Merk
August 28th, 2006, 1:29:44 PM
Top 5 DE’S for 2007
Strength of Class: Very Good, with deep variety
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1.Quentin Moses (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95069), Georgia
Senior
6’4, 254
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Notes: 2005 was Moses first year as a full time starter and he took advantage of it by registering 11 1/2 sacks for Georgia in 2005, and also had 21 tackles for a loss in 2005. His most impressive stat however was his 38 QB pressures. That is an astronomical amount for a college DE. Moses has good speed and decent power. He is sound on the angles a DE has to take and his Technique is above avg. The biggest downside w/ Moses is he can get pushed around in the run game, b/c of this he needs to bulk up a little if he wants to be the first DE off the board in the 2007 Draft
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2.Adam Carriker (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95070), Nebraska
Senior
6’6, 290
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Notes: Carriker has 3-4 teams drooling. He is everything you look for in a 3-4 DE with size and ability. Carriker is a forced to be reckoned with because he has a good combination of short area quickness and power. In 2005 he had 17 tackles for a loss and 9 1/2 sacks for Nebraska. His ideal spot in the NFL would be a 3-4 DE but he does have the ability to play DT in a 4-3 and also DE in a 4-3 if he loses some weight to gain some speed. His biggest downfall right now would be that he has been injury prone earlier in his college career. If he could stay healthy and put up similar number in 2006 that he did in 2005 he will be a 1<SUP>st</SUP> rounder.
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3. Lawrence Jackson (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95071), USC
Junior,
6’4, 265
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Notes: Jackson had an impressive 2005 season with 10 sacks and 4 forced fumbles as a sophomore on a young USC Trojan defense. Jackson has everything you want in a DE w/ great agility and speed and good power to compliment those features. He has been productive ever since he stepped foot on the field for the Trojans. He has a ton of game experience and has limitless potential if he can put it all together. His biggest downside right now is he is very poor on technique and because of this can become locked and shut out by better LT’s in college. This also leads him to be somewhat inconsistent. With an improvement in technique he has a shot to be the first DE off the board in 2007.
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4. Gaines Adams (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95072), Clemson
Senior
6’4, 260
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Notes: Adams has very good measurable for a DE. Overall Adams is a very good athlete a good speed to rush from the outside but also has the agility to make LT’s respect his inside moves. He has good closing speed and is very good a stopping plays down the line. Adams plays the game w/ a controlled intensity that leads him to have the discipline to stay at home on trick plays and counters. He is above avg vs the run but really needs to improve at the point of attack. Right now his biggest downfall is he often relies too much on his athleticism and because of this his technique suffers.
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5. Victor Abiamiri (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95073), Notre Dame
Senior
6’4, 267
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Notes: Abiamiri has a ton of athletic ability and is very effective in using it to get to the QB. He is a unique player in that he is very affective in both rushing the passer from both a 3-point stance and a 2-point stance. This versatility makes it hard for defenses to find and stop him. He also possesses good pass coverage ability when he is asked to drop back. His biggest asset is he has a very quick first step. Overall he has the ability to be the best speed rusher in the 2007 draft. 2005 was his first year as a full time starter and he accounted for 8 sacks and 46 tackles, 15 of which went for a loss. His biggest downfall is that he is avg to below avg against the run <o:p></o:p>
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Other DE’s to keep an eye on: Tim Crowder, Texas; LaMarr Woodley, Michigan; Quentin Groves, Auburn; Dan Buzuin, Central Michigan; Loren Howard, Arizona State; Brian Robison, Texas; Mkristo Bruce, Washington State; Larry Birdine, Oklahoma; Larry McSwain, UAB.
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Top 5 DT’S for 2007
Strength of Class: Avg, Could be Thin
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1. Marcus Thomas (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95088), Florida
Senior
6’3, 305
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Notes: Thomas has great lower body strength, which makes him a very stout run defender. He is very quick and explosive off the ball and this explosion is Thomas’s biggest asset. It prevents interior OL from getting the jump on him. With his quickness teams often find that he needs to be doubled on most plays due to that and his strength. Thomas gets a consistent push into the backfield that can lead to him disrupting teams run and passing games. He also has a very effective spin move that he uses as a pass rush maneuver. Thomas biggest downside is that he needs to work on his conditioning and his technique needs to be refined because he can play to high sometimes.
