Draft Stock - Profiles

Strengths: Explosive speed
Weaknesses: Undersized for an NFL defensive end; inconsistent effort

Statline: Set Auburn school record with 26 sacks in 49 career games. Also recorded 117 tackles, 36 for loss.

Technique: Speed rusher who played some outside linebacker as a senior; most likely a 3-4 linebacker in the NFL.

Known Injuries: Missed two games and was limited in several others by three dislocated toes on his right foot in 2007.

Combine / Workout Assessment: COMING SOON

Analysis: The success of undersized speed-rushing ends like Dwight Freeney has teams looking at the superfast Groves as a pass-rusher of similar potential, but his best fit in the NFL will most likely come as an outside linebacker and pass-rushing specialist. He played some linebacker as a senior but was limited by injury, and he actually held up quite well against the run as a senior. His combine showing wasn’t quite as impressive as, say, Vernon Gholston, but he still flashed enough speed and strength to set scouts’ mouths to watering. He doesn’t possess a dazzling assortment of pass-rush moves and some scouts are concerned by his inconsistency. However, his blazing speed off the corner should be more than enough to punch his ticket into the first round on draft day.