Dallas Cowboys 2018 draft profile: Maurice Hurst Jr.

We look at a player who has been mocked to the Dallas Cowboys numerous times this offseason, Michigan’s Maurice Hurst Jr.

Today, on our continuing Dallas Cowboys draft profile series, we examine Maurice Hurst Jr. A defensive lineman from Michigan who was unable to preform in the NFL Scouting Combine due to a scare about a heart condition.

Although there was some serious concern regarding Hurst around the combine, the condition has been seen as a non-issue and he has been cleared to play, according to Yahoo Sports and multiple reports.

The 23-year old defensive lineman was able to participate in Michigan’s Pro Day on March 23. Hurst is a 6’2, 282 lb, three technique defensive lineman, who played four seasons at Michigan.

In his 2017 season, Hurst recorded 59 total tackles, 27 of them solo, 13 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. In his final two seasons at Michigan, in 25 games, Hurst recorded 24.5 tackles for loss, an extremely impressive number.

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After his outstanding performance in 2017, the Michigan defensive lineman was named a Consensus All-American. For Hurst, his biggest strength is his initial get off burst, and his ability to cause disruption in the backfield because of this. He is outstanding at blowing by lineman right when the ball is snapped, and has an outstanding motor.

The big Michigan lineman has very fast hands, and also has good quickness for his size, giving him the ability to get to the outside and stop the ball.

The 23 year old is a perfect fit for a 4-3 defense three technique, and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and Hurst seem like a perfect match. The Cowboys coordinator loves players who explode off the ball and have a great motor, and Hurst is one of the best in the business at this.

After the moves the Dallas Cowboys have made this offseason, you could argue that defensive tackle could be their weakest position depth wise. After David Irving and Maliek Collins, there is a big drop off in talent.

Adding Hurst would give the Cowboys a high motor defensive lineman, and allow them to rotate in between he and Collins, which Marinelli loves to do. The way the draft board may shake out, it is looking like Hurst will most likely be one of the best players available if the Cowboys stick and make a pick at 19. If the top two linebackers are off the board, defensive line looks like the next logical position to try to upgrade on the defense in round one.

Next: Cowboys Post-Free Agency 7-round mock draft

If the Dallas Cowboys medical staff has him completely checked out, and everything is good to go, Maurice Hurst would be a very solid pick at No. 19, and would address one of the Cowboys’ biggest defensive needs.