NFL Draft Profile: Ferrod Gardner, Linebacker, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
#7
Pos: LB
Ht: 6003v
Wt: 209v
Hand: 0968v
Arm: 3200v
Wing: 7700v
DOB: _/_/_
Eligibility: 2022
Dayton, OH
Coffeyville Community College/Trotwood-Madison
Ferrod Gardner University of Louisiana-Lafayette
Ragin' Cajuns
One-Liner:
Linebacker that possesses the ability to impact the run game and play instinctive football when he can properly take on blockers and navigate them.
Pros:
Athletically gifted linebacker that has adequate speed that tailors well with his short-area quickness. Gardner helps stretch the field laterally and works well as the force player to initiate blocks and fill gaps adequately. He sets the edge and at the very least has knowledge of the importance to scrape-to-contain the running back. Processes the offensive line blocking scheme and is quick to diagnose the flow of the play. As a tackler, Gardner is a reasonable tackler and is more than capable at making plays outside of his frame. As agile as he is, the Louisiana-Lafayette linebacker is comfortable covering in space and can be relied upon to do so on obvious passing downs. Gardner's good lateral shuffle and short-area quickness allow for him to quickly drop into his zones and gain depth in a timely manner.
Cons:
Despite having a lot of positive upside to his game, Gardner still has areas of concern. From the start, the Louisiana-Lafayette linebacker plays with a high pad level and that carries over into the rest of his game. Although he will meet blockers head on, he seldomly engages with his hands. For that, Gardner has a hard time working off blocks and getting proper hand placement and extension. Poor job at playing through and off of blockers. Opposing players can drive him off his spot when he doesn't get a running start to generate his power. He takes poor angles in spaces to navigate blockers and pursue the ball. After diagnosing the run he isn't quick to pull the trigger and gain group when coming downhill. While rushing the passer, Gardner doesn't provide much of a threat when he isn't taking the outside track.
Summary:
As a multi-year starter for Louisiana-Lafayette, Gardner has grown into his role as a defensive leader. The sixth-year senior puts himself in a good position to fit the run with his processing and lateral mobility. Gardner still has to develop physically to match the level of the next level but he shows the intangibles required. If he works off blocks, he is a productive tackler and finds his way around the ball carrier. With time, Gardner could push for some playing time at the next level and has upside as a three-down linebacker.
Background:
Hailing from Dayton Ohio where he went to school at Trotwood-Madison. Son of Francis Gardner and Tracey Tucker. Has two brothers and a sister. During his time at Trotwood-Madison High School, he tallied 103 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, and eight passes broken up during his senior year. Before attending UL-Lafayette he attended Missouri as a preferred walk-on before taking the junior college route via Coffeyville Community College. At Coffeyville Community College he was named to the Jayhawk Conference honorable mention team. Majoring in graphic design at UL-Lafayette.
Grades:
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
6.0/7.2
NFL Draft: Player Spotlight - Ferrod Gardner, Louisiana
1/26 - The Cajuns were definitely ragin’ the past couple of seasons at the University of Louisiana because they were one of the most physical teams in all three phases and possibly the hardest-hitting defense in recent memory. In today’s game, hard hitting isn’t something that is always important, but this team did it right. Clearly, they are a very well-coached team, because this was an extremely technical team and showed big hits can be delivered while doing it cleanly. Gardner was second on the team in total tackles and added an interception and three pass deflections. Gardner’s improvement in pass defense let us know he isn’t a finished product and should encourage NFL teams that if they draft him, he will continue to improve his game and not take it easy because he thinks he made it.
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