Overview
Position: EDGE
Height: 6-foot-2 ¼”
Weight: 238-pounds
Arms: 33”
Hands: 9 ½”
School: Penn State
Pro Day Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.51
Vertical: 39”
Broad: 128”
Three cone: 6.95
Bench press: 24 reps
Shaka Toney 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Toney played his high school football for Imhotep Institute Charter School in Philadelphia where he earned himself a three-star recruitment rating before committing to Penn State. Toney elected to redshirt his 2016 season and did not appear in a game. During Toney’s 2017 freshman season he appeared in 12 games in which he accounted for 20 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles. As a sophomore in 2018, Toney appeared in 13 games in which he tallied 23 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble. As a junior in 2019, Toney had his best statistical season while starting 13 games. Toney racked up 41 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery. The season earned Toney All-Big Ten second team honors. Last season, as a 2020 senior, Toney again put together an impressive Covid shortened season. Toney started all nine games in which he accounted for 31 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble.
Strengths
- Impressive quickness off the snap paired with an NFL sized body;
- Good motor and gives it his all on every snap;
- Dynamic pass rusher with good hands;
- Team captain during his senior year;
- Flexible player with smooth hips, transitions, and bend around the edge;
- Athletic player with range and long arms which he uses to effectively engage blockers.
Weaknesses
- Toney’s functional strength needs work;
- Has just average production against the run and is seen as a situational pass rusher at the next level;
- Is not a space player and looks lost when asked to play off the line of scrimmage;
- Is a target which offenses go after within the run game;
- Flashes off the edge but does not always convert his quick get off into a power rush.
NFL Comparison: Chase Winovich
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Fourth to Fifth Round
The Bottom Line on Shaka Toney
Toney should bring instant production as a situational pass rusher at the NFL level. Furthermore, much of his production at Penn State has been overshadowed by his fellow defensive lineman such as Jayson Oweh and Yetur Gross-Matos. However, Toney needs a good amount of work within his run defense if he hopes to stick at the next level and become an every-down defensive edge player. Toney needs to add functional strength to his frame in order to hold up against powerful NFL linemen. Additionally, Toney is uncomfortable when asked to play off the line of scrimmage and in space which makes his role limited to a twitchy pass rusher. However, Toney brings impressive quickness and fluidity off the edge along with a high motor. Given time to develop, Toney could turn into a productive NFL edge defender.
Main Photo:
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