Brady Poppinga

Positives...Undersized defensive end whose move to linebacker proved beneficial in 2004...Slippery and sudden pass rusher who is quick off the ball and plays with leverage and a good pad level...Does a nice job of recognizing the trap blocks...Very effective in pursuit, closing quickly on the quarterback from the backside...Engages quickly and uses his hands well to keep the blocker off his body and also in attempts to slip off the blocks... Takes on blockers with a strong hand punch that gives him a good chance to shed...Has the foot speed and agility to accelerate to the ball and get transfer on the block, displaying the body control and balance to get through trash...Hits and wraps with authority and has the strength to drag down the more physical backs...Asked to play a lot of alignment in the BYU scheme and shows decisiveness whether in a three-point stance or off the ball...Uses his hands well to fend off the low blocks and is effective getting a shoulder on the slower offensive tackles...Has the lateral agility to get up field, displaying the body control to dip and flatten...Uses the up-and-under moves as a change-up and has the burst to get into the backfield once he gets a free lane. Negatives...Lacks the bulk and leg drive to face up to the more athletic blockers...His size limitations prevent him from consistently stacking the blocks when working at the line... Better coming off the edge, as his small frame causes him to get bounced around by blockers when trying to redirect inside...Gets single-blocked too often and lacks the strength to collapse the hole...His frame seems to be better suited for strong-side line-backer, but does not have the timed speed to cover receivers one-on-one...Needs to do a better job of holding his ground at the point of attack, as his marginal leg strength sees him get pushed back in attempts to attack the rush lanes (better off the corner than working in-line)...Age is a concern, as he will turn 26 two weeks into the 2005 season.

southern california...sacked qb matt leinart for a 9-yard loss and posted five hits.

Boise State...Followed with ten tackles and a 10-yard sack of QB Jared Zabransky.

notre dame...opened the season with three pressures, 12 tackles (7 solos) and 1.5 stops for losses of 10 yards...sacked qb brady quinn for a 10-yard loss on a fourth-and-2 play in the third quarter...caused a fumble when he stripped the ball from tailback travis thomas on a rushing attempt during the first series of the game...recovered a fumble by thomas at the nd 49 at the start of the second quarter.

Stanford...Registered three tackles, including one that stopped tailback J.R. Lemon for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter and recovered a fumble after QB Trent Edwards coughed up the ball when he was sacked for a 19-yard loss by free safety Jon Burbidge in the first quarter.

new mexico and colorado state...posted five tackles in each game.

Wyoming...Came up with six tackles (5 solos), a fumble recovery, two stops for losses and a 1-yard sack of QB Casey Bramlet.

air force...made six tackles with two stops for losses, including an 8-yard sack of qb shawn carney.

San Diego State...Collected eight tackles with 1.5 stops for losses of 3 yards and a pressure.

san diego state...sacked qb adam hall three times for minus 18 yards and collected seven tackles (5 solos) with a pressure.

Air Force and Nevada...Produced five tackles in each game.

syracuse...opened the season with eight tackles (5 solos), a 7-yard sack, three stops for losses of 12 yards and a forced fumble.

Hawaii...Delivered five tackles and two stops behind the line of scrimmage.

new mexico...posted four solo tackles.

Utah...Closed out his career with nine tackles, joining safety Jon Burbidge in tackling QB Alex Smith for a 4-yard loss after Smith recovered his own fumble in the fourth quarter.

notre dame...registered eight tackles and sacked qb brady quinn for an 11-yard loss.

Utah...Recovered a fumble by QB Alex Smith, who coughed up the ball after being tackled by defensive end John Denney after a 5-yard run in the second quarter, adding a pressure and six tackles.

southern california...had a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a 6-yard sack of qb matt leinart and posted six tackles (5 solos).

San Diego State...Added three hits and a 4-yard sack of QB Adam Hall.

colorado state...held to three solo tackles.

Wyoming...Sacked QB Corey Bramlet for a 1-yard loss ass Brady had two stops behind the line of scrimmage, a pressure and eleven tackles.

Has a history of chronic back problems.

COMBINE: 4.72 in the 40-yard dash

2.7 20-yard dash

1.65 10-yard dash

4.38 20-yard shuttle

12.28 60-yard shuttle

7.27 three-cone drill

35.5-inch vertical jump

9'2" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times

31 1/8-inch arm length

9 ¼-inch hands

25 Wonderlic score.

All-State selection at linebacker and tight end for Evanston (Wyo.) High School

Lettered three times in football and basketball and four times in track

Named the Class 4-A lineman of the year and selected to the Wyoming super-25 team

As a senior, he led Evanston to a 9-1 record and a 4-A state title

Finished second in the 1997 state discus competition.