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Outside Linebacker Profiles
By: John McMullen
Unlike the inside linebackers, the outside position is the weakest it has been in years. The only real top guys remain Florida's Jevon Kearse, a hybrid who I believe is best suited for defensive end in the NFL and Clemson junior Rahim Abdullah who has the physical ability but needs more experience and weight added to his 6-6 frame. Colorado's Hannibal Nieves has shot up the chart and has the potential to be better player than Abdullah. Florida State's Lamont Green and Iowa's Matt Hughes join the top ten. Here's the new rankings: *Note that Kearse and Burke were also listed at defensive end as it is unclear whether the team selecting them will play them there or at outside linebacker
- Jevon Kearse Florida 6-5 255
- Rahim Abdullah Clemson 6-6 230
- Hannibal Navies Colorado 6-3 245
- Gary Stills West Virginia 6-1 236
- Tom Burke Wisconsin 6-4 249
- Mike Peterson Florida 6-2 224
- Warrick Holdman Texas A&M 6-2 234
- Joey Porter Colorado State 6-3 235
- Lamont Green Florida State 6-2 216
Green was a bit of an underachiever with the Seminoles but he is an above average athlete with some movement skills. He's undersized and needs some strength but he may have enough attributes to be a nice late round developmental pickup.
- Matt Hughes Iowa 6-2 249
Hughes has real nice size and plays a very heady game. On the downside, he doesn't play as physical as his size would indicate and he gets caught in the trash trying to fill the holes.
For profiles on all these players check out John's last update.
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