Every team, “draft expert” and draftnik has a “big board”. I am no different. Here is my Big Board for the 2012 NFL Draft.
Top 255 Players
1. Andrew Luck QB Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III QB Baylor
3. Matt Kalil OT USC
4. Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College
5. Morris Claiborne CB LSU
6. Trent Richardson RB Alabama
7. Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St.
8. David DeCastro OG Stanford
9. Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State
10. Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
11. Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
12. Dont’a Hightower ILB Alabama
13. Riley Reiff OT Iowa
14. Melvin Ingram OLB South Carolina
15. Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina
16. Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
17. Dontari Poe DT Memphis
18. Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
19. Mark Barron S Alabama
20. Michael Brockers DT LSU
21. Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
22. Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M
23. Kendall Wright WR Baylor
24. Cordy Glenn OT Georgia
25. Peter Konz C Wisconsin
26. Coby Fleener TE Stanford
27. Mike Adams OT Ohio State
28. Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois
29. Devon Still DT Penn State
30. Nick Perry DE USC
31. Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech
32. Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
33. Bobby Massie OT Ole Miss
34. Jerel Worthy DT Michigan State
35. Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
36. Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
37. Josh Robinson CB UCF
38. Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
39. Jayron Hosley CB Virginia Tech
40. Zach Brown OLB North Carolina
41. Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State
42. Doug Martin RB Boise State
43. Brandon Weeden QB
49. David Wilson RB Virginia Tech
50. Michael Brewster C Ohio State
51. Amini Silatolu OG Midwestern State
52.Casey Hayward CB Vanderbilt
53. Rueben Randle WR LSU
54. Jared Crick DT Nebraska
55. Tommy Streeter WR Miami (FL)
56. Lavonte David OLB Nebraska
57. Harrison Smith S Notre Dame St.
58. Kendall Reyes DT Connecticut
59. Trumaine Johnson CB Montana
60. Robert Turbin RB Utah State
61. Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
62. Ronnell Lewis OLB Oklahoma
63. Cam Johnson OLB Virginia
64. Josh Chapman DT Alabama
65. Brandon Brooks OG Miami (OH)
66. Mike Martin DT Michigan
67. Josh Norman CB Coastal Carolina
68. Ben Jones C Georgia
69. Chandler Jones DE Syracuse
70. Ladarius Green TE UL-Lafayette
71. Dwight Bentley CB UL-Lafayette
72. Brandon Mosley OT Auburn
73. LaMichael James RB Oregon
74. Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma
75. Shea McClellin OLB Boise State
76. Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
77. Jeff Allen OT Illinois
78. Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall
79. Brandon Boykin CB Georgia
80. Andre Branch OLB Clemson
81. Isaiah Pead RB Cincinnati
82. Bobby Wagner OLB Utah State
83. Leonard Johnson CB Iowa State
84. Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
85. David Molk C Michigan
86. Mychal Kendricks ILB California
87. Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina
88. Chris Polk RB Washington
89. Lucas Nix OG Pittsburgh
90. Jarius Wright WR Arkansas
91. Senio Kelemete OG Washington
92. Ryan Steed CB Furman
93. Marvin McNutt WR Iowa
94. Justin Bethel S Presbyterian
95. Marvin Jones WR California
96. Levy Adcock OT Oklahoma State
97. Trevor Guyton DT California
98. Russell Wilson QB Wisconsin
99. Matt McCants OT UAB
100. Billy Winn DT Boise State
101. Juron Criner WR Arizona
102. Brandon Washington OG Miami
103. Jamell Fleming CB Oklahoma
104. Philip Blake C Baylor
105. Jordan White WR Western Mich
106. Mitchell Schwartz OT California
107. Dwight Jones WR N. Carolina
108. Kirk Cousins QB Michigan St.
109. Jeff Fuller WR Texas A&M
111. Joe Adams WR Arkansas
110. Derek Wolfe DT Cincinnati
112. Chris Givens WR Wake Forest
113. Mike Harris CB Florida State
114. Michael Egnew TE Missouri
115. Tramain Thomas S Arkansas
116. DeVier Posey WR Ohio State
117. Asa Jackson CB Cal Poly
118. Markelle Martin S Oklahoma St.
119. Shaun Prater CB Iowa
120. Tony Bergstrom OT Utah
121. Gerell Robinson WR Arizona St.
122. Sean Spence OLB Miami (FL)
123. A.J. Jenkins WR Illinois
125. Frank Alexander DE Oklahoma
124. Cyrus Gray RB Texas A&M
126. Ryan Miller OG Colorado
127. Omar Bolden CB Arizona State
128. Keenan Robinson OLB Texas
129. Quinton Saulsberry C Miss St.
130. DeQuan Menzie CB Alabama
131. Drake Dunsmore TE N-western
132. Terrance Ganaway RB Baylor
133. Nate Potter OT Boise State
134. Bernard Pierce RB Temple
135. James Brown OT Troy
136. Malik Jackson DE Tennessee
137. B.J. Coleman QB UT-Chatt.
138. Marquis Maze WR Alabama
139. DaJohn Harris DT USC
140. Coryell Judie CB Texas A&M
141. T.Y. Hilton WR Florida Int.
142. Andrew Datko OT Florida State
143. Brad Smelley TE Alabama
144. Jack Crawford DE Penn State
145. Vick Ballard RB Mississippi St.
146. Joe Looney OG Wake Forest
147. JM Johnson ILB Nevada
150. Jake Bequette DE Arkansas
149. Audie Cole ILB N.C. State
148. Tyrone Crawford DE Boise St.
151. Travis Lewis OLB Oklahoma
152. Brock Osweiler QB Arizona State
153. Brandon Taylor S LSU
154. Greg Childs WR Arkansas
155. George Iloka S Boise State
156. Danny Coale WR Virginia Tech
157. Bruce Irvin OLB West Virginia
158. Devon Wylie WR Fresno State
159. Tom Compton OT South Dakota
160. Eric Page WR Toledo
161. Brandon Lindsey OLB Pittsburgh
162. Marcus Forston DT Miami (FL)
163. Terrell Manning OLB N.C. State
164. Brandon Bolden RB Ole Miss
165. Jonathan Massaquoi OLB Troy
166. Ron Brooks CB LSU
167. Justin Anderson OG Georgia
168. Jarrett Boykin WR Virginia Tech
169. Nigel Bradham OLB Florida State
170. Will Vlachos C Alabama
171. Trenton Robinson S Michigan State
172. Kheeston Randle DT Texas
173. Donnie Fletcher CB Boston College
174. Kellen Moore QB Boise State
175. Emmanuel Acho OLB Texas
176. Jaye Howard DT Florida
177. Kyle Wilber OLB Wake Forest
178. Nick Foles QB Arizona
179. Alfred Morris RB Florida Atlantic
180. Tydreke Powell DT North Carolina
181. Josh Kaddu OLB Oregon
182. Christian Tupou DT USC
183. Charles Brown CB North Carolina
184. Akiem Hicks DT Regina
185. Olivier Vernon DE Miami (FL)
186. Chris Rainey RB Florida
187. Ryan Lindley QB San Diego State
188. Hebron Fangupo DT BYU
189. Tauren Poole RB Tennessee
190. Adam Gettis OG Iowa
191. B.J. Cunningham WR Michigan State
192. Matt Reynolds OG BYU
193. Jermaine Kearse WR Washington
194. Edwin Baker RB Michigan State
195. T.J. Graham WR N.C. State
196. Ronnie Hillman RB San Diego State
197. Brian Linthicum TE Michigan State
198. Rishaw Johnson OG California (PA)
199. Brian Quick WR Appalachian State
200. Tony Jerod-Eddie DT Texas A&M
201. LaVon Brazill WR Ohio
202. Antonio Fenelus CB Wisconsin
203. Deangelo Peterson TE LSU
204. Bryan Anger P California
205. Antonio Allen S South Carolina
206. J.J. McDermott QB SMU
207. Davin Meggett RB Maryland
208. George Bryan TE N.C. State
209. Patrick Edwards WR Houston
210. Robert Blanton CB Notre Dame
211. Dan Herron RB Ohio State
212. Mike Daniels DT Iowa
213. Darron Thomas QB Oregon
214. Markus Kuhn DT N.C. State
215. Blair Walsh K Georgia
216. Evan Rodriguez TE Temple
217. Jaymes Brooks OG Virginia Tech
218. Shawn Powell P Florida State
219. Janzen Jackson S McNeese State
220. Kelvin Beachum OG SMU
221. Chris Greenwood CB Albion Christian
222. Adrian Robinson OLB Temple
224. Vontaze Burfict ILB Arizona State
223. Randy Bullock K Texas A&M
225. Case Keenum QB Houston
226. Donte Paige-Moss DE North Carolina
227. James Hanna TE Oklahoma
228. Cliff Harris CB Oregon
229. Chandler Harnish QB Northern Illinois
230. David Paulson TE Oregon
231. Tank Carder OLB TCU
232. Drew Butler P Georgia
233. Renard Williams DT Eastern Washington
234. Carson Wiggs K Purdue
235. Derek Dennis OG Temple
236. Rishard Matthews WR Nevada
237. Rokevious Watkins OG South Carolina
238. Lennon Creer RB Louisiana Tech
239. Kevin Koger TE Michigan
240. Philip Welch K Wisconsin
241. Cordarro Law DE Southern Miss
242. Brad Nortman P Wisconsin
243. Keshawn Martin WR Michigan State
245. Jerry Franklin ILB Arkansas
244. Marcel Jones OT Nebraska
246. Sean Richardson S Vanderbilt
247. Bradie Ewing FB Wisconsin
248. Marc Tyler RB USC
249. Sean Cattouse S California
250. Darrell Scott RB South Florida
251. Kelcie McCray S Arkansas State
252. Jewel Hampton RB Southern Illinois
253. Da’Jon McKnight WR Minnesota
254. Scott Solomon DE Rice
255. Elvis Akpla WR Montana State
