*Underclassmen
+Others includes all combine invites (at a minimum)
#All measurements from combine unless otherwise specified (height, weight, 40 time, bench press reps)
| Round 1 | Round 1-2 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |
| DT | *Sharrif Floyd, Florida (DE) Star Lotulelei, Utah *Sheldon Richardson, Missouri Sylvester Williams, North Carolina |
Jesse Williams, Alabama (NT) *Jonathon Hankins, Ohio St Kawann Short, Purdue John Jenkins, Georgia (NT) |
Brandon Williams, MO Southern St *Bennie Logan, LSU |
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| Floyd (6’2.5”, 297, 4.92) is scheme versatile possessing the skill set to be a 3-technique inside in a 4-3 or a 5-technique at end in a 3-4 alignment. Lotulelei (6’2.4”, 311) couldn’t work out at the combine after he was red flagged by a supposed heart condition during his medical exam. He has since been cleared after multiple follow up tests. He ran a 4.36 40 and did 38 bpr at his pro day. Richardson (6’2.4”, 294, 5.02, 30 bpr) was a top recruit that was forced to attend junior college due to academics. He displayed explosiveness while having to earn his playing time after honoring his original commitment to Missouri. Sylvester Williams (6’2.5”, 313, 5.03, 27 bpr) is incredibly athleticism for his size and flashes big play ability, but lacks consistency. Relatively inexperienced Australian Jesse Williams (6’3.3”, 323, 30 bpr) played 5-technique end as a junior before moving inside his final season. Early entrant Hankins (6’2.7”, 320, 5.31) played better as a sophomore. Both he and fellow B1G interior lineman Short (6’2.7”, 299) lack consistency. If nothing else Jenkins (6’3.5”, 346, 30 bpr) will provide a huge, physical presence in the middle of the line of scrimmage against the run. Brandon Williams (6’1.2”, 335, 5.37, 38 bpr) impressed at the Senior Bowl with his raw power and surprising quickness. Logan (6’1.7”, 309, 30 bpr) has a reputation as a high motor, hard worker. Going back to school out of the shadow of Mingo and Montgomery might have helped him. Restricted free agent McLendon was resigned to replace Hampton. Ta’amu has survived his off the field issues and will apparently get the opportunity to develop behind him. Keisel and former 1st rounders Hood and Heywood man the ends. Given the problems at other positions the defensive line is not high on the list of team needs. Additional depth wouldn’t hurt. |
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| DE | Ezekiel Ansah, BYU (OLB) *Bjoern Werner, Florida St (OLB) Datone Jones, UCLA (DT) |
Cornellius Carradine, Florida St (OLB) Margus Hunt, SMU (DT) |
*Damontre Moore, Texas A & M (OLB) *Sam Montgomery, LSU (OLB) Alex Okafor, Texas (OLB) |
*Corey Lemonier, Auburn (OLB) *William Gholston, Michigan St (DT) |
| Ansah (6’5.2”, 271, 4.63, 21 bpr) didn’t start a game until exploding on the scene in his senior season after coming to BYU from Ghana on a track scholarship. He has incredible physical upside. German import Werner (6’3.2”, 266, 4.83, 25 bpr) didn’t start playing football until fifteen as a foreign exchange student. Originally thought of as a traditional 4-3 end, his pro day workout suggested he has the athleticism to stand up in a 3-4. Jones (6’3.7”, 283, 4.80, 29 bpr) has the long arms and frame to make him a perfect fit as a 5-technique end on early downs. His speed and burst make him difficult to contend with as an inside rusher on passing downs. Carradine (6’4.1”, 276, 28 bpr) had 11 sacks and 13 tackles for loss through 12 games last season before tearing an ACL in late November. He incredibly ran a 4.93 on Saturday less than 5 months removed from the injury. Huge upside Estonian track and field athlete Hunt (6’8.1”, 277, 4.60, 38 bpr) has limited experience, production. Nobody had a worse post season than Moore (6’4.4”, 250, 4.95, 12 bpr), once thought of as a top 5 pick. He did 