Dean Lowry

An impact player since arriving on campus, Lowry quietly improved every season, culminating with a consensus second team All-Big Ten senior year in which he ranked second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss. While he did not have a truly standout seasons on the national stage, he did earn an invitation to the Shrine Game, where he was a standout during practices. "I feel like I'm playing my best football right now," Lowry said in November. "I can't really say I've had excellent years in previous years that put me on the radar. I think I'm just getting better each season, and that's what I've done so far." As a junior, Lowry recorded 4.0 sacks, eight tackles for loss and 41 total tackles. He also finished second on the team with eight pass break-ups, using his size and wingspan to obstruct passing lanes and knock down throws at the line of scrimmage. He started nine games in 2013, finishing second on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss and third with 4.5 sacks. Lowry was one of four freshmen to crack the Wildcats' lineup in 2012, recording 14 tackles, 3.0 TFL and six QB hurries in 13 games as a reserve.

for a player of his size, lowry has short, disproportionate arms. lacks ideal explosive traits for the next level and needs to develop his pass rush moves to not be so predictable off the snap. unimaginative pass rush strategy and needs to better set up his moves instead of forcing his way through blockers each play.

Needs to develop his counters, allowing his rush to stall once initial momentum is slowed. Relies more on timing than burst. Can drop in space, but marginal change of direction skills limits his potential off the line of scrimmage.

in our view

He doesn't play with anything less than full effort and that hustle, along with his instincts, allows him to be effective containing the edge. Lowry lacks athletic twitch and move-to-move transition to be a consistent pass rush threat in the NFL, but his initial power and unrelenting play style wears down blockers.

he lacks ideal traits to start at the next level, but shows the recognition skills and versatility to play various scheme techniques as a reserve.

--Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) (2/21/16)

strengths

Heavy-handed and uses his momentum and natural lean to put blockers on their heels at the point of attack. Able to use his natural lean and first step momentum to generate power and move blockers from their spot. He sets the edge in the run game and is quick to diagnose and put himself in position to be opportunistic.

he plays fast a never with anything less than full effort. practiced at the shrine game with the same killer instinct and competitive drive that made him effective at northwestern.

WEAKNESSES

ESPN.com three-star honoree

Ranked 47th overall among defensive ends and 20th best prospect in Illinois by 247Sports

Ranked 95th overall among defensive ends by Scout.com and 115th overall nationally among defensive ends by ESPN.com

SuperPrep All-Midwest honoree

Chicago Tribune All-State and Champaign-News Gazette All-State selection

IHCA 7A All-State honoree

Northern Illinois Conference (NIC-10) Defensive MVP and Team MVP

Recorded 65 tackles, 21 TFL's and 10 sacks. Lettered twice in football and was a member of back-to-back 14-0 Boylan teams

Lettered one year in basketball as a center and played baseball his freshman year

Honor roll during his junior and senior years at Boylan, earning a NIC-10 Scholar Athlete distinction

Recognized for Excellence in Business Law and Excellence in Marketing

Coached by Dan Appino.

Born Dean Vincent Lowry

Son of Margaret and John Lowry

Played against fellow Wildcat Dan Vitale and former NU player Jarrell Williams

Majoring in economics with a minor in business institutions.

2015

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	18.0	18.0	1.0