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Kentucky OLB/DE Alvin 'Bud' Dupree* 6'4", 269 lb.
*Senior

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Bio
Irwinton, GA - Wilkinson County HS
Was rated as one of the nation's best tight ends in 2012 graduating class
Led football team to state semifinals his last two seasons
Helped lead basketball team to Class A state championship as a senior

Honors
1st Team All-SEC (2014)
2nd Team All-SEC (2013)
Led Kentucky in tackles for a loss (TFL) & sacks three times (2012, 2013 & 2014)
38 consecutive starts
Quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Award (2014)
2nd All-Time in Kentucky history with 23.5 sacks (since 1985 when sacks became a stat)

Combine Measurements
Arms: 32 ⅝"
Hand: 9 ¾"
40-yd dash: 4.56 (tied for 3rd best for LB)
10-yd split: 1.60
Vertical Jump: 42" (top mark for LB)
Broad Jump: 11'6" (top mark for LB)

Overall
Although Dupree played at Kentucky, he's been a well-known draft prospect for a while. His physical measurements aren't just at a top level; they're approaching "freak" level. At 269 lb., the guy jumped 42" and legend has it that at Kentucky he went even higher. So, the expectation is that he'll completely dominate games, right? Well, not quite. The attributes flash often but he's still raw as an edge player. He doesn't just take over games like you'd expect. My worry is that his athleticism has draft war rooms buzzing all over the NFL salivating at what he CAN do. Then, they overload him, move him all over the defense and create a player who thinks first, as opposed to a reactive defensive Beast Mode.

He played in the best conference in the country and faced some of the best in college football, but his game still needs refinement. That said, like a brand new shiny Swiss Army Knife, it's understandable to get excited about how and where to use Dupree on defense. When the freak emerges as a football player, look out.

Quote
"I wear uniform No. 2 because I want to be No. 1 but I am working like I'm No. 2" - Dupree

What to like
-- A nearly 270-lb man that can play in space, light on his feet and match cuts by inside receivers in coverage
-- Plays the game MUCH faster in stand up position when he's stunting or on the move...v. Florida, at OLB, UF TE started upfield on a route, so Dupree turned inside to follow him across the formation, but TE broke out on a flat route - Dupree flipped hips and got right in the hip pocket of the TE, covered him like a blanket...THAT was impressive...
-- Whoa, when he gets off on the snap, wow, he's typically the first one off the ball...when he throws violent hands, he rocks run blockers (TE & OL too), he frees himself quickly/efficiently from OL...good stab/rip move on pass rush downs, showed that perfectly against Missouri.

What needs some work
-- Needs to destroy perimeter/skill players when they attempt to block him...accepts blocks as opposed to effectively and violently defeating blocks
-- Needs better recognition of perimeter blocks and how to defeat them...can't ease into pass coverage...has to drive on pass catchers, especially tight ends in the flat...burst off the ball standing up is sometimes negated...too easily blocked by tight ends...UF TE knocked him square on his wallet on a simple run play
-- Must be better cutting down running lanes - too often he'll take on blocks up the field, as opposed to closing down the pulling guard/tackle's path...needs plenty of work on his hands - doesn't use them consistently.

Projection
Teams in the top ten are sniffing around Dupree lately and it's no surprise to see why. To me, Dupree is sort of a combination of Patriots - he has similar freakish traits like Jamie Collins with Dont'a Hightower size. Collins has become a jack-of-all-trades linebacker, playing inside and outside with regularity. If Dupree could learn to play inside at some point, he might be the penultimate defensive weapon in this draft class. I hate the word upside, but it definitely describes the former Wildcat.