Image: DE Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest
Outside Linebackers:
Quentin Groves- 6’ 3” 255 lbs. Auburn
Not a lot of experience dropping back into coverage or playing off the line of scrimmage but he has the highest potential to be a prototype 3-4 rush linebacker. Groves is quite powerful though he gets caught using his speed and strength to often when attacking the pocket. He does possess an all-around game (pass rush and run stopping) though he is still rough around the edges. He’s commonly thought to be a mid to late 1st round pick though he could go much higher after workouts.
Bruce Davis- 6’ 3” 235 lbs. UCLA
Davis is one of the few guys on this list with experience dropping back, which will greatly help his cause come draft day. He is too small even by college standards to play defensive end and UCLA took advantage of his athleticism and speed by moving him around to confuse the offense. Davis looked natural moving backwards when asked too and he just needs more experience in this area. His forte is rushing the passer and backing off the line will enhance his abilities.
Darrell Robertson-6' 4" 247 lbs. Georgia Tech
Very athletic playmaker that should be able to make the transition to outside linebacker. Fast twitch speed rusher that can turn the corner in a hurry. Recorded 36tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2007. Robertson looked dominate at times during practices leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl.
Angelo Craig- 6’ 4” 235 lbs. Cincinnati
A sleeper pick. Much like Davis, Craig is far too small to play defensive end and played at linebacker for most of the Hula Bowl. Craig knows he must show the ability to switch positions in the pros and he has a background at linebacker to help his cause. Like most guys who have to switch, he is not strong enough to lock horns with lineman but his speed is extraordinary for someone his size. With good showings during workouts he could move up draft boards and hear his name being called in Round 3. He could be a real find for some team.
Derrick Harvey- 6’ 4” 260 lbs. Florida
Harvey put up solid numbers at Florida but he should have stayed in school another year. He is far too raw to play immediately and is not perfect for either end or linebacker. That being said, with some work, Harvey could be quite dangerous. His physical tools are spectacular and he has the instincts to hold up in coverage. He would need to go to a team that asks its linebackers to play zone but he has an impressive burst and first step that will translate well to linebacker.
Vernon Gholston- 6’ 3” 265 lbs. Ohio State
While Gholston is probably the 2nd highest rated end in the draft, he falls a little bit behind the others on this list. Gholston has the best chance to become a true end with his size and strength as he possesses decent speed and athleticism but not at the same level as the others. Gholston is vicious and aggressive and can be an absolute terror off the edge. He has no experience at dropping back and probably doesn’t change directions well enough to play linebacker but is such a solid prospect that he could play, and succeed, in that role.
Other Potential Recruits: Hilee Taylor, North Carolina; Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State; Cliff Avril, Purdue; Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech; Shawn Crable, Michigan; Ezra Butler, Nevada;
Defensive Ends:
Chris Long- 6’ 4” 280 lbs. Virginia
Long has played in a 3-4 system his entire college career and was still an excellent pass rusher. He has all the tools needed to play end in a 3-4 front as well as the size and strength. His greatest attribute may be his ability to defeat double-teams, a must in this system. Long is incredibly versatile with the ability to shift inside or play end in a 4-3 as well as the 3-4. No matter the system, Long has the ability to be a difference maker.
Jeremy Thompson- 6’ 5” 270 lbs. Wake Forest
A “sleeper” type, Thompson had some excellent performances during practice leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl. Strong against the run and has a quick first step. Thompson was very productive in 2007 recording 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Kentwan Balmer- 6’ 5” 290 lbs. North Carolina
A classic underachiever, Balmer did not have a breakout season till his senior year, which leads some to believe that he will not show the drive and desire needed to succeed at the next level. Based on athletic ability, Balmer projects as a Richard Seymour type who can play the same kind of game. He will need extensive work on handling double teams and adding strength but few defensive tackles in this draft have his athleticism. Another plus for Balmer is some very long arms.
Kendall Langford- 6’6” 280 lbs. Hampton
Langford dropped weight before the Shrine Game to try to up his speed and quickness with poor results. He got manhandled and was a major disappointment all week long. He slimmed down to the 275 range after playing at or around 295 for his college career. Hopefully the lesson in humility will show Langford that he needs to bulk back up and regain the strength he lost. Langford showed great strength and power at 295 and can hold his own when run at.
