Walter football: 3-4 Rush Linebacker Rankings

[the Talking Can]

updated Jan. 8, 2010.
http://walterfootball.com/draft2010OLB3-4.php
There are 29 names in the full list

#1 Jerry Hughes, TCU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 258.
Projected 40 Time: 4.64.
Projected Round (2010): 1-2.
11/14/09: Jerry Hughes is once again having a huge year (10.5 TFL, 9 sacks). He has a great shot of being the first rush linebacker taken in the 2010 NFL Draft.

5/18/09: Jerry Hughes had a monstrous 2008 campaign for TCU, notching 19.5 TFL and 15 sacks.

#2 Von Miller*, Texas A&M
Height: 6-2. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2010): 2.
11/20/09: Compares to Elvis Dumervil; undersized but makes up for it with relentless pass rushing. Von Miller has 18.5 TFL and 15 sacks as a junior, beating Russell Okung on a few occasions. Any 3-4 team would love to have him.

#3 Ricky Sapp, Clemson
Height: 6-4. Weight: 246.
Projected 40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
11/20/09: Did a good job rebounding off his torn ACL with 8.5 TFL and four sacks in 10 games this year. Plays standing up at Clemson, so he'll be targeted by 3-4 teams.

2/12/09: Collected 9.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2008, but tore his ACL in November.

7/30/08: Ricky Sapp's 40 will intrigue some GMs and coaches. Sapp was a nightmare for opposing signal callers, as he racked up 22 quarterback pressures and six sacks in 2007.


#4 Sergio Kindle, Texas
Height: 6-4. Weight: 254.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
11/14/09: Sergio Kindle is physically gifted and some team may fall in love with him at the Combine. However, he has only 3.5 sacks as a senior.

2/16/09: Though he was just a first-year starter in 2008, the hard-working Sergio Kindle made a name for himself, notching 46 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 10 sacks. He also blocked a kick. With another stellar season, he'll be the top rush linebacker in the 2010 NFL Draft.

8/2/08: Sergio Kindle has yet to start a game at the college level, but he registered 32 tackles in reserve last season. He also owns a spectacular 40 at his size.

#5 Eric Norwood, South Carolina
Height: 6-1. Weight: 255.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
11/14/09: Eric Norwood has 10.5 TFL and seven sacks in 2009. He also has two blocked kicks and 62 total tackles.

9/12/09: There is no clear-cut favorite as the top rush linebacker in the 2010 NFL Draft, but that could quickly change if Eric Norwood continues to dominate his opponents like he did against N.C. State last week. Norwood finished with eight tackles, two TFL and two sacks. The Wolfpack didn't have much of an answer for him.

2/12/09: A monstrous pass-rusher, Eric Norwood collected 14.5 TFL and nine sacks as a junior.

1/6/09: Eric Norwood has announced that he'll be returning to school once he learned that he would be a late-round pick from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee. Norwood cited that he plans to improve his draft stock as a senior just like Aaron Curry.

7/30/08: Eric Norwood made the most out of his first year as a full-time starter. Norwood recorded 69 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.

#6 O'Brien Schofield, Wisconsin
Height: 6-2. Weight: 248.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
11/20/09: A man with two last names, O'Brien Schofield has terrorized Big Ten quarterbacks with 51 tackles, 19.5 TFL and eight sacks in 10 games.

#7 George Selvie, South Florida
Height: 6-4. Weight: 247.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
11/14/09: George Selvie continues to struggle, registering just three sacks in eight games in his senior year.

5/18/09: A 3-4 rush linebacker, George Selvie has slipped into the second round of my 2010 NFL Mock Draft because he had just 5.5 sacks in 2008.

1/8/09: George Selvie announced that he'll be returning for his senior season.

11/16/08: Facing countless double teams this year, it's amazing George Selvie has been able to put up 11 TFL and five sacks through eight contests.


#8 Cameron Sheffield, Troy
Height: 6-2. Weight: 247.
Projected 40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
11/20/09: The "other" pass-rusher on Troy has 10 TFL and 6.5 sacks in 10 games as a senior.

2/16/09: Qualifying for the All-Sun Belt First Team, Cameron Sheffield had 58 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks in 2008.

#9 Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-2. Weight: 254.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
1/8/10: Jason Worilds has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Worilds is coming off a poor season, but told the media that he expects to be drafted in the first round. This has a chance of happening until Worilds wakes up.

11/15/09: Disappointed in 2009; has just seven TFL and 3.5 sacks as a junior.

2/12/09: Despite playing with shoulder injuries, Jason Worilds garnered 18.5 TFL and eight sacks, earning himself a spot on the All-ACC Second Team.

#10 Jermaine Cunningham, Florida
Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
11/14/09: Through eight games, Jermaine Cunningham has 8.5 TFL and four sacks. More importantly, Cunningham actually tries, unlike the guy on the other side.

2/12/09: Jermaine Cunningham did a great job putting on some bulk this season, moving up from 237 to 250 pounds. Cunningham had 10 TFL, six sacks and four passes broken up in 2008.

#11 Antonio Coleman, Auburn
Height: 6-2. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
11/15/09: Through 10 games has 12.5 TFL and 6.5 sacks. Probably better suited for the 3-4, but can play in both schemes.

2/12/09: A 3-4 linebacker at the next level, Antonio Coleman had 46 tackles, 10.5 TFL and six sacks in 2008.

8/2/08: Antonio Coleman started seven games in 2007, and notched 18.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

#12 Adrian Tracy, William & Mary
Height: 6-3. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
1/8/10: In 47 career starts, Adrian Tracy had 62.5 TFL and 31 sacks at William & Mary.

#13 Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
1/6/10: Thaddeus Gibson has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Gibson had 45 tackles and 13 TFL, but only four sacks. Not sure if I understand this one.

#14 Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech
Height: 6-3. Weight: 254.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
11/14/09: Having a monstrous year for a surprising Texas Tech defense. Owns 11.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks in just eight games.

#15 Chris McCoy, Middle Tennessee State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
11/14/09: Chris McCoy has 13.5 TFL and four sacks this year, two of which came against Mississippi State.