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FinHeaven Elite
Tony Bua
Position: Strong Safety/Outside Linebacker
College: Arkansas
Height: 5-11
Weight: 218
Hometown: River Ridge, La.
Analysis | Agility | High School | Personal
OVERVIEW
Four-year starter who found a home at free safety in his final year after excelling as a weakside linebacker during his first three seasons for the Razorbacks … Also excels in the class room, garnering several academic honors … Moved into the starting lineup midway through his redshirt freshman season, establishing himself as one of the top big-play artists in the Southeastern Conference … High-intensity type whose hard-hitting tackling skills could see him shift to strong safety at the pro level … Has drawn comparisons to All-Pro safety Adam Archuletta (St. Louis) … Started 38 of 47 games for Arkansas, recording 403 tackles (245 solos) with six sacks for minus-55 yards, 24 stops for losses of 93 yards, six interceptions for 30 yards in returns, 13 pass deflections, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries … His 403 tackles broke school's all-time record list, surpassing the previous mark of 381 by Ken Hamlin (2000-02) … A model of consistency, he had at least 10 tackles in 20 contests during his career.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has good lower body muscle definition, with adequate shoulder and arm thickness … Plays with a good sense of urgency, as he is quick to read and react to the ball (has above-verage run defense instincts) … Physical tackler with the right mentality and foot speed to convert to strong safety at the pro level … Emotional and vocal leader who is very coachable and displays an above-average work ethic … Has the hip snap to quickly turn coming out of his backpedal … Displays good body control and stays at a low pad level when making wrap-up tackles … Has natural hands and good leaping ability to pluck and snatch the ball at its highest point … Very alert on the field, consistently competing for the ball in the air … Knows how to use his hands to redirect receivers at the line … Shows balance and strength when showing up in run support … Physical striker with the agility to change direction immediately when working in space … Has the vision to play the ball in front of him, showing good zone awareness … Shows a sudden burst coming off the edge on the blitz (can easily accelerate to the quarterback and disrupt the play).
Negatives: While he shows aggression in run support, he needs to use his hands better in order to shed the larger blockers (very aggressive near the line of scrimmage, but lacks ideal bulk to play linebacker, resulting in a move to safety in 2003) … Has a muscular frame, but could use additional bulk (220-225 pound potential) in order to handle the punishment issued at the pro level … Plays man coverage well in the short area, but needs to improve tracking the ball over his shoulders on deep routes.
AGILITY TESTS
4.59 in the 40-yard dash … 360-pound bench press … 540-pound squat … 29-inch arm length … 8 3/8-inch hands … Right-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended River Ridge (La.) High, playing football for coach John Curtis, Jr. … All-state pick as a senior as he intercepted seven passes for a team that was 14-0 and won the state championship … Made the state's top 20 blue chip list, even though he only played a year in Louisiana … Spent his previous seasons at Liberty (Texas) High … As a running back, he earned 2,450 career yards on 223 carries and on defense, he recorded 195 tackles with 11 interceptions … Also an all-state selection in baseball in Texas and Louisiana and was the district's Most Valuable Player … Played centerfield and batted leadoff.
PERSONAL
Communications major, enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences … Member of the 2000 and 2002 SEC Football Academic Honor Roll, and also a member of the 2001-02 Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll … Son of Jodie and Anthony Bua … Born Feb. 11, 1980 … Resides in River Ridge, La.
Position: Strong Safety/Outside Linebacker
College: Arkansas
Height: 5-11
Weight: 218
Hometown: River Ridge, La.
Analysis | Agility | High School | Personal
OVERVIEW
Four-year starter who found a home at free safety in his final year after excelling as a weakside linebacker during his first three seasons for the Razorbacks … Also excels in the class room, garnering several academic honors … Moved into the starting lineup midway through his redshirt freshman season, establishing himself as one of the top big-play artists in the Southeastern Conference … High-intensity type whose hard-hitting tackling skills could see him shift to strong safety at the pro level … Has drawn comparisons to All-Pro safety Adam Archuletta (St. Louis) … Started 38 of 47 games for Arkansas, recording 403 tackles (245 solos) with six sacks for minus-55 yards, 24 stops for losses of 93 yards, six interceptions for 30 yards in returns, 13 pass deflections, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries … His 403 tackles broke school's all-time record list, surpassing the previous mark of 381 by Ken Hamlin (2000-02) … A model of consistency, he had at least 10 tackles in 20 contests during his career.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has good lower body muscle definition, with adequate shoulder and arm thickness … Plays with a good sense of urgency, as he is quick to read and react to the ball (has above-verage run defense instincts) … Physical tackler with the right mentality and foot speed to convert to strong safety at the pro level … Emotional and vocal leader who is very coachable and displays an above-average work ethic … Has the hip snap to quickly turn coming out of his backpedal … Displays good body control and stays at a low pad level when making wrap-up tackles … Has natural hands and good leaping ability to pluck and snatch the ball at its highest point … Very alert on the field, consistently competing for the ball in the air … Knows how to use his hands to redirect receivers at the line … Shows balance and strength when showing up in run support … Physical striker with the agility to change direction immediately when working in space … Has the vision to play the ball in front of him, showing good zone awareness … Shows a sudden burst coming off the edge on the blitz (can easily accelerate to the quarterback and disrupt the play).
Negatives: While he shows aggression in run support, he needs to use his hands better in order to shed the larger blockers (very aggressive near the line of scrimmage, but lacks ideal bulk to play linebacker, resulting in a move to safety in 2003) … Has a muscular frame, but could use additional bulk (220-225 pound potential) in order to handle the punishment issued at the pro level … Plays man coverage well in the short area, but needs to improve tracking the ball over his shoulders on deep routes.
AGILITY TESTS
4.59 in the 40-yard dash … 360-pound bench press … 540-pound squat … 29-inch arm length … 8 3/8-inch hands … Right-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended River Ridge (La.) High, playing football for coach John Curtis, Jr. … All-state pick as a senior as he intercepted seven passes for a team that was 14-0 and won the state championship … Made the state's top 20 blue chip list, even though he only played a year in Louisiana … Spent his previous seasons at Liberty (Texas) High … As a running back, he earned 2,450 career yards on 223 carries and on defense, he recorded 195 tackles with 11 interceptions … Also an all-state selection in baseball in Texas and Louisiana and was the district's Most Valuable Player … Played centerfield and batted leadoff.
PERSONAL
Communications major, enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences … Member of the 2000 and 2002 SEC Football Academic Honor Roll, and also a member of the 2001-02 Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll … Son of Jodie and Anthony Bua … Born Feb. 11, 1980 … Resides in River Ridge, La.
