2014 NFL Combine - Players - The LB

[Saccopoo]

Linebackers:

Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech

Anthony Barr, UCLA

Lamin Barrow, LSU

Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Carl Bradford, Arizona State

Jonathan Brown, Illinois

Preston Brown, Louisville

Max Bullough, Michigan State

Khairi Fortt, California

Jeremiah George, Iowa State

Anthony Hitchens, Iowa

Adrian Hubbard, Alabama

Drew Jackson, Western Kentucky

Christian Jones, Florida State

Devon Kennard, USC

Chris Kirksey, Iowa

Boseko Lokombo, Oregon

Khalil Mack, Buffalo

James Morris, Iowa

C.J. Mosley, Alabama

Trent Murphy, Stanford

Kevin Pierre-Louis, Boston College

Ronald Powell, Florida

Trevor Reilly, Utah

Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

Prince Shembo, Notre Dame

Shayne Skov, Stanford

Yawin Smallwood, Connecticut

Telvin Smith, Florida State

Tyler Starr, South Dakota

Jordie Tripp, Montana

Uani' Unga, BYU

Kyle Van Noy, BYU

Avery Williamson, Kentucky

Jordan Zumwalt, UCLA

[OldSchool]

After studying Buffalo OLB Khalil Mack's tape, ESPN's Merril Hoge called Mack the "most dominant football player I've ever seen come out of college."
Hoge is impressed by how "fundamentally sound" Mack is, and said he'd select Mack "in a heartbeat" over South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney. Hoge believes Mack could play on the edge in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, and even rush the quarterback as an inside linebacker. "Regardless of where he plays, he will be an impact player immediately in the NFL," was Hoge's tape-based conclusion.

Interesting. That's pretty high praise, especially considering the strength of this draft class.

[planetdoc]

As recent drafts show, middle linebacker largely becoming an afterthought
(highlights)

Essentially, what’s happening is the ‘Will’ is becoming the ‘Mike’, a guy who can run from sideline to sideline.”

Even former teammate Ray Lewis, the seemingly ageless middle linebacker who is one of the greatest to play the position, sensed the game was changing before his final NFL season in 2012. He lost about 20 pounds so he could try to keep up with pass-catching backs and athletic tight ends, ensuring that the Ravens would keep letting him play every defensive snap.

“You’re asking linebackers to do different things,” said Greenway, who isn’t buying the notion that the position has been devalued. “You have tight ends now that are splitting out and are basketball players turned receivers. It’s turned into a different kind of game.”

Scott also pointed out that today many teams employ a committee approach at linebacker. Depending on the down and distance, defenses either will use one of those big thumpers or replace him with a coverage linebacker. Some teams, such as the Bengals when new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer ran their defense, sometimes use a third safety instead of an extra linebacker on passing downs.

“It’s all about roles,” Scott said. “The league has become about situations.”

[planetdoc]

Rating the NFL draft prospects: Linebackers