Siaki Ika Scouting Report
School: Baylor Year: Rs Junior Games Watched: West Virginia (2021), Texas (2021), Oklahoma State (2021), West Virginia (2022) Best Game: West Virginia (2021) Worst Game: West Virginia
Explosiveness: He leaves some to be desired in this department, but you have to realize the role you’re asking him to play and his size. At this size, it’s impressive he has flashes of getting into the backfield as quick as he does. Is it consistent? No, but you’re not asking him to be a disruptive pass rusher.
Pad Level/Leverage: Does a surprisingly good job of gaining leverage. Despite his massive size he is consistently able to keep his pads lower than the offensive lineman and this results in him driving them back into the pocket.
Pass Rush Plan: Shows some surprising ability to get after the passer. It isn’t to the level of a 3 tech, but for someone his size it’s not bad. He is able to place his hands into the chest of the offensive lineman, keep his pads lower than him and just use his brute strength to drive the offensive lineman back. Would like to see him add more moves, but that isn’t his main calling card. When a QB gets too deep out of the pocket, he kind of looks lost and just goes with the motion. Will throw in head fakes to get the offensive lineman to think he is going to one gap, when in reality he’s going to the opposite one.
Run Defense: Massive human, able to clog lanes up the middle, take on double teams and hold his ground. Phenomenal anchor against the run. Has a habit of defeating zone blocking concepts and causing pressure in the backfield.
Versatility: Has quite good conditioning for a big player and is able to be on the field for all 3 downs. Has a ways to go as a pass rusher but he could get there.
Strength/Power: Has immense power, is able to just long arm centers back into the lap of the QB. Very overwhelming player when you look at his size (6’4, 358) and you combine it with his strength.
Block Shedding: Mostly relies on his ability to collapse the pocket with his power before shedding the block. And it has worked for him all throughout college. His immense strength allows for him to get offensive lineman pushed back and onto their heels. Which in turn allows for a quick secondary move from Ika and he is disengaged from the block.
Hand Usage: Shows a very powerful long-arm. Has flashes the swim move. Has a viscous push pull move he developed throughout 2021.
Flexibility: Has reps where he was asked to be a 3 tech and he looked surprisingly good. He looked more explosive and had more active hands. So it leads me to wonder, is he less explosive as a 1 or 0 tech because that’s what the coaches ask from him? Looks to be stiff in the lower half as a mover. Has had reps from 0 tech to 3 tech.
Gap Shooting/Lat. Ability: You would think at his size, he would be a stiff mover when moving side to side. You would be right. It takes him a second to gather himself when making sharp cuts that require a turn in the opposite direction. Effective when a defender charges into his blocker and he is tasked with twisting over a gap.
Explosiveness (15)
12
Strength/Power (10)
9.8
Pad Level/Leverage (10)
8.8
Block Shedding (10)
8.5
Pass Rush Plan (10)
8.5
Hand Usage (10)
8.8
Run Defense (10)
9.4
Flexibility (10)
6.8
Versatility (5)
4.5
Gap Shooting/Lat. Ability (10)
7.7
Final Grade: 84.8, very high 2nd round player