Aaron Donald

http://q.usatoday.com/2014/01/22/pittsburgh-panthers-aaron-donald-isnt-short-on-talent-nfl-draft-senior-bowl/ MOBLE, Ala. - Aaron Donald left college football as one of the most decorated defensive lineman in the game’s history. He won the Outland Trophy, the Bronko Nagursky trophy, the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.Donald clearly proved himself at the collegiate level, yet one topic will continually come up among NFL teams considering the possibility of drafting Donald — his size.Donald measured in at 6-0 and 288 pounds Monday at the Senior Bowl.“Size doesn’t mean anything,” Donald said after Wednesday’s practice. “If you can play the game of football, you can play.”And Donald can play. The defensive tackle has arguably been the best player on the field during practices. He’s bested lineman much bigger than him.  At times, Donald was giving up 55 pounds to those attempting to block him.Donald doesn’t carry a chip on his shoulder despite being considered undersized.“I don’t feel like I have to prove myself,” Donald said. “Everything teams need to see is already on film.”When NFL teams watch film from Donald’s senior season, they’ll see a player which led college football with 28.5 tackles for loss. Donald also led Pitt with 11 sacks.Donald’s versatility as a player also appears on film. During the past three seasons, the defensive lineman played in multiple schemes. Donald was productive at defensive tackle in a 4-3 front and as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. In each instance, he showed he could fight through double-teams and rush the passer.“It’s a bonus for me to have the leverage,” Donald said. “When you’re double-teamed by two guys that are 300-plus pounds, it’s important for me to get low and use my technique. It’s important for me to get up under those guys and push up to control them.“Having that first step, using my natural instincts, and keeping my hands inside; it allows me to get that guy that’s over top of me. I don’t worry about the [offensive] tackle. If he’s trying to come down on me, I use my hands, push them up and dip my shoulder. It’s hard for a guy to come down and get a block if you pushing back the other lineman.”Leverage and strength are two of the primary reasons why Donald is so successful. He is also the most technically sound defensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. Donald’s ability to use his hands to keep offensive lineman off of him is critical.“I’m constantly working my technique,” Donald said. “I worked on it week after week. I would do it by myself.”Donald doesn’t plan to add weight in hopes of becoming more attractive to NFL teams. He knows exactly the type of player he is.“I played my entire junior and senior seasons at that weight [288 pounds],” Donald concluded.Donald makes sure to argue he’s actually 6-1. The extra inch isn’t needed. Donald dominates on the field, and his game will only continue to grow.