Malcolm

Roach

Roach (6’2/297) was a captain and four-year starting defensive end at Texas who was an All-Big 12 honorable mention as a senior after compiling 3.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs. He plays with a high motor and was a 93rd percentile athlete at the NFL Combine, but his lack of length (7th percentile arms) and pass-rush moves have prevented him from being a more productive player. Arguably too small for a full-time role in the NFL, Roach will settle for a rotational role where he can maximize his 4.84 speed and pedal to the metal playing style.

“The lack of length and below-average pass rush is a concern, but a move inside should bolster his chances of making a roster or practice squad as a rotational interior defender in an upfield 4-3 scheme,” Zierlein wrote in his analysis of Roach (6'2/297). The former Texas defensive lineman ran the 40 in 4.84 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the combination of athleticism and length concerns may make him a tough fit on the outside at the next level. The scheme of the team that Roach is selected by will have a significant impact on his pro prospects.

Roach (6'3/290) is a key contributor for the Texas defense, so this is a big loss for that unit to take. The senior defensive lineman, who delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit to Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, will also miss the first half of next week’s game vs. Kansas since his ejection occurred during the second half.

Not the first time we’ve heard this. Roach had just 24 tackles with 1.5 of them for loss last year, but it was an injury-riddled season, and the defender was also playing out of position. “Roach stood out during spring scrimmages and also behind the scenes, where he showed greater willingness to lead younger teammates,” writes Rittenberg. If Texas gets production from Roach -- and a few other defenders -- they have a shot to win the Big 12 and compete for a playoff spot.

As Hummer notes, Roach was forced to play linebacker for most of the season, which is not his natural position. “Add in some injury issues, and Roach had a tepid 24-tackle, 1.5-tackle-for-loss campaign,” he writes. “Back at his more natural defensive end spot, I’d expect Roach to emerge as one of the stalwarts of Texas’ defense next season.” Texas is considered a playoff contender by many. If they get big production out of players like Roach, it’s certainly possible.

In fact, there’s a good chance that Roach (6'3/270) might be able to return for Saturday’s big contest against West Virginia. The hybrid player injured his foot in the win over USC, and he hasn’t played since. Assuming there’s no setbacks, the 2016 Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Big-12 will be back on the field for the Longhorns.