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2.Quinn Pitcock (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95123), Ohio State
Senior
6’3, 295
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Notes: Pitcock is not a big stat guy b/c the OSU defense uses its DL to free up the LB’s to make plays. Pitcock has a ton of potential and will most likely be best suited as a NT at the next level. He isn’t the most athletic guy on the DL but finds ways to get the job done. His best attributes are his effort and his strength, which he uses to make plays and take up blockers for the OSU LB’s. His biggest downfall is he really doesn’t have the agility or foot speed you would like in today’s DT’s
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3. Frank Okam (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95124), Texas
Junior
6’4, 317
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Notes: Earned the starting job over 2 returning starters in Rodrique Wright and Larry Dibbles. He had 11 QB pressures and 48 tackles last year on a Longhorn defense that was ranked 10<SUP>th</SUP> overall. He has good upper and lower body strength and can be a force against the run. He uses leverage well for a player his size. His biggest downfall is he hasn’t show to be much of a pass rusher yet and his conditioning could use some work.
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4. Baraka Atkins (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95125), Miami
Senior
6’4, 282
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Notes: Atkins is a bit of a tweener in that he can play both inside and out on the DL. Most have him projected as a pass rushing DT at the next level after he puts on a little weight. But he also has the skill set to be an effective pass rusher from the DE position. He has good overall athletic ability and above avg power. He is very quick of the snap and moves well with in DL. He is also better at stopping the run then most give him credit for His biggest downside is that he struggles to maintain his technique at times <o:p></o:p>
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5. Brandon Mebane (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95126), Cal
Senior
6’3, 290
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Notes: He can play both DT positions at a high level. He is a throwback type player in that he never gives up and a very high effort player on all plays. He is very stout against the run and rarely gets pushed back. He demands a double on almost ever play. He has an extremely powerful upper body. He is a better pass rusher than people give him credit for. He also is great in pursuit and moves well in traffic. His biggest downside right now is that he needs to play with more consistency.
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Other DT’s to keep an eye on: Alan Branch, Michigan (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95533), Sedrick Ellis, USC; Justin Harrell, Tennessee; Ray McDonald, Florida; Red Bryant, Texas A&M; Derek Landri, Notre Dame; Tank Tyler, NC State; Carlton Powell, Virginia Tech; Jay Alford, Penn State; Jeremy Clark, Alabama; Marquay Love, Houston.
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Top 10 LB’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Good
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1.Paul Posluszny (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95127), Penn State
Senior
6’2, 231
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Notes: Paul Posluszny is the definition of the phrase throwback player. He plays the game with passion and a controlled rage. He is good physically all around with good speed and size. His biggest asset is he is a very instinctive player. He had a very good year in 2005 with 116 tackles and was a leader on a great Penn State defense. His biggest downfall is that he was injured in his last game in 2005 against Florida State when he tore a couple of knee ligaments. It didn’t require surgery but its something to keep an eye on in 2006.
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2. Patrick Willis (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95128), Mississippi
Senior
6’2, 232
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Notes: Willis is the top rated MLB on many people’s boards in 2007. He has very good range, Speed, short area quickness, and instincts. Another asset he has is that he has very good strength for his size, RB rarely get extra yards after he makes contact. He takes good angles and is a very intelligent player. He has great first step instincts and is able to read the play off the snap on most plays. The things he could improve on are he could add a little more weight to play MLB at the next level. He also could use some refining on his pass cover skills
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3. Brandon Siler (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95129), Florida
Junior
6’1, 235
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Notes: IMO Siler has a real shot to be the best LB in this class if he decides to declare. He has tremendous speed and power and is very hard to out run when he is in pursuit. He is always around the ball and never gives up on a play. He is considered a workout and classroom fiend and the last thing you have to worry about him is if he is prepared. His biggest downfall is that when bigger guards lock onto him he has some problems shedding them
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4. Rufus Alexander (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95130), Oklahoma
Senior
6’0, 233
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Notes: Alexander has everything you look for in a weak side Line Backer and will be the best player on what could be a great Oklahoma defense in 2006. He is very athletic with very good speed and range. He traverses traffic very well and has a great nose for the ball. Alexander has good big play ability w/ 25 tackles for a loss and 5 INT’s over the last 2 years. Alexander needs to work on shedding blockers. He is good at avoiding them but once they lock on to him he has a tough time shedding them
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5. Xavier Adibi (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95131), Virginia Tech
Junior
6’2, 226
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Notes: Adibi is an athletic freak. He has great speed and turn on dime agility. He has a never quit attitude and goes full boar on every snap. He is a playmaker that can cover sideline to sideline with ease. The only thing holding Adibi back right now is his size. He can have trouble sifting through traffic (he is at his best in open space) and if he gets locked onto by a blocker he has real problems shedding them. At the next level he needs to either be drafted by a cover 2 team looking for a WLB or he is going to have to make the switch to SS.
