Kentucky's Alvin Dupree balances NFL and college goals
Alvin "Bud" Dupree spent four years at the University of Kentucky dreaming about accomplishing two major goals.
And now, in a span of 10 days later this month and into early May, both will come true when Dupree hears his name called during the NFL draft – likely as a first-round pick – at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. On May 9, Dupree will be back in Lexington, Ky., hearing his name read aloud again as he receives his bachelor's degree in community leadership. He's expected to be Kentucky's first first-round pick since 2003, and he'll be the first person in his extended family on his mother's side to receive a college degree.
"I feel like both are amazing accomplishments. The draft, I've been looking forward to the draft since I was a little kid," Dupree told USA TODAY Sports. "But at the same time, graduating from college is a once in a lifetime thing."
A conventional decision for a draft prospect of Dupree's stature – a physical specimen at 6-4 and 269 pounds who was clocked at 4.56 seconds for the 40-yard dash -- would have been to put school on hold. He could have left Lexington after wrapping up his senior year and fall semester, moved somewhere warm to train and focus exclusively on his draft preparations. He could have eventually finished up his degree.
But Dupree figured he could train and study – and that four hectic months would result in the best week and a half of his life.
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"It's not just making myself proud, it's making my family proud," Dupree said.
Getting himself ready for both the draft and graduation hasn't been an easy process. It required time management as Dupree juggled four classes and an internship along with an intensive physical training plan to prepare him for the NFL combine and his pro day. Kentucky's strength coaches and trainers developed a pre-draft plan for him, and Dupree squeezed in his workout sessions around his heavy class load.
"I would go to class first, as soon as I got out of class, I'd go work out. I may be working out real late sometimes, sometimes I had to work out real early in the morning. I just had to make sure I got it done," Dupree said.
It also required understanding and patience from his professors as Dupree had to miss some classes while he traveled around the country for official visits with NFL teams.
"When I'm traveling, I keep up with my teachers and they work with me the best they can," Dupree said. "I try to do as much work as possible in the short time I have."
Dupree has been in demand, with visits to at least nine teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons, as he's tried to convince teams he's worthy of being in the discussion of the best edge rushers in this draft. It's a crowded group, with talented pass rushers like Florida's Dante Fowler Jr., Missouri's Shane Ray, Clemson's Vic Beasley all expected to be high first-round picks.
"What makes me different from those guys is, I'm bigger, and really, I'm bigger and faster than all those guys. I'm more explosive than all those guys, and I can play the run and the pass, and I show a lot of cover skills," Dupree said. "My numbers probably don't show it as much as those other guys, because I played in a scheme where I put myself after my team, and didn't worry about myself personally. I made sure I did what the scheme told me to do."
Indeed, Dupree might be the rawest player among the top edge rushers. He had just 23.5 career sacks in four years at Kentucky, including 7.5 as a senior last season. So as teams are comparing game tape of Dupree versus the others, it could more difficult to predict his NFL potential.
"His workout numbers are ridiculous," said ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. "God only makes a handful of these type of guys, so you have the tools there to develop, there's no question about it."
McShay said his concerns about Dupree is his instincts and how he thinks Dupree's reaction time is slower while he is "diagnosing" what is happening.
"I think he has improved. Clearly, he's a hard worker. Everyone I talk to says he works hard in the film room and transfers it -- or he's learning to transfer it to the field," McShay said.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Dante Fowler Jr.
Florida
Height: 6-3 Weight: 261
Scouting report: Widely considered the best edge rusher in this class, Fowler could easily fit as a pass rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Insider's take: "The way I look at the 3-4 outside linebacker in order, No. 1, you have to be a great pass-rusher or have the ability to develop into one. Number two, you've got to set the physical edge, and No. 3, you've got to be able to drop in coverage, and that's the least important of the three." – NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock.
Projected round: First
Hau'oli Kikaha
Washington
Height: 6-2 Weight: 253
Scouting report: Kikaha doesn't have the speed of the other top edge rushers in this class (he ran 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash) but he has the classic look of an NFL outside linebacker and a highly productive career at Washington – including 19 sacks last year -- as evidence that his pass rushing skills should translate to the NFL.
Insider's take: "Kikaha had a couple ACLs early in his career, has been healthy the past two years, great motor off the edge, has some edge skills, not as long as you would like. I'm anxious to see what he runs and how he looks." – NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock
Projected round: Second or third
Eric Kendricks
UCLA
Height: 6-0 Weight: 232
Scouting report: Kendricks, the younger brother of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, is prototypical weakside linebacker for a 4-3 defense. He was disappointed in his 40-yard dash time of 4.61 at the combine, but still showed he he's one of the fastest, most athletic linebackers in this draft, and a player who can be effective on all three downs.
Insider's take: "He could probably go at the top in 2, but that wouldn't be out of reach for him in the first round," – NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah
Projected round: First or second
TEAM NEEDS
Dallas Cowboys: Dallas has invested heavily on offense with first-round picks in recent years – like guard Zack Martin last season, and center Travis Frederick in 2013 – and it is time for the Cowboys to do the same on defense. Dallas has a major need for pass rush help, and has plenty of questions still at linebacker, with middle linebacker Rolando McClain facing a suspension and strongside linebacker Sean Lee returning from a knee injury.
New Orleans Saints: Though the Saints have some significant needs on offense (starting with finding a replacement for tight end Jimmy Graham), Rob Ryan's defense needs another edge rusher to play with outside linebacker Junior Galette. The Saints are thin at the position, despite adding veteran Anthony Spencer from Dallas in free agency, and must find an impact player early in the draft.
Houston Texans: The Texans might have used the No. 1 pick on a pass rusher last season, but defensive end Jadeveon Clowney remains a major question mark. The Texans could use an upgrade at outside linebacker to boost that pass rusher and find a player to complement Brian Cushing.
Cleveland Browns: Head coach Mike Pettine loves hybrid defensive end-outside linebackers, and his team really needs to find one. Former first-round pick Barkevious Mingo showed improvement last year in his first season playing for Pettine, but the Browns need to upgrade and find an explosive player to who can get after the quarterback in this draft.
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Follow Lindsay Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones
