Player Profile: Louis Nix

Height:  6'3
Weight:  340
School:  Notre Dame
Position:  Defensive Tackle
Ranking:  #2 Defensive Tackle
Projection: First Round

Strengths
-Prototypical size for a nose tackle
-Experienced.  Played over 36 games in his three year career.
-Very explosive player for somebody his size
-Quick off the ball and attacks the offensive lineman before they get to him
-Very powerful.  Strong bull rush allows him to push guards back into the quarterback
-Strong punch jolts offensive lineman and allows him to push the pocket
-Uses his strength and power to cover gaps on both sides of him
-Good closing speed.  Can chase a back down the line for a tackle
-Displays good agility that allows him to stunt and twist with other defenders
-Scheme flexable.  Can play in a one or two gap scheme and either a 4 or 3 man front
-Doesn't quit on plays.  Played hard entire game in blowout loss to Alabama

Weaknesses
-Weight.  Would be better served to be around 315-320.  Was up to 368 at one point.
-Not an every down player.  Has to be taken off the field to prevent him from wearing down
-Struggles to anchor in.  Can be pushed off his spot.  Especially against double teams
-Over aggressiveness can be used to take him out of the play
-Isn't a great tackler.  Will try to arm tackle too much. 
-Knee issue caused him to miss the final three games of the season
-No pass rushing moves.  Relies on strength and quickness

Summary
When you see a player with the size of Louis Nix your first thought is that he's just a space eater clogging up the middle of the line.  However Nix is so much much more than that.  For a player that is a legit 340 pounds he has the speed and quickness of some of the smaller defensive tackles.  Nix uses that explosiveness to disrupt and push the pocket from the middle.  He is near impossible to block man to man and regularly pushes guards back into the quarterback.  His stat line is never going to impress you, but his impact on the game doesn't show up there.  Nix has the ability to play in a one or two gap scheme and either the 3-4 or the 4-3.  But the problem that lies with Nix is his weight and endurance.  He's too big at 340 in my opinion.  If he can get into the 320's his endurance should go up and he can stay on the field longer.  Because of his snap count limitations he likely goes at the bottom half of the first round, but he's a much better player than that.  Keep an eye on New England who could take him as the heir apparent to Vince Wilfork.  He's that type of player.