Scouting the pro prospects: Linebackers

From everybody's All-American, Paul Posluszny, to SEC monsters Patrick Willis and Earl Everett, NFL scouts won't have to look hard to find linebacker help in April.

The talent is just as strong and deep among the juniors. Savvy scouts are already keeping an eye on Keith Rivers (USC), Brian Toal (Boston College) and Vince Hall (Virginia Tech), and Florida's Brandon Siler may just end up ranked as the best linebacker in the country, regardless of class.

Paul Posluszny is back for one more season in Happy Valley. (Getty Images)

An in-depth analysis of the country's elite linebackers:

1. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
6-2, 230 pounds, Sr.

For all of the acclaim given to Ohio State's A.J. Hawk, it was Posluszny who earned the greater hardware in 2005, winning the Butkus Award as the nation's elite linebacker and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player.

Posluszny's role in Penn State's revival last season cannot be overstated. His 116 tackles led the team and his consistency became a trademark. In fact, last season he became the first Big Ten athlete selected as Football Player of the Week (offense, defense or special teams) three consecutive times since the conference began the selections in 1987.

Posluszny is far from just the typical athlete, however. He made the dean's list in his first five semesters at Penn State and earned Academic All-American honors to go along with his consensus All-American accolades for his work on the football field.

Posluszny suffered a brief scare during Penn State's Orange Bowl victory over Florida State. He partially tore two ligaments in his right knee, though the injury didn't require surgery. He was held out of spring practice, but is expected to be 100 percent for the fall.

2. Patrick Willis, Mississippi, 6-2, 232, Sr.

P. Willis (Provided to SportsLine)

Perhaps due to Mississippi's 4-8 record last season, Willis isn't well-known despite being a 2005 All-American and the nation's leader with nine solo tackles per game. Willis finished last season with 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (minus-42 yards), three sacks (minus-28), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three passes defensed, two quarterback pressures and one interception. His production came despite a broken middle finger on his right hand, a sprained left knee, a right mid-foot injury and a partial AC joint separation of his right shoulder.

Willis' blend of size and athleticism makes him one of the more intriguing defenders for NFL scouts. He had been a productive linebacker before 2005, finishing with more tackles for loss (11) and sacks (five) in 2004 than he did last season. However, with the respected Ed Orgeron -- formerly a defensive coach with both Southern California and Miami -- taking over the head coaching duties for Ole Miss last season, Willis emerged with strong numbers and the Chucky Mullins Courage Award.

Like Posluszny, Willis was forced to miss spring drills. He underwent surgery to his right foot last December and has been sidelined since, but is expected to be ready for August drills.

3. H.B. Blades, Pitt, 6-0, 240, Sr.

H.B. Blades (Provided to SportsLine)

Blades, a two-time first-team All-Big East selection, led the conference with 121 tackles and ranked 13th nationally with 11 tackles per game in 2005. That's impressive production considering it was his first season at middle linebacker after playing the strong-side position early in his career.

Blades enters his senior season with 286 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, and 24 career starts. He also has strong football bloodlines: His father, Bennie, and his uncles Al and Brian were standouts at the University of Miami and went on to successful careers in the NFL.

4. Brandon Siler, Florida, 6-2, 238, Jr.

Brandon Siler (Getty Images)

Siler is an exciting talent who could compete to be the first linebacker selected, regardless of which year he elects to make himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

With a rare combination of size, speed and instincts for the position, Siler made an immediate impact with the Gators in '04, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors with 77 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. He followed that up with 64 tackles (nine for loss), four sacks and a safety as a sophomore.

There are some who will point out the impact Earl Everett, already an established star, had on Siler's development. Certainly, the two-time second-team all-conference performer helped make the transition easier for Siler. However, it is Siler's big-play ability that leaves scouts so intrigued. He led the team in tackles as a freshman despite starting only six games. His instincts were on display with an SEC-leading seven fumble recoveries in 2005.

5. Anthony Waters, Clemson, 6-3, 242, Sr.

Anthony Waters (Getty Images)

An old-school inside linebacker with the size and physical nature that reminds some of former Clemson standout Levon Kirkland, Waters lacks the sideline-to-sideline speed to be effective in every scheme. However, he certainly can plug the interior running game and has a penchant for big plays as a pass rusher.

The leading tackler for the Tigers after each of the past two seasons, Waters has 214 career stops, more than any other linebacker on this list. His 109 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, not only led Clemson but were fourth-most in the NCAA.

Savvy scouts will note Waters seemed to come up with his most impressive numbers in games in which he was going against teams with other quality linebackers. He posted 11 tackles and a sack against Miami, 14 tackles vs. Boston College and 11 tackles, including four for loss, against N.C. State. He was a destructive force vs. Maryland, posting 14 total stops -- 4.5 for loss and half a sack.