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6. Vince Hall (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95132), Virginia Tech
Junior
6’0, 229
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Notes: Hall is a very sound all around player. He has good speed, short area quickness and has very sound technique in all facets of the game. He has a good season last year with 112 tackles. He also has a knack for making a big play when his defense needs it the most whether its knocking down a ball or making a tackle short of the 1<SUP>st</SUP> down or TD. The downside with Hall is that while he has good athletic ability and sound technique he really doesn’t have the awareness you would like to see in a MLB. He will make a big play to stop an offense but he has been also known to give up the big play.
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7. H.B. Blades (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95133), Pittsburgh
Senior
6’0, 242
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Notes: Blades can best be described as a rabid bulldog. He isn’t the fastest guy on the field but makes up for it w/ size and ferocious play that makes him a force against the run in the middle. Blades comes from a family of former NFL players (Bennie Blades Dad, Al Blades uncle, Brian Blades Uncle) so he knows the game and how it should be played. He has good power has a knack for sniffing out plays. He lacks in the passing game and he is also reliant on his DL to keep blockers off him.
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8. Desmond Bishop (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95134), California
Senior
6’2, 242
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Notes: He was a JUCO All American before he transferred to California and has started since day 1 at MLB. Bishop is not the most athletic LB in the world and he is more quick than fast, but with that said his biggest asset is that he has a real nose for the ball. He is always around it and when he gets there he is a very solid tackler. He navigates traffic very well. He is also has great strength and is good at shedding blockers. His downside is that he needs to work on his pass coverage skills
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9. Anthony Waters (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95135), Clemson
Senior
6’3, 241
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Notes: Waters has ideal size for a MLB and he is very good at stopping the run. He has very good instincts and plays the game with a passion. He had 109 tackles in 2005 with 14 of them going for a loss. He is a very hard hitter and will make his presence known in the run game very fast. He is intelligent and quick to read the play. His downsides are that he can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him and that leads to a lot of over pursuing. He could also use some work in the pass defense area of his game.
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10. Earl Everett (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95136), Florida
Senior
6’2, 233
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Notes: Everett is a player that is good at everything but not great in any one area of the game. He has put up solid numbers throughout his college career at Florida with 188 total tackles 13 for a loss and 8.5 sacks. He is solid against both the run and the pass and is a better pass rusher than he is given credit for. The downside for Everett is that he isn’t very consistent and get disappear for good amounts of the game.
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Other LB’s to keep an Eye on: Oscar Lua, USC; David Harris, Michigan; Mike De'Andrea, Ohio State.; Prescott Burgess (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?p=1378029#post1378029), Michigan; Brian Toal, Boston College; Dan Connor, Penn State; Juwan Simpson, Alabama; Brian Smith, Missouri; Stephen Nicholas, South Florida; Zach Latimer, Oklahoma; Dallas Sartz, Texas; Tim Shaw, Penn State; Kelvin Smith (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=96917), Syracuse.
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Top 5 CB’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Good, a little top heavy
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1.Leon Hall (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95254), Michigan
Senior
5’10, 201
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Notes: Considered by many to be the top CB on the board in 2007(Though in my Opinion he and Cason are 1A and 1B). He is very well rounded w/ speed and strength. Like most Michigan CB’s he is not only good in coverage but is good asset in run defense. He has a good feel for the ball when it’s in the air. He is consistently matched up against the opposing teams number 1 and ordered to shut him down. His biggest downside is that he lacks the ideal height you would like in a CB and he sometimes can be over aggressive.
