Connor Barwin | Cincinnati, OLB : 2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Draft Scout Snapshot: DS Rating on 8/24/08: #36 DE, #425/750 Overall, Projected Rnd: FA
2008: Recipient of the Claude Rost Award, given to the team's Most Valuable Player...Earned Big East Conference Special Teams Player of the Week accolades vs. Marshal and was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll after the Eastern Kentucky, Rutgers and Pittsburgh clashes...Moved to the defensive line for his final season and was named one of the team's captains prior to the Oklahoma contest...Switched from jersey #89 to number 5, starting the first nine games at strong-side defensive end...Recorded 53 tackles (27 solos), as he led the team and Big East while ranking tied for seventh in the nation with 12.0 sacks for minus 74 yards...His 12.0 sacks rank third on the school single-season record list...Part of a defensive unit that ranked ninth nationally, as the Bearcats averaged 0.85 sacks per game through their first thirteen contests...Led the team, ranked second in the conference and tied for 28th nationally with 16.0 stops for losses totaling 92 yards... Registered a league-high 20 quarterback pressures and was third on the squad with eight pass deflections, the most of any Big East defensive lineman in 2008...Recovered three fumbles and leads the league with three blocked kicks...Helped the Wildcats rank 17th in the nation and second in the Big East, allowing only 104.00 yards per game rushing...The defense also ranked third in the league and 26th in the major college ranks, allowing 316.05 yards in total offense per game...Barwin made 50 of his plays vs. the run, holding the opposition to minus 15 yards (-0.30 ypc), the lowest rushing yardage total allowed by a Bowl Division defensive lineman in 2008...Also stopped ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain on seven of those carries...Thirteen of his hits came on third-down running plays, collecting six stops inside the red zone, including four on goal-line plays...The Bearcats ranked 28th in the country and third in the Big East with a 112.92 pass defense efficiency rating...That was thanks to Barwin, who allowed only 2-of-32 passes targeted into his area (6.06 percent) to be completed for minus 11 yards (only player in college football to hold an opponent to minus yardage during the 2008 season)...Made 21 of his pass play stops on third-down snaps and also delivered six fourth-down hits...2006: 13 GP; 0 GS; Rec: 13-148-11.4-2; Saw action in all 13 games as a regular on special teams and alternate at the tight end position ... made a reception in three of the first four games ... Bearcat Academic Honor Roll (Winter 2007)...2005: 11 GP; 0 GS; Rec: 8-144-18-1; One of two first-year freshmen to see action on offense ... played in all 11 games as a backup tight end ... joined the basketball team in early January ... saw action in each of the final 16 games as a backup to the forward positions.

Post-Draft Outlook: A closer look at the Texans' picks: Round 2/46 -- Connor Barwin, DE, 6-4, 256, Cincinnati...He was arguably one of the most versatile athletes in the draft. He played both offensive (tight end) and defensive for the Bearcats, recording 12 sacks and 17 tackles for losses as a senior. He wowed scouts at the Combine, managing a 40 1/2-inch vertical leap and running the 40 in 4.59 seconds. He will play with his hand down as a quarterback-dogging defensive end, probably backing up Mario Williams. - by The Sports Xchange