Ben

Banogu

Banogu (6’4/250) spent two seasons as a Horned Frog after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, earning first-team All-Big 12 in both with 34.5 career TFLs, 17 sacks, and five forced fumbles. PFF College credited Banogu with Big 12 highs in QB pressures (60) and run stops (28) in 2018. Banogu solidified his stock with the highest SPARQ score among edge defenders in Indy (97th percentile). Banogu is a bit old for a rookie – he turned 23 in January – and is too often overpowered on tape, but his production-athleticism combo makes Banogu an exciting outside-pass rush prospect. Colts GM Chris Ballard continues to show his bias towards athletes at pass rushing positions.

Pauline, himself, had Banogu stamped with a fifth-round grade coming into the 2018 season, but the TCU defender has checked multiple draft boxes during the spring (strong Senior Bowl week, strong combine and pro day showings) to put himself in position for a Day 2 selection. The Steelers, Broncos, Dolphins and Cowboys all hosted Banogu for official-30 visits, while the Colts and Seahawks are two squads which Pauline specifically points to as having second-round eyes, here.

Banogu is expected to rush from a three-point stance and from standing outside of the tackle. At his pro day, Banogu weighed six pounds heavier (6'3/256) and he “looked fantastic” going through both defensive line and linebacker drills. Banogu met with the Colts, Giants, and Patriots, but he also has meetings scheduled with the Ravens, Jets, Saints, Texans, Steelers, and Broncos. Pauline reports that Banogu is expected to be drafted between picks No. 40 and 60 but that may prove to be too bullish.

Banogu (6'3/250) recorded a whopping 60 pressures, an impressive feat for any pass-rusher. He also excelled in run-defense, recording 28 run-stops which tied for 15th last season in the NCAA. Banogu posted impressive numbers and excelled at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting a composite SPARQ athletic score in the 97th percentile. He’s a high-upside late-round option in the upcoming NFL Draft.

“His quickness created opportunities with inside moves and twists in college, but NFL tackles will shut and lock that interior door on him until he proves he can threaten them around the corner,” Zierlein writes of the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Banogu. The TCU product is fresh off a stellar combine performance in which his 11-foot-2 broad jump set a position group record. On the whole, Banogu posted a composite SPARQ athletic score in the 97th percentile of NFL edge rushers. He is a raw prospect on the whole, but possesses a high ceiling and makes for an intriguing later-round option in this deep defensive line class.

Banogu (6'3, 250), who was a first team All-Big 12 selection in 2018, has also run a 4.62 40 and racked up 23 reps in the bench press in Indianapolis. Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline gave the TCU pass rusher a fifth-round grade in late December, but good testing numbers at the Combine and at TCU’s pro day would go a long way towards pushing Banogu higher up draft boards.

Banogu gets a fifth-round grade, which ranks over a litany of sixth-to-seventh round players playing in the game. Banogu is going to play in the Senior Bowl, and he was a very productive player for the Horned Frogs despite their inconsistent 2018 season. How he pressures Chase Garbers and the Bears will be a big determinate of who wins this football game.

The Horned Frogs had a disappointing season, but very little -- if anything -- had to do with the play of Banogu. The 6-foot-4, 249-pound linebacker was a terror at times in 2018, and gets quality reviews for his versatility. He’ll get a chance to rush the passer and play standing up in Mobile, we’re sure, and a strong performance could solidify him as mid-round pick this April.

The effort came in a losing effort, but it was an impressive effort nevertheless. He picked up eight tackles -- 4.5 of them for loss -- and came up with two sacks in the 27-26 defeat to the Jayhawks. The former Louisiana-Monroe transfer has been a productive player for the Horned Frogs, and scouts have apparently taken notice. “While some scouts we have spoken with have concerns about his inconsistency, Banogu is the type of player, if you were a scout who wanted to sell him to a decision-maker, that you could make a really cool point-of-attack tape on,” writes Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy. “I say that because he is potentially capable of doing just about everything you would want from an OLB, regardless of scheme.” Because of his size (6'4/249), Banogu is going to have to test well, but if he does, it’s easy to see him being a mid-round selection -- if not higher.

Banogu started all 13 games for the Warhawks in 2015, recording five sacks and 14.5 TFL. He sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Banogu will be relied upon heavily in 2017 with TCU having lost pass rushers Aaron Curry and Josh Carraway, who combined for 13.5 sacks in 2016.