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OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville -- Draft season is made for prospects like Lorenzo Mauldin, a guy that is flying under most people's radars but will probably see his stock skyrocket as a great prospect at rushbacker as soon as everybody is being compared side-by-side. Teammate of 2nd rounder Marcus Smith's last year, Maudlin draws a lot of the same comparisons to me. He is a physical specimen -- he's listed at 6'4", 250 lbs, and looks every pound of that and more. He sports a frame that is long and powerful, with more room on his frame. He's got fantastic closing speed -- watching him burst through an OL on a stunt is a genuine pleasure -- and hits like a truck. He already has a small number of effective passrushing moves, one of which is an awesome swim move. Maudlin is a pure 3-4 OLB, having played that exact position with the Cardinals, but relies a little too much on his great athleticism for my liking. As a result, despite his good effort, he's very weak against the run and struggles in tackling. A couple seasons of technique work and strength/conditioning will help him stack and shed better, which would only be yet another feather in his cap. I really think Maudlin has double-digit sack possibilities in the NFL, and could sneak into the 1st in the NFL Draft.
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