Steelers 2014 NFL Draft Player Profiles – Boise State DE/OLB Demarcus Lawrence

Good friend Dave-Te’ Thomas of Scouting Services has finished his player profiles of several of the top 2014 NFL Draft prospects and over the course of the next few weeks I will be posting the ones that the Pittsburgh Steelers will more than likely have interest in. With it being reported on Friday that Boise State defensive end/outside linebacker Demarcus Lawrence will be brought in for a pre draft visit, we will post his profile. Thomas has done these profiles for the NFL for several years and I know that many of you enjoy reading them.

DEMARCUS LAWRENCE
Defensive Rush End/Outside Linebacker
Boise State University Broncos
#8
6:02.7-251
Aiken, South Carolina
Butler Community College
Silver Bluff High School

OVERVIEW

Lawrence is a high-energy type player in the mold of former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro, James Harrison, as both play with reckless abandon. The Broncos standout has rwreaked havoc in opposing backfields since he first arrived on campus as a transfer from Butler Community College, where he was an All-American selection.

Despite playing just two seasons in the major college ranks and for the Broncos, he managed to etch his name into the school and league record books. His twenty sacks rank sixth in Mountain West Conference annals and tied for seventh on the BSU chart. He also placed 14th in school history with 34.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. As a junior, he set the league record with 20.5 stops-for-loss and his 10.5 sacks in 2013 rank fifth on both the BSU and MWC lists.

Lawrence was not considered to be a top-level recruit during his time playing on the defensive line at Silver Bluff High School. The Class AA All-Region choice led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record during his senior season. He also starred on the basketball team, helping them compile a 17-5 record during his final campaign.

Looking for an opportunity to play in the major college ranks, and needing to establish his academic standing, Lawrence ventured from Aiken, South Carolina to Kansas, enrolling at junior college powerhouse Butler College for the 2010 season, but arrived too late to join the varsity football program and was red-shirted.

Lawrence emerged the following season, earning All-American honors at the El Dorado, Kansas school. He helped the team rank second in the final junior college national polls, as he delivered 72 tackles that included twelve sacks, nineteen stops behind the line of scrimmage and four fumble recoveries.

Signing on at Boise State for the 2012 season, Lawrence started all eleven games that he suited up for, missing two contests due to a team rules violation. He finished fifth on the squad with 48 tackles, leading the Broncos and conference with 9.5 sacks, as he also paced the league with 13.5 stops-for-loss to earn All-Mountain West Conference first-team accolades.

Lawrence earned All-American second-team and All-Mountain West Conference first-team honors in 2013. He started twelve times at weak-side defensive end, but missed the early season clash vs. Tennessee-Martin due to disciplinary reasons. He still went on to lead the league and rank third nationally with 20.5 stops-for-loss, thanks to pacing the MWC and ranking tenth in the FBS with 10.5 sacks. He blocked a pair of kicks and finished third on the team with 72 tackles (39 solos) while causing three fumbles.

Shortly after Boise State lost to Oregon State in the Hawaii Bowl, Lawrence announced that he would not be returning to school in 2014 and declared for the NFL Draft. The rush end had recorded five tackles, including one for loss in the Hawaii Bowl to cap his Broncos and college career. He made his intentions known via Facebook with the following statement;

“I am releasing this statement to inform everyone at Boise State University and all of the fans of Bronco Nation of my decision to forgo my final year of eligibility and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. For these last two years I have had the honor of being part of the Boise State family and have had an incredibly special group of teammates, coaches, trainers, and staff around me. While Coach Peterson’s decision to take the Washington job had some influence on my decision I felt it was in the best interests of my family and myself to pursue my lifelong dream to become an NFL player.

“It is my hope in making this decision that my coaches, administration, teammates and the Broncos fans continue to support me both through prayer and encouragement in the pursuit of my dreams. Thank you all for your time and understanding in this matter and I wish everyone at Boise State University much success.”

The native of Aiken, South Carolina possesses good speed off the edge and was used in a variety of roles with the Broncos, lining up at virtually every position along the defensive line during his stay in Boise. He has demonstrated that he has enough quickness to cross the face of would-be blockers and has strong, active hands to swim over the top or rip through their attempts to control him.

Lawrence also demonstrates the fluidity and straight-line speed necessary for playing outside linebacker. He projects as a “Leo” defensive end in the 4-3 alignment, the scheme in which he starred the past two seasons with the Broncos, but with his speed and pass coverage skills, he is also an inviting prospect for teams utilizing the Cover-2 3-4 defensive alignment.

CAREER NOTES

For his entire college career, Lawrence started all 34 games he appeared in, recording 192 tackles (113 solos) with 32.0 sacks for minus 190 yards, 53.0 stops for losses of 234 yards, six fumble recoveries, eight forced fumbles, four pass deflections and an interception … He started 23 of those contests at Boise State, where he made 120 tackles (63 solos), along with posting twenty sacks (minus 136 yards), 34.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage (181 yards), three QB pressures, a pass deflection, one pass theft, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, advancing one 25 yards for a touchdown … Mountain West Conference Career-Record Results … Lawrence ranks sixth in league annals with twenty sacks from his BSU days, topped by Jan Jorgensen of Brigham Young (28.5; 2006-09), Jerry Hughes of Texas Christian (28.5; 2006-09), John Fletcher of Wyoming (24.0; 2005-09), Michael Tuohy of New Mexico )20.5; 2004-07) and Chase Ortiz of Texas Christian (20.5; 2005-07) … Boise State Career-Record Results … Ranks 14th in school history with 34.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage … His twenty sacks tied Durelle Goodloe (1989-92) for seventh place on the Boise State chart.