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2. Antoine Cason (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95256), Arizona
Junior
6’0, 192
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Notes: Cason in a lot of ways reminds me of a bigger A.Winfield. Cason is an absolute beast against the run and it got to a point where some teams were choosing to run away from his side because of this great tackling ability. He is very good at bumping his man at the line and is good in coverage. He does very well in a conference known for its explosive passing attacks. The one thing that Cason needs to work on is becoming more of a playmaker. Like Winfield he doesn’t have the best of hands and even though he gets a lot of knockdowns his INT’s could be significantly higher. He should challenge to be the first CB off the board in 2007
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3. Daymeion Hughes (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95259), California
Senior
5’11, 187
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Notes: Hughes is an ultra athletic CB that has very good speed and agility. Hughes might be the best pure cover corner in the 2007 draft. He has good size and nice hands and is very consistent. His biggest downside is he is not very good in the run game and has below avg tackling skills. He will need to work on these things to move up in draft status
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4. Fred Bennett (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95260), South Carolina
Senior
6’1, 202
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Notes: Bennett has the ideal size you look for in a CB. He also has good speed and agility. He is very good in pass coverage and above average in run defense. He is better in man than he is in zone and when the ball is in the air he has a WR mentality and attacks it rather than waits for it. He is actually also a very underrated blitzer form the CB position and S.C. uses this talent on a regular basis. His biggest downside is he could use some refining on his run support
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5.Eric Weddle (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95262), Utah
Senior
6’0, 200
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Notes: Weddle isn’t the most athletic guy on the field but makes up for it with his 100% max effort at all times. He is an instinctive player who puts himself in position to make plays. He gets himself into this position with very good presnap reads. He plays both S and CB positions and could probabley do either on the next level depending on what defense he gets drafted in to. His biggest downside is his lack of agility and he has stiff hips when in coverage
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Some other CB’s to keep an eye on: Roshaun Fellows, Tennessee; Eric Wright, UNLV; DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State; Ambrose Wooden, Notre Dame; Marcus McCauley, Fresno State; Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh; David Irons, Auburn; Marquice Cole, Northwestern; Ramzee Robinson, Alabama; A.J. Davis, NC State; Travarous Bain, Hampton.
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Top 5 S’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Very Good
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1. LaRon Landry, LSU (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95530)
Senior
6-2, 205
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Notes: Landry surprised a lot of people when he decided not to enter the 2006 NFL draft and instead return for his senior season and 4<SUP>th</SUP> as a starter. Many thought he had a real shot to be the first Safety off the board in 2006 and a top 10 pick. Barring an injury Landry should be the top safety /secondary player off the board in 2007. He has a great combination of size and speed and is a playmaker all over the field. He is very good in both the pass and the run. His biggest downside, if forced to pick one, is that he can be too aggressive at times and this leads to a big play for the opposing team
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2. Brandon Meriweather, Miami(FL)
Senior,
6’0, 193
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Notes: Meriweather is a very complete player at the SS position. He has excellent coverage skills for a SS and does not hesitate at all to come up and help in run support. He is a very technically sound tackler who rarely misses one. He also posses great coverage skills and can often line up against WR’s in the slot. He is also a very effective blitzer. He plays much bigger than his size indicates and has a shot to be the first safety off the board in 2007. His downside is that because he is ultra aggressive he can be susceptible to give up the big play
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3. Michael Griffin, Texas
Senior,
6’1, 207
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Notes: Griffin is one of those players who are good in everything but not great in any one area. He has good size speed and technique. He also has good instincts w/ some ball hawking skills. He is good in run support and has good open field tackling skills. One thing Griffin can improve on is sometimes he passes up the sure tackle for the highlight hit and this can lead to him missing the tackle and giving up the big play. Other than that he is very well rounded
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4. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
Senior
5’11, 213
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Notes: Instinct wise Zbikowski might be the best safety in college football. He is always in the right place at the right time and defines the word playmaker. He is not very athletically gifted but he has adequate speed and good short area quickness with a nice burst. He is above average against the run and excels at pass coverage. He is also versatile in that he is a good punt returner in that he has great instincts for it. His biggest downside is that he is not as good against the run as you would like him to be. He really needs to refine his tackling technique.
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5. John Talley, Duke
Senior
5’11, 180
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Notes: Yes you read that college right and yes I’m talking about the NFL draft and not the NBA draft. Talley who is a CB at the colligate level will in my opinion make the transition to FS at the next level. He is the lone standout on a very poor Duke defense and though he might be a bit of a sleeper I think he has the coverage skills to make it at the next level. He has a great break on the ball and good athletic skills that allow him to cover a lot of area. He is also very good on presnap reads and is a student of the game. His biggest downsides are that he lacks ideal size and really isn’t much of a contributor in run defense which is why I think a transition to FS would be best for him.
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Some other Safety’s to keep an eye on: Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee; Josh Pinkard, USC; Josh Gattis, Wake Forest; Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech; Brandon Mitchell, Ohio State; J.D. Nelson, Oregon; Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State; Tra Battle, Georgia; Robert Herbert, Colorado State; Willis Barringer, Michigan.