One of the top pass rushing prospects in this year’s draft who offers excellent versatility at the next level, Courtney Upshaw leaves Alabama after having been one of the most valuable players on the top-ranked Crimson Tide defense in 2011. A two-year starter for the Tide, Upshaw finished his career in Tuscaloosa having produced 141 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four pass breakups, and one interception; his best statistical season came his senior year in 2011 when he tallied 52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and his lone interception. Lining up in Alabama’s “Jack” linebacker position, Courtney is experienced lining up both with his hand on the ground at end in a four-man front as well as playing outside linebacker in the Tide’s 3- 4 defense; he projects well to either position at the next level. An intimidating defender who plays with the type of tenacious and fiery attitude that I love to see out of a pass rushing prospect, Courtney is a relentless player who offers a non-stop motor; his persistence and motor as a pass rusher are what makes him such a good player. As a pass rusher, he offers the acceleration and speed off the ball needed to beat the tackle to the edge as well as the flexibility and fluid athleticism needed to redirect quickly in the open field. Although he doesn’t possess an elite burst or explosive get off that you see with some other top pass rushers, Upshaw’s ability to line up anywhere in the box and create pressure is what makes him so valuable. He’s displayed a unique ability to consistently beat the tackle to the edge before dipping his hips and lowering his shoulder to get underneath the tackle and turn the corner in pursuit of the quarterback. He also owns very good vision, quickly finding an open crease in the offensive line and accelerating through it with the agility to elude blockers as he chases down the quarterback. Although this is nitpicking, I’d like to see Courtney continue to develop his swim and rip moves in his pass rush repertoire, as this will allow for him to continue to improve as a pass rusher in the NFL. He’s got a great start, owning polished hand use with a very good swim move, however he has great potential here and still has room to improve. An instinctive defender who reads and reacts very well to what he sees in front of him, Courtney locates the ball very quickly outside, showing a great ability to close down the line to meet the running back as he’s entering the hole. He plays with great leverage out on the edge in the run game, displaying a consistent ability to give the offensive lineman a violent punch at the point of attacking before setting the edge against the offensive tackle. Upshaw cleanly disengages with great hand use, and has the fluid athleticism and flexibility to sink his hips and get around the blocker to meet the running back in the backfield. The fact that one out of every four tackles he made was behind the line of scrimmage shows the type of impact he makes in defending the run. Despite being smaller than any offensive lineman he goes up against, Courtney shows the type of leverage and flexible ability to bend underneath the offensive lineman with an arched back to consistently win the leverage battle at the point of attack. Terrific in pursuit with sideline-to sideline range, Courtney plays downhill and has repeatedly shown the ability to chase down ball carriers from behind. Despite weighing over 270 pounds, he offers outstanding speed and closing speed for a player of his size.
One of the most productive defenders in the country the last two years, Lavonte David signed with Nebraska out of Fort Scott Community College in 2010 and immediately left his mark on the program as he tallied 285 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 12 pass breakups, and two interceptions in his two seasons with the Huskers; his most productive season came as a junior in 2010 when he set the Nebraska-school record for tackles in a season with 152 while also adding 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, and 10 pass breakups. A great athlete with the ability to make plays sideline-to-sideline, David is a very instinctive player who reads his keys and is quick to react to what he sees in front of him. With the speed and range to make plays all over the field, Lavonte was a one-man
One of the best all-around athletes of any defensive player in this year’s draft, Zach Brown was a two-sport star (football, track) for the Tar Heels who has immense upside at the next level if he can land in the right situation and develop a better temperament on the field. Although he only started for one full season, Brown finished his career at North Carolina having started 23 games and producing 230 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and seven interceptions; his best statistical season came as a senior in 2011 when he tallied 105 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, all 5.5 sacks and four pass breakups, and three interceptions. A fantastic athlete with the fluidity and range to play sideline-to-sideline and make plays all over the field, Zach is an extremely quick, nimble, and agile player at the linebacker position who offers an intriguing skillset to defenses in the NFL. Brown is a finesse, quick-twitch defender who covers ground quickly and is more than capable of chasing down running backs on the perimeter with his track speed. Rather than taking on blockers in the box, Zach simply attempts to run around them to avoid contact. He’s far from being a physical defender, but rather seems to shy away from getting mixed up inside with bigger linemen; when he does take on blockers, he usually is easily neutralized due to his lack of bulk and strength; he must continue to fill out his skinny but lean frame and get stronger in order to have a better chance of stacking and shedding at the next level. Brown is far better at playing out in open space where he can use his great athleticism to his advantage in pursuing and chasing. To reach his potential and upside in the NFL, Zach must develop a better killer instinct and be willing to play more physically in defending the run. When attempting to make a tackle, he tends to throw his body at the ball carrier rather than actually breaking down and wrapping up; he needs further development as a form tackler. In addition, he tends to rely too much on his speed and range, at times over-pursuing a ball carrier because he didn’t take a proper angle to the ball. In coverage, Brown moves like a safety with his ability to gain great depth on his drops and turn and run with great flexibility in his hips. Although he’ll need to continue to develop his instincts to diagnose plays in front of him, he possesses the quick ability to break on a ball and close quickly on receivers who cross into his zone. In man coverage, Zach’s combination of size and speed makes him a terrific defender in manning up with tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. A tremendous prospect based on his measurables, Zach possesses a rare combination of size and athleticism for the linebacker position. The team that drafts him will be selecting him purely based on potential and upside, as he didn’t play with the type of physical demeanor or temperament to warrant being a Top 50 pick, which is where his physical tools and skillset will likely land him.
A talented athlete with the physical tools needed to make the transition to the NFL. A 1.5-year starter with just 14 career starts for the Sooners, Lewis totaled 119 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, nine pass breakups, and two interceptions over the course of his career in Norman; his best statistical season came during his junior season in 2011 when he recorded 60 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five pass breakups, and one interception. Owning an ideal build for an outside rush linebacker, Ronnell has a great combination of size, strength (36 reps on bench), and speed (4.68 40). As a pass rusher, Lewis offers a ton of versatility after having lined up both with his hand on the ground at end as well as standing up at linebacker. With good short-area quickness, Ronnell owns the quick feet needed to weave in and out of traffic in pursuit of the quarterback. He doesn’t own great explosion or an elite burst, but possesses enough acceleration needed to get the job done at the next level and has shown the quick change of direction skills that you look for at the position.. His speed is more evident with his range than with his ability to rush the passer, as he doesn’t show the ability to consistently run the arc. Lewis is a physical player with the strength needed to fight his way through blocks; he will need further refinement of his pass rush repertoire, however he has the type of upper body strength where he could really develop quickly if he improved his hand use. He was able to get by on his physical tools in college, however that won’t be the case in the NFL. As a run defender, Ronnell projects better as a linebacker than at end at the next level, as he doesn’t own the lower body strength needed to consistently set the edge or anchor at the point of attack. He owns long enough arms (32 inches) as well as the upper body strength to extend out and attempt to hold his ground, however he also doesn’t play with the consistent technique and fundamentals that you look for and will need to improve his inconsistent discipline here. Lewis understands how to locate the ball in the backfield and flow to ball carrier, however he doesn’t show the type of instincts and awareness needed to read or diagnose plays and will be step late at times because of it; he’s as raw from a mental standpoint as he is with his technique and hand use. Part of the reason for Ronnell’s average production at Oklahoma is as a result of being moved back and forth from end to linebacker without being given the chance to develop and learn the nuances of one position, shown in his inconsistent instincts, however his raw technique and lack great hand use also played a part here. Ronnell Lewis is an intriguing pass rushing prospect because of the physical tools that he offers, however it’s hard to be optimistic with a player who has injury questions, didn’t get the job done in the classroom off the field, and never appeared to be an overly productive player for his team. Lewis projects favorably as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker where the wide alignment outside could give him a better opportunity to rush the passer at the next level. In the 4-3 defense, he either projects as a pass rush specialist at end or as a developmental project as a WILL linebacker, however he projects far better in the 3-4 than 4-3.
