This class is getting trashed nationally, but overall I see some sneaky talent that may outperform expectations. There are some definite duds, but there is some good play mixed in.
The linebacker class. When you see me posting in a thread about a particular position, sometimes I'll throw that out without realizing that it could be interpreted another way.
I have to think at least one GM out there is looking at Pitt LB Seun Idowu and seeing the potential he brings to stack up against the evolving offenses in the NFL. He stays extremely disciplined in his assignment, works his ass off on every down and arrives to the ball carrier with aggressiveness. He's got some coverage skills and diagnoses well. If he runs in the low 4.6s on his pro day I think he gets drafted. He's my favorite under the radar LB right now and one of my favorite no name defensive players so far this year.
Solomon Brown from Charleston Southern is another player that has me intrigued. Definitely need to see some testing numbers but he checks off a lot of the boxes for transition.
Second Round - Devin Bush Michigan Devin White LSU Vosean Joseph Florida Tre Lamar Clemson David Long Jr. West Virginia Mack Wilson Alabama Dakota Allen Texas Tech Chase Hansen Utah Khalil Hodge Buffalo Terrill Hanks New Mexico State Cameron Smith USC Germaine Pratt N.C. State Ben Burr-Kirven Washington Otaro Alaka Texas A&M Joe Giles-Harris Duke Kendall Joseph Clemson Bobby Okereke Stanford Seun Idowu Pitt Te'Von Coney Notre Dame Jahlani Tavai Hawaii Drew Lewis Colorado Deshaun Davis Auburn Blake Cashman Minnesota B.J. Blunt McNeese State Ty Summers Texas Christian Joe Dineen Jr Kansas Dre Greenlaw Arkansas Nate Harvey East Carolina Dante Booker Ohio State Solomon Brown Charleston Southern Nate Hall Northwestern Charles Wright Vanderbilt Ulysees Gilbert III Akron Azeez Al-Shaair Florida Atlantic Tyrel Dodson Texas A&M Malik Fountain Central Michigan
Ok, this is one of the bigger lists I've had at this point in the process when it comes to linebackers, and a lot of that has to do with the vast amount of middling talent. Some notes - Devin Bush is out ahead of Devin White by a small margin that could easily shift after the combine, but the rest of their scores make it so that I would feel more comfortable at this point projecting Bush with long term success over White. Vosean Joseph should be getting more pub. David Long continues to be higher in our rankings than just about anywhere else online. He has a lot of transferable traits for the next level. Speaking of guys ranking higher here than elsewhere, Dakota Allen fits that bill. A healthy Dre Greenlaw is likely a top 90 pick in this draft, but a couple of busted feet in his college career probably makes him a UDFA. Blake Cashman is the one player that could fly up the board with a strong combine. He has the motor, awareness and punch, but if he is lacking athleticism it may not add up for him at the next level. The numbers I would like to see? A sub 4.8 40, a 3cone under 6.95, a shuttle under 4.2, a vertical of at least 37" and a broad jump of at least 120". That would probably be the best case scenario for Blake so that overall profile is likely unattainable.
I was the same w the top 2 except in reverse order....as I already stated I don’t think Wilson is 1st round material....maybe late 2nd or early 3rd
So... Blake will definitely be moving up the board. Spoiler: Cashman Combine 40 Yard Dash 4.5 SECONDS Bench Press 18 REPS Vertical Jump 37.5 INCHES Broad Jump 124.0 INCHES 3 Cone Drill 6.95 SECONDS 20 Yd Shuttle 4.12 SECONDS