19 bpr at his pro day, but couldn’t run because of hamstring injury. Montgomery (6’3.2”, 262, 4.81) came out early despite not perform up to expectations as a junior. Okafor (6’4.4”, 264 21 bpr) has been bothered by a hip injury in the post season. A 4.89 40 at his pro day didn’t help. Surprise early entrant Lemonier (6’3.3”, 255, 4.60, 27 bpr) needs to improve against the run. He obviously wanted to escape the toxic atmosphere in Auburn which seemed to drag him down in the second half of the season. Fellow early entrant Gholston (6’6.2”, 281, 4.96, 23 bpr) was a top recruit that has all the physical attributes, alas he never really produced. Doesn’t help that his cousin was noted draft bust Vernon Gholston. Simon (6’1”, 257) and Goodman (6’3.5”, 276, 4.87, 26 bpr) went to the South Side for a pre-draft visit. Goodman is a more traditional 3-4 OLB that helped his stock by running a 4.67 40 at his pro day. B1G Defensive Player of the Year Simon could play outside or probably more likely inside in a 3-4 lacking length for the edge. He ran a 4.70 at his pro day. |
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| ILB | *Alec Ogletree, Georgia (OLB) Manti Te’o, Notre Dame |
*Kevin Minter, LSU | Kiko Alonso, Oregon (OLB) Jon Bostic, Florida (OLB) |
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| The relatively inexperienced Ogletree (6'3.4", 4.70, 20 bpr) was a top safety recruit that moved to ILB in 2011. He has been dominant on the field, but missed 7 games in 2011 with a broken foot and was suspended for the first 4 games last year after violating UGA's substances abuse policy. A DUI in February raised another red flag. Te'o (6'1.2", 241, 4.82) has rehabilitated his reputation somewhat after his well documented off the field issues. His pro day (4.69, 21 bpr) didn't hurt. Coming across well in interviews is reportedly a bigger factor. Minter (5'11.6", 246, 4.81, 25 bpr) also improved his 40 time (4.67) at his pro day. His short stature is an issue. The versatile Alonso (6'3.3, 238, 4.72) impressed in personal workouts after having to pull out of the Senior Bowl and not working out at the combine due to a wrist injury. Both Alonso and Bostic (6’0.7”, 245, 4.61, 22 bpr) may be best suited outside in a 4-3. Vince Williams (6’0”, 247, 4.71, 22 bpr) and Mauti (6’1.7”, 243, 28 bpr) visited Pittsburgh, Mauti as a local prospect that did not count against the 30 player limit. Williams has never been as productive as his physical skills would suggest. The very productive Mauti has torn the ACL in both knees, the latest keeping him from working out in the post season. The Steelers have shown interest in several other 4-3 OLB prospects that would move inside in their scheme. They are discussed in the comments of that position. |
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| OLB | Dion Jordan, Oregon (DE) *Barkevious Mingo, LSU (DE) *Jarvis Jones, Georgia |
Arthur Brown, Kansas St (ILB) | Sio Moore, UConn (ILB) Jamie Collins, Southern Miss |
Khaseem Greene, Rutgers Cornelius Washington, Georgia (DE) |
| Jordan (6’6.2”, 248, 4.60) tore a labrum which limited his productivity in the second half of the season and required post combine surgery. His pre-surgery workouts were eye popping. Mingo (6’4.2”, 241, 4.58) took a slight step back last season after a breakout 2011 campaign as offensive coordinators focused more on negating him. His athletic upside makes a drop outside the top 10 unlikely. The ultra-productive Jones (6’2.3”, 245) laid an egg at his pro day with a 4.92 40 and 20 bpr. His stock is obviously down. Spinal stenosis which caused him to transfer from USC is another concern. The slightly undersized Brown (6’0.3”, 241) likely solidified a spot in the 1st round with a 4.62 40 and 21 bpr at his pro day. He, Moore (6’0.5”, 245, 4.65, 29 bpr) and Greene (6’0.6”, 241, 4.71, 17 bpr) project inside in a 3-4. Moore and Greene