NFL Draft rumors: Tanoh Kpassagnon is a hot name
By Gagan Aujla
Tanoh Kpassagnon out of Villanova has slowly been turning into a household name before the NFL Draft.
If you have been keeping up with NFL Draft content and news, you should be familiar with Tanoh Kpassagnon, defensive end, out of Villanova.
Tanoh completely lit up the NFL combine this past February, posting insane numbers. Listed at an enormous 6-foot-7 and 289 pounds, he ran a 4.83 40-yard dash, a 30-inch vertical, an 128-inch vertical and had 23 reps on the bench press.
Although Tanoh played at a non-powerhouse in Villanova, he has been gaining serious steam among teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins. Most recently, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn told ESPN the following:
"“I think he’s really ascending. And he’s a cool guy. He’s going to do well, because it’s in his mindset to do well. He’s not kidding himself or laughing about it. He’s not kidding himself that he’s got work to do.”"
Most recently, Aaron Wilson reported that Tanoh had some scheduled meetings, as well as private workouts with some NFL clubs.
Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon has eight visits, per a source, five private workouts, had four additional workouts at his Pro Day
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 5, 2017
Tanoh has been labeled by some NFL scouts as a “raw” prospect because he has not played a ton of football in the past years. This past season at Villanova, Tanoh had 20 tackles and 11 sacks for the season, while not starting a single game.
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It was clear that Tanoh was strictly used as a situational pass-rusher, and nowadays in the NFL, that is cherished beyond belief. Most draft aficionados have Tanoh going anywhere between the second and fourth rounds in the proceedings. After his recent pro day and all-world athleticism on display, it would not be surprising to see a general manager reach for Tanoh in this years draft.