A relentless defender whose non-stop motor and ability to make plays all over the field have won scouts over at the next level, Shea McClellin enters the NFL with an intriguing combination of tools and versatility. A three-year starter at Boise State (started the final 37 games of his career) who was considered the heart of the defense for the Broncos, McClellin finished his career in Boise having produced 129 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles; the most productive season of his career came as a senior in 2011 when he tallied 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, and forced one fumble. Shea McClellin is a coach’s dream, bringing a fantastic motor and the type of non-stop pursuit that you simply can’t teach, as well as offering the versatility to line up at a number of different positions. He’s a tenacious defender who plays with a fiery attitude and violently attacks the line of scrimmage. An underrated athlete with the flexibility and agility you look for, McClellin has displayed the ability to get underneath offensive linemen and dart into the backfield to make a play as a pass rusher; Shea has a ton of experience rushing the passer from different angles and would be a great fit in a defensive scheme that likes to stunt a lot. He’s a disruptive player who may not always make the play, but wreaks enough havoc that he gives someone else on the defense the opportunity to bring down the quarterback or ball carrier. Although not explosive or overly fast off the edge, Shea anticipates the snap count very well, reads his keys and locates the ball quickly, and shows the type of natural pass rushing instincts that are hard to find. Good with his hand use at the point of attack, McClellin offers enough of a pass rush repertoire to make an impact, and I expect to see him continue to improve here on what is already a solid base so far. As a run defender, Shea is a very disciplined player who is rarely out of position. Although he doesn’t have great size or strength, he is a very physical player at the point of attack who seals the edge very well and plays with great technique. Because of his lack of strength he can be drive out of the play and swallowed up by bigger, stronger offensive linemen. McClellin pursues and chases as well as any defender in the country, often making a play well outside of the pocket or down the field thanks to his tremendous hustle. An overachiever who gets everything out of his abilities that he can, Shea does not possess the type of explosion or quick-twitch abilities that scouts typically look for in a pass rusher and because he doesn’t have the prototypical size or strength either, most scouts consider him to be a “tweener,” meaning he doesn’t have a true position at the next level. A high-character player who offers all of the intangibles that you look for in a prospect, Shea does not have any character concerns and proved to be a durable player over the course of his career with the Broncos. Shea McClellin is a player that is hard not to like because of the high-energy play and terrific intangibles that he brings to the table. In my opinion, he would fit well as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker where he would be given more space to work with as a pass rusher and would be cleaner from traffic than if he were playing in the 4-3 defense. In the 4-3, he could project as a project as a WILL or MIKE linebacker, or as a pass rush specialist on third downs. He’s the type of player that should move moved around and played in different positions in order to maximize his talents and abilities in the NFL, however I do believe that he has what it takes to have a successful career as a starting outside rush linebacker in the 3-4 defense. Although he won’t ever be an elite player, the consistency and reliability that he would bring would be worth investing in.
The most instinctive linebacker to enter the NFL since Patrick Willis was drafted with the 11th overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers in 2007, Luke Kuechly leaves Boston College as one of the most productive players in college football history. A three-year starter for Boston College, in 2011, Kuechly won the Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football), the Rotary Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker in college football), the Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive impact player of the year) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in college football). The most decorated defensive player in Boston College football history, Luke is the Eagles’ first two-time All-American, having led the country in tackles as a sophomore (183) and junior (191). He completed his career at Boston College having produced 537 tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, and seven interceptions; his best statistical season came during his junior year in 2011 when he totaled 191 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and three interceptions. As close to a sure-thing as I’ve seen in the past six years, Kuechly brings outstanding intangibles to the team that drafts him, offering the type of work ethic and leadership that few are blessed with. Possessing ideal height for the position with some room in his frame to continue to grow, Luke owns rare instincts at linebacker, whose ability to read and react to what he sees in front of himself is fantastic. He diagnoses plays as fast as any player that I’ve seen in the past six years and shows an elite ability to locate the ball before pursuing it down the field. He does an outstanding job in pursuit, displaying a relentless effort to swarm to the ball and has both the range and the straight-line speed needed to chase down ball carriers from behind. Kuechly is a polished prospect who plays with excellent technique and fundamentals; he consistently wraps up the ball carrier with near-perfect form when in position to make the tackle. With a great, non-stop motor, he does a very good job of playing over the top in the run game and is exceptional at playing inside-out while scraping over the top from his MIKE position. Luke takes great angles to the ball, which gives him a great opportunity to put himself in prime position to make the tackle. He makes it very difficult for offensive linemen to get to the second level to block him because he reacts so quickly to the play and possesses the athleticism to evade oncoming blockers in traffic. With his great technique and underrated upper body strength (27 reps on bench), he’s proven to be very effective at stacking and shedding blocks around the line of scrimmage and fills his hole very quickly on runs between the tackles; my only recommendation is that I think he could stand to add another 10 pounds of bulk and strength, which will make it even easier to shed blockers and make up for the jump to the next level. A deceptive athlete whose acceleration to quickly close on the receiver or ball carrier is very good, Kuechly does a great job of pursuing across the field, showing a heady ability to come from the backside of the play and still make the tackle; he’s always around the football and is rarely out of position. An experienced playing in dropping back into zone coverage, Luke has the athleticism and loose hips in his game to turn and run in transition well. He’s an excellent coverage linebacker who shows an innate ability to both cover zones as well as cover a tight end or running back out of the backfield with ease. Although not an elite athlete, his change of direction skills and fluidity in his drops are elite for a linebacker prospect. With 17 passes defended in three years, Kuechly has displayed the type of ball skills that you look for, however with the way that he is capable of dropping back and reading the quarterback’s eyes, he consistently puts himself in position to either make a play on the ball or make the tackle on the receiver who caught it down the field. The only area that he may not produce much at is as a pass rusher, however his production in dropping back into coverage makes up for it, however he has shown the ability to dart through the line and bring the running back down for a loss in the run game. Coming into the Combine, many scouts questioned what type of athleticism Luke had, claiming that he would not be capable of dropping back into coverage because he lacked great speed; those misconceptions were quickly dispelled, as Luke was one of the top performers in nearly every test, producing a 38 inch vertical jump and 10-foot, three-inch broad jump. Having played in 38-straight games, including a streak of 33-straight games with double-digit tackles, Luke was the epitome of reliable with the durability that you look for; he does not have any known injury concerns as he enters the next level. Luke Kuechly is one of the most complete prospects that I have seen and will be able to contribute immediately for the team that drafts him. He projects best as a MIKE linebacker in the 4-3 defense, although he does have experience playing outside and could move there if needed; however, he’s a natural MIKE who should play there in the NFL.
