Northwestern defensive end Lowry has NFL size and game
INDIANAPOLIS - Rockford Boylan's Dean Lowry grew over his four years as a defensive end at Northwestern - literally and figuratively.
After leading Boylan teams to back-to-back, 14-0 state championships, Lowry enrolled at Northwestern as a lanky, 6-foot-6, 240-pound defensive end. Last week at the NFL's Scouting Combine he weighed in at 296.
"I gained about 15 pounds each year, which is a testament to NU's weight program and the culture there, that you're taking care of your body," said Lowry, who should be a mid-round draft pick. "It's paid off."
Because of his size and strength (30 bench-press reps of 225 pounds), and because he's not much of an edge rusher (12 ½ career sacks), Lowry's best NFL position projects to a 5-technique end in a 3-4 defense.
But Lowry ran a respectable 4.87 40-yard dash (possible No. 1 overall pick Joey Bosa ran 4.86) and believes he has the versatility to provide some pass-rush pressure lining up at tackle in nickel situations.
"I played inside a lot on pass downs, so I can play anywhere across the D-line," he said. "That's one of my strengths, being versatile.
"I'm a good inside pass rusher, especially as a 3-technique (in a four-man front), but outside I play the run very well. I think I showed that. Also, I had 17 pass breakups the past three years, so I can affect the quarterback in different ways instead of just sacks."
Lowry's NU career provided a wide range of experiences. The 2013 and 2014 teams stumbled to 5-7 records but were sandwiched by 10-3 teams in 2012 and 2015.
"Consistency, work ethic and responding to adversity," are what Lowry says he took away from his time in Evanston under coach Pat Fitzgerald. "At Northwestern, there are lots of ups and downs. Coach Fitz makes sure we have that mentality to respond to that stuff and to just be a positive person and have that work ethic to improve each year or each day."
Finding a niche:
Running back Josh Ferguson was never an every-down running back at Illinois, and at 5-foot-9 and 198 pounds he's not built to be a featured ball-carrier in the NFL. The Joliet Catholic graduate had just 505 career rushes in 44 games at Illinois (32 starts), but averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
Ferguson's skill set, however, could make him a middle-round draft pick. He can change field position in a hurry with elite quickness and sudden change of direction and he ran a 4.48 in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
He has many characteristics teams look for in third-down backs, including excellent pass-catching ability. Ferguson caught 50 passes in 2013 and 2014, and he was on pace to exceed that last season when a shoulder injury sidelined him for four games.
And Ferguson isn't afraid of competition. At perennial football powerhouse Joliet Catholic, he played on a team that featured two other FBS running backs: Ty Isaac (Michigan) and Malin Jones (Northwestern, Louisville).
"I grew up in the suburbs, Bolingbrook to Naperville areas," he said. "Joliet Catholic was always one of those schools that you heard about growing up.
"They taught you how to win very early at that school. Taught me hard work. Taught me to be diligent in your craft and be persistent about everything. Those were all things I took with me to Illinois and will definitely be carrying on."
The family business:
Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller won't be drafted as highly as his brother Kyle, who was the 14th overall selection when the Bears tabbed him in 2014.
But Kendall will become the fourth Fuller brother to play in the NFL. In addition to Kyle, oldest brother Vincent played cornerback for seven seasons (2005-11), and Corey, a sixth-round pick in 2013, is a wide receiver with the Lions.
Kendall, who played in just three games last season because of a knee injury that required microfracture surgery, is closest in age and playing style to Kyle. They started on the 2013 Virginia Tech team when Kyle was a senior and Kendall was a freshman.
"Both of us are instinctual, physical, ready to come downhill and make tackles, great ball skills. Coming into Virginia Tech as a freshman, I was doing anything that he did."
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