Other Potential Ends: Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb; Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan; Trevor Scott, Buffalo , Eric Foster, Rutgers; Vernon Bryant, Hampton
Nose Guards:
Glen Dorsey from LSU and Sedrick Ellis from USC both have the talent to play nose guard and at around 6’ 2” 305 pounds they both have the size, however, they are a better fit in a 43 type of defense due to their ability to penetrate the gap and disrupt the opposing teams offense. Here are few excellent prospects that look like pure nose guards.
Marcus Harrison- 6’ 3” 310 lbs. Arkansas
Very powerful prospect with a huge lower body. Very good at using leverage and holding his ground at the point of attack. Suffered a knee injury in 2006 and was suspended for three games in 2007 after a drug arrest, but still recorded 72 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 1.5 sacks. Harrison must fight the character issues, but talent wise he is special.
Trevor Laws- 6' 1" 302 lbs. Notre Dame
Laws is one of the best Sleeper prospects out there. From his defensive tackle position he led the Fighting Irish with an amazing 112 tackles! He also recorded 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He was unblockable during the practices leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl.
Red Bryant- 6’ 4” 325 lbs. Texas A&M
Definitely has the size for it. Looked like a world beater as a sophomore. As a junior (2006) he blew out his knee in game 9, and missed the final four games of the season. Bounced back nicely from the injury and his senior year he recorded 46 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 1 sack.
Dre Moore- 6’ 3” 310 lbs. Maryland
Moore wasn’t surrounded by great talent at Maryland and that led him to be double teamed often. He has the quickness to put pressure on the pocket and the strength to tie up blockers. While not a special talent like Harrison, Moore may be able to slide out and play a 3-4 end.
Ahtyba Rubin- 6' 3" 321 lbs. Iowa State
Who? This is not a typo. Rubin is one of the fastest risers up the draft boards after back to back dominating performances at the East West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl practices. Rubin has a low powerful anchor and consistently drives the center back into the quarterback. He converted from offensive line to nose guard in 2006 and was the strongest player on the Cyclone roster. He really emerged as a nose guard in 2007 recording 42 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Other Potential Recruits: Frank Okam, Texas; Jason Shirley, Fresno State; Chris Norwell, Illinois; Derek Lokey, Texas
Quentin Groves- 6’ 3” 255 lbs. Auburn
Not a lot of experience dropping back into coverage or playing off the line of scrimmage but he has the highest potential to be a prototype 3-4 rush linebacker. Groves is quite powerful though he gets caught using his speed and strength to often when attacking the pocket. He does possess an all-around game (pass rush and run stopping) though he is still rough around the edges. He’s commonly thought to be a mid to late 1st round pick though he could go much higher after workouts.
Bruce Davis- 6’ 3” 235 lbs. UCLA
Davis is one of the few guys on this list with experience dropping back, which will greatly help his cause come draft day. He is too small even by college standards to play defensive end and UCLA took advantage of his athleticism and speed by moving him around to confuse the offense. Davis looked natural moving backwards when asked too and he just needs more experience in this area. His forte is rushing the passer and backing off the line will enhance his abilities.
Darrell Robertson-6' 4" 247 lbs. Georgia Tech
Very athletic playmaker that should be able to make the transition to outside linebacker. Fast twitch speed rusher that can turn the corner in a hurry. Recorded 36tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2007. Robertson looked dominate at times during practices leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl.
Angelo Craig- 6’ 4” 235 lbs. Cincinnati
A sleeper pick. Much like Davis, Craig is far too small to play defensive end and played at linebacker for most of the Hula Bowl. Craig knows he must show the ability to switch positions in the pros and he has a background at linebacker to help his cause. Like most guys who have to switch, he is not strong enough to lock horns with lineman but his speed is extraordinary for someone his size. With good showings during workouts he could move up draft boards and hear his name being called in Round 3. He could be a real find for some team.
Derrick Harvey- 6’ 4” 260 lbs. Florida
Harvey put up solid numbers at Florida but he should have stayed in school another year. He is far too raw to play immediately and is not perfect for either end or linebacker. That being said, with some work, Harvey could be quite dangerous. His physical tools are spectacular and he has the instincts to hold up in coverage. He would need to go to a team that asks its linebackers to play zone but he has an impressive burst and first step that will translate well to linebacker.
