1. A.J. Hawk - Ohio State Buckeyes - 6'1" 248 lbs.

Positives

Hawk has excellent athletic ability, and all the measurables that teams want in a NFL LB. He is very agile and has great body control and balance. He has a good initial burst, and can turn on the jets to close in on opponents. Has the upper body strength to stack up blockers and make a pile. He is a workout warrior, but his weight room numbers translate well onto the gridiron. He moves well through traffic and is instinctive when hunting down the football. He keeps his hips open when in coverage and can change directions in a hurry. He has a great vertical leap, and is always a threat to intercept a pass.

Negatives

Larger blockers can overpower him at the line of scrimmage as he has more upper body strength, but needs to work on his lower body strength. Plays with urgency, but can over-pursue and outrun a play. Needs to work on his read/reaction skills, especially on play action fakes.

Numbers Game

3 - Led the Buckeyes in tackles for the last 3 seasons.

NFL Comparison

Takeo Spikes

Summary

A.J. Hawk is a very disruptive player that can give opponents nightmares. He is a very good tackler and wraps up very well. His coverage skills are top notch, and he shows a natural ability to catch the ball at it's highest point with his arms extended. A.J. can do it all. He is a good run-stopper, very good in coverage, and can rush the QB if need be. He is an exciting player that will develop into the leader of a defense. Hawk is an outstanding player that will make a big impact early and often in his NFL career.

2. Ernie Sims - Florida State Seminoles - 5'11" 231 lbs.

Positives

Ernie may be undersized, but he has the heart of a lion. He plays with a good motor and is constantly working to get to the ballcarrier. He is a very instinctive player and shows a natural ability to always be around the football. He can slide through trash at the line of scrimmage and shows great footwork when getting to the point of attack. He has good closing speed and shows nice burst to get to the ballcarrier. Plays well in coverage, and sees the field well when backpedaling.

Negatives

Can get thrown around by linemen when he's locked up in tight spaces. Does not have the edge moves, or capability to be a great pass rusher. Tries to run around too many blocks, thus taking himself out of the play. Injuries are a concern because of a fractured fibula and concussion in 2005. Character issues are a concern because of a domestic violence and resisting arrest charge that Sims had in 2005.

Numbers Game

34 - His jersey number was brought out of retirement at the request of the coaching staff, and with the permission of former Seminole great Ron Sellers.

NFL Comparison

Ian Gold

Summary

Ernie Sims may not have the ideal measurables for an OLB in the NFL, but he can sure rack up the stats. He plays with a great sense of urgency, and is known to make big hits. He shows a natural ability to read and avoid blocks. He does not have the bulk or power to disengage from bigger blockers and may be best served as a weak side LB in the NFL. He could make an immediate impact as a nickel LB. He takes good pursuit angles and has great range and pass coverage ability. Sims should continue to develop into a fine NFL LB.

3. Bobby Carpenter - Ohio State Buckeyes - 6'3" 256 lbs.

Positives

Bobby Carpenter's stock is rising quickly. He is naturally fast and can change directions instantly without losing much speed. This allows him to pursue plays down the line of scrimmage with great effectiveness. He is a very smart player that knows how to read what the offense is trying to do. He likes to "mix it up" on the inside and will not back down from physical play. He has great moves to get to the QB, and the closing burst to seal the deal. He does a good job of timing when the QB will throw, which leads to batted passes or interceptions. He has great field awareness and good coverage skills.

Negatives

Has trouble disengaging from bigger linemen when they get hold of his pads. More of a finesse tackler, and doesn't have much "pop" when he hits. Needs to show better run stopping ability. A fractured right fibula in the season finale against Michigan has some teams worried.

Numbers Game

15.25 ppg - Carpenter teamed with A.J. Hawk on a defense that ranked 5th in scoring defense.

NFL Comparison

Kendrell Bell

Summary

Bobby Carpenter is a player that will do whatever it takes to help out his team. He can line up at OLB, DE, and makes several highlight plays on special teams. He is the son of former NFL RB Rob Carpenter (Oilers, Giants), so he has the NFL pedigree. He has an outstanding motor and will give his team everything that he has. He inspires the players around him to be better, and knows how to fire up the team. Carpenter is the type of player that you can really get behind as a fan. He puts it all on the field and expects no less from his teammates.

4. Chad Greenway - Iowa Hawkeyes - 6'3" 242 lbs.

Positives

Chad Greenway is an athletic and versatile prospect. He can be a great edge rusher, and has a quick first step. He knows how to use leverage to his advantage and can get around slower offensive linemen. Keeps his arms extended and prevents blockers from latching onto him consistently. In addition to great moves he also has good closing speed and takes good pursuit angles. He is an instinctive player that can read and react very well. Can "get skinny" and get by linemen, or overpower them with a good "pop". Is a great tackler in the open field. Has shown the ability to catch the ball at it's highest point, and has a great vertical leap to get to passes.