excel in coverage, Greene having started at safety as a sophomore. Collins (6’3.4”, 250, 4.64, 19 bpr) survived a winless senior season with his draft stock intact. Washington (6’4”, 265, 4.55, 36 bpr) didn’t produce many big plays in a scheme that featured Jones. His workout numbers are obviously intriguing. Pure OLB prospects Jones and Collins came to the ‘Burgh as did projected 3-4 inside coverage backers Moore and Greene. Brown went out to dinner with the Steelers contingent after his pro day. The number of LBs brought in for personal workouts should not be considered a surprise. The attempt to address the need at ILB by drafting Spence in the 3rd round were derailed by his catastrophic knee injury. Youth and talent to develop have to be added both inside and outside. |
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| CB | *Dee Milliner, Alabama *Xavier Rhodes, Florida St DJ Hayden, Houston |
Jamar Taylor, Boise St Desmond Trufant, Washington |
Jonathon Banks, Mississippi St *David Amerson, North Carolina St Darius Slay, Mississippi St |
Robert Alford, SE Louisiana Blidi Wreh-Wilson, UConn Dwayne Gratz, UConn *Tyrann Mathieu, LSU Jordan Poyer, Oregon St *Logan Ryan, Rutgers BW Webb, William & Mary Leon McFadden, San Diego St |
| This is a very deep corner class. Milliner (5’11.7”, 201, 4.37) is unquestionably the top prospect at the position. His size, toughness and football awareness make him special. Recently leaked health issues were undoubtedly not a surprise to NFL teams. The physically imposing Rhodes (6’1.4”, 210, 4.43, 14 bpr) ran faster and showed better agility than expected in the post season. Hayden (5’11.1”, 191) has been in steady accent after almost dying from a torn vein in his heart at a practice last season. He ran a 4.33 40 at his pro day. Taylor (5’10.5”, 192, 4.39, 22 bpr) flew under the radar not being challenged frequently as a senior. The slightly undersized Trufant (5’11.5”, 190, 4.38, 16 bpr) has good bloodlines with brothers Marcus and Isaiah both in the NFL. The opportunistic Banks (6’2”, 185, 4.61, 10 bpr) wasn’t highly recruited and his lack of top athleticism was evident in the post season. Amerson (6’1”, 205, 4.44, 15 bpr) has straight line speed, but lacks fluidity. Slay (5’11.7”, 192, 4.36, 14 bpr) was overshadowed by Banks. Could be that opponents were simply avoiding Slay. Alford (5’10.1”, 188, 4.39, 17 bpr) made a name for himself returning an interception for a TD at the Senior Bowl. Teammates Wreh-Wilson (6’0.6”, 195, 4.53, 14 bpr) and Gratz (5’11.1”, 201, 4.47, 22 bpr) come from an underrated program that has developed some solid defensive talent. The story of Mathieu (5’8.6”, 186, 4.50, 4 bpr) is well documented. He is a big play waiting to happen if he can stay clean and on the field. Poyer (5’11.7”, 191, 4.54, 8 bpr) is a steady, hard worker that has no eye opening skills. Ryan (5’11.1”, 191, 4.56, 14 bpr) came out early and did not do much in the post season to impress. Getting a read on Webb (5’10.2”, 184, 4.51, 14 bpr) is not easy. He had 8 interceptions as a freshman and then only 3 more the rest of his career as opponents avoided him. The 4 year starter was not challenged at all as a senior. The hard working McFadden (5’9.5”, 193, 4.54, 10 bpr) started 45 games during his career and made a mark at the Senior Bowl. The loss of free agent Lewis hurts. Gay returning is a stop gap at best. Brown never developing adds to the problem even with Taylor and Allen as solid starters. Rhodes, Wren-Wilson, Webb, Davis (5’11.2”, 186, 4.51, 16 bpr) and Simon (6’2”, 202, 4.51, 9 bpr) all made trips to Pittsburgh. Tomlin was at LSU’s pro day and reportedly spent extensive time with Mathieu. |
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| S | Kenny Vaccaro, Texas (FS/SS) | Jonathan Cyprien, FIU (SS) *Eric Reid, LSU (FS) *Matt Elam, Florida (SS) |