Vernon Gholston- 6’ 3” 265 lbs. Ohio State
While Gholston is probably the 2nd highest rated end in the draft, he falls a little bit behind the others on this list. Gholston has the best chance to become a true end with his size and strength as he possesses decent speed and athleticism but not at the same level as the others. Gholston is vicious and aggressive and can be an absolute terror off the edge. He has no experience at dropping back and probably doesn’t change directions well enough to play linebacker but is such a solid prospect that he could play, and succeed, in that role.
Other Potential Recruits: Hilee Taylor, North Carolina; Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State; Cliff Avril, Purdue; Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech; Shawn Crable, Michigan; Ezra Butler, Nevada;
Defensive Ends:
Chris Long- 6’ 4” 280 lbs. Virginia
Long has played in a 3-4 system his entire college career and was still an excellent pass rusher. He has all the tools needed to play end in a 3-4 front as well as the size and strength. His greatest attribute may be his ability to defeat double-teams, a must in this system. Long is incredibly versatile with the ability to shift inside or play end in a 4-3 as well as the 3-4. No matter the system, Long has the ability to be a difference maker.
Jeremy Thompson- 6’ 5” 270 lbs. Wake Forest
A “sleeper” type, Thompson had some excellent performances during practice leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl. Strong against the run and has a quick first step. Thompson was very productive in 2007 recording 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Kentwan Balmer- 6’ 5” 290 lbs. North Carolina
A classic underachiever, Balmer did not have a breakout season till his senior year, which leads some to believe that he will not show the drive and desire needed to succeed at the next level. Based on athletic ability, Balmer projects as a Richard Seymour type who can play the same kind of game. He will need extensive work on handling double teams and adding strength but few defensive tackles in this draft have his athleticism. Another plus for Balmer is some very long arms.
Kendall Langford- 6’6” 280 lbs. Hampton
Langford dropped weight before the Shrine Game to try to up his speed and quickness with poor results. He got manhandled and was a major disappointment all week long. He slimmed down to the 275 range after playing at or around 295 for his college career. Hopefully the lesson in humility will show Langford that he needs to bulk back up and regain the strength he lost. Langford showed great strength and power at 295 and can hold his own when run at.
Other Potential Ends: Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb; Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan; Trevor Scott, Buffalo , Eric Foster, Rutgers; Vernon Bryant, Hampton
Nose Guards:
Glen Dorsey from LSU and Sedrick Ellis from USC both have the talent to play nose guard and at around 6’ 2” 305 pounds they both have the size, however, they are a better fit in a 43 type of defense due to their ability to penetrate the gap and disrupt the opposing teams offense. Here are few excellent prospects that look like pure nose guards.
Marcus Harrison- 6’ 3” 310 lbs. Arkansas
Very powerful prospect with a huge lower body. Very good at using leverage and holding his ground at the point of attack. Suffered a knee injury in 2006 and was suspended for three games in 2007 after a drug arrest, but still recorded 72 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 1.5 sacks. Harrison must fight the character issues, but talent wise he is special.
Trevor Laws- 6' 1" 302 lbs. Notre Dame
Laws is one of the best Sleeper prospects out there. From his defensive tackle position he led the Fighting Irish with an amazing 112 tackles! He also recorded 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He was unblockable during the practices leading up to the 2008 Senior Bowl.
Red Bryant- 6’ 4” 325 lbs. Texas A&M
Definitely has the size for it. Looked like a world beater as a sophomore. As a junior (2006) he blew out his knee in game 9, and missed the final four games of the season. Bounced back nicely from the injury and his senior year he recorded 46 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 1 sack.
Dre Moore- 6’ 3” 310 lbs. Maryland
Moore wasn’t surrounded by great talent at Maryland and that led him to be double teamed often. He has the quickness to put pressure on the pocket and the strength to tie up blockers. While not a special talent like Harrison, Moore may be able to slide out and play a 3-4 end.
Ahtyba Rubin- 6' 3" 321 lbs. Iowa State
Who? This is not a typo. Rubin is one of the fastest risers up the draft boards after back to back dominating performances at the East West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl practices. Rubin has a low powerful anchor and consistently drives the center back into the quarterback. He converted from offensive line to nose guard in 2006 and was the strongest player on the Cyclone roster. He really emerged as a nose guard in 2007 recording 42 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Other Potential Recruits: Frank Okam, Texas; Jason Shirley, Fresno State; Chris Norwell, Illinois; Derek Lokey, Texas
By Guest Blogger: Daryl Breault
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