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*** RD 7 BENGALS DRAFT - JEFFREY GUNTER (DE) ***


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  • BlackJesus changed the title to *** RD 7 BENGALS DRAFT - JEFFREY GUNTER (DE) ***

Gunter signed with Coastal Carolina out of Riverside High School in Durham, N.C., starting in one game out of 12 appearances (26 tackles, 3.5 for loss) as a true freshman in 2017. He was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference pick in 2018, as well as the team's Defensive Player of the Year after leading the squad with 14 tackles for loss with five sacks among 49 total tackles in 12 starts. Gunter transferred to N.C. State after the season, where he sat out for 2019 per NCAA rules. He originally committed to Syracuse but had a change of heart when N.C. State offered him a scholarship because it was closer to his family in Durham. NCSU's defensive line coach left for Florida Atlantic after the 2019 season, however, and Gunter decided to return to Coastal. The NCAA granted a waiver allowing him to play immediately, which turned out to be a big deal given he was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference and led the FBS with six forced fumbles in 12 starts in 2020 (along with 58 tackles, 12.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks). Gunter received second-team all-conference accolades in 2021 for his play in 12 starts (41 tackles, 10 for loss with 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles). -- by Chad Reuter
Draft Projection
Rounds 5-6
Overview
Athletic edge defender who is much more talented as a rusher than run defender. Gunter lacks the functional anchor and scrappiness to battle through contact and come out on the other side. He has the athletic ability and motor to harass the pocket, but needs to get stronger to open more rush doors in the future. Gunter has Day 3 potential as a backup 3-4 rush linebacker in a blitzing and gaming-based front.
Strengths
  • Forced nine fumbles and blocked two kicks in his career.
  • Sets up blocker with inside jab.
  • Gets on top of the quarterback quickly on tackle-end twists.
  • Nifty stab-and-swipe move in his rush toolbox.
  • Secondary rush will bring pressures.
  • Sudden lateral acceleration in pursuit chase.
  • Backside burst closes down cutback lanes.
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28. JEFFREY GUNTER | Coastal Carolina 6043 | 258 lbs. | rSR. Durham, N.C. (Riverside) 6/1/1999 (age 22.91) #94
BACKGROUND: Jeffrey Gunter grew up in Durham and started playing football at age 5. He enrolled at Riverside High, where he primarily lined up at safety and
linebacker and finished his junior season with 28 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss, earning All-Conference honors. At only 185 pounds, Gunter made the transition to
defensive end as a senior and finished his 2016 season with 55 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and an interception to earn All-Conference and All-Area honors.
He also saw snaps on offense as a senior and had a touchdown reception.
A two-star recruit out of high school, Gunter was the No. 178 strongside defensive end in the 2017 recruiting class and the No. 105 recruit in the state of North
Carolina. At only 185 pounds as a senior, he went overlooked as a recruit and received several FCS offers, but Coastal Carolina took a chance and gave him his only
FBS offer. After two seasons, Gunter entered the transfer portal and signed with Syracuse in February 2019. However, he backed out of that commitment a few
weeks later and flipped to NC State, which is located 15 minutes from where he grew up. Gunter made the late switch because his mother (Jennifer) was going
through an “ugly” divorce and needed his support. After sitting out the 2019 season with the Wolfpack because of transfer rules, he didn’t fit well with the coaching
staff and decided to enter the transfer portal again, landing back at Coastal Carolina for his final two seasons. Gunter has been open about his long bouts of
depression and the value of therapy to help mental health. He graduated with his degree in economics (December 2020). Gunter accepted his invitation to the 2022
East-West Shrine Bowl.
[172]
YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES
2017: (12/1) 26 3.5 0.0 0 0 0 Coastal Carolina
2018: (12/12) 49 14.0 5.0 1 2 0 Coastal Carolina; First Team All-Sun Belt; Led team in TFL, sacks; Blocked FG
2019: Sat out the season because of transfer rules NC State; Originally signed with Syracuse
2020: (12/12) 58 12.5 6.5 6 2 1 Coastal Carolina; First Team All-Sun Belt; Led the FBS in FFs
2021: (12/12) 41 10.0 6.5 2 1 0 Coastal Carolina; Second Team All-Sun Belt; Blocked PAT; Missed bowl game (ankle)
Total: (48/37) 174 40.0 18.0 9 5 1
HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 6043 258 33 9 1/4 79 7/8 4.70 2.70 1.57 35 1/2 10’2” 4.35 7.21 - (no bench press — choice)
PRO DAY - 256 - - - - - - - - - - 30 (stood on Combine numbers)
STRENGTHS: Owns a moldable frame with adequate length ... above-average initial quickness to threaten the corner ... finishes with closing speed that most
quarterbacks can’t escape ... rushes with aggression and spurts of power, flashing a forceful long-arm move ... expanded his pass rush arsenal as a senior, including
effective cross-chop and club-rip moves ... has a knack for knocking the ball out (eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons) ... alert in the run game, and his
hustle boosts his tackle production ... blocked a pair of kicks in college ... productive, durable and played in 48 of a possible 49 games in his four seasons at Coastal.
WEAKNESSES: Stiff-hipped with poor flexibility when attempting to bend the corner ... loses his balance with sudden direction change ... late to protect his chest, and
can be stymied by the punch of blockers ... still learning how to cleverly use his hands as a rusher ... his power moves lack potency to consistently bully blockers at the
point of attack ... inconsistent edge-setter who can be widened out by drive blockers ... his hyper-charged pursuit leaves him out of control as a tackler, sliding off or
missing the ball carrier ... NFL coaches view his play demeanor as a positive, but he needs to show more control with his aggression ... missed the 2021 bowl game
because of a nagging ankle injury (December 2021).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Coastal Carolina, Gunter played the “Bandit” edge rusher position in defensive coordinator Chad Staggs’ 3-4 base scheme. His
four-year stint with the Chanticleers was sandwiched around one season at NC State, finishing his Coastal Carolina career No. 2 in tackles for loss (40.0) and sacks
(18.0), behind his mentor Tarron Jackson (2021 sixth-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles). Gunter bursts off the snap and flashes disruptive traits thanks to his closing
speed and football radar. However, he relies more on aggression and effort than a strategic rush plan and lacks the fluidity to easily patch moves together. Overall,
Gunter is tightly wound as a pass rusher, and his inconsistent power could limit his pro ceiling, but he has projectable linear athleticism with the competitive
energy that is easy to appreciate. He projects as a subpackage rusher with the potential to be more with continued development.
GRADE: 6th Round

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On 4/30/2022 at 6:49 PM, BlackJesus said:

Video of him (#94) owning Zach Wilson after an INT - (I like it)

 

 

Everyone needs to watch this clip if you haven't. Brilliant 😆 I would watch an entire game commentated by this guy. 

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8 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

 

Everyone needs to watch this clip if you haven't. Brilliant 😆 I would watch an entire game commentated by this guy. 

Died at, "let's go coastalll, yeahhhh"

 

🤣

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