Negatives

His draft stock is falling somewhat. He is athletic, but needs more lower body strength. Offenses can run directly at him and take him out of the play. Will try and run around blocks when it may be best served to take opponents head on.

Numbers Game

8 - Greenway played 8-man football at his South Dakota High School.

NFL Comparison

Keith Brooking

Summary

Chad Greenway has a good skill set to be a situational rusher in the NFL. With his incredible speed he can string out a play and allow his teammates to get into the action with him. He has a good vertical leap and can bat down a lot of passes at the line of scrimmage if he can't get to the QB. He is best when working in the open field, or in pursuit. Scouts would like to see him be more aggressive when taking on blocks. Greenway has the work ethic, and is a good student of the game. He can overpursue plays and get out of position, but is working on improving his footwork. He is a very coachable player and a leader on the field.

5. Manny Lawson - North Carolina State Wolfpack - 6'6" 241 lbs.

Positives

Lawson has great initial quickness. He can get past the blockers in a hurry and has long arms to create separation. He also uses those long arms to bat down passes, or block kicks. He has a good spin move that allows him to get around less-athletic offensive tackles. He's not just a pass rusher, and is effective in stopping the run as well. He has great athletic ability and plays with good balance and body control. Has great upper body strength and knows how to "dip" past unsuspecting linemen. He has natural hands and has even had some limited time lining up at TE.

Negatives

Gets too high in his stance when rushing the passer sometimes. This allows bigger, stronger linemen to just move him past the play. Is better at stopping run plays to the outside, and can be overpowered by the inside running game. Needs to wrap up better, and not just go for the big hit.

Numbers Game

7 - Blocked seven kicks during his collegiate career.

NFL Comparison

Leonard Little

Summary

Manny Lawson teamed with Mario Williams to give the Wolfpack the fiercest pair of DE's in the entire NCAA. Lawson should move to the OLB spot in the NFL, and should see great success as an edge rusher. He has superb acceleration, long arms, and a good vertical leap. This makes him even more dangerous because if he can't make it to the QB he can always bat down passes and get some interceptions. He is a very smart player that can read and react well. He has a great swim move, and spin move to get to the QB in a hurry. He added more bulk to his frame when he was asked to move from OLB to DE in college. He is athletic enough to line up at several positions and creates mismatches wherever he goes.

6. Roger McIntosh - Miami Hurricanes - 6'2" 237 lbs.

Positives

McIntosh is a workout warrior, like most former Hurricanes. He has great muscle tone, and good upper body strength. He has great closing burst and can get on top of a play in a hurry. He has good footwork when getting through traffic at the line of scrimmage. He can change directions quickly without losing much speed in the process. He does a great job of recognizing schemes and has great read/reaction skills. He has good lateral movement and can open up his hips which allows him to be very effective in coverage. His tackling is textbook, and he gets good pop on his hits. His instincts are top notch and he has a natural nose for the football.

Negatives

Sometimes prefers to go around blocks rather than through them. Has large hands, but no natural pass catching ability and will drop some would-be interceptions. Injuries are a concern as he's battled shoulder and knee problems recently.

Numbers Game

48 in 5 - Registered 48 of his 89 tackles in 2005 during the last 5 games of the season.

NFL Comparison

Keith Bullock

Summary

Roger McIntosh is a versatile player that could line up at MLB, or OLB. With his speed he's best suited to line up outside and create havoc for an opposing offense. He has great instincts and he can get to the ball carrier in a hurry. He has the initial burst to take linemen by surprise and get in the backfield quickly. He also uses his closing speed to run down plays from behind. McIntosh is another great one in a long line of Hurricane LB's. He can contribute immediately, no matter where he goes. He is a fiery leader that will give his team 110%.

7. DeMeco Ryans - Alabama Crimson Tide - 6'1" 236 lbs.

Positives

Ryans is a great athlete that has a good feel for the game of football. He has great initial burst and he can get to the QB in a hurry, plus he can disrupt the running game inside. He is rarely caught out of position and has excellent read and react skills. He takes good pursuit angles and uses his top closing speed to get to the football. He uses his hands well to maintain separation and also to shed cut blocks. He shows great leg drive when tackling, and wraps up effectively every time. He has the ability to stay with TE's on deep routes.

