Eric Bakhtiari

A relentless pass rusher, Eric Bakhtiari earned the distinction of being the first athlete outside the typical selection pool to be a finalist for a major college award, as he was one of eight players vying for the 2007 Ted Hendricks Award, given to the best defensive end in college football. While Bakhtiari did not win the award, his outstanding senior season put him "on the map" with NFL scouts. The three-year starter shattered school and Pioneer Football League game, season and career records for sacks and tackles for losses. He also placed his name in the NCAA record books with 34.5 sacks, which ranks second in Division 1-AA/FCS annals and his 19.5 sacks in 2007 rank third on the NCAA single-season list. His 66.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage were just one-half tackle for loss away from tying the NCAA all-time mark. Bakhtiari earned first-team All-League, All-County and Co-Defensive MVP honors at Burlingame High School as a senior. That year, he collected 76 tackles and 14.5 sacks to lead the team to a 12-1 record. He also lettered in track. In 2003, Bakhtiari redshirted at San Diego University. He played in 11 games in 2004 at right defensive end, posting 35 tackles (26 solo) while ranking second on the squad with three sacks. He added four stops for losses and three pressures. He also recovered a fumble and had the only interception for his career. In 2005, Bakhtiari would earn the first of three team Defensive Player of the Year honors. He added first-team All-American and All-Pioneer Football League accolades, as he made 62 tackles (30 solo), third on the team. He had four sacks and led the team with 15 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Bakhtiari shifted to left defensive end in 2006, again garnering All-American and All-PFL recognition. He also received the first of back-to-back PFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. He ranked second on the team with 63 tackles (39 solo) and paced the Toreros with eight sacks. He led the league and ranked sixth nationally with 23.5 stops for losses. He also deflected three passes, caused a fumble and recovered another. A unanimous All-American pick in 2007, Bakhtiari again earned PFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. He finished third on the team with 76 tackles (46 solo). He led the nation with an NCAA FCS season-record 19.5 sacks and led the league while ranking fourth nationally with 24 stops for losses. He generated six pressures, caused four fumbles and recovered another. He also blocked two kicks and broke up three passes. In 46 games at San Diego, Bakhtiari started 35 contests. He totaled 236 tackles (141 solo), as his 34.5 sacks for minus 229 yards rank second in NCAA Football Championship Sub-division annals. His 66.5 stops for losses of 322 yards also rank second in FCS history. He added ten quarterback pressures, four fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles. He deflected 10 passes, intercepted another and blocked a pair of kicks.

positives

Has a lean, but well-proportioned frame with good upper-body muscle development and a tight waist...Has good initial quickness and playing speed coming off the edge...Possesses good balance and coordination, along with fluid change-of-direction agility to consistently defeat blockers coming off the snap, but is a little stiff when having to redirect in the open field (better slanting and taking angles than suddenly moving laterally)...Disruptive pass rusher who gains leverage over a slower offensive tackle with his initial charge off the snap...Fine perimeter chaser, showing the acceleration ability to catch ballcarriers along at the sideline...Stays in control, going low in his stance and extending his arms properly to grab, contain and wrap before the tackle...Sinks his hips and stays flat-footed bursting through the pile, keeping his motor running in pursuit of the quarterback coming off the edge...Can punch and extend to control tight ends in the short area...Has a sharp drive coming off the edge as a pass rusher and uses his short-area speed to collapse the pocket and bring down the quarterback in the backfield...Seems more comfortable as a rush end in the "46" defense than as a classic defensive end...Has the functional hand strength to deliver a strong shock and jolt upon contact...Good at avoiding and clearing out blocks to get to the ball...Flashes his hands quickly and has a few inside moves when shooting the gaps...Has above-average arm-under and spin moves...Shows the proper knee bend needed to close quickly...Has good recognition skills and field awareness...Displays the lateral agility to sift through traffic and get to the ball... Maintains balance working his way inside...Shows effectiveness using his hands to press tight ends and backs on short-area routes and is quick to turn in pass drops, but needs to work on keeping his pad level down in his backpedal...Displays the vision to spot the pass in the short area, doing a good job of getting his hands up to deflect the ball...Plays with high effort and has adequate flexibility changing direction.

compares to

KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA-Green Bay...If a team utilizes Bakhtiari like Green Bay uses Gbaja-Biamila, it will not only get production but also accelerate his learning process. Rather than keep him on the sideline to learn how to play linebacker or bulk him up to be a down lineman, using him initially as a situational pass rusher is best for player and team.

negatives

Coming off the edge, he is comfortable and decisive, but when made to lend in-line support vs. the run, he does not have the size and bulk to prevent bigger blockers from walling him off from the play...Lunges to make tackles at times, trying to grab at the ballcarrier, rather than wrapping...His lack of bulk could see him shift to linebacker (strong-side) at the pro level, but he'd need to show loose hips in his turns coming out of his breaks...Sometimes gets too caught up in the one-on-one battle and tries too hard to overpower his man rather that avoid blockers to get to the ball...Needs to add bulk and power to his frame, if he is going to play on the line, as his frame is not built like a typical down lineman...Tough, but not stout at the point of attack...Needs to show a better feel for zone pass defense if he moves to linebacker...Hard tackler, but needs body control upon arrival, as he does tend to overpursue...Will get caught "in the wash" some when trying to contain the inside run.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.8 in the 40-yard dash

1.61 10-yard dash

2.73 20-yard dash

4.48 20-yard shuttle

7.49 three-cone drill

32-inch vertical jump

8'6" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 16 times.

Attended Burlingame (Cal.) High School, earning first-team All-League, All-County and Co-Defensive MVP honors as a senior

That year, he collected 76 tackles and 14.5 sacks to lead the team to a 12-1 record

Also lettered in track.

Business Administration major

Son of Debbie and Karl Bakhtiari

Born 12/02/84 in San Mateo, California.