School: Nevada
College Experience: Senior
Age: 23
Measurements: 6-3/250 lbs
71 Tackles, 34.5 TFL, 18 Sk, 8 FF, 1 FR, 7 PD, 1 INT, 1 TD
Overview
Yes, Ian Seau is the nephew of late NFL legend Junior Seau. No, he is not Junior Seau, but he's pretty good in his own right. He's not getting much attention, but I think he could be a day 3 steal. Seau is relentless getting after the QB at both DE and OLB, though he projects as a 3-4 OLB in the NFL. His production increased every year at Nevada, culminating with a 10 sack senior season. In addition, Seau is extremely creative coming up with pass rush moves, drawing inspiration not only from the likes of JJ Watt and Clay Matthews, but Kobe Bryant and Russell Westbrook. "I've tried to do a Euro Step into a bull rush before. It worked once, but for the most part it's kind of hard to make that transition. I haven't tried it in a game yet." Disappointing he hasn't found a way to make that work, but his repertoire is still extremely vast.
Ian Seau has good natural instincts, and a very quick first step. pic.twitter.com/rhnXLH4a0c
— Ethan Young (@NFLDrafter) February 20, 2016
I'm surprised Ian Seau isn't talked about more. He's a playmaker. Take a look. pic.twitter.com/Y9gMbzLb0f
— Ethan Young (@NFLDrafter) February 20, 2016
Nevada DE Ian Seau, nephew of Junior, with his most impressive of 4 sacks in this game vs. Hawaii pic.twitter.com/Wm65QL9qqp
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 18, 2016
Wow! A HUGE INT to start the game for @NevadaFootball! That was incredible! Watch Live: https://t.co/5JyJpuU5GN https://t.co/aaq0YIXj4G
— Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) December 30, 2015
Nice play from former La Costa Canyon DE Ian Seau. https://t.co/sqBzuk0nU1
— Bodie DeSilva (@SDPreps) November 29, 2015
Strengths
- Wide variety of pass rush moves
- Motor for days
- Elite first step
- Elite instincts
- Doesn't appear athletic, but great play speed and bend
- Can disrupt the pocket standing up or with hand in the dirt
- Aggresive hands and good technique
- Plays through the whistle
- Willing to sacrifice himself to get to the QB or ball
- High character
- Real competitor
Weaknesses
- Played in weak Mountain West Conference
- Can get lost in a sea of bodies
- His frame is almost maxed out, limiting him to pass rushing OLB
- Could improve strength
- Not very athletic in space
- Rarely dropped into coverage
Player Comparison: Rob Ninkovich, NE
How He Fits
Ian Seau will almost certainly be forced to play 3-4 OLB in the NFL due to his tweener frame and pedestrian athleticism, but that won't stop him from coming in and earning a spot on a roster. You can never have too many high motor pass rushers in the NFL. At worst, Seau is a situational pass rusher. He'll never be a Von Miller or Justin Houston, but his work ethic will earn him a call on day 3 of the draft. If the 49ers drafted him, personally, I'd give him the edge over Eli Harold and Ahmad Brooks. Seau's character blows Brooks out of the water and his skills are catching up. His name will draw attention, but he's confident he can make his own legacy, and so am I.