Matt Mayberry, ILB

The high school running back (2,242 yards, 36 touchdowns in senior year) moved to defense upon reaching the Hoosiers and has not looked back. Although he was not extended an invitation to the scouting combine, Mayberry's tenacity and athleticism could earn him a draft spot.

Eight (1.5 for loss) of the 12 tackles Mayberry accumulated as a true freshman came against then-No. 1 Ohio State. He didn't start in 2007, but made 42 tackles, another 1.5 for loss -- a pretty large number in a backup role.

Finally getting his chance to lead his team onto the field the next season, Mayberry led the team with 89 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, five sacks and two pass breakups. He finished his career with an honorable mention All-Big Ten season, again leading the team with 106 tackles, making 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions and three pass breakups.

The Illinois native's pro day showed a nice blend of strength (24 reps at 225 pounds), speed (4.57-second 40-yard dash) and quickness (4.32 short shuttle). Though not a dominating player, Mayberry has the physical tools and football skills to be a solid reserve and special teamer at the next level.

Read & React: Instincts are suspect. Gets sucked in on play-action and misdirection. Needs to see the ball before he reacts, coming in a step late at times.

Run defense: Hustle player with good straight-line speed. Not explosive out of his stance, only adequate lateral movement to scrape. Does not accelerate into gaps to bring down ballcarriers. Inconsistent anchor to hold up and shed linemen at the second level, with little punch to them knock them back, but can stop running backs in their tracks when straight-on. Inconsistent using his hands to defeat the cut block, but usually keeps his balance to recover nicely.

Pass defense: Runs a bit stiff, only average change of direction abilities. Drops deep in a hurry, albeit running upright, covering a lot of ground but not always finding the receiver in his area. Capable of staying with any in-line tight end down the seam, hips aren't fluid enough to stick to better fullbacks, H-backs and slot receivers.

Tackling: Not an explosive tackler, typically drags players down as they run by; will be carried for a few yards by backs with a good lean. Good chase and hustle, though, getting to sideline to track bubble screens and stop routes. Adequate breaking down in space to corral college running backs and quarterbacks but may struggle against quicker pros. Will overpursue, allowing cutback lanes.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Often sent on blitzes up the middle and twists off the edge, can take advantage of open lanes with his straight-line speed. Does not beat linemen with hand play or strength. Few pass rush moves. Lacks the flexibility to turn the corner.

Agility Tests:

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Pro day: 24 reps at 225 pounds, 4.57-second 40-yard dash, 4.32 short shuttle.

Mayberry received the 2009 Howard Brown Award given to the player who exemplifies the qualities of former IU assistant coach Howard Brown. He started the final 24 games of his career at middle linebacker and closed out his time in Bloomington with nine double-digit tackle games and at least 10 stops in eight of his final 11 conference contests. Mayberry ended his career with 251 tackles, 139 solo, 10.5 sacks (73 yards), 22.5 tackles for loss (99 yards), three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Received honorable mention All-Big Ten from the league's coaches and media … also a third team All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele's magazine … Started all 12 games at middle linebacker … led the team with 108 tackles and 61 solos … finished fourth in the Big Ten with 9.0 tackles per game and third in league games only with 10.5 stops each time out … ended the year second on the team with 5.5 sacks (38 yards), 11 tackles for loss (43 yards) and three interceptions … ranked 10th in Big Ten games only with 8.5 TFLs … added one fumble recovery, three pass breakups and one quarterback hurry … led the team in tackles eight times and reached double digits on five occasions … posted a career-high 15 tackles, the team's highest single-game total, and picked off a pass at No. 19 Penn State … made 14 stops, 12 solo, and one tackle for loss in victory over Illinois … tallied 13 tackles, nine solo, with two TFLs and first career interception at Northwestern … recorded back-to-back 10-tackle games to open conference play at No. 23 Michigan and vs. No. 9 Ohio State … added one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery vs. the Buckeyes and one TFL against the Wolverines … made nine stops with one sack, one interception and one quarterback hurry at No. 7 Iowa … finished career with nine tackles and two sacks (11 yards) vs. Purdue … compiled eight stops, five solo, at Virginia … collected five tackles with one sack (15 yards) and two tackles for loss (16 yards) in win over Eastern Kentucky, six stops and a half-sack in victory against Western Michigan and five tackles in triumph at Akron … named a third team All-Big Ten linebacker by Athlon Sports preseason magazine … selected a game captain five times.

Started all 12 games at middle linebacker … led the team with 89 tackles and shared the team lead with 53 solo stops … became the first Hoosier from the front seven to lead the team in tackles since Kyle Killion in 2005 … second on the Hoosiers with five sacks for 35 yards and shared second with 8.5 tackles for loss … also tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries … added two pass breakups … finished 10th in the Big Ten with 7.4 tackles per game and 10th in league games only with 7.8 stops each time out … tied for third in conference games only with 0.25 fumble recoveries per game … recorded four double-digit tackle games, the last four games of the season … tied a school record with four sacks against Central Michigan, a 2008 conference single-game high, and collected career highs with 13 tackles and 10 solos … became the third player in school history to reach the four-sack mark, joining current Chicago Bear Adewale Ogunleye (1997) and Van Waiters (1986) … finished the year with 11 tackles at No. 7 (AP) Penn State and 11 stops, seven solo, with one tackle for loss at Purdue … tallied 10 tackles, six solo, along with one pass breakup vs. Wisconsin … added eight stops, six solo, against Iowa … made seven solo tackles and recovered a fumble in the team's win over No. 22 (BCS) Northwestern … recorded six tackles and one TFL against Michigan State … recovered the first fumble of his career at Minnesota … added four stops and his first career sack against Ball State … made four tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, in his first career start vs. Western Kentucky.

Back-up middle linebacker saw action in all 13 games … made 42 tackles, 20 solo, with 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup on the season … matched a career high with eight tackles, set a new career best with seven solo stops and added a tackle for loss in the Insight Bowl vs. Oklahoma State … made seven tackles at Michigan State … added six tackles at Wisconsin … collected three tackles, one solo, against Indiana State … posted four tackles, two solo, against Minnesota … posted four tackles at Northwestern.

Appeared in 11 games and totaled 12 tackles, five solo, on the season … top performance came against No. 1/1 Ohio State, when he netted a career-high eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss … made his first collegiate appearance and recorded two tackles in the Hoosiers' season-opening victory over Western Michigan.

Played fullback, middle linebacker and safety for Hinsdale South High School under head coach Jim Kirwan … rushed for 2,242 yards and 36 touchdowns while guiding his team to a 10-2 finish as a senior … garnered all-state honors as well as the Reporter-Progress/Suburban Life All-Area Football Player of the Year award … owns the school career records for rushing yards (2,827) and touchdowns (39), single-season records for rushing yards (2,242), touchdowns (36) and points (186) and the single-game record for touchdowns (five).

Born on Aug. 6, 1987, Matthew William Mayberry is a physical education teaching major.