The Senior Bowl is quickly approaching but before things kick off down in Mobile, Alabama we continue to break down each position group giving an in depth look at each prospect and their draft potential. Here's a look at the linebackers.
Jordan Jenkins, Georgia, Outside Linebacker
Coming from the Bulldogs 3-4 scheme, Jenkins impressively played both with his hand in the dirt and standing up.
While he doesn’t explode into the backfield as a pass rusher, he does show enough athleticism to have a chance at a career standing up on the outside.
Meanwhile, Jenkins biggest asset is his ability to set the edge at the five-technique, displaying the big strength needed to be a force in the running game.
Projected Draft Stock
Jenkins started the year as one of the nation's top senior prospects in the front seven and had a solid enough campaign to solidify himself as a top-100 pick.
The Senior Bowl will be a huge opportunity for Jenkins to boost his stock as they will let him roam free as a stand up and rush linebacker for the week in hopes he displays a more explosive twitch that wasn't found on tape.
Kyler Fackrell, Utah State, Outside Linebacker
From a physical standpoint Fackrell will jump on your roster with the size and length you love while still displaying impressive movement skills gliding back and forth.
Playing in a hybrid 3-4 front, Fackrell has a good background in multiple fronts and is versatile enough to play multiple positions.
Filling out his frame will be a priority as he lacks the functional strength to consistently win at the point of attack, but Fackrell was an awfully productive piece for his defense.
Projected Draft Pick
No doubt Fackrell is a project coming in but if you have the patience he is certainly the right type of clay you want to start with. At 6’5” and coming from a hybrid defense, Fackrell is a young player who can come in and compete while you get him NFL strong.
Joshua Perry, Ohio State, Outside Linebacker
It’s funny how overlooked a guy who led a prestigious team like the Buckeyes can be. However, this is the case with Perry who totalled 124 tackles (32 more than second player on the team) in 2014.
Perry has speed for days as he flies sideline-to-sideline to make stops most simply can’t. Mixed with a strong base with technically sound hands, there's a lot of things to like about the 6'4" Perry.
Projected Draft Pick
A team leader in tackles in 2014, Perry is known as a phenomenal teammate with the right head on his shoulders. All this can only help Perry as it takes just one team to take a shot on the Buckeye linebacker.
While first-round is highly unlikely, hearing Perry’s name called on the second day is not out of the realm of possibilities.
Reggie Ragland, Alabama, Inside Linebacker
Arguably the most talented linebackers you’ll see in Mobile let alone the entire draft, Ragland has supreme instincts that helped run the show in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense as the man in the middle.
What makes Ragland so good are his uncanny instincts and understanding for the game. His ability to get off blocks and get to the ball are outstanding, and because of his pure natural football skills, should translate to both a 4-3 and 3-4 defense at the next level.
Projected Draft Pick
While he isn’t on his former teammate C.J. Mosley's level, he is one of the best linebackers of his class.
With more athletic specimens like Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith on the shelf with significant injuries, don't be surprised is Ragland leapfrogs them in the pecking order as a top-15 pick.
Eric Striker, Oklahoma, Outside Linebacker
While Striker is extremely quick and athletic ranging from sideline-to-sideline he too easily gets locked up and washed out against opposing blockers.
Striker has grown quite the fanbase for the Sooners as an explosive playmaker that makes splash plays all over the field but, it's his size and strength that is currently holding him back.
Projected Draft Pick
Striker flashes big play potential as a hybrid linebacker playing on the outside of a 3-4 defense.
A quick twitch athlete has the potential to find a landing spot on someone's final 53 man roster however, it's unlikely any team would expunge anything more than a day-three selection on him at this point.
Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, Outside Linebacker
Depending on who you ask Schobert is anywhere from vastly underrated and a late round gem, to nothing more than an undersized linebacker who was a glorified state machine.
It’s worth noting Schobert was voted to a few All-American selections after posting 19.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. A speedster with a nose for the ball Schobert was a monster around the edge and into the backfield in 2015.
However, look a little closer and some will nitpick most of his production came against chip blockers like tight ends and running backs meaning he will have to prove he can do it against bigger and better competition.
Projected Draft Pick
The way I see it Schobert is a player that has a lot riding on his Senior Bowl week. With a solid string of practice and one-on-one drills, specifically pass rush drills, Schobert could turn himself into a legitimate riser as he proves some scouts wrong.
Kentrell Brothers, Missouri, Inside Linebacker
152 tackles is no typo just as much it is no accident as Brothers didn't achieve this remarkable stat line by sheer luck. The nation's leading tackler Brothers was named All-SEC as he stood out in one of the nation's most talented conferences.
While he may look slow off the snap Brothers does a great job of letting his instincts and football IQ take over allowing him to flow to the ball carrier.
Projected Draft Pick
With his lack of speed and quickness no doubt Brother is a true inside linebacker that can shed blockers and make plays.
While the first-round has been known to watch more athletic yet raw prospects fly off the board Brothers may have to wait until rounds two or three to hear his name called even with his lofty production.
Josh Forrest, Kentucky, Inside Linebacker
Forrest is a former high school wide receiver converted to linebacker so you know he has some athletic wiggle and can move around the field. His transition to the defensive side of the ball was, for the most part, a smooth one and has shown some good potential there.
Projected Draft Pick
Another player with a lot riding on a good Senior Bowl week Forrest can catapult himself into a solid draft position with a good showing of his raw yet athletic ability to make plays on the inside.
Deion Jones, LSU, Inside Linebacker
I don't know how a kid like this goes so unnoticed at such a big school like LSU. Jones didn't crack the starting lineup until this past season but flourish and popped off the tape every time you rolled the film.
An absolute speedster who can fly all over the field Jones was plugged in everywhere in his defense, even at cornerback. Yes, cornerback.
Projected Draft Stock
Out of all the linebackers I can say Jones is the one that intrigues me the most, which is saying something out of this group.
Jones is a physical demon who is going to flash some NFL speed in Mobile and turn a lot of heads for the people who don't know about him yet.
Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia, Inside LInebacker
Kwiatkoski stood out on the Mountaineers defense as the team leader in both tackles and tackles for a loss.
While his competition may be questioned he certainly made the most of what he was given. A versatile player who played both outside and inside Kwiatkoski will hope to show those skills off to scouts and coaches.
Projected Draft Pick
An extremely productive player with physical limitations. Kwiatkoski will have to show off technically sound tackling fundamentals to secure and prove to coaches he can start on special teams right away.
Tyler Matakevich, Temple, Inside Linebacker
Awards and accolades up the butt, Matakevich took home the Chuck Bednarik award giving to the nation's best linebacker as well as being named the AAC defensive player of the year. He also posted 100 or more tackles for four straight seasons while leading all linebackers in the country with five interceptions.
Now to the bad, Matakevich is really limited with him size and stature (6’0” 232 pounds) as well as his length and movement skills. You just hope his outstanding football smarts and angles are enough to allow him to have anywhere near the same type of production in the NFL.
Projected Draft Pick
This is a tough one as Matakevich has done everything in his nature to go out on a consistent basis and produce. However, most teams and front offices prefer to reach on a more athletic specimen before a limited player like Matakevich.
Antonio Morrison, Florida, Inside Linebacker
You could argue that Morrison plays with as much passion and intensity for the game than any other player in the country. His energy was evident as it leaked and bleed into his teammates as they carried one of the more dominating defenses in the ACC.
Morrison is a light and quick athlete who is fluid as he seeps inside creases to make tackles all over the line of scrimmage.
Projected Draft Pick
First and foremost Morrison will have to solidify that he is healthy after a brutal knee injury that was supposed to sideline him the entire 2015 season.
When and if fully healthy, Morrison will than have to battle concerns about his short height and light frame as he projects to struggle taking on bigger bodied blockers at the next level.
If he can check both those boxes Morrison could be come an early day-three pick.