Posted: February 2, 2012

Curry has the ability to be the fourth player in Marshall's school history to be a first-round pick. Photo provided by Marshall Athletics | Illustration by Chris Steuber

Strengths: Curry is a relentless, maximum effort pass rusher who over the last two years remained consistent and continued to develop as a defender. He possesses a quick first step off the snap, uses his hands to his advantage by getting under the pads of the opposition and has the leg drive to force the action in the backfield. He features a powerful swim move and will set up tackles with an aggressive spin move to the inside. He’s an active defender who locates the ball well and has the athleticism to close in on the ballcarrier. He’s a versatile defender and is occasionally lined up inside to exploit the opposition with his pass rushing ability, quickness and recognition. He’s displayed the ability to stack up against double teams, shed and make an impactful play. He brings a positive attitude on and off the field and is coachable and durable. He’s always looking to improve his craft.

Weaknesses: On film it’s hard to ignore the effort that Curry gives, but his top end speed is questionable. As he progresses as a defender, he will have to expand his pass rushing repertoire to beat top tackles at the next level. He can be overly aggressive in his pass rush and tends to lose his balance as he turns the corner or directs his rush inside. He’s a candidate to be a 3-4 rush linebacker, but must improve in space. He tends to wear down late in games and can be engulfed by a larger opposition.

Steuber Says: I’m extremely high on a handful of prospects in this year’s draft, and Marshall’s Vinny Curry is one of those prospects in my “Fave 5,” which also includes Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw, South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore, Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon and Oregon RB LaMichael James.

It’s not often that a prospect from Marshall has the potential to be a first-round draft pick, especially since it’s only happened three times in the school’s history with Randy Moss (1998), Chad Pennington (2000) and Byron Leftwich (2003). But, Curry, who recorded 26.5 sacks and 49.5 tackles for a loss during his four-year career, possesses the ideal blend of ability and intangibles to be the first defensive player selected in the first-round in school history.

Curry is best suited for a 4-3 scheme where he can play with his hand in the dirt and create with his high motor and ability to gain leverage. In the right situation, he can develop into a dominant pass rusher at the next level. But, if a 3-4 team decides to take a chance on him and convert him into a 3-4 rush linebacker, there will be a transition, and it could take some time for him to be effective.

Prospect Comparison: Calvin Pace.

Round Projection: Late 1st, Early 2nd Round (25 - 40 range)

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Chris Steuber

Chris Steuber has covered the NFL and NFL Draft for multiple media outlets over the last decade, and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including: The Colin Cowherd Show, NFL Network's Path to the Draft and Daily News Live on Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia)... full biography

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