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| Illinois' Jonathan Brown |
So, just in case Spikes is done after this season and Mouton doesn’t show any signs of developing into a future starter, San Diego general manager A.J. Smith and his scouts should keep their eyes on the following prospects this season:
1. Notre
Dame linebacker Manti Te’o: Projected as a first-round pick after last season,
this 6-2, 255-pound monster opted to return for his senior year instead. In
2011 he had 128 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, five sacks, four quarterback
hurries, and a forced fumble. An effort such as that, or even improved play,
will most likely lead to Te’o getting selected early in next April’s draft.
2. Illinois
middle linebacker Jonathan Brown: This 6-1, 235-pound junior is considered one
of the top linebackers in the Big Ten. In 2011 he posted 108 tackles, 19.5
tackles for losses, and six sacks. He also intercepted a pass, forced a fumble,
and recovered two fumbles. He played on the outside last year but will be the
man in the middle in 2012.
3. Wisconsin
middle linebacker Chris Borland: Considered a throwback, this 5-11, 250-pound
senior had 143 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, two interceptions, seven pass
breakups, and five forced fumbles in 2011. He was the Big Ten Freshman of the
Year in 2009 and made first-team All-Big Ten last season.
4. Kansas
State middle linebacker Arthur Brown: A bit undersized at 6-1, 228 pounds, this
senior had 101 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, and an interception
last season. He’s on the Bednarik Award watch list.
5. Iowa
State linebacker A.J. Klein: This 6-2, 244-pound senior had 116 tackles, six
sacks, two pass breakups, and a pick-six last year. He’s about to be a
third-year starter.
6. North
Carolina middle linebacker Kevin Reddick: This 6-3, 240-pound senior is
entering his fourth year as a starter. He has 190 tackles, two interceptions,
and 10 pass breakups thus far in his college career. He has developed into
one of the top run-stuffers in the nation.
7. Rutgers
outside linebacker Kahseem Greene: A 6-1, 230-pound senior, he was the Big East
co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 after collecting 141 tackles, 14
tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He hasn’t always played
linebacker for Rutgers; in 2010 he started the entire season at free safety and
led the team with three interceptions.
8. Mississippi
State outside linebacker Cameron Lawrence: A 6-3, 230-pound senior, he had 123
tackles, six tackles for losses, two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced
fumbles last season.
9. Bowling
Green inside linebacker Dwayne Woods: A 6-1, 227-pound senior, he’s heading
into his third year as a starter. He had 111 tackles, 14 tackles for losses,
two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception last season. He was also
named first-team All-MAC.
10. Ball
State middle linebacker Travis Freeman: About to be a fourth-year starter, this
6-0, 235-pound senior had 134 tackles, six tackles for losses, four sacks, and
an interception in 2011. His efforts led to him being named to the All-MAC
second team.
11. Florida
Atlantic linebackers Randell Johnson and David Hinds: A 6-2, 234-pound senior
inside linebacker, Hinds had 110 tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses, and two sacks
last season. Johnson, a 6-4, 230-pound redshirt junior outside linebacker, had
92 tackles, 14.5 tackles for losses, five sacks, and four forced fumbles in
2011. These two certainly make quite the tandem.
12. South
Florida outside linebackers Sam Barrington
and DeDe Lattimore: About to
head into his third year as a starter, the 6-1, 230-pound Barrington had 72
tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced
fumble last season. Lattimore, a 6-1, 232-pound redshirt junior, is also going
into this third year as a starter, and he had 94 tackles, 13.5 tackles for
losses, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception
in 2011.
13. Michigan
State middle linebacker Max Bullough: About to enter his third year as a
starter, this 6-3, 252-pound junior had 89 tackles, seven tackles for losses,
3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 2011. He was also voted
second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches.
14. Stanford
inside linebacker Shayne Skov: A 6-3, 242-pound senior, he missed most of last
season with a torn ACL but is looking to bounce back strong this fall. In 2010
he had 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks, and five pass breakups.
He will miss the season-opener against San Jose State due to a suspension for a
DUI offense.
15. Maryland
middle/outside linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield: About to enter his fourth year
as a starter, this 6-2, 240-pound senior had 108 tackles, seven tackles for
losses, a sack, and a fumble recovery in 2011—despite missing three games. His
efforts led to him being voted All-ACC third team by Phil Steele.
16. Arkansas
outside linebacker Alonzo Highsmith: A 6-1, 233-pound senior, he 80 tackles,
12.5 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a
fumble recovery last year.
17. Florida
outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins: A 6-0, 237-pound junior, he had 75 tackles,
six tackles for losses, two sacks, six pass breakups, an interception, and a
forced fumble last year.
18. Tulane
middle linebacker Trent Mackey: A little undersized at 5-11, 223 pounds, this
senior had 145 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, an interception, and
a fumble recovery last year.
19. Connecticut
outside linebacker Sio Moore: Entering his third season as a starter, this 6-2,
229-pound senior had 86 tackles, 16 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, nine passes
defended, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in
2011.
20. Alabama
inside linebacker C.J. Mosley: Although this 6-2, 232-pound junior didn’t put
up great numbers last season (37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, two sacks,
and an interception), he’s expected to take on a bigger role in 2012.
21. Virginia
inside linebacker Steve Greer: A 6-1, 230-pound senior, he had 103 tackles, six
tackles for losses, two sacks, and a fumble recovery last season.
22. Boston
College outside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis: Very undersized at 6-1, 215
pounds, this junior had 74 tackles, six tackles for losses, four pass breakups,
a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year.
23. Alabama-Birmingham
inside linebacker Marvin Burdette: A 5-11, 230-pound senior, he had 92 tackles,
4.5 tackles for losses, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery last
season.
24. Air
Force outside linebacker Alex Means: A 6-5, 240-pound senior, he had 77
tackles, 9 ½ tackles for losses, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2011.
25. South
Florida middle linebacker Michael Lanaris:
This 6-0, 236-pound senior had 87 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, a sack, two
fumble recoveries, and an interception last season. He’s heading into his
second year as a starter.
26. Mississippi
middle linebacker Mike Marry: A 6-2, 248-pound junior, he was voted to the
All-SEC third team by Phil Steele and was named Sophomore All-America honorable
mention in 2011 after recording 81 tackles, five tackles for losses, two sacks,
and a forced fumble.
27. Western
Kentucky linebacker Andrew Jackson: This 6-1, 265-pound junior had 109 tackles,
17 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a
fumble recovery in 2011. He also made first-team All-Sun Belt Conference.
28. San
Jose State outside linebacker Keith Smith: This 6-1, 229-pound junior is
entering his third season as a starter. In 2011 he had 104 tackles, 3.5 tackles
for losses, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
29. UT-San
Antonio middle linebacker Steven Kurfehs: This 6-2, 225-pound junior had 61
tackles, four tackles for losses, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles,
two interceptions, and a sack despite missing three games with an injury in
2011.
Inside linebacker isn't considered a premium position in a 3-4 defense, but it's still very important. Hopefully at least one of the prospects mentioned above will be selected by the Chargers at some point in next April's draft.
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