Strength of Class: Very Good, with deep variety
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1.Quentin Moses (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95069), Georgia
Senior
6’4, 254
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Notes: 2005 was Moses first year as a full time starter and he took advantage of it by registering 11 1/2 sacks for Georgia in 2005, and also had 21 tackles for a loss in 2005. His most impressive stat however was his 38 QB pressures. That is an astronomical amount for a college DE. Moses has good speed and decent power. He is sound on the angles a DE has to take and his Technique is above avg. The biggest downside w/ Moses is he can get pushed around in the run game, b/c of this he needs to bulk up a little if he wants to be the first DE off the board in the 2007 Draft
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2.Adam Carriker (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95070), Nebraska
Senior
6’6, 290
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Notes: Carriker has 3-4 teams drooling. He is everything you look for in a 3-4 DE with size and ability. Carriker is a forced to be reckoned with because he has a good combination of short area quickness and power. In 2005 he had 17 tackles for a loss and 9 1/2 sacks for Nebraska. His ideal spot in the NFL would be a 3-4 DE but he does have the ability to play DT in a 4-3 and also DE in a 4-3 if he loses some weight to gain some speed. His biggest downfall right now would be that he has been injury prone earlier in his college career. If he could stay healthy and put up similar number in 2006 that he did in 2005 he will be a 1<SUP>st</SUP> rounder.
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3. Lawrence Jackson (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95071), USC
Junior,
6’4, 265
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Notes: Jackson had an impressive 2005 season with 10 sacks and 4 forced fumbles as a sophomore on a young USC Trojan defense. Jackson has everything you want in a DE w/ great agility and speed and good power to compliment those features. He has been productive ever since he stepped foot on the field for the Trojans. He has a ton of game experience and has limitless potential if he can put it all together. His biggest downside right now is he is very poor on technique and because of this can become locked and shut out by better LT’s in college. This also leads him to be somewhat inconsistent. With an improvement in technique he has a shot to be the first DE off the board in 2007.
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4. Gaines Adams (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95072), Clemson
Senior
6’4, 260
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Notes: Adams has very good measurable for a DE. Overall Adams is a very good athlete a good speed to rush from the outside but also has the agility to make LT’s respect his inside moves. He has good closing speed and is very good a stopping plays down the line. Adams plays the game w/ a controlled intensity that leads him to have the discipline to stay at home on trick plays and counters. He is above avg vs the run but really needs to improve at the point of attack. Right now his biggest downfall is he often relies too much on his athleticism and because of this his technique suffers.
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5. Victor Abiamiri (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95073), Notre Dame
Senior
6’4, 267
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Notes: Abiamiri has a ton of athletic ability and is very effective in using it to get to the QB. He is a unique player in that he is very affective in both rushing the passer from both a 3-point stance and a 2-point stance. This versatility makes it hard for defenses to find and stop him. He also possesses good pass coverage ability when he is asked to drop back. His biggest asset is he has a very quick first step. Overall he has the ability to be the best speed rusher in the 2007 draft. 2005 was his first year as a full time starter and he accounted for 8 sacks and 46 tackles, 15 of which went for a loss. His biggest downfall is that he is avg to below avg against the run <o:p></o:p>
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Other DE’s to keep an eye on: Tim Crowder, Texas; LaMarr Woodley, Michigan; Quentin Groves, Auburn; Dan Buzuin, Central Michigan; Loren Howard, Arizona State; Brian Robison, Texas; Mkristo Bruce, Washington State; Larry Birdine, Oklahoma; Larry McSwain, UAB.
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Top 5 DT’S for 2007
Strength of Class: Avg, Could be Thin
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1. Marcus Thomas (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95088), Florida
Senior
6’3, 305
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Notes: Thomas has great lower body strength, which makes him a very stout run defender. He is very quick and explosive off the ball and this explosion is Thomas’s biggest asset. It prevents interior OL from getting the jump on him. With his quickness teams often find that he needs to be doubled on most plays due to that and his strength. Thomas gets a consistent push into the backfield that can lead to him disrupting teams run and passing games. He also has a very effective spin move that he uses as a pass rush maneuver. Thomas biggest downside is that he needs to work on his conditioning and his technique needs to be refined because he can play to high sometimes.