The true leader of the 2011 National Championship Crimson Tide defense, Dont’a Hightower enters the NFL with a complete package of skills that project very well to the next level. A 3.5-year starter with 41 career starts for Alabama, Hightower produced 235 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, five sacks, seven pass breakups, and one interception over the course of his career in Tuscaloosa; his best statistical season came in 2011 during his junior year when he made 85 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass breakups, and his lone interception. Offering elite intangibles, instincts, and leadership, Dont’a was a two-time captain who made the play calls and checks for Alabama’s defense. Built very well for an inside linebacker with an ideal combination of size, strength, and speed, Hightower is a classic thumper in the middle who will be a playmaker wherever he lands at the next level. A physical, sound tackler who consistently makes plays inside, Dont’a's great instincts and understanding of the game allow for him to locate the ball and diagnose plays quickly from his middle linebacker position. Hightower is not going to be a lateral, sideline-to-sideline defender, as he doesn’t play with the fluidity or quick-twitch change of direction skills that you look for, however when playing straight-ahead, downhill inside the box, he’s among the best in the country. Dont’a fills the hole well with great run fits, showing an innate understanding of how to scrape over the top to meet a running back as he’s coming through the hole. In addition, Hightower does a terrific job of playing over the top and has enough speed to flow outside to the ball on the perimeter. While he doesn’t have great range, he plays with a high-motor and the type of intensity that is not easy to find. With his size, bulk, and strength, Dont’a is as good as you’re going to find at stacking and shedding blockers inside and has shown an instinctive ability to work through traffic while keeping his eyes in the backfield. Hightower’s physical play shows up on a frequent basis when he is able to deliver a violent hit to the running back or quarterback; he’s an intimidating presence in the middle whose teammates feed of his energy. Hightower is a very underrated pass rusher off the edge; in passing situations, he was moved down to defensive end in a four-man front and was told to get after the quarterback. With five sacks, including four in 2011, Dont’a did just that. He’s a disruptive presence on the line who uses his strength and short-area agility to work through creases up front, and is a terrifying player for quarterbacks to see coming when given an open hole to blitz from his linebacker position. He developed his pass rush repertoire throughout his career and seems to have a good feel for how to rip through the line or effectively use his hands to gain leverage and work his way into the backfield. He’s not entirely explosive as a rusher, however he brings consistent pressure and cannot be unaccounted for, otherwise he will wreak havoc. The versatility that he brings to the table to be able to line up at defensive end and bring production as an added pass rusher is invaluable. In coverage, Hightower has experience dropping back into zone where he displays a strong ability to gain good depth off the snap; he understands scheme concepts as well as offering the instincts needed to read and react to the action in front of him. He lacks the fluidity to turn and run in transition that is needed to be effective in man coverage at the next level and other than matching up big bigger tight ends, he does not project favorably here. Durability could be a question mark with Dont’a after he tore his left ACL four games into the 2009 season; he took a while to recover from the injury, but eventually bounced back with a great season in 2011. He also had surgery to repair a small fracture in his left hand before his junior year started, which is another thing that teams will need to look into. Dont’a Hightower has the talent, athleticism, and tools to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber middle linebacker in the NFL. He projects best as an inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense where he would be asked to
One of the stars of the NFL Scouting Combine leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft, Mychal Kendricks is one of the best all-around athletes at the linebacker position in this year’s draft. A three-year starter for the Cal Bears, Kendricks produced a total of 259 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, five passes defended, and four interceptions throughout his career at Berkley; his best statistical season came during his senior season in 2011 when he recorded107 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, and two interceptions. Mychal is a versatile player with experience at both inside and outside linebacker at Cal, and could project to both positions at the next level. Shorter than you’d prefer with enough bulk to make it work at the next level, Kendricks is a free-flowing linebacker whose greatest strength is his range and athleticism to make sideline-to-sideline plays. In the run game, Mychal diagnoses the play and locates the ball very quickly, displaying the quickness and acceleration to close quickly while taking good angles to the ball. With the straight-line speed to chase the running back down from behind on the perimeter, Kendricks owns a great motor and is always around the ball. He does a terrific job of playing inside-out from his MIKE linebacker position in Cal’s 4-3 and 3-4 defense, showing the ability to scrape over the top and meet the running back as he’s coming through the hole. When in position to make the tackle, Mychal is capable of crashing down on the back with a powerful tackle. In the open field, outside of over-pursuing and running past the ball carrier, he’s a reliable wrap up tackler who drags the ball carrier down to the ground aggressively after gaining control. His lack of size is going to be a concern, as he will struggle to wrap up and bring down bigger, stronger backs at the next level. In the box, Mychal uses his flexibility and fluid athleticism to bend down or use his quickness to evade blockers rather than taking them on. When the blocker engages Kendricks, he usually can be driven out of the play with ease due to his lack of size and strength (24 reps on bench), however with his great motor, he does fight throughout the play to disengage, although he can be neutralized relatively easily if locked onto. On third downs, Kendricks spent plenty of time both rushing the passer as well as dropping back into coverage. I love the timing and anticipation that he plays with when blitzing through the line, as he has shown the ability to explode across the line of scrimmage as the ball is being snapped; while he will tend to get stonewalled at the line by bigger offensive linemen when rushing the passer, he does a great job of taking full advantage of any open crease, quickly accelerating through it and closing down on the quarterback to make a sack. With 43 stops behind the line of scrimmage throughout his career, he’s shown a heady ability to effectively play close to the line of scrimmage and be an impact player thanks to his athleticism, quickness, and range to chase ball carriers down. As a pass rusher, he will need further development with his hand use and pass rush repertoire, however he offers nice promise and upside here. In coverage, Mychal has more than enough fluidity, speed, and athleticism to cover the running back out of the backfield or the tight end down the field in man coverage and does have some experience lining up in the slot.
An intriguing athlete at the middle linebacker position who presents a fine blend of size, speed, and athleticism for the position, James-Michael (JM) Johnson enters the NFL after having been a four starter with a fantastic 50 career starts for the Wolf Pack. A productive player throughout his college career, Johnson tallied 295 tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions through his four years in Reno; his best statistical season came as a senior in 2011when he recorded 100 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and one interception. A two-time captain for Nevada, JM possesses the type of leadership, work ethic, and intangibles that coaches and scouts love to see in a player. Offering a lean frame with room to add weight and gain strength, JM is an excellent athlete with the speed and range to make plays all over the field. A smart defender who reads reacts well to what he sees in front of him, Johnson possesses the type of quick-twitch ability to break on the ball that scouts look closely for in linebackers. Although he will need to continue to get stronger at the next level, JM has displayed the ability to shed blockers well at the point of attack in pursuit of the running back. A downhill defender in the run game, Johnson accelerates quickly towards the ball carrier when he finds a crease, which is shown in his strong 37.5 tackles for loss; he has a knack for making plays in the backfield thanks to his instincts and speed to close on the ball. JM has nimble feet, which allows for him to pick his way through traffic easily; he does a good job of playing inside-out and scraping over the top in the run game. Johnson has the quick feet and agility to elude blockers rather than consistently take them on which is something that helped him when defending the run. With his aggressive style of play, there are times when he will take poor angles to the ball, which is something that surely will be corrected at the next level. In coverage, JM doesn’t have fluid hips to consistently turn and run down the field, however he gains very good depth in his drops with his range and has shown the ability to close quickly on receivers crossing into his zone. In man coverage, he’s still inconsistent with his ability to mirror tight ends and running backs down the field, as his technique is still rather raw, however with his speed and athleticism, if coached properly at the next level, could develop into a fine player here.
A smart and instinctive three year starter for the Wolfpack, Audie Cole proved to be a valuable player for the Wolfpack over the course of his career with his versatility to play both SAM and MIKE linebacker in the team’s 4-3 defense. The 12th-leading tackler in school history, Cole leaves Raleigh having produced 276 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, eight pass breakups, and one interception; his best statistical season came as a senior in 2011 when he moved inside to middle linebacker from his natural strongside position and tallied 108 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and four pass breakups. Audie was a team captain who offers the leadership and work ethic that you coaches and scouts look for in a player. Very instinctive at the linebacker position, Audie diagnoses very quickly, showing the read and react skills to locate the ball before flowing to the action. He owns polished technique with good size and long arms (32 inches) for the position, consistently displaying a good form as a tackler when bringing the ball carrier to the ground. A downhill, straight-ahead linebacker, Cole fills well in the hole and has a good motor, showing a consistent ability to always be around the football. Although his speed is not going to be something that will impress scouts, his ability to flow to the action in pursuit is strong. He does a very good job of playing over the top in the run game, also doing nice job of playing inside-out from his new position in 2011. Where Audie is going to struggle is with his lack of speed and range for the position. He’s an average athlete who will have trouble chasing down ball carriers to the perimeter at the next level. He also doesn’t have the change of direction skills or fluidity that I look for. In addition, while he displays good technique as a tackler, he needs to gain strength in the upper body and develop a strong grip, as there are times when backs will run through his arm tackles. Adding further strength in the upper body will also help him stack and shed at the point of attack, as he can be drive out of the play by bigger offensive lineman; there are times when he will struggle to work his way through traffic in the middle. Cole also needs to continue to develop in the lower half and play with better positioning and leverage when taking on blockers in the run game.
