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Bronson Kaufusi, EDGE
School: BYU | Conference: Independent
College Experience: Senior | Age: 24
Height / Weight: 6-7 / 281 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 3rd Round or 4th Round
NFL Comparison: Cameron Heyward
College Statistics
Player Overview
Bronson Kaufusi is a former basketball player at BYU he focused fully on football starting in 2014. His father Steve Kaufusi is the BYU defensive line coach. Bronson played both DE and OLB during his time at BYU. He can rush the passer both standing up and with his hand in the dirt. Kaufusi has good athleticism, a great motor, and exceptional length. Kaufusi doesn't play pretty but he has a track record of ascending production that can't be ignored. Bronson has a long lean frame but lacks the functional strength you see out of elite OLBs and DEs.
He's a straight line rusher and lacks the flexibility to bend the edge and collapse the pocket that we see out of our own Ryan Kerrigan for example. He won't wow you with a bull rush but he plays with both finesse and power and has a no quit attitude that has produced on the football field. Bronson has plenty of room to fill out his frame even further (I'm talking at least 15 lbs). A big knock besides of his lack of functional strength and ability to turn a corner is his age. Kaufusi will be 25 in July as he took two years off to do an LDS mission for BYU.
Strengths
- Relentless pursuit he never quits on plays his extra effort has lead to a lot of his production.
- Great length and physique can reach in and disrupt plays even while being blocked has the height and length to deflect passes as well.
- More of an effective rusher with his hand in the dirt, has a nice spin and arm over move to disengage.
Weaknesses
- Inactive hands you can't lack functional strength and become statuesque when pass rushing.
- Was asked to drop into coverage but wasn't particularly effective.
- Plays too high (he's quite tall so it's difficult for him) and is too easily taken out of plays because he loses the leverage battle.
Let's see his work:
Bronson Kaufusi Has lil Quick Twitch to his game. Length, Burst, Bend Motor, #Riser #CowboysNation #Cowbo... https://t.co/eKfXI1YeTZ
— Dustin Laratonda (@DaBigEasy24) February 24, 2016
Bronson Kaufusi Relentless, Hi Motor, Uses his Length. Tracks ball well in backfield. #Cowboys #Draft https://t.co/pAQKja1Qv4
— Dustin Laratonda (@DaBigEasy24) February 24, 2016
Maybe 1 of the most Underrated DE in 2016 Draft. Bronson Kaufusi Stout at POA, Length, Shoulder dip to capt... https://t.co/GMmRIp7BcQ
— Dustin Laratonda (@DaBigEasy24) February 24, 2016
I still don't know what all to make of Bronson Kaufusi. I think he's gonna be a solid player, but may be leaning 4-3 DE over 3-4 DE
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) February 23, 2016
Can't get over the refinement & athleticism Bronson Kaufusi shows on film. Only knock I have on him is that he turns 25 in July. hand use
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) February 23, 2016
Birthdays can be difficult to find for BYU prospects. DL Bronson Kaufusi's is 7/6/1991.
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 3, 2016
Bronson Kaufusi Highlights || "The Greatest" || B…: https://t.co/wFxtHwooLE @49ersHub how about bronson Kaufusi as a late round pick
— faithful (@DylanMcKenney1) February 1, 2016
Bronson Kaufusi BYU flying off the snap #SeniorBowl https://t.co/Zd8987bmGi
— Danny McCotton (@DirtbagDonny) January 30, 2016
Bronson Kaufusi explodes off snap, pursues, and gets in on stop https://t.co/apllKB1nZP
— IDthe22 (@idthe22) January 30, 2016
.@BenFennell_NFL gives his thoughts on Bronson Kaufusi pic.twitter.com/bIOGKuoNmK
— ESPN960Sports (@espn960sports) January 25, 2016
Ok not taking too long to form an opinion on Bronson Kaufusi.. I see he took his LDS mission, yet I cannot find a DOB on him. How old is he?
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 25, 2016
BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi is another prospect I suspect will go higher than believed. Intriguing size/athleticism. Also relentless run defender
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) January 22, 2016
6-foot-7, 265-pound people shouldn't be able to move the way BYU DE/OLB Bronson Kaufusi does pic.twitter.com/kjV71e8QfF
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 19, 2016
EDGE Bronson Kaufusi (BYU, 6'6", 265lbs). Put on a show @ LV Bowl; constant disruption. 9 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1... https://t.co/e29ArRL77v
— My Colts Account (@MyColtsAccount) January 19, 2016
EDGE Bronson Kaufusi (BYU, 6'6", 265lbs). Completely underrated him early on. I see a poor man's DeForest a... https://t.co/840UCW7mZq
— My Colts Account (@MyColtsAccount) January 19, 2016
Combine Results
Bronson Kaufusi showing his INT skills #BYU pic.twitter.com/kLZ5Orh3tu
— Notre Blaine (@BlaineJacob) February 28, 2016
How He Would Fit on the Redskins
Bronson Kaufusi has a ton of upside that said he isn't ready to play right away. Teams who think he's too much of a tweener or too "old" to develop will stay away. As it relates to the Redskins I definitely don't see Kaufusi as an outside linebacker. His best immediate fit is probably as a DE in a 4-3 scheme.
If a 3-4 team sees his upside they will have to invest the time and patience and hope Kaufusi can add mass to get up to 295+ to play DE in a 3-4 also that he can improve his strength as part of an NFL strength and conditioning program, and improve his rushing technique by improving his pad level and sloppy hand work. All of these things will take at least a year in my view. Kaufusi is an intriguing player but most of his production comes from his relentless motor rather than dominating initially while rushing. I'm not sure if the Redskins are one of those teams that has the luxery on waiting for such a player to develop especially when he has a late start to the game already.