Ohio State, and is projected as able to play DE in a 3-4, or DT in a 4-3 scheme. He's seen as a very good, but not dominant, run-stuffer, and a poor to average pass-rusher. If Abdullah sticks with the Jaguars, it will be as an inside presence and rotational role at the DT position.

Teams don't hand out contracts willy-nilly, even less so after they signed a large un-drafted rookie class. The fact that Abdullah was offered a contract AFTER the team saw him play, bodes well for the young DT. That means the coaches likely saw something they liked, and decided to give the kid from Ohio State a chance to "prove it" in camp. He's a likely candidate for the practice squad if he struggles to make the active roster this year.

Video Link of Abdullah

-Collin Streetman

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Any "scout" projecting an UDFA to go in the third round

didn’t “scout” anything, they guessed. I don’t know who noticed, but almost all these draft “scouts” have very little credibility.

Now that the vent is over, thank you Collin, I didn’t realize this guys potential. We should take a poll on which UDFA makes the team.

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by Tkopa on May 12, 2009 6:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, not entirely true about the scouts, they just miss sometimes.

Andre Hall, USF’s entire offense basically when he was there, was projected by many scouts as a possible 1st day pick (back when 3 rounds were on the first day). He went undrafted, and now plays well for the Broncos. Rashad Jennings was only a half dozen or so picks from being undrafted himself.

I didn’t know much of anything before I started researching him myself. He looks like he could use being on the practice squad for a year, but you are dead on about his potential. He’s got the size to play the D-line as a run stuffer. There is always room for more of those in Jacksonville.

The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com

by silencecs on May 12, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I really want to know

Is what the problem is that caused every team to pass on him and then no one even gave him a contract until after he worked out with a team. So…what’s the deal?

by SoCalStites on May 12, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We don't know that necessarily...

He may have had UDFA contract offers from teams with more depth at DT, but chose to workout for the Jags because he knew his odds of making the team were greater with them. That’s pure speculation, but obviously the Jags think enough of him to offer him a contract.

Vic says he likes the DB we signed out of Div III too. He worked out at the same time Abdullah did over mini-camp. You find players where you find players. We’ll see what he can do when the hitting starts for real. He’s an intriguing prospect though.

-Collin

The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com

by silencecs on May 12, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs