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2008 Draft Prospects: Inside Linebackers
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Prospect rankings · Risers/Fallers · Mock drafts · History · Draft Tracker
TSX · Offense · Defense · Special Teams
Defensive Ends · Defensive Tackles · Inside Linebackers · Outside Linebackers · Cornerbacks · Safeties
Clark Judge ranks the top five defensive prospects at each position.
| Top Prospects: Inside Linebackers |
| 1. Dan Connor, Penn State |
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| Agility Tests: |
| 40-yard dash: 4.67 |
Bench press: 225 lbs (22 times) |
Vertical jump: 35" |
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| The skinny: Reminiscent of former Nittany Lions linebacker Paul Posluszny in that he's highly productive. The Bednarik Award winner set a school record with 419 tackles, including a Big-Ten leading 145 in 2007. He can play inside or out, returning to the middle in 2007. He's extremely instinctive and often the first one to the ball. Rarely misses tackles and is smooth dropping into pass coverage, though he doesn't have great hands. |
| 2. Jerod Mayo, Tennessee |
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| Agility Tests: |
| 40-yard dash: 4.54 |
Bench press: 225 lbs (22 times) |
Vertical jump: 40.5" |
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| The skinny: He made the move from outside to inside linebacker and what a difference: He led the SEC in tackles with 140. Scouts may look at him as an outside backer, especially with his size and speed, but he seemed comfortable inside last season. Attacks the line and has good change of direction. |
| 3. Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma |
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| Agility Tests: |
| 40-yard dash: 4.79 |
Bench press: 225 lbs (23 times) |
Vertical jump: 24.5" |
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| The skinny: As the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, he had an astonishing 157 tackles this season, including four that forced fumbles. He's instinctive, fast and is a reliable open-field tackler. The downside: He was a one-year starter, and there's an underwhelming history of OU linebackers in the NFL. |
| 4. Phillip Wheeler, Georgia Tech |
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| Agility Tests: |
| 40-yard dash: 4.66 |
Bench press: 225 lbs (24 times) |
Vertical jump: 36.5" |
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| The skinny: The Yellow Jackets' leading tackler, he is underrated as a pass rusher -- with 5.5 last season. Though he started at middle linebacker last season he can play outside, too. In fact, he was recruited as a pass-rushing defensive end. He struggles in pass coverage but his skills as a blitzer could make him a perfect third-down pass rusher. |
| 5. Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt |
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| Agility Tests: |
| 40-yard dash: 4.63 |
Bench press: 225 lbs (28 times) |
Vertical jump: 35.5" |
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| The skinny: He led his team for the second straight year in tackles, this time accumulating a career-high 113. He's highly productive, with at least 10 tackles in six games, and he's durable with 27 straight starts at middle linebacker. A physical presence, he's best at jamming the middle against the inside run. He's also a natural leader, serving as team captain the past two seasons. |
| Player on the rise: |
| Mayo. At his Pro Day workout he bettered his vertical jump by seven-and-a-half inches. He has the size, temperament and versatility that coaches like, but they questioned his speed ... until he ran a 4.54 at the annual scouting combine. Next. |
| Player on the decline: |
| Connor. Look, this isn't a precipitous fall, but he was once mentioned as a Top 15 draft choice. Not anymore. As clubs start to dissect him they're finding he's not as athletic or as strong as they would like. Plus, he's a little top heavy. Nevertheless, he should be a late first or early second-round choice. |
| Sleeper |
| Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Boston College. A converted tailback, he doesn't have great size or ideal range, but the guy is productive. He has great vision and is seldom caught out of position and takes command of a huddle -- one reason he was a team captain. Bothered by a high-ankle sprain last year, he missed two games and was limited in three others. BC was 2-3 while he was away. |
| Overrated |
| Beau Bell, UNLV. Some people have him in the top five, but he's too top heavy and plays stiff. I know he was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and led the conference in tackles, but he's a straight-ahead runner with limited change of direction. |
| Position analysis: |
| This is not the year to look for an inside linebacker. There is a marked dropoff after the first three, with the rest of the field looking at a second-day draft. In short, don't look for a Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans or David Harris here. Connor is the best of the lot, and scouts are conflicted about just how good he is ... or can be. |
| Talk Back |
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 12, 2006
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April 27, 2008 6:51 pm
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If anyone saw his story during the draft then you know him being drafted was a life or death situation. (If he doesn't get drafted then he's heading to Iraq) He gets to play football and represent Army in the NFL.
Good luck to you sir.
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Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 30, 2006
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May 9, 2008 8:30 am
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6' 4" 290 lb. Defensive tackles are one of the most envied types of players in the league. Even though he was a D-2 player, ithink the Steelers got a great pick up in signing him as a free agent. Even as a rookie I wouldn't be suprised to see him adding depth to the infamously ferocious Steeler defense.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 24, 2007
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April 27, 2008 6:50 pm
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Glad to see that Hawaii's talent was exposed during the butt-kickin put on them by the SEC. They were exposed for what they aren't......good......when they finally played a real team. Colt will never amount to a thing and where are all the WR's they claimed were gonna go so high? Only one player was drafted from Hawaii. When will they learn that playing a high school schedu
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 20, 2006
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April 28, 2008 2:11 pm
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Brennan against Washington: 42 out of 50 for 442 yard with 5 TDs and no ints. I don't care a what level you are playing, those are difficult stats to put up. He did that fairly regularly. The game before was not as good. He played Boise St. and went 40 out of 53 for 495 yards, 5 TDs, 2 ints, and he also ran for one TD. This guy could be a real 6th round steal.&n
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 20, 2006
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April 27, 2008 12:33 am
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They had a very good Day 1. Felix Jones, RB (Arkansas) is the perfect compliment to Marion Barber. Jones is a roadrunner. Mike Jenkins, CB (South Florida) is a cover CB with good hands and decent size. Martellus Bennett, TE (Texas A&M) makes sense because they trade Fasano to Miami and like running two TE sets. But I would have liked to see them trade up to get one of the big WR's
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 20, 2007
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April 27, 2008 5:42 pm
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I'm just wondering why no teams are picking these guys. These were 3rd round prospects. Any thoughts?
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 26, 2007
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April 22, 2008 4:25 pm
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Hey... the Bengals deserve a break with the malcontent "85"... Sedrick Ellis is a future ALL-PRO and is perfect to improve the "D" in the 'Natti...
For Carson Palmer's sake.... Bengals TAKE Sedrick if he is there at #9!!!!
Fight ON!!
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 11, 2006
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April 29, 2008 4:18 pm
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I cannot understand why the Vikings or Bears did not go for Henne or Brohm. I guess Tavares and Grossman are the answers for both teams???? Not that they would play next year but they both lasted to the second round. Maybe the Vikings think they got a steal in Booty?. I doubt it.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 22, 2006
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April 27, 2008 4:05 pm
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I believe this is one of the best off seasons for detroit in a long time. We didn't go after the high profiled guys and chose some tough players with good heads on their shoulders. Sure we may have been able to trade down further for Gosder, but why chance it. We really bolstered our offense, while picking up some defensive players that will play over some guys already "on" the team. It will b
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 26, 2008
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April 26, 2008 8:21 pm
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(POLL)
Who will have a bigger impact in his Rookie season
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 22, 2007
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April 26, 2008 4:19 pm
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Buffalo will be the best team in the NFL in a couple of years. They have some great young talent, not to mention the yongest team in the league.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 10, 2006
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April 26, 2008 5:15 pm
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They needed a quarterback, and they got the best one there...
Ryan is overrated, and the Falcons will soon see why.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 29, 2006
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