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2.Quinn Pitcock (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95123), Ohio State
Senior
6’3, 295
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Notes: Pitcock is not a big stat guy b/c the OSU defense uses its DL to free up the LB’s to make plays. Pitcock has a ton of potential and will most likely be best suited as a NT at the next level. He isn’t the most athletic guy on the DL but finds ways to get the job done. His best attributes are his effort and his strength, which he uses to make plays and take up blockers for the OSU LB’s. His biggest downfall is he really doesn’t have the agility or foot speed you would like in today’s DT’s
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3. Frank Okam (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95124), Texas
Junior
6’4, 317
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Notes: Earned the starting job over 2 returning starters in Rodrique Wright and Larry Dibbles. He had 11 QB pressures and 48 tackles last year on a Longhorn defense that was ranked 10<SUP>th</SUP> overall. He has good upper and lower body strength and can be a force against the run. He uses leverage well for a player his size. His biggest downfall is he hasn’t show to be much of a pass rusher yet and his conditioning could use some work.
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4. Baraka Atkins (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95125), Miami
Senior
6’4, 282
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Notes: Atkins is a bit of a tweener in that he can play both inside and out on the DL. Most have him projected as a pass rushing DT at the next level after he puts on a little weight. But he also has the skill set to be an effective pass rusher from the DE position. He has good overall athletic ability and above avg power. He is very quick of the snap and moves well with in DL. He is also better at stopping the run then most give him credit for His biggest downside is that he struggles to maintain his technique at times <o:p></o:p>
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5. Brandon Mebane (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95126), Cal
Senior
6’3, 290
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Notes: He can play both DT positions at a high level. He is a throwback type player in that he never gives up and a very high effort player on all plays. He is very stout against the run and rarely gets pushed back. He demands a double on almost ever play. He has an extremely powerful upper body. He is a better pass rusher than people give him credit for. He also is great in pursuit and moves well in traffic. His biggest downside right now is that he needs to play with more consistency.
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Other DT’s to keep an eye on: Alan Branch, Michigan (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95533), Sedrick Ellis, USC; Justin Harrell, Tennessee; Ray McDonald, Florida; Red Bryant, Texas A&M; Derek Landri, Notre Dame; Tank Tyler, NC State; Carlton Powell, Virginia Tech; Jay Alford, Penn State; Jeremy Clark, Alabama; Marquay Love, Houston.
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Top 10 LB’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Good
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1.Paul Posluszny (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95127), Penn State
Senior
6’2, 231
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Notes: Paul Posluszny is the definition of the phrase throwback player. He plays the game with passion and a controlled rage. He is good physically all around with good speed and size. His biggest asset is he is a very instinctive player. He had a very good year in 2005 with 116 tackles and was a leader on a great Penn State defense. His biggest downfall is that he was injured in his last game in 2005 against Florida State when he tore a couple of knee ligaments. It didn’t require surgery but its something to keep an eye on in 2006.
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2. Patrick Willis (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95128), Mississippi
Senior
6’2, 232
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Notes: Willis is the top rated MLB on many people’s boards in 2007. He has very good range, Speed, short area quickness, and instincts. Another asset he has is that he has very good strength for his size, RB rarely get extra yards after he makes contact. He takes good angles and is a very intelligent player. He has great first step instincts and is able to read the play off the snap on most plays. The things he could improve on are he could add a little more weight to play MLB at the next level. He also could use some refining on his pass cover skills
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3. Brandon Siler (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95129), Florida
Junior
6’1, 235
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Notes: IMO Siler has a real shot to be the best LB in this class if he decides to declare. He has tremendous speed and power and is very hard to out run when he is in pursuit. He is always around the ball and never gives up on a play. He is considered a workout and classroom fiend and the last thing you have to worry about him is if he is prepared. His biggest downfall is that when bigger guards lock onto him he has some problems shedding them
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4. Rufus Alexander (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95130), Oklahoma
Senior
6’0, 233
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Notes: Alexander has everything you look for in a weak side Line Backer and will be the best player on what could be a great Oklahoma defense in 2006. He is very athletic with very good speed and range. He traverses traffic very well and has a great nose for the ball. Alexander has good big play ability w/ 25 tackles for a loss and 5 INT’s over the last 2 years. Alexander needs to work on shedding blockers. He is good at avoiding them but once they lock on to him he has a tough time shedding them
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5. Xavier Adibi (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95131), Virginia Tech
Junior
6’2, 226
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Notes: Adibi is an athletic freak. He has great speed and turn on dime agility. He has a never quit attitude and goes full boar on every snap. He is a playmaker that can cover sideline to sideline with ease. The only thing holding Adibi back right now is his size. He can have trouble sifting through traffic (he is at his best in open space) and if he gets locked onto by a blocker he has real problems shedding them. At the next level he needs to either be drafted by a cover 2 team looking for a WLB or he is going to have to make the switch to SS.
