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Rams sign Tennessee UDFA ILB Daniel Bituli, 6' 3" 253lbs. Has size.
Can someone post the skinny on this guy?
Can someone post the skinny on this guy?
Rams Sign LB Daniel Bituli
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nighttrain
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Daniel Bituli signing free-agent deal with Rams
ByPATRICK BROWN Apr 29, 3:25 PM
9
Tennessee linebacker Daniel Bituli signed a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.
The leading tackler for the Vols the past three seasons, Bituli joining an NFL team had been delayed due a situation with his knee, as GoVols247 reported after the 2020 NFL Draft concluded. Per sources, Bituli's knee caused him to be "flagged" by NFL teams during the pre-draft process and ultimately led to him going undrafted despite a mid- or late-round grade suggesting he would have been drafted. Limitations for NFL teams due to the coronavirus also didn't help Bituli get examined by teams interested in him.
The Vols had a pair of players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft with edge rusher Darrell Taylor in the second round with the No. 48 overall pick and the 49ers drafting wide receiver Jauan Jennings in seventh round (217th overall) on Saturday afternoon, and wide receiver Marquez Callaway (Saints), safety Nigel Warrior (Ravens) and tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson (Seahawks) all signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents.
Bituli became just the third Tennessee player to lead the Vols in tackles for three straight seasons (A.J. Johnson, who started for the Denver Broncos in 2019, did it in 2012-14) and overcame a preseason knee injury to have an All-SEC season as a senior.
Born in the Congo before his family moved to the United States as a young child, Bituli broke onto the scene for Tennessee when a couple of injuries at his position afforded him a starting opportunity against Georgia Tech in the 2017 season opener, and the sophomore took full advantage by racking up 23 tackles against the Yellow Jackets' triple-option flexbone offense.
(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports)
He went on to lead the Vols with 90 tackles and ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in tackles per game despite splitting time at middle linebacker with Colton Jumper. Bituli had some of his best games against Tennessee's toughest opponents, racking up eight tackles against both Georgia and LSU and returning an interception of Tua Tagovailoa 97 yards for a touchdown to go along with nine tackles against Alabama. Bituli closed his breakout season with 12 tackles against Vanderbilt.
Bituli had 6.5 tackles for loss (third-most on the team) to go along with a Tennessee-best 79 tackles during his sophomore season in 2018. He notched his first career sack against UTEP, had eight tackles against both Georgia and Alabama and racked up a career-high 13 stops in the win against Charlotte. Bituli had a big game in the upset of Kentucky, too, racking up eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss against the Wildcats.
9COMMENTS
A former Top247 prospect out of Nashville, Bituli saved his best for last, earning All-SEC honors in 2019 after he led Tennessee with 88 tackles and added five tackles for loss and three sacks with a pair of pass breakups despite missing the first two games of the season.
Bituli twice earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors, after the Vols beat South Carolina (15 tackles plus a punt blocked for a touchdown) and Kentucky (19 tackles, including the game-winning stop at the goal line), and he also had 12 tackles and a sack against Missouri and notched six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble at Florida.
ByPATRICK BROWN Apr 29, 3:25 PM
9
Tennessee linebacker Daniel Bituli signed a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.
The leading tackler for the Vols the past three seasons, Bituli joining an NFL team had been delayed due a situation with his knee, as GoVols247 reported after the 2020 NFL Draft concluded. Per sources, Bituli's knee caused him to be "flagged" by NFL teams during the pre-draft process and ultimately led to him going undrafted despite a mid- or late-round grade suggesting he would have been drafted. Limitations for NFL teams due to the coronavirus also didn't help Bituli get examined by teams interested in him.
The Vols had a pair of players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft with edge rusher Darrell Taylor in the second round with the No. 48 overall pick and the 49ers drafting wide receiver Jauan Jennings in seventh round (217th overall) on Saturday afternoon, and wide receiver Marquez Callaway (Saints), safety Nigel Warrior (Ravens) and tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson (Seahawks) all signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents.
Bituli became just the third Tennessee player to lead the Vols in tackles for three straight seasons (A.J. Johnson, who started for the Denver Broncos in 2019, did it in 2012-14) and overcame a preseason knee injury to have an All-SEC season as a senior.
Born in the Congo before his family moved to the United States as a young child, Bituli broke onto the scene for Tennessee when a couple of injuries at his position afforded him a starting opportunity against Georgia Tech in the 2017 season opener, and the sophomore took full advantage by racking up 23 tackles against the Yellow Jackets' triple-option flexbone offense.
