Vikings UDFA Profile: Illinois DT Calvin Avery
Over the next couple weeks, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 15 members of Minnesota's 2023 undrafted free agent class.
Vikings UDFA profile: Illinois DT Calvin Avery
- Size: 6'1", 345
- RAS: 3.12
- 2022 stats: 23 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF
Calvin Avery is a big, stout, powerful nose tackle who spent five years at Illinois, playing in 55 games with 16 starts on the defensive line. His RAS may not look pretty, but those scores aren't particularly relevant for nose tackles. What matters most is size and strength, and Avery has plenty of that. A 30.5-inch vertical at 345 pounds is also rather impressive.
Avery, a Texas native, record seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in his career. But again, stats aren't the biggest thing for nose tackles. His impact was felt in the way he occupied multiple gaps and ate up blocks, allowing the linemen next to him and the linebackers behind him to make plays. Avery's forceful upper body helps him shed blocks and make plays in the backfield. He also blocked two extra points in his career, showing some special teams value.
Scouting report from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein:
Teams won’t find tackle-for-loss production or disruption as a pass rusher when they watch tape of Avery, but they will find a wide-framed space-eater willing to battle for his gaps inside. Avery displayed an impressive combination of power and hip explosion at his pro day. He has some bully in him against single blocks but can be a little too straight-legged, which causes inconsistency in his anchor against edge pressure. He’s an early down, rotational nose tackle but could find NFL work even if he goes undrafted.
With the Vikings, Avery will be competing for a roster or practice squad spot against players like James Lynch, Esezi Otomewo, Ross Blacklock, Sheldon Day and T.J. Smith. Listed at 343 pounds, he's the heaviest player on the roster — Khyiris Tonga at 338 is the only other player within 20 pounds — so Avery gives the Vikings a different type of DT as a true nose.
Vikings' offseason defensive tackle depth chart:
- Harrison Phillips
- Dean Lowry
- Jonathan Bullard
- Khyiris Tonga
- Jaquelin Roy (rookie)
- James Lynch
- Esezi Otomewo
- Ross Blacklock
- Sheldon Day
- T.J. Smith
- Calvin Avery (rookie)
Other Vikings UDFA profiles
Georgia Southern CB NaJee Thompson
North Carolina State WR Thayer Thomas
Southeastern Louisiana WR/QB Cephus Johnson III
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