Two blockers couldn’t stop Jose Ramirez. The Eastern Michigan defensive lineman was bent on adding another sack to his resume.
The Eagles were up 31-17 with under four minutes left in a Group of Five clash with Kent State, which had the ball on a first and 10.
Ramirez placed his hand on the ground across from the opposing right tackle, and Kent State’s running back was to the right of the quarterback. And even though the tackle and back both attempted to slow down Ramirez, he was too powerful.
He split the double team and helped bring the passer to the ground in about three seconds.
Ramirez is more than capable of being an exemplary pass rusher in the NFL.
What Team Drafted Jose Ramirez?
Ramirez was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round with the 196th overall pick.
Jose Ramirez Stats And Highlights
Ramirez was second in the country last season with 12 sacks en route to Associated Press third-team All-American honors. He was also a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection, the third consecutive season in which he was an all-conference pick.
Ramirez was graded as the 11th-best edge rusher in the country by Pro Football Focus last season. He was tied for 27th in run defense and tied for 13th in the pass rush category.
He had 66 total tackles, 39 solo, and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2022. For his career, he added seven passes defended, six forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Via PFF, Ramirez had a missed tackle rate of just 8.6% last season. He also racked up 39 tackles which ended up being counted as failed plays for the opposing offense.
Jose Ramirez Draft Profile
Speed isn’t something Ramirez relied on in college, but it wasn’t necessarily a weakness, either.
He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds at the NFL Combine with a 1.63-second 10-yard split. He also had a vertical jump of 34.5 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet, 10 inches, while finishing the bench press with 21 reps.
None of those numbers were the worst among defensive ends, but they were also outside of the top 10.
However, he was first at the position in the three-cone drill (6.95 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.3 seconds). His fluidity and ability to change direction quickly stands out on tape.
At 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, Ramirez possesses an impressive combination of power, quickness and overall athleticism. He can win even when double teamed. He can bend around offensive tackles while he’s rushing the passer like few can, and he’s relentless in run pursuit.
He’s shown his first step out of his stance is swift, which helps him reach the quarterback on stunts. He can also chase down mobile passers or drop into coverage if needed, so maybe outside linebacker could suit him if he finds the right situation.
While Ramirez can lose balance at times and could expand his repertoire of pass-rush moves, he undoubtedly has the potential to overcome those issues and become a key contributor with some coaching at the NFL level.