He went on to lead the Vols with 90 tackles and ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in tackles per game despite splitting time at middle linebacker with Colton Jumper. Bituli had some of his best games against Tennessee's toughest opponents, racking up eight tackles against both Georgia and LSU and returning an interception of Tua Tagovailoa 97 yards for a touchdown to go along with nine tackles against Alabama. Bituli closed his breakout season with 12 tackles against Vanderbilt.
Bituli had 6.5 tackles for loss (third-most on the team) to go along with a Tennessee-best 79 tackles during his sophomore season in 2018. He notched his first career sack against UTEP, had eight tackles against both Georgia and Alabama and racked up a career-high 13 stops in the win against Charlotte. Bituli had a big game in the upset of Kentucky, too, racking up eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss against the Wildcats.
9COMMENTS
A former Top247 prospect out of Nashville, Bituli saved his best for last, earning All-SEC honors in 2019 after he led Tennessee with 88 tackles and added five tackles for loss and three sacks with a pair of pass breakups despite missing the first two games of the season.
Bituli twice earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors, after the Vols beat South Carolina (15 tackles plus a punt blocked for a touchdown) and Kentucky (19 tackles, including the game-winning stop at the goal line), and he also had 12 tackles and a sack against Missouri and notched six tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble at Florida.
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Hopefully this guy will alleviate my worries I have in regards to the ILB situation. Don’t think Kiser has ever been I’m pressure or the heir. We need to draft somebody one of these centuries and he don’t need to be a first-second rounder either. Just someone competent.
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Rams4life
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shovelpass
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Yeah I think it shows that Staley's been very blessed with what he's had thus far in the NFL. So at this point he's probably just trying to figure out who (if anyone) will be able to stay on the field for 3 downs so they can be the token ILB among all the subbing that will be going on. It's unavoidable, given the difference in roster quality between the ILB group and the secondary.
“Turbo set!”
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Good size and produced. Why not?
Edit: Apparently he was with the team earlier this season and cut.
Edit: Apparently he was with the team earlier this season and cut.
Allen2McVay
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Would not get too excited about a player (Bituli) signed following the Draft and then released in a cut-down from 90 to 80.
More focused on Christian Rozeboom’s progress. An undrafted rookie free agent LB signed after the Draft who was not released.
More focused on Christian Rozeboom’s progress. An undrafted rookie free agent LB signed after the Draft who was not released.
oldnotdead
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He doesn't fit the type of guys Snead seems to favor at LB. He's big but painfully slow with limited range. He's simply a one or maybe two down player at best. You would use him to simply clog a gap in the run game.
With Robinson out they can simply play Brockers/Gaines at 1T with Floyd and Lewis outside and Ebukam at his normal SAM position. These guys look like camp fodder nada mas. They already have a big slow guy named SJD.
With Robinson out they can simply play Brockers/Gaines at 1T with Floyd and Lewis outside and Ebukam at his normal SAM position. These guys look like camp fodder nada mas. They already have a big slow guy named SJD.
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Yeah.
I suppose we could say they knew quickly on Love, and London... Had space for a quick look-see.
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He was released because his knee didn't medically check out at that time, now he's passed the physical, so they we signed him.
Rams4life
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I'm with you. And picking up the raiders garbage.
Elmgrovegnome
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Maybe they are trying to see if he can win a starting ilb job? Which does not bode well if they are looking at this point.
Maybe they aren't happy with their depth? It would be difficult to trust Kiser's health at this point. Can he play a full season?
I agree with @Corbin. They need to identify a good job in the draft and prioritize the position. That or with a free agent, but cap space makes that seem unlikely.
Maybe they aren't happy with their depth? It would be difficult to trust Kiser's health at this point. Can he play a full season?
I agree with @Corbin. They need to identify a good job in the draft and prioritize the position. That or with a free agent, but cap space makes that seem unlikely.
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Unless we find a diamond in the rough this year I don't see any way this doesn't happen next draft. Same for the C position.
I've been amazed with people still on the Kiser train like he's ever done anything or note. It reminds me of Isaiah Pead a few years ago and how nobody could except he needs to go.
Just let it happen.
Elmgrovegnome
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Yep. Some people refuse to admit when a pick they like hasn't panned out. I'm starting to feel that way about Henderson. I wasn't crazy about the choice to start with though. I'm not a fan of speed backs in the pros unless they come to a very good Oline. They get holes in college to blow through untouched that are seldom there in the NFL. This team does not open holes like that. I'm also skeptical about Akers. His dancing around and trying to make something out of nothing can work in college. Every college team has weaknesses. But NFL defenses won't allow it unless he's Faulk special. I hope he is. Give me a good Online and any running back can have success.
I was convinced they'd go ilb/C this year. I guess if they had a first round pick they might have taken Ruiz. But they had some big holes to fill and didnt.