The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have played quite well this season, posting a 10-2 record in the regular season. Ob defense, they’re led by Redshirt senior Jeffrey Gunter. Despite a brief period the he transferred to NC State to help his mother with a divorce, Gunter has been the leader for the Chanticleers. In this 2022 NFL Draft scouting report, we’ll breakdown what makes Jeffrey Gunter so special, as well as how his skills and abilities will translate into the NFL.
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Jeffrey Gunter 40 Time
Jeffrey Gunter should run a 40 time in the 4.81 range at the NFL Combine in March. For the defensive end position, which I believe is a perfect fit for Gunter, this would put him at the league average. On film, Jeffrey Gunter is sneaky quick, which doesn’t always pop on film. However, when he’s in position to make a play on the ball, his explosiveness is on full display. Frankly, I’d like to see him use his quickness with more consistency when he’s finishing the play.
Jeffrey Gunter Injury History
Jeffrey Gunter has not missed any significant playing time for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. As a result of this, he should receive a clean bill of health at the NFL Combine in March during their medical evaluation process. When coupled with his versatility, Jeffrey Gunter should be an NFL Draft prospect that teams will covet.
Jeffrey Gunter Scouting Report
Pros
- Uses His Strength Well To Beat Opponent Off The Edge
- Good Quickness Off The Line Of Scrimmage
- Excellent Use Of Hands To Render Opponent’s Leverage Useless
Cons
- Inconsistent Ability To Finish On The Ball
- Lacks A Diverse Tool Belt To Beat Offensive Linemen
- Slow To Read And Diagnose The Read-Option
Jeffrey Gunter is a four-year contributor for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. He transferred to NC State in 2019 to be closer to home to help with his mother’s divorce, but returned to CCU in 2020. Gunter typically plays the ‘Bandit’ position, lining up at both defensive end and outside linebacker. He has good height and solid weight for the defensive end position when compared to the league average in the NFL. Additionally, his projected 40 time would be on par with the league average.
Gunter has good quickness at the snap to beat offensive tackles through the inside gap. Uses his hands quite well to stun offensive linemen and maintain leverage. Also displays a good use of his hands to negate opponent’s ability to establish leverage. Has a solid tackle range at the point of attack. Once he’s able to penetrate the pocket, he has solid quickness to finish on the quarterback. Uses his strength well to drive through his opponent and penetrate the pocket. Maintains a good pad level as he drives through the inside gap.
Jeffrey Gunter has a marginal ability to read and diagnose read-option plays quickly. Further, he’s often too slow to do so, ruling him ineffective to stop the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage. He lacks the lateral agility to make plays on the ball at the point of attack. While he’s able to penetrate the pocket with bull rushes, he’s an inconsistent finisher off the edge. When up against double-teams, he’s ineffective in fighting through the pressure to penetrate the pocket. Will lack the strength to win versus NFL interior offensive linemen on a consistent basis. Doesn’t possess an array of tools to beat his opponent, which is something that he’ll need to develop to stick around the league.
Jeffrey Gunter NFL Draft Projection
In my opinion, Jeffrey Gunter is a mid-day three prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s accepted an invitation to play in the East West Shrine Bowl, which could help his draft stock quite a bit. However, with that being said, I believe that Gunter will enter the NFL to provide depth on defense, as well as a contributor on special teams. He could develop into a backup role, but needs to become more consistent in his play to become anything more than that.
He’s been a versatile defensive player for Coastal Carolina, but I believe that he translates into the NFL best as a defensive end. Ultimately, I would consider drafting Jeffrey Gunter with a mid-fifth round to early-sixth round draft pick. I believe that there are several fits for him in the NFL, especially given his versatility. An NFL front office could look to convert Gunter back to outside linebacker, having him drop some his weight. We should get a much clearer picture of this as the NFL Draft process plays out.
