NFL Draft Diamonds Scouting Report: Malik Fountain, LB, Central Michigan
- NFL Draft Diamonds Scouting Report: Malik Fountain, LB, Central Michigan by Matt Anzio
- Name: Malik Fountain
- Position: LB
- School – Central Michigan
- Draft: 2019
- Height: 6’2
- Weight: 230
- Projected Forty: 4.77
- Projected Draft Rd: 7-UDFA
- #8
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Stats & Awards
Career – 51 games, 227 solo, 172 ast, 399 tackles, 25 TFL, 2 INT’s, 1 FR, 3 FF & 1 Sack
2018- Played in 12 Games this season
- 153 tackles, 87 solo, 66 AST, 8 TFL 1 sack, 2 INT, 6 PBU & 1 FF
- Mac D Player Of The Week Sept 15th had 18 tackles, 8
solo a criticalsack in the 4th QT to help win vsNIU . All Conference First Team- 13 tackles 1 QBH vs NIU
- 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL vs Maine
- 15 tackles, 1.5 TFL & 1 INT vs Mich State
- 15 tackles vs Western Mich
- 15 tackles, 2 TFL & 1 FF vs Akron
- 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks & 1 FR vs Eastern Mich
- 16 tackles vs Bowling Green
2017
- 89 tackles, 2.5 TFL 2 PD
- All MAC American 2nd Team
- Ranked 2nd on team with tackles
2016
90 tackles, 9 TFL, FF FR
All MAC American Conference First Team Defense
Avg 7 tackles per Game
6 tackles at Oklahoma St 9/10/16
9 tackles, 8 of which solo 2 TFL vs UNLV 9/17/16
13 tackles 1.5 TFL at Toledo 10/22/16
8 tackles at Miami 11/4/16
Diamond Report
Fountain is a absolute beast of a tackler in the open field.
Frame wise he has a good stature for the position of linebacker middle or mike LB he’s almost 6’2 230 pounds with strong upper body nice wingspan powerful grip/ hands good lateral movement fluid hips with above average lower body burst. Shows consistent effort really improved on his numbers this season. All Pro Mac Conference 1st team this season & has been 1st or 2nd team 3 years in a row.
In the Run Game: Patient waiting for plays to develop with outstanding start & stop. He is a stud 153 tackles with 87 solo is proof in itself that Fountain is a savage
In Pass Coverage: Leaves something to be desired not the fastest nor does he have the long speed to cover for extended periods. What he lacks in coverage skills he makes up for with effort & a high football IQ. He does get lost a bit at times in coverage but I do believe he has the attributes to cover in short areas keep everything in front of him. Excellent at recognizing play calls a leader on the field he can help orchestrate his fellow D players to get them in the proper positioning. He is much better in a zone type capacity covering bubble screens & RB screens not covering for 30 yards down the field. Uses his hands well with 3 career FF & a couple INT’s very active hands knocking down balls or distracting QB’s. Not his strongest attribute but far from a weakness.
Summary: As a true Mike LB prospect I am high on Fountain. A workhorse in the run game & as an inside backer can limit him to covering short yardage passes. One word to define Fountain is consistent. Had double-digit tackles in every game this season. Played in 51 games in 4 years was All-Pro 3 years in a row. Still ranked as the number 33 LB prospect by NFL Draft Scout.com. Which leads me to believe he will need to show out against his peers as well as have a solid pro day in order to be considered a day 3 prospect.Might not blow scouts away with his Forty
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