SEASON NOTES

Lawrence led Boise State in both tackles-for-loss and quarterback sacks in each of his two seasons at the university … Mountain West Conference Season-Record Results … His 10.5 sacks in 2013 tied John Fletcher of Wyoming (2007) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila of San Diego State (1999) for fifth place on the league annual record list … His 20.5 tackles-for-loss in 2013 broke the previous league record of twenty that was shared by Miles Burris of San Diego State (2010), Jan Jorgensen of Brigham Young (2007) and John Frank of Utah (1999) … Boise State Season-Record Results … Lawrence’s 10.5 sacks in 2013 is fifth-best on the Broncos season list behind Chris Wing (20.0 in 1996), Erik Helgeson (19.5 in 1988; 17.5 in 1989) and Pete Kwiatkowski (15.0 in 1987) … His 20.5 stops-for-loss last season tied Tyrone Crawford (2010) for ninth on Boise State’s list.

SEASON ANALYSIS

2013 SEASON

Lawrence earned All-American second-team honors from Walter Camp and for the second consecutive season, he garnered All-Mountain West Conference first-team accolades …
Started twelve games at weak-side defensive end, as he finished third on the team with 72 tackles (39 solos), causing three fumbles as he registered one quarterback pressure and deflected a pass … Led the league and ranked tenth in the nation while placing fifth in the league and team season-record books with 10.5 sacks for minus 75 yards … Also led the MWC and ranked third nationally with a conference annual record 20.5 stops for losses of 103 yards … Lawrence had sacks in six-consecutive games before San Diego State, as he recorded 9.5 during the streak … Posted a career-high 3.5 sacks vs. Nevada, which is tied for the fourth-most in a single game in the NCAA in 2013. His 3.5 sacks equated to 29 lost yards for the Wolf Pack, and are the most by a Bronco since Chris Wing had four sacks vs. Portland State in 1996. He was named MWC Player of the Week for that performance, as he also posted seven tackles vs. the Pack while the Broncos had six sacks and ten tackles-for-loss vs. Nevada … Blocked two field goals vs. Southern Mississippi, the first Bronco to block two in the same game since Daryn Colledge blocked two vs. Hawaii in 2005 … Made five unassisted tackles including two for a loss of six yards vs. Air Force on the way to picking up MWC Player of the Week recognition. One of Lawrence’s tackles for loss came with Boise State leading 28-17 in the fourth quarter and Air Force at the Broncos’ 3-yard line. He stopped Falcon running back Ty MacArthur for a four-yard loss, forcing Air Force to settle for a field goal … Had 1.5 sacks and six hits vs. Washington, adding 1.5 sacks in each of the Utah State and Brigham Young clashes … Two of his four hits vs. Colorado State were sacks … Totaled three sacks and six tackles vs. San Diego State and closed out his career with five solo tackles and a 5-yard sack vs. Oregon State in the Hawaii Bowl.

2012 SEASON

Lawrence started eleven games at weak-side defensive end during his first season with the Broncos, earning All-Mountain West Conference first-team honors … Recorded 48 tackles (24 solos) as he led the team and league with 9.5 sacks for minus 61 yards and 13.5 stops for losses of 78 yards … Intercepted a pass, recovered two fumbles, advancing one 25 yards for a touchdown vs. Hawaii and caused four fumbles … His four forced fumbles ranked tied for eighth nationally … Had an 8-yard interception return vs. Colorado State and recovered two fumbles, returning one 25 yards for a touchdown vs. Hawaii …
Recorded the Broncos’ only blocked kick of the season vs. Wyoming and had two quarterback hurries vs. Michigan State, as he posted a season-high nine tackles vs. the Spartans … Credited with 2.5 stops-for-loss vs. San Diego State and was in on a season-high 2.5 sacks vs. Miami (Ohio).

2011 SEASON

Lawrence attended Butler (El Dorado, Kan.) Community College, where he red-shirted in 2010 and earned first-team J.C. Gridwire and second-team NJCAA All-American honors in 2011 … That season, the team won the Jayhawk Conference and Region IV Championships, and finished the year ranked second in the final national poll … Was named first-team All-Jayhawk Conference, finishing with 72 tackles (50 solos), the second-most on the team, as he also registered twelve sacks for minus 54 yards and 19.0 stops for losses totaling 53 yards … Recovered four fumbles, returning one 11 yards for a touchdown while playing for head coach Troy Morrell … Was rated 38th on the Rivals.com JUCO Top 50 list … After the season, Lawrence signed with Boise State in December 2011, and enrolled in time to participate in 2012 spring practice.

OFF-FIELD ISSUES

In 2012, Lawrence was suspended vs. Nevada-Las Vegas in October and later for the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Washington for violation of team rules … In 2013, he was suspended again vs. Tennessee-Martin for disciplinary issues.

INJURY REPORT

No major injuries reported.

AGILITY TESTS

4.80 in the 40-yard dash … 1.68 10-yard dash … 2.80 20-yard dash … 4.31 20-yard shuttle … 7.46 three-cone drill … 34 ½-inch vertical jump … 9’-5” broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times … 33 ¾-inch arm length … 11-inch hands … 81-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Lawrence attended Silver Bluff (S.C.) High School, lettering in football and basketball …
The Class AA All-Region choice led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record during his senior season and helped the basketball team compile a 17-5 record during his final campaign.

PERSONAL

Lawrence is majoring in Communications … Resides in Aiken, South Carolina.

PLAYER STATISTICS