With the NFL being more of a spread out, getting athletes in space, passing league, having ILB’s that can run, change direction, cover and tackle in space is a must. Some teams will still line up in a jumbo package and run the ball at you, so being physical at the point of attack is a must as well. Here is how I have this year’s prospects ranked heading into the draft.
1. ILB Eric Kendricks 6’0 232 lbs rSr. UCLA (#37 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
40 Time: 4.61 Bench Press: 22 reps Vertical: 38′ Broad Jump: 10’8 3 Cone: 7.16 Short Shuttle: 4.17
Career Stats: 53 Games 480 Tackles 26 TFL 10 Sacks 5 INT 12 PBU
Strengths: Great awareness and instincts, Kendricks is always around the football. He trusts what he sees, and hits it fast and hard. Pursues the football sideline to sideline. Comfortable in man or zone coverage. Good hips and feet, changes direction very well. Understands route concepts. A 3 down LB. Has the ability to play ILB in the 4-3 + 3-4 and he could play WLB in the 4-3. Scheme diverse. Finds his way through the trash. Not a thunderous tackler, but a very sound one. At his best when the DL in front of him covers him, allowing him to run freely and make plays.
Weaknesses: Occasionally will take an false step. Is over aggressive at times, losing gap discipline. Has issues taking on blocks and shedding them at the POA.
2. ILB Stephone Anthony 6’3 243 lbs Sr. Clemson (#44 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
40 Time: 4.56 Bench Press: 22 reps Vertical: 37′ Broad Jump: 10’2 3 Cone: 7.07 Short Shuttle: 4.03
Career Stats: 52 Games 330 Tackles 34.5 TFL 9.5 Sacks 3 INT 13 PBU 5 FF
Strengths: Prototype size for an NFL ILB. Speed to make tackles sideline to sideline. Has great closing speed. Has the ability to cover and make plays in space. Good timing when blitzing the A gaps. Can play in the box or out in space. Has good instincts, when he trusts his eyes and goes, he’s really good. Is a very good tackler, very comfortable bringing down guys down in the open field. Has the speed to beat blockers to the punch on running plays. Scheme diverse, can play ILB in the 3-4 or 4-3. Also could play “Will or “Sam” in the 4-3.
Weaknesses: Must learn to use his hands better, take on, shed blocks and make tackles. Loses backside discipline at times, over pursuing the play, allowing cutback runs.
3. ILB Paul Dawson 6’0 235 lbs Sr. TCU (#57 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 4.75 Vertical: 30′ Broad Jump: 9’4 3 Cone: 6.76 Bench Press: 21 reps
Career Stats: 38 Games 241 Tackles 31 TFL 6.5 Sacks 5 INT
Strengths: Dawson has great vision and instincts. Has the ability to get around and under blockers, making tackles on ball carriers. Smart, diagnoses the play quickly and hits it. Watching the film, you can tell that he’s a student of the game, understands routes, puts himself in the proper position to make the play. Looks very comfortable dropping into pass coverage. Sound tackler, who has some pop as well. Playmaker, has 8 takeaways in his career. Fits at the next level as a 4-3 MLB or “Will” OLB.
Weaknesses: A bit undersized for the ILB position. Has issues taking on blocks in the hole, shedding them and making tackles. Average athlete who struggles at times getting to the perimeter to make plays.
4. ILB Denzel Perryman 5’11 236 lbs Sr. Miami(FL) (#65 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 4.70 Bench Press: 30 reps Vertical: 33′ Broad Jump: 9’5
Career Stats: 47 Games 351 Tackles 27 TFL 4.5 Sacks 7 FF
Strengths: Heavy hitter that pursues the football sideline to sideline with vigor. Physical downhill thumper that will take on blocks at the point of attack. Decent A gap blitzer. At his best in a physical game, inside the box vs the run. Will cause fumbles and dropped passes with his heavy hitting.
Weaknesses: Will make good initial contact when taking on blocks, but has to learn to use his hands and arms better to get off of the blocks and make tackles. Tight hips, average change of direction and feet. Struggles in pass coverage, especially in man to man coverage. Has trouble making tackles on speed guys out in space at times.
5. ILB Benardrick McKinney 6’4 246 lbs rJr. Miss St. (#91 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
40 Time: 4.66 Bench Press: 16 reps Vertical: 40.5 Broad Jump: 10’1 3 Cone: 7.21 Short Shuttle: 4.27
Career Stats: 39 Games 244 Tackles 19.5 TFL 7.5 Sacks
Strengths: Gets good depth on his drops in zone coverage. Uses his height and length to get into passing lanes. Has good enough speed to makes plays sideline to sideline. Played on the edge as a OLB at times. Has the physical tools needed to be a good LB at the next level. Could play some OLB as well as ILB as a pro. Decent tackler.
Weaknesses: Instincts are average, for a ILB, not around the football enough. With his physical tools, he should have been a much more dominant player on film. Slow eyes lead to slow diagnosis and slow reaction to the play. Has to learn to trust his eyes and go. Misses too many tackles out in the open field. With his size and length, he should be much better at taking on blocks at shedding them.
6. ILB John Timu 6’1 246 lbs Sr. Washington (#146 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
40 Time: 4.73 Bench Press: 33 Reps
Career Stats: 51 Games 328 Tackles 13.5 TFL 4 Sacks 4 FF 25 PBU
Strengths: One of the most underrated prospects in the entire draft. Really good in pass coverage, reads the routes in front of him, reacts, makes plays on the football. Doesn’t stay blocked, takes on guys, gets rid of them and makes tackles. Solid instincts, reads the play and go gets it. Good size for an NFL LB. A 3 down player. Flashes the ability to breakdown in space and make tackles on athletes.
Weaknesses: Bites hard on play fakes, taking himself out of plays. Will over pursue, allowing cutback runs because he loses backside discipline. Doesn’t have great speed.
Other Prospects with draft worthy grades:
7. ILB Ramik Wilson 6’2 237 lbs Sr. Georgia (#161 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
8. ILB/OLB Bryce Hager 6’1 234 lbs Baylor (#167 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
9. ILB/FB Jeff Luc 6’0 263 rSr. Cincinnati (#200 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
10. ILB Taiwan Jones 6’3 245 lbs Sr. Michigan St. (#208 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
11. ILB Hayes Pullard 6’0 240 lbs rSr. USC (#216 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
12. ILB Terrence Plummer 6’1 232 lbs Sr. UCF (#242 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
13. ILB Trey DePriest 6’0 254 lbs Sr. Alabama (#252 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
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