Hau’oli Kikaha DE/LB Washington #8
Wt: 253
Size/Athleticism: Elite speed and explosive ability for an edge player. Adequate size, but lacks dominant strength. A very fluid all-around athlete who looks natural moving around the field both as a pass-rusher and when dropping in coverage.
Run Defense: Lack of size limits his ability to anchor at the point of attack. Appears to be lacking lower body strength and gets knocked off his spot fairly easily, which may limit his ability to be an every-down player at the next level. Great speed for the position and gives an excellent effort in pursuit. Keeps his eyes on the ball carrier and takes consistent angles.
Pass-Rush: Explosive off the edge. At his best standing up when he can more easily avoid immediate contact. Struggles to shed blocks once he’s engaged and can get swallowed up by more physical linemen. Needs to win off the snap, despite constant effort he struggles to win if the offensive line can take away his ability to immediate get to the edge and win with speed.
Versatility: Has plenty of experience playing a tradition 4-3 end, and lining up at linebacker in 3-4 sets. Limited experience dropping into coverage but appears to have the athleticism necessary to drop into zone coverage and match up against certain tight ends.
Intangibles: Team captain. Has been praised by two coaching staffs (Sarkisian, Petersen) for his leadership ability.
Durability: Major concerns due to two ACL tears in his left knee which caused him to miss 2011 and 2012 seasons.
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Overview: Injuries will be a major factor in how teams place grades on Kikaha, but he is an explosive playmaker who has the ability to make a consistent impact as a pass-rusher. His lack of elite strength may limit him to a role as a pass-rush specialist, but it’s clear that he has the tools to make plays at the next level and should be a solid Day 2 pick at worst. Named pronounced ha-OH-lee KEY-kah-HA