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6. Vince Hall (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95132), Virginia Tech
Junior
6’0, 229
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Notes: Hall is a very sound all around player. He has good speed, short area quickness and has very sound technique in all facets of the game. He has a good season last year with 112 tackles. He also has a knack for making a big play when his defense needs it the most whether its knocking down a ball or making a tackle short of the 1<SUP>st</SUP> down or TD. The downside with Hall is that while he has good athletic ability and sound technique he really doesn’t have the awareness you would like to see in a MLB. He will make a big play to stop an offense but he has been also known to give up the big play.
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7. H.B. Blades (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95133), Pittsburgh
Senior
6’0, 242
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Notes: Blades can best be described as a rabid bulldog. He isn’t the fastest guy on the field but makes up for it w/ size and ferocious play that makes him a force against the run in the middle. Blades comes from a family of former NFL players (Bennie Blades Dad, Al Blades uncle, Brian Blades Uncle) so he knows the game and how it should be played. He has good power has a knack for sniffing out plays. He lacks in the passing game and he is also reliant on his DL to keep blockers off him.
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8. Desmond Bishop (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95134), California
Senior
6’2, 242
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Notes: He was a JUCO All American before he transferred to California and has started since day 1 at MLB. Bishop is not the most athletic LB in the world and he is more quick than fast, but with that said his biggest asset is that he has a real nose for the ball. He is always around it and when he gets there he is a very solid tackler. He navigates traffic very well. He is also has great strength and is good at shedding blockers. His downside is that he needs to work on his pass coverage skills
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9. Anthony Waters (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95135), Clemson
Senior
6’3, 241
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Notes: Waters has ideal size for a MLB and he is very good at stopping the run. He has very good instincts and plays the game with a passion. He had 109 tackles in 2005 with 14 of them going for a loss. He is a very hard hitter and will make his presence known in the run game very fast. He is intelligent and quick to read the play. His downsides are that he can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him and that leads to a lot of over pursuing. He could also use some work in the pass defense area of his game.
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10. Earl Everett (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95136), Florida
Senior
6’2, 233
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Notes: Everett is a player that is good at everything but not great in any one area of the game. He has put up solid numbers throughout his college career at Florida with 188 total tackles 13 for a loss and 8.5 sacks. He is solid against both the run and the pass and is a better pass rusher than he is given credit for. The downside for Everett is that he isn’t very consistent and get disappear for good amounts of the game.
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Other LB’s to keep an Eye on: Oscar Lua, USC; David Harris, Michigan; Mike De'Andrea, Ohio State.; Prescott Burgess (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?p=1378029#post1378029), Michigan; Brian Toal, Boston College; Dan Connor, Penn State; Juwan Simpson, Alabama; Brian Smith, Missouri; Stephen Nicholas, South Florida; Zach Latimer, Oklahoma; Dallas Sartz, Texas; Tim Shaw, Penn State; Kelvin Smith (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=96917), Syracuse.
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Top 5 CB’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Good, a little top heavy
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1.Leon Hall (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95254), Michigan
Senior
5’10, 201
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Notes: Considered by many to be the top CB on the board in 2007(Though in my Opinion he and Cason are 1A and 1B). He is very well rounded w/ speed and strength. Like most Michigan CB’s he is not only good in coverage but is good asset in run defense. He has a good feel for the ball when it’s in the air. He is consistently matched up against the opposing teams number 1 and ordered to shut him down. His biggest downside is that he lacks the ideal height you would like in a CB and he sometimes can be over aggressive.