The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner as the best college football player in the country, Robert Griffin III is a special talent with the type of elite physical tools and mental makeup that rarely comes along. A three-year starter with 40 career starts for the Bears, Griffin rewrote the record books at Baylor, having set 26 single-season, 20 career and eight single-game marks in his four years in Waco. Over the course of his career, Robert threw for 10,366 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions with a 67.1% completion percentage (800-1,192) while rushing for 2,254 yards and 33 touchdowns on 528 carries; his best statistical season came during his Heisman Trophy-winning junior year in which he threw for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just six interceptions with a 72.4% completion percentage (291-402) and rushed for 699 yards and 10 touchdowns on 179 carries. Griffin brings elite intangibles, leadership, intelligence, and the work ethic that coaches and scouts dream about; he’s a very confident player who got the job done off the field as well, earning numerous academic honors in addition to ranking seventh in his class and being his class president in high school. The way that he led the Bears during his junior season is something that simply can’t be taught and brought back memories of Cam Newton’s spectacular season in 2010. At Baylor, Robert led his team to victories over Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, TCU, and
The best QB prospect that to enter the NFL since Peyton Manning in 1998, at least that’s what 99% of the scouts and draft experts say. Andrew Luck heads to the next level as the type of franchise quarterback prospect that only comes once every 10 to 20 years. A threeyear starter with 38 career starts at Stanford, Luck led the Cardinal to a 31-7 record over the course of his career while finishing second for the Heisman Trophy twice, as well as being named a two-time Offensive Player of the Year in the Pacific Athletic Conference. He helped lead a team that had endured seven consecutive losing seasons to three-straight bowl games, a near-chance at competing for a national championship, and the 11 games that Stanford won in each of the past two seasons is the most in school history. In his three years as the lead signal caller in Palo Alto, Andrew finished among the school’s all-time leading passers, having thrown for a total of 9,430 yards, 82 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions with a 67.0% completion percentage (713-1,064); his best statistical season came in 2011 during his junior year when he threw for 3,517 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 71.3% completion percentage (288-404). As complete of a prospect as I have ever seen, Luck’s intelligence, instincts, and
The only player in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history to record more than 4,000 passing and 1,500 receiving yards in a career, Ryan Tannehill enters the NFL with one of the most intriguing blends of physical tools, athleticism, and instincts for the position. A quarterback prospect out of high school, Tannehill was asked to move to wide receiver as a freshman where he finished first on the team in receiving as a redshirt freshman and second on the team as a sophomore. After starting quarterback Jerrod Johnson began to struggle in 2010, head coach Mike Sherman asked Ryan to move back to quarterback where he immediately grabbed ahold of the job of led the Aggies to a 5-1 record to finish his junior season. In 2011, Tannehill led the team to a 7-6 season as the starter while throwing for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions with a 61.6% completion percentage (327-531); Ryan finished his career with the Aggies having thrown for 5,450 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions with a 62.4% completion percentage (484- 774) and caught 112 passes for 1,596 yards and 10 touchdowns. Owning ideal size for the position, Tannehill is a tall quarterback who sees the field well and is comfortable working out of the pocket. An efficient quarterback whose precision and accuracy are his strengths, Ryan does a very good job of putting the right amount of touch on the ball to deliver it quickly and accurately down the field. He’s displayed the ability to fit the ball into tiny windows, however he also has shown that he can drop the ball in the bucket down the field using great touch. Having only started for one full season at Texas A&M, he’s still developing his ability to throw the ball with pinpoint accuracy down the field, however he understands how to put enough loft on it to let his receiver run underneath the ball, and in the short-to-intermediate range shows excellent accuracy. Ryan’s arm strength down the field is very good, showing the ability to make every throw that an NFL quarterback needs to make. His velocity isn’t elite, however he makes up for it with his fluid mechanics and getting rid of the ball quickly. Tannehill offers a fine delivery with a quick release, however with this only being his first full season concentrating on the position, he is still refining and tweaking his mechanics, but is far enough along that he shouldn’t have any problems polishing it up at the next level. Although he looks more comfortable working out of the shotgun, Ryan also has experience working from under center as well, and shouldn’t have any trouble doing either at the next level. His footwork in stepping into his throws is something that he will need to develop, as there are occasions when he will throw off of his back foot; he also doesn’t drive the ball down the field, so developing more torque through the hips would be something that I would have him work on as well. Being that he is such a talented athlete, Tannehill offers outstanding mobility with the speed and agility needed to take off and make plays with his legs. He’s not a quick-twitch or explosive player, but rather owns long strides with light enough feet that he can redirect in the open field to evade a defender; he rushed for 382 yards and five touchdowns the past two seasons. Ryan shows great awareness here with a distinct understanding of when he should and should not take off with the ball. Ryan does a nice job of keeping his eyes down the field while moving about the pocket and has a strong sense for where the pass rush is coming from. I’m impressed with his ability to throw the ball accurately down the field while on the run and outside of the pocket. Tannehill has a good understanding of how to read defenses and go through his reads and progressions, however part of his development at the next level will be the mental aspect of the game and gaining more experience here after having only done it for a short period of time while at A&M. Ryan has shown the understanding of how to use pump fakes, however there were times through the past two years when he would get caught staring down his receiver, which is something that he’ll need to work on correcting. Over the past season and a half, Ryan has displayed the type of intangibles and leadership that coaches look for at the quarterback position. Ryan Tannehill offers all of the tools, skills, and instincts that you look for at the quarterback position. However, he’s still in need of
One of the most interesting quarterback prospects in this year’s draft who began his professional career in Major League Baseball, Brandon Weeden enters the NFL owning the type of physical tools you look for in a top prospect, yet he has age limitations that could limit how high he is drafted. Originally drafted in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, Weeden played four seasons in the Yankees’ minor league system before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers; after two seasons in Los Angeles’ system, Brandon was selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Kansas City Royals where he went on to play one season before seeing his baseball career get cut short by a torn labrum and tendinitis in his rotator cuff. Opting not to have surgery, but rather to switch sports entirely, Weeden hopped off the mount and onto the gridiron when he enrolled at Oklahoma State. After redshirting in 2007, Brandon was a backup as a freshman and sophomore before winning the starting job as a junior. In his two years as the Cowboys’ starter, Brandon led Oklahoma State to a 23-3 record, including a Fiesta Bowl victory over Stanford to cap off his college career. He threw for a total of 9,260 yards, 75 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions with a 69.5% completion percentage (766-1,102) over his four year career, with his most productive season coming his senior year in 2011 when he threw for 4,727 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions with a 72.3% completion percentage (408-564). Offering ideal size at the quarterback position, Weeden is a poised player who looks very comfortable when working in the pocket. Owning the arm strength to make any throw that an NFL quarterback needs to make, Brandon is capable of consistently dropping the ball in the bucket with excellent touch on his throws outside the numbers and down the field. In addition, Brandon has very good accuracy to all parts of the field, displaying the touch and precision that you look for in a top prospect at the position. A smart, instinctive player who makes good decisions with the ball, Weeden manages the game very well while also possessing some of that “it” factor that you look for in a quarterback to lead the team. Brandon’s mechanics are ideal; he’s a natural thrower who also understands when he needs to throw the ball with different angles to put better accuracy on the ball. His footwork is going to be a work in progress at the next level as he makes the transition from the spread offense in college to the pro-style one that he’ll play in with the team that drafts him. Although he’s going to need some refinement in dropping back from under center, as he played the majority of his team with the Cowboys in the shotgun, I do like the way that he steps into his throws, putting more velocity and torque into his delivery. Brandon displays adequate pocket presence with fine awareness for where the pass rush is coming from, however he doesn’t offer the type of mobility to consistently get to the
Michigan State’s all-time leading passer, Kirk Cousins enters the NFL after having had a prolific college career in East Lansing. A three-year starter for the Spartans, Cousins threw for 9,131 yards, 66 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions with a 64.2% completion percentage (723-1,126); his best statistical season came as a senior in 2011 when he threw for 3,316 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 63.7% completion percentage (267-419). Also the winningest quarterback in Spartan history (27 victories), Kirk concluded his career ranked in the Top 10 All-Time in the Big Ten Conference in four different categories (completion percentage, passing efficiency, passing yards, and touchdown passes). Only the second three-time captain in Michigan State history (first sophomore to be named captain since 1949), Kirk offers the type of leadership, work ethic, and intangibles that coaches and scouts dream about. A smart, intelligent quarterback with adequate size for the position, Cousins has experience running a pro-style offense and is the epitome of what coaches look for in a game-managing quarterback. He has experience going through his reads and progressions, and although he’s still developing here, has displayed a good enough understanding to show that he has some upside here. He has plenty of experience playing under center and in shotgun, also displaying great timing with his play action fakes. Kirk is a great decision maker with the ball, offering better than a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio at the college level. Experienced in the pro-style offense, Cousins has great mechanics, holding the ball chest-level high with a quick delivery; his mechanics are close to NFL-ready. He displays good arm strength to deliver the ball 50-60 yards down the field and has enough velocity to make most of the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make. I love the way that Kirk instinctually leads his wide receivers down the field, whether it’s away from coverage and towards the end zone or simply to give his target a better opportunity to make a safer catch and avoid a big hit. He’s not the type who will force many throws, but rather likes to play it safe. He typically does a good job of taking care of the ball and doesn’t make many mistakes. Kirk throws the ball accurately in the short-to-intermediate range, and has shown the ability to drop the ball in the bucket as well as make accurate throws down the field, however his accuracy still is inconsistent and not where you’d like it to be at. In the pocket, he shows good pocket presence with a strong awareness for where the rush is coming from. He’s a solid athlete who possesses the mobility to escape the pocket when it collapses. However, he’s not the type of quarterback that is going to beat you with his legs, offering just enough speed out on the edge to scramble ahead for a few yards and pick up an occasional first down. With his mechanics, I’d really like to see Kirk work on stepping into his throws; he tends to throw off his back foot or at a standstill at times, which shows that he still needs some refinement of his footwork; throwing through his hips will give him better velocity and more accuracy with his throws. As much as there is to like about Cousins, I still have some doubts. He’s not what I would consider a poised, confident, and collected quarterback, often struggling under pressure, and has shown that he will get sloppy with his mechanics and footwork when under pressure from the defense. He’s not the type of quarterback that will be able to carry his team on his shoulders and go win the game singlehandedly. He shows flashes of having great potential and then other times you want to question whether he’s a draftable prospect. Kirk Cousins has the intelligence, great intangibles, and solid physical tools to develop into a very good, reliable backup quarterback who has the potential to develop into a serviceable starter in the league.
After Morris Claiborne was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award as the country’s top defensive back, for the second consecutive year the top defensive back selected in the draft will come from LSU. After Patrick Peterson set the NFL on fire with his return ability as a rookie, Claiborne enters the league with an equally-talented skillset that he’s ready to bring to a team. A two-year starter with 26 career starts for the Tigers, Claiborne produced 88 tackles, two tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups, and 11 interceptions in the past two seasons alone after tallying seven tackles in a backup role as a freshman; his best statistical season came in 2011 during his junior year when he recorded 51 tackles, one tackle for loss, six pass breakups, and six interceptions. Morris owns an elite skillset for the position with the height, length (33 inch arms), speed, and fluidity that you look for in a top prospect. An aggressive player, Claiborne is a natural in man coverage where he has shown over the past two seasons to be on the verge of developing into a potential shutdown cornerback. Experienced in both press and man-off, Morris is very effective when playing close to the line of scrimmage, as he has displayed a strong ability to get an effective jam at the line of scrimmage before riding the receiver down the field while staying in his hip pocket. A nimble defender with the quick-twitch athleticism needed to be a star, Morris has the loose hips and flexibility along with great short-area quickness to accelerate in and out of his breaks, and I really like his ability to flip his hips in transition with ease 219 before quickly turning and running down the field. He’s extremely quickly in small spaces, which allows for him to effectively mirror defenders down the field. Claiborne has shown an elite ability to drive downhill to make a play on the ball. Down the field, he does a terrific job of trailing right behind the receiver while at the last second either sticking his arm out to deflect the ball away or
A former top recruit with the combination of size, speed, and athleticism that you desire at the cornerback position, Stephon Gilmore is a high-upside player whose best football may be coming in his future. A three-year starter with 40 starts for the Gamecocks, Gilmore produced 176 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 17 pass breakups, and seven pass breakups; his best statistical season came as a sophomore in 2010 when he tallied 79 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, and three interceptions (41 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups, three interceptions as a junior in 2011). A former high school quarterback who only began to fully concentrate on playing defensive back as a true freshman, Gilmore is still in the early
The top cornerback recruit in the country coming out of high school, Dre Kirkpatrick enters the NFL after having helped Alabama win two National Championships during his career. A two-year starter with 24 career starts for the Tide, Kirkpatrick has great experience from playing in the SEC and leaves Tuscaloosa having produced 91 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 16 pass breakups, and three interceptions over the course of his career; his best statistical season came in 2010 during his sophomore year when he tallied 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, and all three interceptions. A very confident cornerback who plays with a swagger, Dre is one of the most physical defensive backs in this year’s class and owns the combination of height, length, and speed needed to develop into a starting corner at the next level. Experienced in man coverage with the skillset that projects to both press and off-man at the next level, Kirkpatrick is a fluid athlete with no wasted motion when turning and running with the wide receiver down the field. An aggressive corner who fires his hands into the receiver to get an effective jam at the line of scrimmage, Dre rides the receiver down the field in man coverage while showing little hesitation to make contact to attempt to deflect the pass away. An explosive athlete who owns quick feet in and out of his breaks, Kirkpatrick offers the tools needed to match up with most receivers in man coverage at the next level, however lacks elite speed to stay with the fastest of wideouts that he’ll be matched up with. Dre is an instinctive player who reads and reacts very well to what he sees in front of him, and at times will trust his eyes too much. He takes some risks, which will result in pass breakups or interceptions, however they have also resulted in him getting beat deep for touchdowns, so this is something that he’ll need to continue to work on at the next level. In off-man coverage, he does a great job of smoothly dropping back while sitting low in his back pedal and reading the receiver’s route before accelerating out of his break to arrive at the receiver at the same time as the ball to bat the pass away. He has a heady understanding of how to plant and drive downhill, which also has translates well in the run game as well. Dre will need to play with more discipline with his physical play down the field, as he has been known to draw pass interference or illegal contact penalties down the field, and those only stand to increase if he doesn’t develop better discipline here. Kirkpatrick’s instincts and physical style of play project well to zone coverage as well, although he doesn’t own nearly as much experience there as he does in man. Dre’s ball skills and body control to elevate (35 inch vertical) are both what you look for at the position, however I wouldn’t consider him to be a ball hawk after producing just 19 passes defended in three years. Dre Kirkpatrick is a talented, athletic defensive back who owns the tools and skill-set needed to develop into a quality starting cornerback in both man and zone coverage schemes. He’ll need to continue to get stronger and develop better
One of the most talented players in this year’s draft with some of the best all-around athleticism of any player available for selection in 2012, Janoris Jenkins is a player who must overcome significant character and attitude question marks in order to win over teams and be a top pick this year. After signing with the Florida Gators out of heralded Pahokee High School, Janoris was a star for the Gators for the first three years of his career before he was kicked off the team in the spring of 2011; in addition to being arrested once in 2009 after being involved in a fight, he was also arrested two times on drug-related events in a span of three months, the final straw being an arrest in April of 2011 on marijuana possession. After briefly considering entering the 2011 Supplemental Draft, Janoris opted to transfer to North Alabama. For Jenkins, who claims that he has matured and changed since he was kicked off the team at Florida, he will have an uphill battle leading up to the draft as he hopes to change his image for teams. A three-year starter at Florida and one-year starter at North Alabama, Jenkins was only the second true freshman in Gator history to start at cornerback on opening day. Throughout his four-year collegiate career, Janoris totaled 174 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 29 pass breakups, and 10 interceptions; after recording 121 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 25 pass breakups, and eight interceptions in 36 career starts at Florida, Janoris tallied 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and two interceptions in his lone year at North Alabama. As confident of a defender as there is in this year’s draft, Janoris plays with a swagger on the field and does not back down from competition, rather sticking his nose into the mix no matter what the situation. A very instinctive player who reads and reacts very well to what he sees in front of him, Jenkins is a smooth and fluid athlete who flips his hips very quickly to turn and run down the field with a receiver. A quick-twitch defender whose explosion and burst to the ball are elite, Janoris has all of the skills that you look for in a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. To prove just how high his upside is at the next level, as a junior, Janoris matched up with both former Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green and former Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, two Top 10 overall picks in the 2011 Draft, and held them to a combined eight catches for 61 yards. Owning fantastic ball skills, Jenkins attacks the ball while it’s in the air with little hesitation to throw his body at the receiver to attempt to dislodge the ball on contact. He does a terrific job of positioning himself correctly to make a play on the ball and to shield the receiver away, and while he may not out-jump taller receivers, he displays great body control as he extends out to bat the ball away or intercept it. Janoris Jenkins has the talent, athleticism, tools, and skill-set needed to develop into a Pro Bowl starting cornerback for a team in the NFL. There will be risk with selecting him due to the off-field concerns, however if he can keep his head on straight at the next level, Jenkins has everything that I look for in a premier player capable of developing into a shutdown cornerback in the NFL.
A player who has the potential to be one of the gems of this year’s draft, Josh Robinson has a rare combination of elite physical tools and exceptional instincts for the cornerback position. A three-year starter with 36 career starts for Central Florida, Robinson produced 176 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 36 pass breakups, and 10 interceptions throughout his college career; the most productive season of his career came in 2009 during his true freshman season when he made 69 tackles, one tackle for loss, eight pass breakups, and six interceptions. Although shorter than you’d prefer, Josh was the fastest player at the NFL Scouting Combine and offers elite physical tools with outstanding straight-line speed for the position. A natural in man coverage who offers the loose hips and fluid athleticism to mirror top receivers down the field, Robinson transitions very well in the open field and has no trouble turning and running down the field. Sitting low in his backpedal, Josh accelerates quickly out of his breaks with very nimble feet to make plays in small areas. He’s an explosive player who displayed his great athleticism at the Combine when he jumped 11-feet, 1-inch in the broad jump. Robinson is more experienced playing off than press in man coverage, however he does have the long arms (31 inches) and upper body strength ( 17 reps on bench) that you look for here to develop as a press corner At times, he will get a bit high when turning and getting vertical, however this is a minor technical flaw that can be coached up at the next level and should not impact where he gets drafted. For a cornerback to have 46 passes defended in just three years is simply extraordinary. Josh is a ball hawk who displays fantastic ball skills with his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and break on the ball to make a play. In man coverage, he does a great job of trailing the receiver down the field before closing quickly at the last second to either bat the ball away or cut in front of the wideout to make the interception. Although his lack of height won’t help him in jump ball situations, his 38.5-inch vertical jump and great body control both help to make up for it, giving him the ability to climb the ladder and compete with taller receivers for the ball. Although it’s nitpicking, you’d like to see him turn some of his 36 pass breakups into more interceptions. Owning a skillset that also projects favorably in zone coverage, Robinson is a savvy defender with his ability to drop back, diagnose the play in front of him, before breaking on the ball. His timing and awareness are both excellent, showing an instinctive ability to drive on throws and has proven to be a true playmaker throughout his career for the Knights. After making the interception or recovering a fumble, Josh has a heady ability to get up the field quickly with great vision, and with his elite straight-line speed, has shown the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands, having returned two interceptions and one fumble for touchdowns during his career. An active defender in supporting the run, Josh locates the ball quickly and displays the reliability that you look for out on the edge to make a tackle in the open field. Josh Robinson has the tools to develop into a future No. 1 starting cornerback for a team. With his ability to play both man and zone coverage, experience as a returner, and elite physical tools and instincts, Robinson is a play that I am very high on.
In 2011, Melvin Ingram emerged as one of the top playmakers in the SEC, if not the country, on the defensive side of the ball in his only season as a starting defensive end for the Gamecocks. As a senior, Ingram produced 48 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two pass breakups, two interceptions, and three touchdowns (one rushing, two return); in a situational pass rusher role early in his career, Melvin concluded his four years at South Carolina having produced 109 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, and 21 sacks. One of the most intriguing athletes in this year’s draft who possesses excellent versatility at the next level, Ingram has experience playing both with his hand on the ground at end and tackle as well as standing up at linebacker, and projects well to both end and linebacker at the next level. A hybrid end who possesses a maxed out frame with great speed and agility for a 275+ pound defender, Melvin is a quick-twitch, attacking defender who South Carolina couldn’t keep off the field, moving him inside to tackle on third downs to maximize the number of pass rushers they had on the field. With an explosive burst off the ball, Ingram accelerates up the field, showing great instincts to find the open crease in the line and sneak inside it as he pursues the quarterback. Owning a polished pass rush repertoire, Melvin displays a great swim move to penetrate the line of scrimmage and also offers a very good spin move to create separation from the offensive lineman and turn away from the line to meet a ball carrier on the perimeter. He doesn’t offer the speed to consistently pressure the edge against the tackle, however his great hand use and his explosive, quick-twitch ability to make sideline-to-sideline plays is where he is going to bring great value. Ingram is a high-motor player with great range who closes on the ball quickly in the run game. He displays an instinctive ability to peek into the backfield and diagnose the play, locating the ball quickly before redirecting his angle to runner. Although he may have some trouble consistently setting the edge against bigger, stronger offensive linemen at the next level, he does a very good job of closing down the line the meet the ball carrier as he’s entering the hole and has shown enough of an ability to stack and shed with his leverage and flexibility that shows the type of upside that he can bring here. In addition, Ingram is a high-motor defender who pursues the ball very well and has shown on numerous occasions the ability chase down the ball carrier in the open field. While not a punishing tackler, he’s capable of providing a pop on contact with a strong upper body to consistently bring the runner down. Although he doesn’t have a ton of experience dropping back into coverage because of how well he rushes the passer, Melvin has displayed the fluid athleticism needed to gain depth in his drops and keep his head on swivel.
Among the most talented players in the 2012 NFL Draft, Quinton Coples is a player whose on-field production has yet to meet the immense upside and potential that he brings to the next level. A two-year starter for North Carolina, Coples finished his career at Chapel Hill having produced 144 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 24 sacks; his most productive season came as a junior in 2010 when he tallied 59 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. A player who has all the potential in the world but has yet to put
A talented former top recruit with great physical tools and athleticism, Nick Perry is a player who put everything together in 2011 to have a fine junior season before opting to make the jump to the NFL. A two-year starter for the Trojans, Perry produced 103 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks over the course of his career; his best statistical season came in 2011 during his junior year when he made 54 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. A natural pass rusher with a true understanding of what it takes to get to the quarterback, Nick owns the combination of size, strength (35 reps on bench), and athleticism needed to start at the next level. Perry comes off the ball with more build-up speed than explosion, however he shows the ability to get up the field before bending down, dipping his shoulder, and beating the tackle to the outside. He’s shown that he can consistently pressure the edge, if not run the arc as a pass rusher, as he owns good range outside to cover ground quickly. Although he’s not a quick-twitch defender, he displays nice quickness and lateral agility to side-step the tackle and beat him to the outside, and shows the balance and coordination needed to change directions quickly in the open field. Nick shows enough of a pass rush repertoire to suggest that he is still developing here; he shows good hand use in being able to bat the offensive lineman’s hands down before attempting to rip through the line. He’ll need to continue to refine and work on his swim and rip moves, however he’s got a fine start here. A high motor player who offers great effort on every play, Perry does a great job of chasing the quarterback down once he’s penetrated the line of scrimmage and shows a nice burst to close in short areas. When in position to make the sack, he also does a great job of striking not only the quarterback, but also aiming to jar the ball loose, having forced five fumbles in the past two years. As a pass rusher, he plays with good leverage at the point of attack, displaying the type of flexibility needed to play underneath the opposing blocker. Nick does a very good job of getting his long arms (33 inches) up to obstruct passing lanes when he can’t get to the quarterback, having batted down six passes in the last two seasons. As a run defender, Nick shows the ability to extend out and set the edge, understanding how to play with proper leverage, however he’s still too inconsistent here and will need to develop better strength in his lower body in order to become more effective. He does a much better job of simply shedding the block off the snap and closing down the line quickly to tackle the running back as he’s entering the hole. If Perry changes positions to outside linebacker, he will have to learn to play in space better, where he looks lost most of the times.
One of the surprises of the 2011 season, Whitney Mercilus emerged out of nowhere as a junior in his first season as a starter to lead the country in sacks with 16 and win the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end in the country. In his lone year as a starter, Mercilus produced 57 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and also broke the Big Ten conference record for most fumbles forced in a season with nine; he finished his career at Illinois having produced 81 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, and two fumbles forced. Owning an ideal frame for the defensive end position, Whitney offers the athleticism and long arms (33 inches) that you look for. A high-motor pass rusher for the Illini, Mercilus racked up much of his production on second-and-third effort plays in which he pursued the quarterback and finally wrapped him up after closing on him. He does a great job of working through traffic and takes advantage of any open creases in the line and accelerates through it with ease. In addition, when closing in on the quarterback, Mercilus’ innate ability to target the quarterback’s arm to strip the ball away is very hard to find. While not an explosive presence up front , Whitney works up the field with his speed while showing enough flexibility to dip his hips, lower his shoulder and get underneath the offensive tackle to run the arc; he’s shown the ability to bend, however I wouldn’t call him a fluid or flexible athlete. Mercilus owns very quick feet with the agility, speed, and closing burst needed to swarm to the ball whenever he penetrates the line of scrimmage. He’s also a versatile presence up front with experience rushing the passer at both end and tackle, and should be able to translate that versatility to the next level. Whitney does not offer the polished hand use needed to be an effective pass rusher right away at the next level. He lacks the swim and rip moves that you look for, which will result in him getting up the field and staying blocked until either the quarterback runs to him or the play ends. He’s still a very green player who will need to continue to learn the nuances of the position and develop his instincts and awareness, as he doesn’t show the awareness that you look for and must develop a better anticipation of the snap count. Whitney simply seemed to be making plays off of his athleticism in college, not because he’s polished prospect, which certainly won’t fly at the next level. When he doesn’t manage to get to the quarterback, he does a nice job of getting his long arms in the air to attempt to block passing lanes, having batted two passes down in the past two seasons. Mercilus needs to play more disciplined when defending the run, as he doesn’t do a good enough job yet of setting the edge up front yet. Although he owns the long arms and upper body strength (27 reps on bench) needed to be effective here, he also needs to develop better lower body strength in order to anchor at the point of attack, set the edge, and not get flushed down-field away from the hole.