Negatives

Needs to add more bulk to his frame. Can get engulfed if caught up in traffic at the line of scrimmage. Tries to use his body to intercept a pass and does not pluck the ball from the air.

Numbers Game

308 - He ranks 4th in Alabama history for career tackles.

NFL Comparison

D.J. Williams

Summary

DeMeco Ryans has excellent awareness and field presence. He might be better suited for a weakside LB in the NFL, but is versatile enough to line up at MLB as well. He has great change of direction ability and can make plays from the backside that other LB's can't. He is a very coachable player and would be able to digest a complex scheme with ease. Ryans is the perfect LB for a team that is looking for a hard worker that has the speed and instincts to be a disruptive force on every play.

8. Thomas Howard - UTEP Miners - 6'3" 239 lbs.

Positives

Howard is a very smart player that has a nose for the football. He takes proper pursuit angles in order to get to the ballcarrier. He has the closing burst to take many plays down from behind. He has great change of direction skills and doesn't lose much speed when moving through traffic. He is a sure tackler that wraps up every time. He knows how to use leverage to his advantage, and has the arm strength to maintain separation from would-be blockers. He is great at blitzing the QB from the back.

Negatives

Needs to show more consistency in his play, as he can be absent from the game for a long time. Seemed to have some mental lapses and was caught out of position several times during the last few games of the season. Can be engulfed by bigger offensive linemen.

Numbers Game

40 - The number of tackles in his career that killed opponents scoring drives.

NFL Comparison

Brian Simmons

Summary

Thomas Howard has played 3 different positions during his time at UTEP. He first started as a SS when he was a walk on. He later moved to WLB, and then finally found a home the last 2 seasons at SLB. He is a definite impact player, but his lack of enthusiasm at the end of the 2005 season has some scouts worried. He definitely has the skill set to be a good contributor for many seasons in the NFL. What remains to be seen is how much heart and desire that he has now that he's in the big time. If he regains his fire Howard can develop into an impact player at the NFL level.

9. A.J. Nicholson - Florida State Seminoles - 6'1" 252 lbs.

Positives

A.J. Nicholson is an aggressive athlete that plays well off emotion. He will fight and claw his way to the football, and is not afraid to mix it up with bigger linemen. He is better at avoiding blocks rather than taking them on. He has the lateral movement to effectively chase plays down the line of scrimmage. He is a high motor player that plays until the whistle. He attacks the FB at the point and can clog up rush lanes. He has the hip swerve to get back in coverage. He can locate the ball quickly and keeps his head on a swivel in pass coverage.

Negatives

Does not have ideal speed. He doesn't use his hands well and has problems disengaging from linemen. Had surgery to repair a torn MCL in May of 2005. His rap sheet reads like "War & Peace".

Numbers Game

6th round - His father Darrell was taken in the 6th round of the 1982 draft by the New York Giants and was also a teammate of Lawrence Taylor at North Carolina.

NFL Comparison

Robert Thomas

Summary

Let's start with his character issues. In 2005 he was arrested for 2 alcohol related offenses, and then was accused of sexual assault before Florida State played in the 2006 Orange Bowl. NFL teams are taking character issues more seriously than in years past, and Nicholson could now be a 2nd day pick. At the start of the 2005 season some thought he might be as high as a 1st rounder, so obviously his fall from grace has been huge. If Nicholson can get his off the field troubles behind him he will represent great value in the NFL draft.

10. Kamerion Wimbley - Florida State Seminoles - 6'4" 248 lbs.

Positives

Wimbley is a great athlete that is very versatile. He has great explosion coming out of a 3-point stance and can surprise linemen with his initial quickness. He is a very determined player that can out-hustle the opposition. He has good change of direction ability and gets to the QB with his deceptive speed. He has good lower body strength and can go toe to toe with bigger linemen. He is great coming off the corner and has tremendous acceleration. He has the ability to stay with receivers in coverage.

Negatives

Allows blockers to lock onto his chest too often. Needs to become better with his hands. He can be caught out of position regularly and takes time to react to the play in front of him. Does not have the strength to sustain contact with bigger linemen for an extended time. Needs to be more consistent.

Numbers Game

4.67 - His 40 yard dash is pretty fast for a man his size.

NFL Comparison

Jason Taylor

Summary

Kamerion Wimbley will more than likely switch from DE to OLB in the NFL. He should be used to it as he's spent time during his football career as a QB, WR, DE, LB, and P. Wimbley has a good athletic build and is developing as a pass rusher. He is slow to locate the ball in run plays, and is best served to pin his ears back and rush the QB with reckless abandon. He is certainly a project, but has the athletic ability, determination, and work ethic to develop into a solid situational pass rusher.