NFL.com
Best Linebackers
Special to NFL.com
Draft experts agree this is not the strongest year for linebackers. OLB prospect Napoleon Harris, who played rush defensive end for Northwestern this past season, generally is regarded as the only potential first-rounder. Juniors such as Alabama's Saleem Rasheed and LSU's Trev Faulk bolster the group.
NAPOLEON HARRIS, NORTHWESTERN
|
|
|
|
| ANALYSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Harris switched from linebacker to defensive end this past season. He finished his career with 334 tackles, the eighth-highest total on Northwestern's all-time list. At the Senior Bowl, he showed good quickness and impressed with his versatility. | ||
| WHAT THEY'RE SAYING | ||
| "Harris is a very
good athlete with size, speed and strength. While his instincts are not
the greatest, he is getting better, and while he needs work on using his
hands, he can bend his knees and play with leverage."
Joel Buschbaum, Pro Football Weekly "(Harris) needs to show he can still get the job done as an outside linebacker after a year playing a different position." Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN |
||
| MOMENTUM | ||
| Harris' stock might have fallen a wee bit after he struggled, at times, playing linebacker at the Senior Bowl. Then again, he hadn't played the position in a year. He's the only LB prospect who appears to be a certain first-rounder. | ||
LEVAR FISHER, N.C. STATE
|
|
|
|
| ANALYSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| N.C. State's all-time leading tackler, Fisher was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. He posted 25 double-figure tackle totals in his career, and his 33 career tackles for loss ties for third in the Wolfpack record books. His nine fumbles caused is second-best at N.C. State. | ||
| WHAT THEY'RE SAYING | ||
| "Fisher doesn't
have a physically imposing stature compared to the other outside linebackers.
He has to be protected because he tends to get caught in traffic at times.
He needs to show he can get free and roam sideline to sideline to make
plays."
Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN "(Fisher) is not very big but is big in the weight room. Hes a very dedicated player and has a big heart. ... Because of his size limitations and inability to take on and control blockers, he will have to play on the weak side in the NFL." Joel Buschbaum, Pro Football Weekly |
||
| MOMENTUM | ||
| Fisher broke his left forearm in the Tangerine Bowl but was expected to make a full recovery. He also played the second half of the past season with an injured knee, which was scoped after the season. | ||
SALEEM RASHEED, ALABAMA
|
|
|
|
| ANALYSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| An early entrant to the draft, Rasheed became the first Alabama player since 1989 to compile 100 or more tackles in a single season in 2001. He had 115 tackles overall, and closed the year with 10 or more tackles in six consecutive games. | ||
| WHAT THEY'RE SAYING | ||
| "You don't lose
a great player like Saleem and just put somebody in his place. Fortunately,
that's why we have spring practice and recruiting."
Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione "He has played both middle and outside linebacker, but he lacked consistency throughout his career at Alabama. He had flashes where he looked like a first-round pick and other times when he was not much of a factor." Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN |
||
| MOMENTUM | ||
| Rasheed could move up with an impressive showing at the combine. Still, other factors could relegate him to the third or fourth round. | ||
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
ROBERT THOMAS, UCLA
|
|
|
|
| ANALYSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thomas, a consensus first-team All-American, led the Pac-10 in tackles (10.1 per game) this past season. Undersized, he reminds people of another Thomas -- Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas. Robert Thomas is the younger brother of former Texas offensive tackle Stan Thomas, the Bears' first-round pick in 1991. | ||
| WHAT THEY'RE SAYING | ||
| "After a real
down junior year, UCLA's Robert Thomas has played like an All-American
... He is an undersized inside 'backer who lacks the bulk strength to take
on blockers and control the middle. Thomas must be in a defensive scheme
which protects him, similar to the way the Dolphins protect Zach Thomas."
Joel Buchsbaum, Pro Football Weekly "It is incumbent on the team that drafts him to have the 320-pound defensive tackles locking down the interior. That would allow Thomas to roam free." Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN |
||
| MOMENTUM | ||
| Thomas' stock can only rise so much because of his lack of height. But a strong combine performance could influence a team to pick him earlier than expected. | ||
ANDRA DAVIS, FLORIDA
|
|
|
|
| ANALYSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Davis' weight is down; he's in the best shape of his career. He must show versatility and the ability to focus on each and every play. | ||
| WHAT THEY'RE SAYING | ||
| "Davis had an
up-and-down year, but he (played) with a cast on a fractured thumb since
October. He did look outstanding in the Mississippi State game. Like Jennings,
Davis is a big hitter and very aggressive, but he seems to be more intuitive
and harder to fool with play fakes. While he may not time as well, he seems
to play faster."
Joel Buchsbaum, Pro Football Weekly "As a tackler, he has always been solid. He can also get the job done in coverage, something teams like to see." Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN |
||
| MOMENTUM | ||
| Stock is rising. Perhaps he can crack the second or third round. | ||
TREV FAULK, LSU
|
|
|
|
| ANALYSIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Faulk helped lead LSU to the SEC title this past season ,when he led the Tigers with 119 tackles (77 solo). He had double-figure tackle totals in five of LSU's last eight games. Before the season, he was rated the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker by The Sporting News. | ||
| WHAT THEY'RE SAYING | ||
| "He needs to be
more of a big-play performer, someone who can step up and make monumental
plays. He is solid and consistent, but he needs to prove he can be more
of an impact player."
Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN |
||
| MOMENTUM | ||
| One of those players who can improve his standings with focus and by showing he understands the need to be more consistent. | ||
|
|
|||
| NAME | COLLEGE | HEIGHT | WEIGHT |
| James Allen | Oregon State | 6-2 | 225 |
| Rocky Calmus | Oklahoma | 6-2 | 234 |
| Ben Leber | Kansas State | 6-2¼ | 244 |
| Nick Rogers | Georgia Tech | 6-1½ | 251 |
| Raonall Smith | Washington State | 6-2 | 242 |
|
|
|||
| NAME | COLLEGE | HEIGHT | WEIGHT |
| Larry Foote | Michigan | 6-0 | 228 |
| Ty Harrison | Notre Dame | 6-2 | 242 |
| Bradley Jennings | Florida State | 6-2 | 248 |
| Jermaine Petty | Arkansas | 6-2 | 258 |
| Ben Taylor | Virginia Tech | 6-2 | 230 |
