1. Brandon Spikes, Florida - Spikes has good size and rang for an inside linebacker with the ability to go sideline to sideline to make a play. Spikes has a great football IQ, and has the ability to diagnose plays and predict, at times, where the ball is going and takes great angles when pursing the ball carrier. He is not great in coverage, but can do it if he is asked to. Spikes had a better sophomore season then he did last year, but is a productive player who can make game changing plays at the middle linebacker spot, which is hard to find and that is why Spikes will be drafted early if he keeps playing like he is capable of. Spikes has played well this season with 32 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 interception.
2. Sean Lee, Penn State - Missed all of last season following surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that happened last April. Lee was a heck of football player before his knee injury and the question will be can he get back to his form in 2007 where he had 138 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles and 1 interception. Before the injury Lee was a very good overall linebacker who make plays all over the field and many thought that he would have been a later first round pick with his ability and football IQ. Now, there are a lot of question marks that come up with Lee. He has only played in 5 games this season, but has 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks so far this season.
3. Pat Angerer, Iowa - Angerer came out of nowhere to lead the team in tackles last season with 107 total tackles, after recording just six tackles in his first two seasons. Angerer tied for the Big Ten lead with five interceptions to go along with three pass breakups, to help him earned All-Big Ten second-team honors. Angerer has good size at 6-1 235 pounds, and not only is a good run defender, but as seen last season can play the pass and is effective both in man to man coverage as well as zone. Angerer has had an outstanding season with 77 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 interception.
4. Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State - Chaney has good size at 6-0 240 pounds, and shows the ability to play thru traffic and get to the ball carrier. He has some coverage ability, but looks like more of a 4-3 middle linebacker that is a two down linebacker at the next level. This season so far he has 58 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 1 interception.
5. Micah Johnson, Kentucky - Johnson has great size for a middle linebacker at 6-2 256 and is a thumper in the middle. He is somewhat tight in the hips and needs to show better ability to flip his hips and get back in coverage, but is good overall football player and a leader on the field. This season he has 55 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack so far.
6. Darryl Sharpton, Miami (Fla.) - Some teams have Sharpton playing outside linebacker and some have him playing inside. I think he fits as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. If he gets drafted by a team that plays that defense I think he will be a very good player at the next level. He lacks great size being 5-11 and around 235 pounds, but is a productive player because he is a very good overall athlete. This season has 46 total tackles, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
7. Reggie Carter, UCLA - As a sophomore Carter missed some time with a knee injury, but had 12 tackles for loss, last season played in all the games and had 84 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss. Carter is going to be a steady player at the next level that will be able to play the all the three linebacking spots, because he is a good athlete and takes good angles to the ball and does a good job anticipating where the ball is going to go. This season so far Carter has 51 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.
8. Mike McLaughlin, Boston College - McLaughlin was a very highly rated linebacker coming into the season, but has only played in 5 games so far this season, with only 27 total tackles. He is a good overall athlete and has decent size at around 6 foot and 250 pounds and is a player that is a two down player at the next level being a 4-3 middle linebacker. He needs to really show well at an All-Star game and the NFL combine to help his stock go back to where it was before the season started.
9. Jacob Cutrera, LSU - Cutrera has the size and ability to be more productive then he is. He is 6-3 240 pounds and right now this season has only 28 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. He can stop the run and shows and good ability to go side line to side line and can also flip his hips and drop in coverage if asked to. You could see him move up the board as we get into the All-Star games and post season work-outs.
10. Reed Williams, West Virginia - Williams is a two down linebacker at the next level, because he is a good run stopper, but his pass coverage ability needs to improve. He is around 6-0 230 pounds and this season has 32 total tackles, and 1 tackle for loss.
2. Sean Lee, Penn State - Missed all of last season following surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that happened last April. Lee was a heck of football player before his knee injury and the question will be can he get back to his form in 2007 where he had 138 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles and 1 interception. Before the injury Lee was a very good overall linebacker who make plays all over the field and many thought that he would have been a later first round pick with his ability and football IQ. Now, there are a lot of question marks that come up with Lee. He has only played in 5 games this season, but has 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks so far this season.
3. Pat Angerer, Iowa - Angerer came out of nowhere to lead the team in tackles last season with 107 total tackles, after recording just six tackles in his first two seasons. Angerer tied for the Big Ten lead with five interceptions to go along with three pass breakups, to help him earned All-Big Ten second-team honors. Angerer has good size at 6-1 235 pounds, and not only is a good run defender, but as seen last season can play the pass and is effective both in man to man coverage as well as zone. Angerer has had an outstanding season with 77 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 interception.
4. Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State - Chaney has good size at 6-0 240 pounds, and shows the ability to play thru traffic and get to the ball carrier. He has some coverage ability, but looks like more of a 4-3 middle linebacker that is a two down linebacker at the next level. This season so far he has 58 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 1 interception.
5. Micah Johnson, Kentucky - Johnson has great size for a middle linebacker at 6-2 256 and is a thumper in the middle. He is somewhat tight in the hips and needs to show better ability to flip his hips and get back in coverage, but is good overall football player and a leader on the field. This season he has 55 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack so far.
6. Darryl Sharpton, Miami (Fla.) - Some teams have Sharpton playing outside linebacker and some have him playing inside. I think he fits as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. If he gets drafted by a team that plays that defense I think he will be a very good player at the next level. He lacks great size being 5-11 and around 235 pounds, but is a productive player because he is a very good overall athlete. This season has 46 total tackles, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
7. Reggie Carter, UCLA - As a sophomore Carter missed some time with a knee injury, but had 12 tackles for loss, last season played in all the games and had 84 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss. Carter is going to be a steady player at the next level that will be able to play the all the three linebacking spots, because he is a good athlete and takes good angles to the ball and does a good job anticipating where the ball is going to go. This season so far Carter has 51 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. 8. Mike McLaughlin, Boston College - McLaughlin was a very highly rated linebacker coming into the season, but has only played in 5 games so far this season, with only 27 total tackles. He is a good overall athlete and has decent size at around 6 foot and 250 pounds and is a player that is a two down player at the next level being a 4-3 middle linebacker. He needs to really show well at an All-Star game and the NFL combine to help his stock go back to where it was before the season started.
9. Jacob Cutrera, LSU - Cutrera has the size and ability to be more productive then he is. He is 6-3 240 pounds and right now this season has only 28 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. He can stop the run and shows and good ability to go side line to side line and can also flip his hips and drop in coverage if asked to. You could see him move up the board as we get into the All-Star games and post season work-outs.
10. Reed Williams, West Virginia - Williams is a two down linebacker at the next level, because he is a good run stopper, but his pass coverage ability needs to improve. He is around 6-0 230 pounds and this season has 32 total tackles, and 1 tackle for loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment