The versatile linebacker found a home in the middle of the Illini defense two years ago, posting 248 tackles in his final two seasons in Champaign.

His blue-collar work ethic and knack for being in the right position to make the play saw the team compile a 9-4 record and earn a berth in the prestigious Rose Bowl in his final campaign.

Leman began his career as a strong-side linebacker, taking over weak-side linebacker chores as a sophomore. With the arrival of Ron Zook as head coach, the coaches felt that Leman's field instincts and high intelligence were perfectly suited for calling defensive signals from the middle.

Being a "student of the game" is one of Leman's best traits, but he has also excelled in the classroom. He graduated in August 2006 with a degree in speech communications in only three years at the university. He later received his master's degree in Human Resource Education in December 2007.

Leman is considered a high-character athlete. He is active in the Vineyard Christian Fellowship and regularly visited hospitals and schools as part of the Illini community program.

His ultimate career goal is to become a sports anchor or television personality following graduation. The way he played the last two seasons, Leman caught the attention of NFL scouts, but during the Rose Bowl, he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery in late January, and he might have to put his aspirations to play in the National Football League on hold.

At Champaign Central High School, Leman was an All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. He was named the Area Player of the Year by the Champaign News-Gazette and ranked among the Top- 100 inside linebackers in the country, according to Rivals.com. He was also tabbed an All-Conference and All-Area pick as a junior.

Leman went on to earn a total of eight letters in football, track and basketball. He recorded 356 tackles during his career, including making 191 hits during his senior season. That year, he also added 26 stops behind the line of scrimmage, nine sacks, three blocked punts, five forced fumbles and an interception.

Leman enrolled at the University of Illinois in 2003, becoming the first Central High player to join their football team since Greg Boysaw in 1985. He spent that season performing on the scout team as an inside linebacker. In 2004, he appeared in 11 games, starting five contests, including the final four, at strong-side outside linebacker. He posted 56 tackles (28 solos) with 1.5 sacks and three stops for losses. He also caused a fumble and broke up one pass, earning Freshman All-Big Ten Conference honors from The Sporting News.

In 2005, Leman was named the team's Outstanding Linebacker, adding CoSIDA Academic All-District and Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors. He started all 11 games at weak-side linebacker and made 140 appearances on special teams. He ranked second on the team with 67 tackles (37 solo) and 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

As a junior, Leman was named team captain. He was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference and All-American honorable mention while again garnering national academic honors. In his new position at middle linebacker, he ranked third in the nation and led the league with 152 tackles (75 solo), the sixth-highest season total in school history. His 19 stops for losses also rank sixth on the Illini's single-season record list and placed him seventh in the nation. He added four sacks with five quarterback pressures and also caused two fumbles while breaking up four passes.

The postseason honors were numerous for Leman again in 2007. He was named All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team and was a finalist for both the Ronnie Lott Award and Danny Weurffel Award. He again led the Illini with 132 tackles (71 solo) that included 2.5 sacks and 10.5 stops for losses. He also caused a fumble, intercepted one pass and batted away three others.

In 47 games at Illinois, Leman started 41 contests. His 407 tackles (211 solo) rank sixth in school history while his 38 stops for losses of 117 yards rank tied for fifth. He added eight sacks for minus-50 yards, nine quarterback pressures and four forced fumbles. He also intercepted one pass and deflected nine others.

Positives: Has a thick chest and broad shoulders … His intelligence and field vision are his best assets … Made all the defensive calls and is a highly emotional and vocal leader who compensates for a lack of speed by taking good angles and generally being in position to make plays … More of a downhill tackler, but when he keeps his pads down, he is decent at locking on and dragging down the opponent (when he gets too tall in his stance, blockers have success standing him up) … Has a keen knack for seeing the play develop and can make situational changes with no problem … Works hard in the training room and in practice … Solid work ethic … Needs room to build up power, but has enough straight-line quickness to take on the lead blocker in rush lanes … Has a lack of speed, but works around blocks, showing a good swim move to escape the bigger one-on-one blockers … Showed marked improvement covering tight ends and trying to reroute the opponent (no longer takes forearm swipes but extends to reach and lock on) … When he gets a clean lane, he can generate a short-area pursuit to pressure the pocket (just not fast enough to sustain speed going long distances) … Helped out by his instincts, rather than speed, when closing on the play … When he brings his hands to wrap, he brings ballcarriers down … Makes very good reads coming off the snap and reacts quickly when he locates the ball … Can cover the pass in the short area because of he takes proper angles (has decent depth in his pass drops) … Needs to break down and come under control better when working in space, but is an adequate collision-type player with good timing closing on the action in front of him … Brings added value with his ability to play on all the special teams units.

Negatives: Has a slender lower body that needs more bulk and strength … Has had two ankle surgeries in the last year and durability issues are sure to arise … There are concerns about him adding bulk, as the additional weight will impact his adequate quickness … Does not always play up to his weight-room strength and struggles to hold ground at the point of attack vs. strong double-team activity … Has marginal change-of-direction agility, making him a liability playing on the outside … Good tackler, but struggles to adjust to ballcarriers redirecting to the cutback lanes and, while he gets a high amount of tackles, he needs to explode behind those hits … If he takes a false step to the ball, he doesn't have the plant-and-drive skills to recover … Does not have the brute strength needed to stack and control … When he fails to deliver a forceful punch, a lineman can get into his jersey, pinning him back to seal … Can get overwhelmed by blockers when he tries to shoot the gaps … Must do a better job of sticking his foot in the ground and anchoring, as he can get run over due to a poor base … Has to use his hands better in attempts to protect his feet and absorbs too many blocks when he fails to use his hands … Must cover the pass in the short area only, as he has problems locating the ball or reading patterns properly playing in the deep third of the field (marginal zone-coverage skills).

Compares To: NICK GREISEN-Baltimore … Like Greisen, there are quicker and stronger athletes, but few in this draft have the intelligence and instincts Leman can bring. A possible late-round find, his draft status is now in question after ankle surgery was required to repair an injury suffered in the 2008 Rose Bowl. Not known for his speed, teams will have a hard time evaluating his physical skills leading up to the draft if he is unable to recover before post-Combine workouts. Still, some team might bring him into camp as a developmental type. There is just something about him that tells you he will contribute in the future -- not likely as a starter -- as a reserve and on special teams.

2006: Bothered by a left ankle sprain, underwent arthroscopic surgery after the season (1/10/07).

2007: Suffered a right ankle injury vs. Southern California in the Rose Bowl (1/01/08), underwent surgery to repair in late January … "It will be a three- or four-month recovery process," said Leman's agent, Rick Smith of Priority Sports. That timetable means Leman will be unable to work out for scouts before the NFL draft April 26. He still will attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis to interview with teams, but he won't be able to run. He had been working out for the draft in Nashville when he decided on surgery.

Campus: 4.86 in the 40-yard dash … 365-pound bench press … 440-pound squat … 308-pound power clean … 33 ½-inch vertical jump … 8'5" long jump … 4.57 20-yard shuttle … 31 ¼-inch arm length … 9 3/4-inch hands … Right-handed … 31/34 Wonderlic score.

Attended Champaign (Ill.) Central High School, playing football for head coach Jeff Hasenstab … All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association … Area Player of the Year by the Champaign News-Gazette and ranked among the Top- 100 inside linebackers in the country, according to Rivals.com … Tabbed an All-Conference and All-Area pick as a junior … Earned a total of eight letters in football, track and basketball … Recorded 356 tackles during his career, including making 191 hits during his senior season … That year, he also added 26 stops behind the line of scrimmage, nine sacks, three blocked punts, five forced fumbles and an interception.

Graduated in August 2006 with a degree in speech communications in only three years at the University of Illinois … Currently enrolled in graduate school in Human Resource Management, possessing a 3.48 grade-point average … Three-time CoSIDA and All-Big Ten academic selection … Heavily involved in his church, where his father is a pastor … Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participates in Hometown Heroes … Worked for a family-owned lawn service prior to beginning college, mowing 70 lawns in the Champaign area … Hopes to become a sports anchor or television personality following graduation … Son of Dianne and Happy Leman … Born Jeremy Jacob Leman on 3/01/85 … Resides in Champaign, Illinois.