The 2008 NFL Draft class is primed for a significant boost in talent from one of the most gifted groups of underclassmen at defensive line in recent NFL history. Miami's Calais Campbell, Florida's Derrick Harvey, Ohio State's Vernon Gholston and LSU's Tyson Jackson are all considered first-round caliber talents.
Inside and outside linebacker also present several attractive options for scouts.
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| With James Laurinaitis' help, Ohio State has the nation's top defense. (US Presswire) |
The official draft list won't be released by the NFL until mid-January, but NFLDraftScout.com is tracking all the potential draftable players. A look at the top 10 underclassmen on the defensive side of the ball along with five lesser-known prospects:
1. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami, 6-feet-8, 282 pounds, 4.85 (40-yard dash), Jr.
Blessed with a combination of burst off the snap and a shocking wingspan, Campbell is earning comparisons to Hall of Fame end Ed "Too Tall" Jones for his ability to wreak havoc as both a run and pass defender. A first-team ACC choice as a sophomore, Campbell finished third in the conference with 10.5 sacks in 2006 and is repeating this success in 2007 despite battling constant double-teams.
2. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida, 6-5, 252, 4.73, Jr.
How is this for a breakout campaign? In 2005, Harvey saw action in nine games and recorded six tackles on the year. A year later, he played in all 13 contests and tied for second in the SEC with 11 sacks, including posting a career-high three sacks against Ohio State in the BCS national championship game. Harvey's speed off the edge is drawing comparisons to former Gators star Jevon Kearse.
3. James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State, 6-3, 247, 4.53, Jr.
A rare sophomore winner of the Bednarik Award -- presented annually to the nation's top defender -- Laurinaitis might have even stepped up his game another notch this season. The son of a former professional wrestler, Laurinaitis plays with the intensity and physicality to match his father's reputation. What separates Laurinaitis from the other top-ranked inside linebackers, however, is his athleticism. Laurinaitis has a blend of size and speed that some veteran scouts are comparing to that of Brian Urlacher.
4. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State, 6-1, 202, 4.45, Jr.
A breakout sophomore season last year has scouts singing Jenkins' praises as the next in a long line of talented Buckeyes defensive backs. It is easy to see why. Blessed with a spectacular combination of size and speed, Jenkins might be the closest thing to a true shut-down corner currently playing at the collegiate level.
5. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State, 6-4, 258, 4.67, Jr.
A former linebacker, Gholston has quickly developed into one of the elite defensive line prospects in the country. Last season, his first as a full-time starter, Gholston earned second-team Big Ten honors for posting 49 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. With offensive lines often dedicating an extra blocker toward slowing him, Gholston hasn't been as productive as a sackmaster in 2007, but has developed into a more reliable run defender.
6. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, 6-5, 292, 4.84, Jr.
Possessing a unique combination of size, straight-line speed and burst, Jackson is the "other" dominant defensive lineman at LSU. While senior Glenn Dorsey might get most of the attention, Jackson's size and athleticism make him a more versatile defender. Teams utilizing both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments are scouting Jackson closely, as he appears capable of starring in either scheme.
7. Erin Henderson, OLB, Maryland, 6-3, 242, 4.67, Jr.
The younger brother of former Terps star E.J. Henderson, Erin might ultimately rank as the better prospect of the two. Despite being hampered this season by a knee sprain, Henderson was honored as one of the 10 finalists for the Butkus Award after earning second-team ACC honors last year as a sophomore.
8. Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami (Fla.), 6-2, 202, 4.46, Jr.
Characterized by the Miami coaching staff as having "the body of Sean Taylor and the knowledge and speed of Ed Reed," Phillips has proven himself a superstar since emerging as a freshman All-American in 2005. Despite missing three games as a sophomore, Phillips was voted second-team ACC. While his play has been a little bit inconsistent this season, Phillips, should he elect to leave school early, would be the top-ranked free safety in the draft.
9. Sean Lee, OLB, Penn State, 6-2, 232, 4.67, Jr.
Penn State is famous for its development of elite linebackers, and in Lee the tradition simply continues. Blessed with instincts, balance and pure speed, Lee has been just as consistent a big-play producer over his career as Paul Posluszny or Dan Connor -- minus the national attention. Scouts certainly know who he is.
10. Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California, 6-3, 250, 4.72, Jr.
Quite possibly the most explosive hitter in the country, Maualuga's upside as an inside linebacker is almost without limit. Blessed with prototype size, the Trojan linebacker can physically dominate the inside running game and is a lights-out hitter. The concern among scouts is that Maualuga might be too intense with his physicality; he has struggled to remain healthy this season.
Under the Radar
• Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern California, 6-4, 245, 4.65, Jr. -- Cushing is ranked higher in some circles than his more well-known linebacker teammates Keith Rivers and Maualuga. A natural strong safety, Cushing proved his versatility in 2006, starting every game as a stand-up defensive end in USC's hybrid 3-4 "Elephant" defense. His size, speed and explosiveness make him one of the rare linebacker prospects potentially available for the 2008 draft capable of playing in either the 4-3 or 3-4 alignment.
• Reggie Smith, CB, Oklahoma, 6-1, 198, 4.58, Jr. -- With experience at cornerback, strong safety and returning punts and kicks, Smith is one of the nation's most versatile athletes. Smith lacks elite timed speed, but he reads the action exceedingly well and is capable of helping an NFL defense immediately.
• Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas, 6-2, 202, 4.54, Jr. -- A versatile playmaker who lines up at cornerback and wide receiver for the Jayhawks, Talib's height and ball skills make him an intriguing talent. He lacks elite speed, but wins most battles as evidenced by his nation-leading 28 passes defended in 2006 (22 pass breakups, six INTs).
• Justin King, CB, Penn State, 6-0, 186, 4.38, Jr. -- Blessed with rare tools, King has all the makings of a Pro Bowl cornerback -- except consistency. King struggled in prime-time matchups this season against Indiana's James Hardy and Ohio State's Brian Robiskie, but scouts love his upside.
• Curtis Lofton, ILB, Oklahoma, 6-0, 238, 4.73, Jr. -- Don't look now, but the Sooners have another young superstar at linebacker. Lofton, whose primary role in 2006 was on special teams, has broken out this year as one of the Big 12's most dominant defenders. A tackling machine, Lofton's 18 tackles against Missouri was the most recorded by a Sooner since Torrance Marshall posted 19 in 2002.
