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UCLA Football: Draft Day Profiles-Takkarist McKinley Selected By the Atlanta Falcons

By Michael Chavez

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) poses on the red carpet before the start of the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) poses on the red carpet before the start of the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former UCLA Football DE/OLB Takkarist McKinley was the 26th selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft. Here at Go Joe Bruin we believe in giving you readers the most up to date information and plenty of little knowledge nuggets so here is Takk’s Draft Day Profile.

BOOM! Former UCLA Football DE Takkarist McKinley is now part of the Atlanta Falcons organization as they have just selected the standout defensive end 26th in the 2017 NFL Draft.

If you do not know about Takk, Falcon fans, well we have got the skinny for you!

Takk was a pass rushing demon during his time as a UCLA Football player and will now take his ability to punish quarterbacks to the NFL. For his full NFL Draft profile make sure to read it here.

Next: UCLA Football and NFL Draft: How and What to Watch

Positives:

Takk possesses an elite first step and as a former 100 meter runner he has the speed to chase ball carriers down. While having exceptional speed, Takk is also a relentless player and will keep coming until the whistle is blown.

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He is more than athletic enough to play on the edge as a 3-4 OLB and has even demonstrated the ability to be used in zone coverage. Given his speed and ability to run it wouldn’t be out of this world to suggest he’d be able to function in man coverage as well. He’s stout enough to hold the edge as a 4-3 end.

Negatives:

McKinley came to UCLA mid 2014 season as a raw, speed rusher. While he isn’t just a speed rusher anymore he still is very raw. He rushes as though he has no arms and has yet to develop a repertoire of pass rush moves.

He has no counter when the speed rush is ineffective which is startling given the number of oversets he saw from offensive tackles looking to deal with his speed. His testing also indicated that he’s a bit stiff and unable to bend as well as you’d like from an edge rusher. On top of that he had surgery on a torn labrum right after the combine.

Next: UCLA Football Spring Game: Team Val versus Cromwell

Final:

Despite the injury, which he played through in 2016, Takk is guy who’s best football is ahead of him. He’s a monster athlete and an exceptional pass rusher and we know that’s a premium position at the next level. You build your foundations up front so it is only fitting Takk was an early selection.

Congratulations, Takk! And congrats Atlanta, you got a good one!