DJ Swearinger, South Carolina (FS) | Phillip Thomas, Fresno St (FS/SS) Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse (FS/SS) JJ Wilcox, Ga Southern (SS) TJ McDonald, USC (FS) Bacarri Rambo, Georgia (FS) |
| Vaccaro (6’0”, 214, 4.63, 15 bpr) had a slightly disappointing 40 time at the combine despite by all accounts a stellar position workout. It could cause him a place in the top 15. A hip flexor kept him from running again at his pro day. Cyprien (6’0.2”, 217) built on his breakout Senior Bowl week by running a 4.56 40 with 18 bpr at his pro day. Reid (6’1.2”, 213, 4.53, 17 bpr) came out early despite a somewhat disappointing junior season. He needs to play under more control. Elam (5’9.7”, 208 4.54, 17 bpr) just needs to grow a couple of inches which of course isn’t happening. Both he and Swearinger (5’10.4”, 208, 4.67, 17 bpr) are tough in the box safeties that can be exposed in matchups against bigger TEs. Philip Thomas (6’0.4”, 208, 4.65, 14 bpr) improved his 40 time to 4.59 at his pro day. He produced 20 turnovers during his career. Shemarko Thomas (5’8.7”, 213, 4.42 28 bpr) is a tough, compact playmaker that like Elam and Swearinger would benefit from being a few inches taller. Wilcox (6’0”, 213, 4.57, 17 bpr) was a slot back in a triple-option offense until moving to defense for his senior season. A solid performance during Senior Bowl really helped him. McDonald (6’2.4”, 219, 4.59, 19 bpr) is the son of former 49ers S Tim McDonald. A top recruit, the tall lanky TJ lacks change of direction skills despite adequate closing speed. The elder Kiffin’s scheme did not help him. Nothing any Kiffin has done at USC seems to have helped anyone. Rambo (6’0.4”, 211, 17 bpr) ran a 4.64 40 at his pro day. He is an intuitive, aggressive defender that was suspended for the first 4 games of the season after failing a 2nd drug test. Polamalu can’t stay healthy. Clark can’t play in Denver due to health concerns exacerbated at altitude. Neither is getting any younger. Backups Allen and Mundy are gone. Phillip Thomas, Shemarko Thomas, Duke Williams (5'11", 190, 4.45) and Meeks (6'0", 209, 4.49, all from pro day) paid a visit to Pittsburgh. Tomlin met with Vaccaro at his pro day even though he couldn’t run. |
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| Round 4-5 | Round 6-7 | Others+ | ||
| DT | Montori Hughes, Tenn, Martin (NT) *Akeem Spence, Illinois Jordan Hill, Penn St Everett Dawkins, Florida St Nicholas Williams, Samford Josh Boyd, Mississippi St *Kwame Geathers, Georgia (NT) |
Cory Grissom, South Fla Lawrence Okoye, None (DE) Jared Smith, New Hampshire Chris Jones, Bowling Green TJ Barnes, Ga Tech Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre Dame (DE) Abry Jones, Georgia (DE) |
Anthony McCloud, Florida St (NT) Stacy McGee, Oklahoma Cody Larson, Southern Utah William Campbell, Michigan AJ Francis, Maryland Brandon Moore, Texas Scott Vallone, Rutgers |
Gilbert Pena, Mississippi (NT) Brent Russell, Ga Southern Adam Replogle, Indiana Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma Mike Purcell, Wyoming Darius Smith, Miami, Fla |
| DE | Michael Buchanan, Illinois (OLB) John Simon, Ohio St (OLB/ILB) Malliciah Goodman, Clemson (OLB) *Stansly Maponga, TCU David Bass, MO Western St |
Quanterus Smith, Western Kent (OLB) Devin Taylor, South Carolina *Joe Kruger, Utah Mike Catapano, Princeton Tourek Williams, FIU Lavar Edwards, LSU (OLB) |
Quinton Dial, Alabama (DT) Damion Square, Alabama Armonty Bryant, East Central, TX Walter Stewart, Cincinnati Tremayne Scott, Ohio (OLB) Craig Roh, Michigan Brad Madison, Missouri (OLB) |
Wes Horton, USC (OLB) Rufus Johnson, Tarleton St Travis Johnson, San Jose St (OLB) Joe Vellano, Maryland (DT) Aldrick Fordham, South Carolina (OLB) Travis Chappelear, Northwest MO St Marquis Jackson, Portland St |
| ILB | AJ Klein, Iowa St Kevin Reddick, North Carolina Nico Johnson, Alabama |