For all the talk of Penn State or Miami as being "Linebacker U," Clemson has its own impressive alumni list. Kirkland, Anthony Simmons, Leroy Hill, Wayne Simmons and Keith Adams are just some of the productive linebackers Waters is compared to.

6. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan, 6-2, 274, Sr.

LaMarr Woodley (Getty Images)

With the 3-4 defensive scheme en vogue in the NFL again, rush linebackers like Woodley have become even more intriguing to scouts. Woodley, with 20 starts in his 36 career games, has 141 career tackles, along with 36 for loss and 12 sacks. He has been recognized as a Big Ten honoree after each of the past two seasons despite sharing a starting position.

To some, Woodley might appear to be a classic 'tweener, or perhaps even best suited to defensive end. He certainly is a talented enough pass rusher to create interest at the position and, though he is listed by Michigan as a rush linebacker, Woodley is essentially asked to be an edge rusher.

However, he deserves being listed as a linebacker here because of his versatility. Woodley shows impressive agility when operating as a pass defender, surprising speed in pursuit and is both an instinctive and physical defender. Woodley reminds in some ways of former Arizona Wildcat defensive tackle Tedy Bruschi, who became an All-Pro linebacker for New England. Like Bruschi, Woodley's physicality, instincts and hustle cause you to forget about his 'tweener size and instead focus on his production.

7. Earl Everett, Florida, 6-2, 232, Sr.

ILB Earl Everett (Getty Images)

Everett plays inside linebacker for the Gators, but his size and athleticism would appear to make him a better fit on the outside, especially considering he isn't particularly physical or instinctive. Everett will come up to fill the hole when needed, but rarely is able to take on the block, disengage and make the tackle himself.

He is at his best in pursuit or when allowed to blitz, and is still a bit more of an athlete than a complete linebacker. Versatility and athleticism were evident even when he was in high school, as Everett saw action at seven different positions his senior season.

Everett has been a standout for the Gators since arriving in Gainesville, starting 29 games over the past three seasons and racking up a total of 198 tackles, with 12 for loss and 10 sacks. Everett, who led the team with 72 tackles in 2005, has earned second-team SEC honors each of the past two seasons and earned a spot on the conference's All-Freshman team.

8. Rufus Alexander, LB, Oklahoma, 6-0, 232, Sr.

Rufus Alexander (Getty Images)

Although undersized, Alexander is athletic and instinctive, so he makes a lot of plays -- but he also struggles to get off blocks. He pursues well and shows good coverage speed when blitzing.

Alexander missed five games in 2003 with a slightly torn ACL in his right knee, but has started 22 of 24 games since. He emerged as Oklahoma's top linebacker over the past two seasons, earning second-team all-conference honors in 2004 with 74 tackles and becoming a dominant force in '05, leading the team with 102 tackles and tying DT Dusty Dvoracek with 17 for loss. For his efforts, Alexander was a consensus first-team All-Big 12 performer as a junior.

Expect Alexander to enjoy great production as a senior. At the next level, however, he will have to be drafted into a system that takes advantage of his rare athleticism and hides his shortcomings.

9. Quincy Black, New Mexico, 6-2, 232, Sr.

Q. Black (Provided to SportsLine)

Black is an athletically gifted juco prospect who burst onto the scene last year and could be poised for a monstrous jump up the boards.

He is timed in the low 4.7s in the 40-yard dash, but plays faster. Black broke the school record for vertical jump from a linebacker with a 42-inch performance this spring. He has impressive speed to the flanks and might be at his best in coverage, where his speed and quickness help him blanket potential receivers.

Black was a late signing out of Harper College and was asked to take the place of Nick Speegle, New Mexico's best defender in recent years and currently a member of the Cleveland Browns. Black started 10 of New Mexico's 11 games last season, finishing third with 63 tackles. He only posted 1.5 sacks, but his pass rush skills were evident with 19 quarterback hurries.

To this point, Black is still a raw prospect. Last year he was able to get away with just his athleticism and struggled when he had to rely on technique to get the job done. He was slow to break free from blockers and didn't sniff out screens or draws as well as he should -- though that could simply be the byproduct of only starting 10 games at the D-I level.

10. Keith Rivers, USC, 6-3, 225, Jr.

USC's Keith Rivers (Getty Images)

Insiders close to the USC program are buzzing about the potential of their young outside linebacker. Though he struggled through the second half of last season with a nagging hamstring injury, Rivers finished with 52 tackles, including three for loss, a sack and an interception.

Rivers signed with USC as a highly touted prospect, earning Gatorade Florida Player of the Year honors as a prep, an award previously given to athletes such as Emmitt Smith, Anquan Boldin, Willis McGahee and Ernie Sims.

Rivers has the athleticism to start on the weak side (as he did in 11 games last year), but is also viewed as instinctive and physical enough to move to the strong side in the future. Though the pulled hamstring robbed him of his trademark burst in later contests, insiders were quick to point out how effective Rivers was in the classic battle against Notre Dame, when he recorded 12 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception. Despite the injury, Rivers was acknowledged as an Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 performer last season.

