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Packers interested in BYU’s WR Mitch Mathews; DE Bronson Kaufusi

By Raymond Rivard

Nov 6, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Mitch Mathews (10) catches a pass as San Jose State Spartans cornerback Cleveland Wallace III (6) defends in the 3rd quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports.
Nov 6, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Mitch Mathews (10) catches a pass as San Jose State Spartans cornerback Cleveland Wallace III (6) defends in the 3rd quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports. /
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Oct 24, 2015; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi (90) tackles Wagner Seahawks quarterback Alex Thomson (19) during the first quarter at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi (90) tackles Wagner Seahawks quarterback Alex Thomson (19) during the first quarter at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

Bronson Kaufusi … an interesting prospect

Bronson Kaufusi has caused a bit of a ruckus among those who are looking for players who may be rising draft boards across the league.

Like Mathews, Kaufusi is a long, tall drink of water for a defensive lineman … 6-7 … but again, he’s not a heavyweight when it comes to a defensive lineman, weighing in at just 285 pounds.

How the Packers would utilize a guy like Kaufusi would be interesting. Would he be seen as an outside linebacker, much in the mold of a Julius Peppers or would Green Bay opt to have him with his hand in the dirt. 

Here is how nfl.com describes him:

This two-sport athlete experimented on the hardwood in 2012-13 before turning his full attention to the gridiron. The two-time first-team All-Independent pick had 15.5 career sacks entering the 2015 season, and added 11 more in an outstanding senior campaign while making 20 tackles for loss. Kaufusi’s size and athleticism have allowed Cougars coaches (of whom his father, Steve, is one) to play him standing up or hand-down during his career. NFL teams will have to decide where he fits best in their system.

… and here’s more from nfl.com:

BOTTOM LINE: Developing talent who flashes enough on tape to believe that some of his production could translate to the NFL. His lack of mass and functional strength could create consistency issues for him early in his career.

Kaufusi ended up with 25-1/2 sacks (10 in 2015) with 169 tackles, 14 pass deflections, six forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Career & Season Stats
Career Tackles Sacks Interceptions Misc
YEAR GP SOLO AST TOT TFL/YDS NO YDS INT YDS TD FF FR FRYDS QBH PBU BLKD
2012 | Freshman 13 11 12 23 5.5/35 4.5 32 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
2013 | Sophomore 13 19 18 37 7/24 4.0 18 1 12 1 1 0 0 3 6 0
2014 | Junior 11 34 9 43 11.5/58 7.0 52 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 6 0
2015 | Senior 13 45 19 64 20/96 11.0 71 1 10 0 3 1 0 6 2 4
CAREER 50 109 58 167 44/213 26.5 173 2 22 1 5 3 0 17 15 4

Film highlights

Next: Potential trade partners for the Packers
 

Good production for a sleeper in this year’s draft.

The Packers are expected to set up a visit with Kaufusi before the draft.

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