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2. Antoine Cason (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95256), Arizona
Junior
6’0, 192
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Notes: Cason in a lot of ways reminds me of a bigger A.Winfield. Cason is an absolute beast against the run and it got to a point where some teams were choosing to run away from his side because of this great tackling ability. He is very good at bumping his man at the line and is good in coverage. He does very well in a conference known for its explosive passing attacks. The one thing that Cason needs to work on is becoming more of a playmaker. Like Winfield he doesn’t have the best of hands and even though he gets a lot of knockdowns his INT’s could be significantly higher. He should challenge to be the first CB off the board in 2007
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3. Daymeion Hughes (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95259), California
Senior
5’11, 187
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Notes: Hughes is an ultra athletic CB that has very good speed and agility. Hughes might be the best pure cover corner in the 2007 draft. He has good size and nice hands and is very consistent. His biggest downside is he is not very good in the run game and has below avg tackling skills. He will need to work on these things to move up in draft status
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4. Fred Bennett (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95260), South Carolina
Senior
6’1, 202
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Notes: Bennett has the ideal size you look for in a CB. He also has good speed and agility. He is very good in pass coverage and above average in run defense. He is better in man than he is in zone and when the ball is in the air he has a WR mentality and attacks it rather than waits for it. He is actually also a very underrated blitzer form the CB position and S.C. uses this talent on a regular basis. His biggest downside is he could use some refining on his run support
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5.Eric Weddle (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95262), Utah
Senior
6’0, 200
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Notes: Weddle isn’t the most athletic guy on the field but makes up for it with his 100% max effort at all times. He is an instinctive player who puts himself in position to make plays. He gets himself into this position with very good presnap reads. He plays both S and CB positions and could probabley do either on the next level depending on what defense he gets drafted in to. His biggest downside is his lack of agility and he has stiff hips when in coverage
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Some other CB’s to keep an eye on: Roshaun Fellows, Tennessee; Eric Wright, UNLV; DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State; Ambrose Wooden, Notre Dame; Marcus McCauley, Fresno State; Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh; David Irons, Auburn; Marquice Cole, Northwestern; Ramzee Robinson, Alabama; A.J. Davis, NC State; Travarous Bain, Hampton.
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Top 5 S’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Very Good
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1. LaRon Landry, LSU (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95530)
Senior
6-2, 205
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Notes: Landry surprised a lot of people when he decided not to enter the 2006 NFL draft and instead return for his senior season and 4<SUP>th</SUP> as a starter. Many thought he had a real shot to be the first Safety off the board in 2006 and a top 10 pick. Barring an injury Landry should be the top safety /secondary player off the board in 2007. He has a great combination of size and speed and is a playmaker all over the field. He is very good in both the pass and the run. His biggest downside, if forced to pick one, is that he can be too aggressive at times and this leads to a big play for the opposing team
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2. Brandon Meriweather, Miami(FL)
Senior,
6’0, 193
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Notes: Meriweather is a very complete player at the SS position. He has excellent coverage skills for a SS and does not hesitate at all to come up and help in run support. He is a very technically sound tackler who rarely misses one. He also posses great coverage skills and can often line up against WR’s in the slot. He is also a very effective blitzer. He plays much bigger than his size indicates and has a shot to be the first safety off the board in 2007. His downside is that because he is ultra aggressive he can be susceptible to give up the big play
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3. Michael Griffin, Texas
Senior,
6’1, 207
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Notes: Griffin is one of those players who are good in everything but not great in any one area. He has good size speed and technique. He also has good instincts w/ some ball hawking skills. He is good in run support and has good open field tackling skills. One thing Griffin can improve on is sometimes he passes up the sure tackle for the highlight hit and this can lead to him missing the tackle and giving up the big play. Other than that he is very well rounded
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4. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
Senior
5’11, 213
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Notes: Instinct wise Zbikowski might be the best safety in college football. He is always in the right place at the right time and defines the word playmaker. He is not very athletically gifted but he has adequate speed and good short area quickness with a nice burst. He is above average against the run and excels at pass coverage. He is also versatile in that he is a good punt returner in that he has great instincts for it. His biggest downside is that he is not as good against the run as you would like him to be. He really needs to refine his tackling technique.
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5. John Talley, Duke
Senior
5’11, 180
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Notes: Yes you read that college right and yes I’m talking about the NFL draft and not the NBA draft. Talley who is a CB at the colligate level will in my opinion make the transition to FS at the next level. He is the lone standout on a very poor Duke defense and though he might be a bit of a sleeper I think he has the coverage skills to make it at the next level. He has a great break on the ball and good athletic skills that allow him to cover a lot of area. He is also very good on presnap reads and is a student of the game. His biggest downsides are that he lacks ideal size and really isn’t much of a contributor in run defense which is why I think a transition to FS would be best for him.
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Some other Safety’s to keep an eye on: Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee; Josh Pinkard, USC; Josh Gattis, Wake Forest; Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech; Brandon Mitchell, Ohio State; J.D. Nelson, Oregon; Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State; Tra Battle, Georgia; Robert Herbert, Colorado State; Willis Barringer, Michigan.