Others to watch

Brian Toal, Boston College, 6-1, 235, Jr.: He signed with B.C. as one of the elite prep linebackers in the country and wasted no time establishing himself as a future star. On a team already blessed with defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and cornerback Will Blackmon, it was Toal who emerged as the most consistent playmaker. He earned Big East Rookie of the Year honors in 2004 with 77 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, and backed that up in '05 with 53 tackles, including seven for loss despite emerging as the team's primary short-yardage running back. He led the team with six rushing touchdowns, giving him a bit of a cult following among B.C. fans. Success as a short-yardage runner has led to the phrase "First and Toal" for B.C. when near the end zone.

Juwan Simpson, Alabama, 6-3, 228, Sr.: Intriguing athlete whose frame and style of play remind me a great deal of former UTEP star Thomas Howard, selected with the 38th overall pick (Oakland) in the '06 draft. Unlike Howard, who originally came to UTEP as a defensive back, Simpson has played linebacker his entire collegiate career. However, he has a similar high-cut, almost basketball-player build and is at his best using his speed and quickness in pursuit or in coverage. Simpson started eight games over the course of 2003 and '04 before emerging as the full-time starter last season, registering 64 tackles, six for loss, and a pair of both interceptions and sacks.

Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 225, Jr.: Teams with fellow junior Vince Hall to give Virginia Tech one of the more explosive linebacker duos in the country. Blessed with prototype size and speed for the position, Adibi has established himself as one of the most versatile defenders in the ACC. After redshirting in 2003, Adibi showed flashes in 2004, registering 25 tackles, including big plays of 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. In 2005, Adibi stepped up his production with 69 tackles with seven for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. He is still a bit of a work in progress, but has undeniable potential. Brother, Nathaniel, also a former Hokie, is an NFL defensive end.

Vince Hall, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 236, Jr.: The more consistent and reliable of the Hokies' impressive tandem, though his lack of size could be a concern to NFL scouts. Hall was voted second-team All-ACC last season for his 112 tackles with 8.5 for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. He lacks Adibi's athleticism and may never prove to be more than an adequate defender against the pass. Shows good instincts, physicality and toughness versus the run, however, and is a reliable open-field tackler.

Oscar Lua, USC, 6-1, 240, Sr.: This tough, physical and instinctive inside linebacker took over for Lofa Tatupu and has been a steadying influence on a talented but erratic USC defense. Among the country's better run stoppers in the middle, Lua lacks the athleticism to be a true three-down defender. He has struggled with knee injuries a bit, so his physicals with NFL teams will have a lot to do with where he is ultimately selected.

Buster Davis, Florida State, 5-10, 242, Sr.: Undersized linebacker with the athleticism and instincts to surprise at the next level. A veteran of 24 starts entering this season, Davis has registered 156 tackles with 20.5 for loss over his career. He's quick, but struggles when engaged due to his lack of size.

Dan Connor, Penn State, 6-3, 228, Jr.: He doesn't get much attention with Posluszny on the field, but Connor has developed into quite a player. Considered one of the elite prep linebackers when he signed with the Nittany Lions, Connor was voted to the Freshman All-American team despite only starting four games in 2004. He posted 85 tackles with 4.5 for loss that season and nearly matched those numbers in '05 (76 tackles, 5.5 for loss) despite playing in only eight games.

David Holloway, Maryland, 6-2, 230, Sr.: This physical, high-motor linebacker is a quality NFL prospect, carrying on in the tradition of former Terps E.J. Henderson and April's 34th overall pick, D'Qwell Jackson (Cleveland). Holloway is also following the family business -- his father, Brian Holloway, and grandfather Johnny "Pie" McKenzie played in NFL. David started at the strong-side position each of the past two seasons, but might be a better fit inside. He has totaled 113 tackles with 8.5 for loss over his 22 career starts.

Desmond Bishop, Cal, 6-2, 242, Sr.: This intriguing run plugger in the middle has the prototypical size, instincts and physicality for the position. Signed on with Cal after a successful juco career at San Francisco City College and made an immediate impact, registering 81 tackles, including five for loss while starting all 12 games. He's flanked by a lot of speed and talent on this defense, and therefore some of his shortcomings in the pure athleticism department have been hidden a bit. Lacks speed to the flanks and struggles in coverage. Bishop seems to take an extra beat to really get his body moving in the right direction, although some of this might be due to inexperience.

Ameer Ismail, Western Michigan, 6-2, 228, Sr.: It was just a few years ago when it seemed ridiculous to think a MAC quarterback could go on to success in the NFL. Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and some guy named Roethlisberger have since changed that perception. Ismail could change the minds of those who think MAC linebackers can't make it at the next level. He returns for his senior season after leading all Division I linebackers in tackles for loss per game in 2005, finishing with a staggering 20 in only 11 games (1.84 per game).

Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.