Dallas Cowboys 2023 Draft

NFL Draft prospect to know: Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida

If the Cowboys miss out on Vea and Payne, Senat is an intriguing day two option.

By Cole Patterson@colelpatterson Mar 17, 2018, 11:00am CDT

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NCAA Football: South Florida at Cincinnati

Blogging The Boys will take a look at some of the NFL Draft prospects that will be in the 2018 NFL Draft class. Some weeks, we will look at potential targets that will be within the Cowboys’ expected draft range. Others, we will highlight some of the elite members of the class.

While it seems that most of the country is glued to their television screens to watch all of the action in March Madness or trying to follow which free agent is going where, we here at BTB have another draft prospect for you to familiarize yourself with as the 2018 NFL Draft creeps closer and closer.

There appears to be a lot of differing opinions on how the Cowboys should spent its first three picks this April: do you trade 19 and 50 for a talent like Earl Thomas? Maybe you consider trading up 19 and 81 for Derwin James or Roquan Smith. Perhaps the Cowboys decide to hold on to all three picks and add both depth and talent to the squad. Our BTB staff recently came up with different scenarios on how we would spend the first three picks if the Cowboys are choosing one of wide receiver, defensive tackle, and offensive guard.

I personally went with a scenario that saw Dallas add Daron Payne at 19, Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller at 50, and Auburn offensive guard Braden Smith at 81. Dave Halprin, for instance, went in another direction.

Dave plays that to his advantage and takes the best wide receiver in the draft in Calvin Ridley. If the Cowboys could get a quality starting left guard (Billy Price) and a decent two-down DT (Deadrin Senat) on Day 2, then wouldn’t it make sense to grab the best playmaker with pick 19?

If the Cowboys miss out on Payne and Vita Vea in round one, there appears to be solid defensive tackle talent in this class. Here is one player that should be on the Cowboys’ radar.

Deadrin Senat — defensive tackle, South Florida Bulls

6-foot-1
305
Senior

Deadrin Senat is on his way to an NFL career, but it did not come without any adversity. The defensive tackle prospect that benched 35 reps at the NFL Combine this year lost both of his parents growing up. His mother passed away due to complications from a spider bite during his freshman year of high school. His father later passed away during his sophomore year of college. This is an article worth reading to get to know Deadrin Senat.

Deadrin Senat arrived to Tampa Bay n the 2013 signing class after having an All-State career at Immokalee High School in the Sunshine State. The three-star prospect opted to play for the Bulls over high-major offers from the likes of the Florida State Seminoles, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Oklahoma Sooners.

Senat redshirted his initial season on campus, and he did not play very much in 2014. The defensive tackle recorded 18 total tackles (8 solo) to go along with a combined tackle-for-loss. Once he gained more experience, however, Senat developed into a quality player for the Bulls.

In 2015, the big-bodied defensive tackle became more of a impact player for USF. Senat played in 12 of 13 games for the Bulls as a redshirt-sophomore, making 45 total tackles (27 solo) and 5.5 TFLs. He also forced a fumble and deflected a pass. He started ten games and recorded eight tackles against FSU.

Senat made a big leap during his junior campaign. The Florida native played in 12 games and saw career-highs, to that point, in total tackles (49), TFLs (7), and sacks (1). He also forced another fumble, as he emerged as the Bulls’ best defensive player. Senat was selected to the American Conference’s second-team for his big season.

But, Deadrin Senat solidified himself as a Day 2 selection with a massive senior season, as he definitely went out with a bang. Senat’s last collegiate season was unequivocally his best: 66 total tackles (35 solo), 10.5 tackles-for-loss, and six sacks. He was named first team all-conference and played in the East-West Shrine game.

Senat overcame tragedy and is now going to reap the benefits of his hard work.

What do the experts say?

Dane Brugler said Deadrin Senat is his favorite interior defensive line prospect that people aren’t talking about following the Senior Bowl. Brugler described Senat as “undersized but productive”. NFLDraftScout ranks Senat as the draft’s tenth-best DT prospect.
Bryan Broaddus:

Just now experiencing Deadrin Senat DT South Florida. Impressive how disruptive he is. Stays square and finishes. Someone is going to get a heck of a player.
— Bryan Broaddus (@BryanBroaddus) February 13, 2018

Luke Easterling of USA Today Sports came away impressed with Senat following the East-West Shrine game.

Anyone who watched Senat during Shrine Week practices discovered what USF fans (and the rest of the American Conference) have known for a long time. A rock-solid defender with tons of power and a non-stop motor, Senat kept his impressive senior year going with a dominant performance against some talented competition.

A stout run defender who uses his shorter frame to his advantage to gain leverage on would-be blockers, Senat tallied six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss on his way to earning first-team all-conference honors in 2017. No stranger to obstacles and adversity, Senat lost both of his parents at a young age. His relentless effort and passionate style of play should make an immediate impact at the next level.

Jeff Cavanaugh of The Athletic DFW wrote on defensive tackle prospects other than Vea and Payne (subscription). He likes Senat.

Senat is more than just a strong guy at the point of attack. He’s the big guy that also has some initial quickness to penetrate. One of the things that I notice with big defensive lineman is whether they are finishers. Senat is a finisher.

A lot of the big guys are able to disrupt plays, make the QB move off of his spot, make a runner change direction, etc. Not a lot of them have the athleticism and football IQ to be in the right spot, track the ball and then finish when they get close. They’re in pursuit of people who are faster than them, and it’s tough. Senat put himself in those positions and has the burst to finish plays. That’s how a defensive tackle ends a season with 66 tackles.

Cavanaugh lists some of Senat’s strengths as “strength”, “burst”, and “finisher”.

Overall, Deadrin Senat is a solid two-down defensive line prospect that could help solve a little bit of the Cowboys’ concerns in the middle. The 6-foot-1, 305 pounder plays with great leverage and burst, allowing him to get into the backfield and prevent a play from happening before it even gets a chance.

The 66 tackles he recorded over his senior jump was a +17 improvement from his junior campaign. He also wrapped up the quarterback five more times in 2017 than he did in 2016, showing that he has tools to become a solid pass rusher as well as a run stopper. The Florida native flourished in coach Charlie Strong’s system, and his final season on the division-1 level shows that he is still improving as a player.

Senat doesn’t have the ceiling as the Vea’s and the Payne’s of the world, but the USF product has more than enough ability and talent to develop and grow into a solid player in the NFL. If the Cowboys aren’t able to sign a Bennie Logan or draft one of the two aforementioned blue chip tackles, Senat is a quality option for America’s Team.

Deadrin Senat can play.

Plays with a consistent/good base, proper pad level and ideal hand placement. Controls blockers very well at the POA pic.twitter.com/jBoN8h3vuq
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) February 20, 2018

The limit does not exist to the amount of times I’ve gone back to watch DT Deadrin Senat’s game against Texas Tech. pic.twitter.com/zms8x5odRV
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) February 26, 2018

.@JC1053 suggested Deadrin Senat be the next prospect I spend some time on ...... annnnnd I'm in. pic.twitter.com/QohBmhP7U5
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) February 16, 2018

One of the best pass rushing snaps of the week, via USF DT Deadrin Senat #ShrineGame pic.twitter.com/1Lpu2C4V7G
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 17, 2018