An intriguing defensive tackle prospect who offers outstanding versatility thanks to his rare combination of size, strength, and athleticism, Fletcher Cox is one of the most high-upside prospects in this year’s draft. A two-year starter at Mississippi State, Cox produced 107 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks throughout his career; his best statistical season came in 2011 during his junior year when he tallied 49 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Fletcher owns elite measurables for a defensive lineman, as he offers the height, length (34 inch arms), raw athleticism (4.79 40), and strength (30 reps on bench) needed to develop very quickly at the next level. He’s one of the most versatile defensive linemen in this year’s draft, as he has experience playing nearly
One of the most physically impressive players in this year’s draft, Dontari Poe offers teams a rare combination of size, strength, and athleticism for the defensive tackle position. A 2.5-year starter with 30 career starts at Memphis, Poe recorded a total of 101 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks over the course of his career; his best statistical season came in 2010 during his sophomore year when he tallied 41 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. A dancing bear whose immense size and light, nimble feet are extremely hard to find, Dontari is a disruptive presence who offers more untapped potential than almost any other player in this year’s draft. Off the ball, he flashes extremely impressive quickness, agility, and acceleration for a player of his size. His ability to change directions on a dime is something that I don’t think I’ve ever seen from a 350 pound athlete. When he’s on, he shows the ability to fight through blocks before closing down the line and crashing into the running back to stop him in his traps; he’s also shown the balance, coordination, and range needed to chase backs down in the backfield. Poe is well-versed in the art of taking on and shedding double teams at the point of attack and owns the lower body strength that you look for in a fire hydrant on the interior of the defensive line. Dontari is a flexible player who has shown the ability to dip his hips, stay low, and fire through the middle of the double team to penetrate the line of scrimmage. With his flexibility, he is capable of playing with outstanding leverage to the point that he can’t be moved off the ball at times. While he doesn’t have a ton of experience working in a two-gap scheme, he projects very well in this role, and with proper coaching, he has what it takes to develop into one of the best in the league here. Poe’s strength (500 pound bench, 700 pound squat, 400 pound clean) is incredible, which was shown at the Combine where he posted the top performance of any player in attendance in the bench press when he threw up 44 reps of 225 pounds. Poe’s upper body strength allows for him to collapse the pocket with ease; he was frequently double teamed at Memphis, as he had little trouble fighting through a single block. When he doesn’t manage to fight his way into the backfield, Poe does a nice job of getting his hands up to obstruct passing lanes, having batted down two passes at the line this past season. For as much as there is to like about Dontari, there are just as many reasons to hesitate. He’s a very raw player whose technique is underdeveloped and will need plenty of patience as he transitions to the next level.
A strong, powerful interior defensive lineman for LSU, Michael Brockers is an intriguing, high-upside underclassman with plenty of untapped potential as he heads to the NFL. A one-year starter with 14 career starts for the Tigers, Brockers produced 72 tackles, 10.5 tackles, and two sacks in his two years he played on LSU’s defense; his best statistical season came during his sophomore year when he was starting, as he tallied 47 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and his two sacks. Owning an elite combination of size, strength, and athleticism for the defensive tackle position, Michael owns very long arms (35 inches) with the mass, power, and athleticism needed to develop quickly at the next level. A raw prospect with immense upside, Michael presents intriguing versatility to in both the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses in the NFL, as he has experienced lining up as a one, two, and three-technique while playing at LSU. As a run defender, Brockers delivers a violent blow to the offensive lineman at the point of attack off the ball and has proven to be capable of penetrating the line of scrimmage by simply using his powerful upper body strength to push the blocker backwards into the backfield. With the length that he possesses, Michael has shown flashes of being able to extend out, control the blocker at the point of attack, before shucking him to the side to grab ahold of the running back as he’s entering the hole; however, he’s very inconsistent here and must develop better technique in the run game. He owns the lower body strength needed to be an effective anchor in the NFL, however he tends to let his pad level rise and get pushed backwards when he loses the leverage battle; the upside is there with his size and strength, but must develop better technique at the point of attack. Michael simply plays too wild at times with little awareness or discipline, which is something that must improve when he lands at the next level and begins to work with his position coach on understanding the game and further learning the nuances of the position. Brockers is a streaky player who doesn’t yet understand how to get small and rip through underneath to beat a double team; he can be neutralized when he gets two blocks on him. However, as you would expect from a young, talented player, he did get better as his sophomore season went on.
The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, Devon Still enters the NFL after having finally emerged during his senior season as one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the country for Penn State. A two-year starter for the Nittany Lions, Still produced 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in his standout season during his senior year; over the course of his career at Penn State, Still accumulated 113 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. Devon offers the leadership and intangibles that coaches and scouts look for in a player, having been a team captain at Penn State. Built well with tall height, a thick upper body, and the long arms (33 inches) that you look for, Devon has an ideal combination of size, strength, and athleticism for the position at the next level. An active defender in the run game who understands how to penetrate and create disruption, Still excels as a one-gap penetrator where he displays the type of quickness and explosion in short areas that I look for at the position. Because of this quickness off the ball, he’s proven to be very effective on slants and stunts on the defensive line. Inside, he has displayed enough of an ability to change directions quickly that he can effectively maneuver his way through small creases in the line. When given the chance to make the tackle, Still does a nice job of wrapping the ball carrier up and bringing him down with a thud. With a nice burst off the ball, Devon delivers a strong punch at the point of attack to the opposing offensive lineman. Owning the power and strength (26 reps on bench) to push his way into the backfield, Devon does a better job of getting up the field as a run defender than he does of taking on defenders and playing stout at the point of attack. He has a big frame to eat up space on the interior in the run game, however he’s inconsistent as an anchor. Devon’s pad level is inconsistent; there are plays when he will fire low off the ball and play with great leverage inside, however there are also times when his tall height will get the best of him and he will let his pads rise and give the offensive lineman a chance to drive him backwards. This is something that he must correct at the next level, otherwise he will be driven out of the play too frequently in the NFL. Still’s love for football and motor is also something that is inconsistent; he flashes the playmaking ability of a first round pick, however those come too inconsistently in my opinion.
Coming into the 2011 season, most scouts held a first round grade on Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy because of the talent, immense upside, and disruptive style of play that he brought to the table. One of the most talented defensive linemen in this year’s draft, Worthy is an extremely inconsistent player whose motor runs hot and cold, and simply plays when he wants to play. A three-year starter with 38 career starts for the Spartans, Jerel produced 107 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks throughout his career in East Lansing; the most productive season of his career came in 2010 during his sophomore year when he tallied 40 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks. Well-built with a very thick frame and great bulk for the position, Worthy has the long arms (33 inches) that you look for in addition to owning great natural strength. When his motor is running strong, Jerel can be as disruptive as any defensive tackle in the country, displaying good quickness off the ball with a violent punch at the point of attack. He has the strength and raw power to physically push the offensive lineman right off the ball and bullrush his way into the backfield. Worthy’s hand use is excellent, doing a great job of fighting off of blockers while displaying a pass rush repertoire that is far more advanced than you’d expect to see from an underclassman. He offers an impressive swim move to play over the top of smaller defensive linemen while also possessing a rip move needed to split the crease in the line and penetrate the line of scrimmage. After disengaging from the blocker, Jerel locates the ball quickly in the backfield and has proven to be a punishing tackler capable of crashing down on the ball carrier or quarterback and driving them into the ground. When he isn’t able to work his way into the backfield, Worthy does a nice job of getting his hands up to block passing lanes, having batted six passes down at the line of scrimmage in the past three years. In the run game, he does a great job even when still engaged with the offensive lineman to extend one arm out, grab ahold of the runner with his great strength, and drag the ball carrier to the ground before he can accelerate through the hole. Jerel’s short-area explosion is outstanding; he’s displayed the ability to cross the face of the offensive lineman and win the leverage battle at the line of scrimmage. Even when he doesn’t make the play, his disruption in the backfield often breaks up the offensive play and allows for one of his teammates to swarm to the ball. Jerel is one of the most frustrating players in the country to scout because of the way that he underachieved this season. He consistently takes plays off and his motor is either on or off; it’s as if he flips a switch when he wants to play, and that switch gets flipped too frequently. Worthy plays too wild without proper awareness and will not be one to ever chase down running backs on the perimeter. He understands leverage and how to play with proper positioning, however he does it too inconsistently and must improve on this in order to be a successful pro.
