The Arizona Cardinals needed a defensive lineman in this weekend and in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft they got one in Sam Acho. Acho was a defensive end at Texas but will likely convert to outside linebacker in the Cardinals 3-4 defense. He lacks elite speed of some of the guys the Cardinals passed on earlier in the draft so it will be a waiting game to see if the can provide the pass rush that older vets Joey Porter and Clark Haggans didn't provide.
Acho's top-rated skill according to the ESPN scouting report is his intangibles. Reading through this list of accomplishments, it's easy to see him being a Ken Whisenhunt guy.
Team captain that won team's most valuable player award, most valuable defensive player award and a strength and conditioning award in 2010. Won several other team awards during time at Texas. Head coach Mack Brown called Acho one of the team's best special teams' players. Won several prestigious academic awards including the William V. Campbell Award and community service awards including the Wuerffel Award in 2010.
Representative at NCAA Leadership Council and recipient of Arthur Ashe Award a national award given to minority student-athletes in 2009. Speaks Spanish and has taken multiple trips to Nigeria where his parents grew up.
Cardinals blog Revenge of the Birds will surly be happy with this pick. They targeted Acho before Saturday's portion of the NFL Draft started.
If Available, Should The Cardinals Draft Sam Acho? - Revenge of the Birds
Right now, a lot of us are frustrated that the Cardinals took Running Back Ryan Williams and Tight End Robert Housler instead of some of the pass rushers who were available like Akeem Ayers, Brooks Reed, and Dontay Moch.Acho played Defensive End for the Texas Longhorns, and while they vastly underperformed as a team last season he had a good year racking up eight sacks with 60 tackles...He also preformed well in the Combine posting a 4.63 in the 40 yard dash, along with a 37.5 inch vertical leap and good performances in the Linebacker drills.
The Cardinals have one pick each in the fifth (136), sixth (171), and seventh (249) rounds with an extra pick (184) in the sixth.