Michael Mauti, Penn St (OLB) Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers (OLB) Vince Williams, Florida St *Tom Wort, Oklahoma |
Brandon Hepburn, Florida A&M Bruce Taylor, Va Tech Jonathon Stewart, Texas A&M Steve Greer, Virginia Albert Rosette, Nevada |
Will Compton, Nebraska Nick Clancy, Boston College Dan Molls, Toledo Kenny Demens, Michigan Jake Johnson, South Alabama |
| OLB | Zaviar Gooden, Missouri Trevardo Williams, UConn Chase Thomas, Stanford Sean Porter, Texas A&M Gerald Hodges, Penn St Ty Powell, Harding |
*Jelani Jenkins, Florida (ILB) Brandon Jenkins, Florida St DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina Etienne Sabino, Ohio St Jake Knott, Iowa St Nathan Williams, Ohio St Lerentee McCray, Florida Keith Pough, Howard |
Brandon Magee, Arizona St John Lotulelei, UNLV Nick Moody, Florida St Mike Taylor, Wisconsin Sam Barrington, South Fla (ILB) Meshak Williams, Kansas St Travis Long, Washington St Cameron Lawrence, Mississippi St |
Michael Clay, Oregon Kenneth Tate, Maryland Ja'Gared Davis, SMU Eric Martin, Nebraska Brandon Sharpe, Syracuse Maalik Bomar, Cincinnati Jayson DiManche, Southern Illinois Troy Davis, Central Fla |
| CB | Will Davis, Utah St *Tharold Simon, LSU Sanders Commings, Georgia Kayvon Webster, South Fla *Nickell Robey, USC Terry Hawthorne, Illinois |
Brandon McGee, Miami, FL *Steve Williams, California Marc Anthony, California Adrian Bushell, Louisville Johnny Adams, Michigan St Rod Sweeting, Ga Tech Greg Reid, Valdosta St |
*Mike Edwards, Hawaii Kayvon Webster, South Fla Khalid Wooten, Nevada Demetrius McCray, Appalachian St Josh Johnson, Purdue *Terrence Brown, Stanford Branden Smith, Georgia |
Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma Aaron Hester, UCLA Travis Howard, Ohio St Vernon Kearney, Lane Ryan Lacy, Utah Marcus Cromartie, Wisconsin Nigel Malone, Kansas St |
| S | Shawn Williams, Georgia (SS) Duke Williams, Nevada (SS) Earl Wolff, North Carolina St (SS) Josh Evans, Florida (FS) *Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma (FS) |
Zeke Motta, Notre Dame (FS/SS) Robert Lester, Alabama (SS) Micah Hyde, Iowa (FS/CB) Rontez Miles, California, PA (FS) Daimion Stafford, Nebraska (FS) Bradley McDougald, Kansas (FS) Keelan Johnson, Arizona St (SS) Dax Swanson, Sam Houston (FS/CB) |
Josh Boyett, Oregon (FS) Jamoris Slaughter, Notre Dame (SS) Jawanza Starling, USC (SS) Cooper Taylor, Richmond (SS/LB) Rashard Hall, Clemson (FS) Brandan Bishop, North Carolina St (FS) Jonathon Meeks, Clemson (SS) Jahleel Addae, Central Mich (SS) |
Jordan Kovacs, Michigan (SS) Cody Davis, Texas Tech (SS) Drew Frey, Cincinnati (SS) Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami, Fla (SS) Don Jones, Arkansas St (SS) Duron Harmon, Rutgers (SS) Ray Polk, Colorado (FS) Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee (FS/CB) |
| ST | Jeff Locke, UCLA (P) | Brad Wing, LSU (P) Dustin Hopkins, Florida St (K) Caleb Sturgis, Florida (K) |
Brett Maher, Nebraska (K) Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma St (P) Ryan Allen, La Tech (P) Scott Kovanda, Ball St (P) Anthony Cantele, Kansas St (K) Luke Ingram, Hawaii (LS) Josh Hubner, Arizona St (P) Dylan Breeding, Arkansas (P) |
Bobby Cowan, Idaho (P) Alex Dunnachie, Hawaii (P) Brandon McManus, Temple (K) Zach Brown = Portland St (K) Brett Baer, La, Lafayette (K) Carson Tinker, Alabama (LS) Dan Conroy, Michigan St (K) Tyler Bitancurt, West Va (K) |
| Locke has at least as much upside as 2012 3rd rounder Anger. No one this year is likely to take a punter before the 5th round. Australian native Wing came out early, not normal for a punter. He was suspended for his bowl game due to a failed drug test and a strained hamstring kept him from working out at his pro day. Not good. Hopkins set the FBS record for points by a kicker. The accurate Sturgis had 3 blocks among his 4 misses. Both were Groza award finalists and possible late rounders. | ||||