Uar Bernard's best traits that should help his ongoing NFL transition

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Few players entering the NFL have traveled a path quite like Uar Bernard’s. The Philadelphia Eagles selected the Nigerian native even though he has never played a down of organized football. Normally, that would sound absurd. The NFL’s International Pathway Players Program changed that. Remember, Philadelphia once drafted an Australian rugby player named Jordan Mailata, and that worked out rather well.

Bernard represents a similar gamble. The learning curve will be steep. Every aspect of his technique requires refinement. Every football instinct must be developed, yet despite those realities, the Eagles saw something impossible to ignore. The physical gifts are extraordinary.

Uar Bernard’s rare size-speed combination

The numbers almost sound made up. Bernard, a 6-foot-5 and 306-pound athlete with no football experience, ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at an HBCU combine. That’s not normal. In fact, it’s the type of athletic profile many established NFL players would envy. His combination of size, explosiveness, and movement skills explains why scouts became intrigued despite his lack of football experience. He already looks like an NFL defensive lineman. Now comes the process of learning how to play like one. There are plenty of coaches rooting for him. There are plenty of fans cheering for him. We’ll see what happens.

Bernard’s chiseled physique and elite conditioning

Most defensive tackles carry extra weight. Bernard doesn’t. At 306 pounds with roughly six percent body fat, he possesses one of the most impressive physiques you’ll find anywhere in professional sports. There are NBA players who don’t maintain six percent body fat. The significance extends beyond aesthetics. Conditioning helps players handle long practices, survive demanding training camps, and maintain effectiveness deep into games. Bernard already has a head start in that area.

Humility and coachability

Talent alone won’t determine Bernard’s future. His willingness to learn might. One of the most encouraging aspects of his story is the humility he has displayed throughout his football journey. Before ever stepping onto a practice field, Bernard spent years studying players such as Osi Umenyiora and Myles Garrett. He watched a film. He learned terminology. He absorbed everything possible. Today, he speaks highly of defensive line coach Clint Hurt and frequently refers to teammates as family. Coaches love talented players. They love coachable players even more. Bernard appears to be both, and that will fuel others’ desire to do all they can to ensure he succeeds.

Athletic testing that borders on ridiculous

The testing numbers deserve their own section. A 39-inch vertical jump. A 10-foot-10 broad jump. Thirty-one bench press repetitions. His broad jump exceeded every defensive tackle testing by more than a foot. None of those numbers guarantees football success. They do, however, confirm what scouts already suspected. Bernard possesses elite athletic tools that cannot be taught. The Eagles understand patience will be required. Bernard is learning a sport that many of his peers have played since childhood. That reality cannot be ignored. Still, experience can be gained. Technique can be refined. Knowledge can be taught. Rare athletic gifts cannot.

That’s why Bernard remains one of the most intriguing long-term projects on Philadelphia’s roster. If he eventually puts everything together, the Eagles may have uncovered another developmental gem hiding in plain sight.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Uar Bernard’s best traits that should help his ongoing NFL transition

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