Having looked at each of the Jets’ draft picks in detail, we’ve now moved on to discuss each of their undrafted free agent signings. We continue today with a breakdown of Appalachian State defensive tackle MyQuon Stout.

The 23-year old is listed at 6’1” and 280 pounds and was an all-Sun Belt Conference first teamer in 2018. He started 38 games over the last three years and ended his college career with 88 tackles, four sacks and nine tackles for loss.

Background

Stout was a two-star recruit coming out of high school, where he had also been a basketball player and shot-putter.

He was recruited to Appalachian State in 2014 and red-shirted his first season before playing in a rotational role as a red-shirt freshman, recording six tackles in 12 games.

Over the next three years, he was a full-time starter, playing in 39 games and starting all of them apart from on senior day in his sophomore year where he gave up his spot to a senior teammate.

Having been an honorable mention all-Sun Belt selection in his sophomore and junior season, Stout earned first-team recognition in his senior year.

He was not invited to the scouting combine but did a good job at Appalachian State’s pro day and was viewed as a possible late-round pick entering the draft.

Having gone unselected, Stout was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent; one of two Mountaineers in this year’s haul.

Now let’s take a look at what Stout brings to the table, divided into categories.

Measurables/Athleticism

Stout is somewhat undersized, although he measured in at 292 at his pro day, some 10 pounds heavier than his usual playing weight. Despite this, he still posted solid numbers across the board, including a 5.06 40-yard dash, 110-inch broad jump and 4.51 short shuttle. He also posted 28 bench press reps.

Stout has short arms, although his wingspan is about average, as is his hand size.

When he first arrived at Appalachian State, Stout was only 232 pounds, so has gained 60 pounds since that time.

Usage

The majority of Stout’s reps at the collegiate level came at the nose tackle position in Appalachian State’s 3-4 system. He also played as a conventional 3-technique defensive tackle.

When he was initially recruited, Stout initially saw work as a strong side defensive end.

Run defense

Stout was a productive run defender in his three years as the starting nose tackle for the Mountaineers. Despite the fact 2018 was the year where he earned first-team recognition, he was actually more statistically productive in 2017. However, his coaches gave him credit for taking on blockers to free up the team’s four starting linebackers, each of whom earned all-conference recognition.

Stout is able to use his quickness to shoot gaps and make plays against the run, as he does here.

However, there are times where he will attempt to do that and his man will be able to redirect him, using his momentum against him. He can also struggle to hold up against double teams due to his lack of size.

In the trenches, he gets out of his stance quickly and has a naturally low center of gravity that helps him gain good leverage in one-on-one match-ups. He also has good athleticism when moving laterally or coming downhill.

Motor

Stout is regarded as a player that gives a good effort. You can see evidence of that on this play, as he was initially repelled but kept working and eventually fought his way off a block to generate pressure.

Stout has proven capable of taking on a large workload over the past two years, playing over 50 snaps in four games, although only one of those was last season.

Pass rush

While Stout wasn’t particularly productive as a pass rusher, he contributed four sacks in his career, mostly cleaning up as the quarterback was forced to step up.

He was also able to generate some pressure, mostly through his ability to collapse the pocket.

A lot of the time, Stout would find himself double or even triple-teamed, leaving the edge rushers single-blocked with a chance to get to the quarterback. He also played contain in certain assignments and occasionally stunted around the edge.

Technique

As noted, Stout has a natural leverage advantage because he’s short and stocky, but also seems to have a good understanding of how to gain such advantages. He uses his hands well and once he gains leverage he is able to use his strength to penetrate or fill gaps.

As a pass rusher, he generally just uses a bull rush from the nose tackle position, but will look to use his quickness when aligned elsewhere. However, he does flash the ability to use some other pass rush moves to get into the backfield.

Tackling

Stout wasn’t particularly statistically productive as a tackler, affecting plenty of plays by helping to bottle them up instead. He does have an ability to get a grip on a ball carrier’s jersey and hang onto him so he can wrap him up properly.

He doesn’t miss a lot of tackles, but is unable to make the arm tackle at the second level on this play.

Coverage

Stout only dropped off the line a few times in coverage while in college, but was credited with two passes defensed in his senior year as he batted a few passes down at the line.

Instincts/Intelligence

Stout is regarded as an intelligent player, who was nominated for academic honors while in college.

On the field, there are situations where he penetrates into the backfield and the runner goes through a gap he just vacated or fails to disengage from a block as someone runs right by him, so he may need to work on his play recognition and vision, although it’s theoretically possible these instances were due to assignment-based scheme flaws.

Special teams

Stout hasn’t contributed much as a special teamer in college. The majority of his reps came on the field goal defense, but he also rushed a few punts.

Attitude/Demeanor

Stout, who sadly lost his mother while still in high school, is regarded as a player with outstanding intangibles. He was a leader on and off the field and a two-time team captain that coaches have referred to as the heart and soul of the team. Teammates raved about one occasion where he ripped into the whole team during a meeting and helped turn their season around.

On the field, he’s an intense player who gives a constant effort and is unselfish in terms of doing the dirty work without getting much of the glory.

He had a couple of personal fouls in 2017, including this one, although he’s been a disciplined player with only three penalties in his college career.

Injuries

Stout didn’t have any injuries in college, as he played in 51 games in four years. However, he did have to battle through some injuries while still in high school.

Scheme Fit

The concern with Stout is his lack of size. Unless he continues to bulk up, he’s unlikely to be able to handle a conventional nose tackle role at the NFL level, but could potentially be a gap-shooting interior lineman. Such players seem to be fashionable in recent years.

Conclusions

It’s interesting that the Jets picked up a couple of Appalachian State players in light of rumors that they might be interested in bringing Daniel Jeremiah aboard for a front office role. Jeremiah’s ties to Appalachian State are well-known, so it would be ironic if he joins the Jets after they picked up a couple of players in whom he no doubt would have been interested.

Stout is certainly undersized, but seems like a strong character who will be the type of player any team would appreciate having in camp, even if he can’t make the team.

With a bit of a logjam at the defensive tackle positions, there likely isn’t room for a project like Stout on the roster, but he should get plenty of preseason reps to prove himself worthy of developing on the practice squad.