The Music City Bowl featured one of the more intriguing one-on-one matchups of the bowl season with Notre Dame's star left tackle
Ronnie Stanley matching up with LSU's edge rusher
Danielle Hunter.
While Stanley and the Irish were ultimately successful (winning 31-28 on a literally last-second field goal),
Hunter won his share of the battles, as well, beating the talented pass blocker with length, agility and surprising power. Each demonstrated the traits that have earned them a spot in my
updated 2015 first round mock draft.
Though the players demonstrated NFL-caliber tools, neither has yet announced their plans for next season. Stanley is just a redshirt sophomore, who made the switch to left tackle this year to replace Dallas' first round pick
Zack Martin. Already, however, the 6-foot-6, 318 pounder has left an impression on scouts, showing the combination of length and agility teams crave at left tackle. The 2015 crop of tackles is a strong one (and got stronger yesterday) but many of the players project best to the right side, which could make Martin highly sought after come draft-day.
Stanley's showed great balance and fluidity in his kick-slide, handling the length and speed rushes from the lanky 6-foot-6, 240 pound Hunter for most of the day. In the running game, Stanley has very good initial quickness to turn and seal defenders from the action. He showed it off in the first quarter, sealing Hunter inside on a 26-yard run by Irish quarterback Malik Zaire and in releasing to stalk and pin LSU defensive back Tre'Davious White to the outside on a quick wide receiver screen to William Fuller that gave Notre Dame its first touchdown.
Like his LSU predecessor,
Barkevious Mingo, Hunter lacks the bulk preferred as a down defensive lineman. Hunter is stronger than he looks - showing a powerful slap and the ability to lock-out and anchor when he keeps his pad level low - but
it is the agility that he possesses that makes him unique. Long, rangy players like Hunter rarely possess his ability to change directions - traits that could intrigue NFL clubs looking for stand-up rushers.
