Armand Membou didn’t start enjoying soccer till he was within the eighth grade.
When Membou reached highschool, he was round six toes tall and 185 kilos. Nonetheless, a progress spurt that elevated his peak and weight to 6-4, 250 kilos modified his soccer trajectory eternally.
“I was way faster and stronger than I was before,” Membou stated throughout his press convention with the media on Friday. “Working out, I feel like God, He gave me like a new update or something.”
Watching him on movie, Membou definitely doesn’t play like a comparatively new participant to the sport of soccer. However he was some of the sought-after offensive linemen on this yr’s draft class, which is why the Jets drafted him at seventh total on Thursday night time.
“The athletic profile is off the charts,” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn stated about Membou. “He’s imply, he’s nasty, he’s robust.
“What we’re trying to do on offense, he really fits what we’re trying to do, so it was a no-brainer. I mean, once the pick was there for us, man, it was like, this is the guy.”
Membou is the second consecutive offensive lineman the Jets have chosen within the first spherical. A yr in the past, they drafted left sort out Olu Fashanu eleventh total. Now, Membou will play on the other aspect of Fashanu in what the Jets hope will solidify their tackles for the subsequent decade.
Membou was not extremely touted in highschool, popping out of Lee’s Summit North in Missouri. He was rated a three-star athlete and the No. 10-ranked participant within the state. Membou finally determined to remain residence and attend the College of Missouri.
Membou wasn’t excessive on NFL scouts’ radar at Missouri till his junior season. Throughout his first two seasons with the Tigers, he allowed three sacks.
However as a junior, Membou was among the best offensive linemen within the nation. He didn’t enable a sack in 411 pass-blocking snaps. Due to that, he was a second-team All-SEC choice.
Membou knew the NFL was a chance following his freshman season. However after his efficiency throughout his junior season, Membou stated the choice to enter the NFL Draft was a simple one.
“My last couple of starts my freshman year, I did really good,” Membou stated. “I knew with my last two years, I would turn myself into an NFL player.”
Membou defines himself as “a mauler,” and his play means that. He possesses a uncommon mixture of pure energy, uncooked energy, and athleticism usually not present in offensive linemen.
At Missouri, Membou performed in a zone-based run scheme, permitting him to make use of his large 6-4, 332-pound physique to knock go rushers and defenders down on the second and third ranges of blocking.
Normally, left tackles are the extra athletic tackles on the offensive line, however Membou is athletically gifted. He ran a 4.91 40-yard sprint on the NFL Mix. He additionally had a 34-inch vertical soar.
Earlier than enjoying soccer, Membou performed basketball, tennis, and soccer, and was a wrestler, which he believes helps him as an offensive lineman.
“One thing I took away from wrestling was being able to drop levels and just change your leverage,” Membou stated. “I was really good at spearing people, so I kind of took that where I run block and get down and get low.”
The Jets interviewed Membou on the mix and later invited him to go to their facility in Florham Park for a top-30 go to. After attending to know him, the Jets fell in love with Membou’s character in addition to his soccer expertise. The Jets and Membou additionally had just a few FaceTime calls this week, which is when he obtained the inclination that he could be drafted by the Jets.
Throughout Glenn’s first draft after changing into the Lions’ defensive coordinator in 2021, the Lions additionally chosen an offensive lineman in Penei Sewell, seventh total. Throughout his 4 seasons in Detroit, Sewell has been a two-time first-team All-Professional choice and a three-time Professional Bowler.
Glenn says he sees a few of the similar traits in Membou as he does in Sewell.
“The mentality and the demeanor of the player is exactly the same,” Glenn stated. “That’s what attracted me to that participant in the beginning, and then you definitely begin seeing, athletically, how he strikes, after which that draws you.
“And then when you get a chance to talk to the player and get to know exactly who he is as a person, then that attracts you also, so it was like a perfect storm on that guy being a Jet.”
With Membou becoming a member of the Jets, their beginning offensive line is full. Nonetheless, excessive expectations are being positioned on Membou and the Jets’ offensive line to guard quarterback Justin Fields and supply a steady and efficient speeding assault.
On paper, the Jets have one of the best offensive line in latest reminiscence. Along with Membou, Fashanu, left guard John Simpson, heart Joe Tippmann, and Alijah Vera-Tucker are all anticipated to begin upfront. Membou will change Morgan Moses, who signed with the Patriots in free company.
“It means a lot that this team has invested this pick in me,” Membou stated. “I’m just taking it one step at a time.”
