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| New York Giants NewsNews » Offensive and defensive linemen at a glance |
| Offensive and defensive linemen at a glance | |
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 After discussions with scouts, general managers and other personnel executives around the league as well as video review, here's a ranking of the top prospects on the offensive line and defensive line in this year's draft.
Offensive line Trophy case Outland — Andre Smith, T, Alabama Rimington — A.Q. Shipley, Penn StateRimington (2007) — Jon Luigs, Arkansas The lowdown Eight tackles were taken in the first round of the 2008 draft. That total may not be reached this year, but the position is far stronger than center or guard this time around with three potential top 12 picks in it. 1. Eugene Monroe (T), Virginia (6-5 1/4, 309 pounds, 5.25 in the 40): His Wednesday battles with Virginia defensive end Clint Sintim were better than most he had during the season. Fluid, athletic and smart. 4. B.J. Raji (DT), Boston College (6-1 1/2, 337, 5.14): He dominated Senior Bowl practices and is considered best nose tackle prospect on the board. He's denied a recent report that he tested positive for marijuana at the combine, but teams have been notified he did test positive for marijuana at some point during his career at Boston College. Also, he missed '07 because of academics. | 5. Brian Orakpo (DE), Texas (6-3, 263, 4.67): He's physically gifted and started 21 games for the Longhorns on his way to becoming the most decorated defensive lineman in the program's history. Didn't have more than 5.5 sacks in a season until his 11.5 in '08, but his speed-strength combination will be tough to resist.Other names to keep handyPeria Jerry (DT), Mississippi; Evander Hood (DT), Missouri; Everette Brown (DE/OLB), Florida St.; Michael Johnson (DE), Georgia Tech; Larry English (DE/OLB), Northern Illinois; Connor Barwin (DE/OLB), Cincinnati; Jarron Gilbert (DE/OLB), San Jose St.; Paul Kruger (DE), Utah; Fili Moala (DT), USC; Ron Brace (DT), Boston College; Sen'Derrick Marks (DT), Auburn; Cody Brown (DE/OLB), Connecticut; Lawrence Sidbury (DE), Richmond; Alex Magee (DE), Purdue. Small school heroSammie Hill (DT), Stillman (6-3 7/8, 329): He could be 3-4 end as well. Former baseball player got one scholarship to play football — from Stillman — and is a good enough athlete that he can dunk a basketball at 329 pounds. Things to knowImpress your friends, tell them to keep an eye on Western Ontario defensive tackle Vaughn Martin. Yes, as in Ontario, Canada. The 320-pounder entered the draft after his sophomore year in Canada and is a native of London, Ontario. Players from colleges and universities in Canada with eligibility remaining can return to play at their schools if they don't like how draft weekend goes. Twenty teams sent scouts to campus to take a look at Martin.Missouri defensive end Stryker Sulak, whose given name is Joseph while Stryker is his middle name, gets the ball out. Sulak forced 14 fumbles in his career, six this past season alone. An undersized defensive tackle prospect, Cal-Davis' John Faletoese finds a way to get it done on special teams. He blocked nine kicks in his career, four as a senior. Cal defensive end Rulon Davis was an avionics technician in the Marines before he went to college, having served in Iraq. He suffered a near fatal accident — a truck ran over his legs after he was knocked from a motorcycle — in his first season at Cal. Utah defensive end Paul Kruger had his spleen removed after he was stabbed in '08 and had a kidney removed when a Jeep rolled over on him when he was 13. Not only has LSU defensive tackle Marlon Favorite long been a member of the choir at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in New Orleans (New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin is a regular attendee), but he also fronts a rap group that has performed at halftime of LSU basketball games as well as many venues around the Southeast. Pro scouting leans heavily toward what a player can do in the NFL rather than what he did in college. Want proof? Look to Iowa defensive tackle Matt Kroul. He started 50 consecutive games for the Hawkeyes, a school record, and didn't even get an invitation to the combine because he weighs just 279 pounds and isn't considered quick enough to move to end.
Author:Fox Sports
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: April 15, 2009
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Name: Michael Johnson
#43
Position: S
Age: 24
Experience: 2 years
College: Arizona |
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