Posted by A Friend :) on April 24, 2008, 7:59 pm, in reply to "Deep Impact in the Draft"
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
OLB
School HT. WT. 40-Yd. Dash Rd.
1. KEITH RIVERS
Southern California 6-2 232 4.58 1
Described as "a perfect guy . . . a model Trojan" by USC coach Pete Carroll. "I've never come across a linebacker that I could say could play all three positions," one scout said. "He's not 'LT' (Lawrence Taylor, (Junior) Seau, (Shawne) Merriman. He's better than (A.J.) Hawk, he's better than (Keith) Bulluck. And his best position probably will be middle." Started 35 of 49 games, finishing with 240 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and 13 takeaways (combination of interceptions, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles). "His production doesn't equal his ability," Indianapolis president Bill Polian said. "If it hasn't at the college level under Pete I don't know why it would here." Played a measured game alongside undisciplined LBs Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing. "He played technique because Maualuga in the middle is a wild man and just runs to the ball," another scout said. "People say he doesn't make a whole lot of plays, but they have a lot of first-rounders on that defense." Comes from a military family. Scored 16 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. "People would say that they (instincts) are a touch off," Cleveland GM Phil Savage said. "At the end of the day he's got too much athletic ability. He's a real good guy and will be a good pro." Owns a 42-inch vertical jump.
2. CLIFF AVRIL
Purdue 6-3 250 4.59 2
Moved from LB to DE in mid-2006. "Avril's really explosive and really quick," one scout said. "Sam (strong-side) backer in a 3-4. In a 4-3 he has to be a Sam backer and a situational rush guy. He's better than Brady Poppinga." Followed in line of Boilermakers hybrid pass rushers in the last decade that included Anthony Spencer, Chike Okeafor, Rosevelt Colvin, Shaun Phillips and Akin Ayodele. "Some guys have come out of Purdue like that and had success," Buffalo VP of college scouting Tom Modrak said. "That always helps your thinking." Finished with 194 tackles, 13 sacks and eight takeaways in 49 games (35 starts). "He tests well and runs fast," Savage said. "He's never really played linebacker in games. He did early in his career but as they do at Purdue they usually put him at end and let him go." Added another scout: "He may go higher because of how he worked (out). But you can't sell him on the body of work."
3. GENO HAYES
Florida State 6-1 226 4.64 2-3
Third-year junior. "Flies to the ball with urgency," Arizona scout Jerry Hardaway said. "Good range. Can play sideline to sideline. Well-rounded athlete. He can factor early in the right scheme." Played weak-side for Seminoles, finishing with 156 tackles, eight sacks and four takeaways. "You like his athleticism, but he's not really a square guy and doesn't shed as well as you'd like," one scout said. Played hard but has questionable instincts. Was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors stemming from a fight outside a bar last year. "The issues are bad enough that if you're going to give him money, you better find out about him," another scout said.
4. XAVIER ADIBI
Virginia Tech 6-1 ½ 231 4.68 3
Three-year starter. "He ran a real fast time (4.57) last spring and now he's running a 4.7," one scout said. "So you've got a space guy who runs a 4.7. I thought he might be a strong safety." Finished with 291 tackles, 11 sacks and 14 takeaways in 47 games (40 starts). "Has burst to the ball and good chase," Seattle scout Charles Fisher said. "Struggles in line. Struggles to take on. He's plenty tough. Basically, he'll be your coverage backer." Thin legs and 13 on the Wonderlic are concerns. "His reputation is more than his ability," another scout said. "He's got some instinctual problems. Little inconsistent in his physicalness. Long, linear guy."
5. ALI HIGHSMITH
Louisiana State 6-0 225 4.75 3-4
Went to the combine in late February weighing 230 and ran a horrible 4.97. Came back a month later weighing 221 and ran 4.75. "It was just unbelievable," one scout said. "Shocked everybody. Because his whole game was movement and flowing. He lost 10 pounds and ran a little better but still a little scary." Started 38 of 52 games on the weak side, finishing with 260 tackles, 11 sacks and 12 takeaways. "Dang good football player," Tennessee national scout C.O. Brocato said. "I know this. The guy plays like a 4.65, 4.7 guy. You've got to take your choice." Cousin of Green Bay scout Alonzo Highsmith. Named after his grandfather, Arlington Louis Highsmith, who served as Muhammad Ali's sparring partner in the 1970s. "He can run," another scout said. "That's not his problem. He just doesn't play strong."
6. ERIN HENDERSON
Maryland 6-2 ½ 244 4.75 4-5
Brother of E.J. Henderson, a former Terrapin LB who has made it big with Vikings. Ralph Friedgen, coach at Maryland, said Erin might be slightly more athletic but E.J. was more powerful. "There's nothing special about him," one scout said. "His legs are pencil thin. He's tough. An average athlete with average speed. The production is there, but it's a little manufactured. He's just a guy, really." Fourth-year junior who probably shouldn't have come out. Underwent reconstructive knee surgery in '05 and played just two years, finishing with 247 tackles, two sacks and 11 takeaways. Added another scout: "I know he weighs pretty much, but he looks like a safety."
7. BRYAN KEHL
Brigham Young 6-2 ½ 239 4.61 4-5
Spent 2003-'04 on a church mission and will turn 24 in June. "Wow, he is really something when you talk to him," one scout said. "He might have been the best interview at the entire combine. He's the kind of person you want on your team." A two-year starter, he had 205 tackles, seven tackles and eight takeaways in 48 games. Scored 29 on the Wonderlic. "He's a good athlete and he can run," another scout said. "But I didn't think he was (tough). I really don't know what to do with him except put him in there on cover downs."
8. BRUCE DAVIS
UCLA 6-2 ½ 250 4.79 5
An undersized DE, his 29 sacks ranked second in school history. "He's definitely got to be in a 3-4," one scout said. "He doesn't fit 4-3 teams unless he's just a Sam, but nowadays they're not playing Sams up on the line that much." Backed up at LB in '05. Finished with 137 tackles and nine takeaways in 50 games (28 starts). "Excellent pass rusher," another scout said. "He's going to go to a team like the Ravens and be a good player." Father, Bruce, was a starting tackle for the Raiders and Oilers in the 1980s.
9. CURTIS JOHNSON
Clark Atlanta 6-2 ½ 239 4.67 5
Junior-college transfer spent two seasons playing DE in Division II ranks. "Rushability, special-teams ability, run and hit," said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "There needs to be a lot of development, but the guy has some talent." Named Division II national defensive player of the year in '07. Finished with 182 tackles, 18 1/2 sacks and 16 takeaways in 21 games, all starts. "Small-school projection guy," one scout said.
10. MIKE HUMPAL
Iowa 6-2 ½ 244 4.72 5
"Great at using his hands," one scout said. "Tough guy. Bends well. Pretty good feel. He needs to learn to avoid stuff. You wish he ran better." Started 24 of 38 games, finishing with 197 tackles, one sack and nine takeaways on the weak side. "He's not that instinctive guy that you want but good size and athletic ability," Tennessee scout Johnny Meads said. Scored 30 on the Wonderlic. Very aware in coverage. Added another scout: "Overachiever. A lot of people see him as a 3-4 linebacker. We don't like him at all. He can't play middle and he can't play Will (weak side). Not athletic enough for us."
OTHERS: Stanford Keglar, Purdue; Curtis Gatewood, Vanderbilt; Wesley Woodyard, Kentucky; Marcus Howard, Georgia; Ezra Butler, Nevada; Marcus Richardson, Troy; Robert James, Arizona State; Thomas Williams, Southern California; Larry Grant, Ohio State; Alvin Bowen, Iowa State.
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