1. Ricky Sapp, Clemson – Sapp has a great burst of speed off the end, but he is a little undersized for an NFL defensive end and that is why he will be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the next level. At 6-4 and 245 pounds, Sapp can add some more bulk as well as strength. Right now Sapp is also pretty one-dimensional in his pass rush and his straight line speed and his initial burst to beat tackles off the line of scrimmage. Last season he had 28 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He needs to get better being able to drop into coverage in pass defense, to be a more effective overall defender.
2. Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri – Weatherspoon is a good overall linebacker who is a very productive player in the Big 12, and should be a good overall linebacker at the next level. He has very good coverage skills and has the ability to play man to man as well as drop into zone coverage, and had 3 interceptions and 7 pass break-ups last season. He isn’t as good as a pass rusher as fellow Big 12 linebacker Sergio Kindle of Texas but can do it and is an effective blitzer. He had 18.5 tackles for loss last season as well as 5 sacks. Might not end up putting up those stats this season, but he has the ability to be best overall senior linebacker in this group.
3. Sergio Kindle, Texas – When Kindle sent his paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisor Board last season to see what type of draft grade he had when he got his paperwork back they said he was a second- or third-round choice, so Kindle decided to comeback to Texas for his senior season. Kindle is tougher against the run and a better blitzing linebacker than Aaron Curry who was the number four overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Kindle is a very strong pass rusher who can be a great blitzing strong side linebacker or even defensive end on 3rd downs. He has great speed and aggressiveness, and always plays hard.
4. Eric Norwood, South Carolina – Norwood declared for last years draft and then made the decision to come back for his senior season. So far it looks like it was the right move to make last season he had 75 total tackles and 9 sacks and so far it looks like he will put up better stats this season then last year. He is an all around linebacker that will be a 4-3 outside linebacker at the next level. He has good size and speed and with his size and speed could play the strong side linebacker spot in the NFL.
5. A.J. Edds, Iowa – Edds just seems to get better each week in Iowa’s defense he has great size at 6-3, 246 pounds and good speed, he has been clocked at around 4.6 in the 40. He needs to show improvement in his pass rushing skills but hasn’t been asked to blitz much in Iowa’s defense. He could be a real sleeper in the 2010 NFL draft and someone that gets talked about more as we get closer to the NFL Draft.
6. Daryl Washington, TCU – Washington is a productive linebacker that will be a weakside linebacker at the next level because of size 6-1 215, but he can run (4.5 in the 40). Last season he had 63 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and one interception. Washington is a good overall athlete, and has the ability to make plays both in the running game as well as the passing game, he shows coverage skills both in man to man as well as in zone.
7. Dekoda Watson, Florida State – Watson last season had 46 total tackles with 8 tackles for loss and 1 interception. He has good size at 6-2 226 and like all of Florida State linebackers can run. He has the ability to play both the weak side and strong side linebacker position and does a good job against the run and the pass. This season has been one of Florida States best overall defensive players.
8. Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas –Muckelroy doesn’t get the hype that his fellow linebacker Sergio Kindle gets, but all he does is make tackle and last season end up with 102 total tackles. He isn’t the linebacker that is going to make the huge hit or the game changing sack and forced fumble but what he is going to do is do his job and make very few mistakes. He is a very consistent player and there is no reason to think that he will be any different at the next level.
9. Justin Cole, San Jose State – Cole plays defensive end right now but a number of teams project him to be an outside linebacker in the NFL, because of his size and his athleticism he is 6-3 241. Last season he had 68 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 1 interception. The biggest question mark is going to be his overall speed and will he be able to flip his hips and cover as a 3-4 outside linebacker when he is ask to do that in the defensive scheme.
10. Cameron Sheffield, Troy – Sheffield is 6-2 250 and last season had 66 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. A good overall athlete with good pass rushing skills, he has good explosion off the line of scrimmage, but also has good strength and can use that when he bull rushers. He can play the run as well as the pass and will be a good addition to any team.
No comments:
Post a Comment