2008 NFL Draft - Outside Linebackers

With the January additions of a few blue chip underclassmen, the outside linebacker position is slightly above average heading into April’s draft. Kieth Rivers is undoubtedly the top linebacker at any position and seems to be the only one from this group to be a first round selection. This years group of underclassmen is truly talented, with a few players who should be able to come in and start as rookies and make an immediate impact.

1) Kieth Rivers (USC)- Rivers measures in at 6'2, 240 and clocked in with a 4.63- 40 at the combine. Rivers started for his third season at weakside linebacker as a senior in 2007 and turned in an All-American season. Overall in 2007 while starting 12 games, he had 78 tackles (second on USC), including 5 for losses of 15 yards, plus 4 deflections, a team-high 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. He was 1 of 10 semifinalists for the 2007 Butkus Award and 1 of 17 quarterfinalists for the Lott Trophy, as well as an SI.com All-American first team. Rivers has everything you would want in a linebacker, top notch athleticism, good instincts, recognition, and excellent speed. At USC, Rivers displayed terrific range which let him go sideline-to-sideline, and a non-stop motor. Rivers did an adequate job in coverage, but excelled more as a pass rusher where he is a big time hitter.

2) Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech)- An invaluable performer for the Hokies throughout his career, Xavier Adibi joined Vince Hall in forming one of the best linebacker tandems in college football. The duo would go on to record 695 tackles, 20 1/2 quarterback sacks, 60 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 52 pressures during their time together at Tech. In 47 games at Tech, Adibi started 40 contests, recorded 291 tackles (133 solo) with 11 sacks for minus-34 yards, 30 stops for losses of 78 yards and 18 quarterback pressures, caused five fumbles and recovered another that he advanced 35 yards for a touchdown, deflected 12 passes and had eight interceptions for 170 yards in returns (21.2-yard average) with two touchdowns. Adibi became just the second linebacker in school history to earn first-team All-American honors (2007). Adibi’s stock has stayed steady and he looks to be a early second round pick.

3) Erin Henderson (Maryland)- Henderson is one of the top linebackers in the nation, and decided to forego his senior season for the NFL draft this April. He is an emotional player with good speed (4.72- 40) and has made big plays his entire career. Henderson finished as a Butkus award semifinalist, while ranking ninth in the nation in tackles per game at 11.08. Henderson posted nine double-digit tackle games on the season, and led the team with 11 tackles for loss despite missing the Georgia Tech game due to injury . He ranked 14th in the conference in tackles for loss per game (0.92) and ranked first in the ACC in fumbles recovered (0.33 pg), while his four fumble recoveries were the most by a Terps defender since Orlando Strozier had six in 1993. Henderson showed his toughness as he battled knee and back woes the last few weeks of the regular season and started all 12 games he played at Will linebacker. Henderson looks to be a second round pick at the moment.

4) Marcus Howard (Georgia)- Howard has seen his draft stock soar since the combine. He wowed scouts with a 4.45- 40, which is even more impressive when you see what a physical presence he is. Howard played on the defensive line in college, but due to his size (6'1, 238) he will shift to the linebacker position at the NFL level. In 2007 he had a career high six tackles at Vanderbilt, recorded two sacks vs. Kentucky, five tackles including .5 for a loss vs. No. 18 Auburn, four tackles including a sack, forced a recovered a fumble, and had a pass break-up vs. Troy, and notched four tackles including two sacks vs. No. 9 Florida. Since Howard will be shifting positions its hard to compare his stats to other linebackers in this group, but if his showing at the combine was any indication, Howard will be showcasing his talent at linebacker for years to come.

5) Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma)- With many professional teams begging for speed at linebacker, Lofton has a chance to make a big splash. A strong-side linebacker for most of his career, Lofton is just starting to tap his vast potential and may have found his calling at middle linebacker. He shifted inside for his final four games with the Sooners and finished his junior campaign with one of the most productive seasons by a defender, as his 157 total tackles are the most by an Oklahoma player since George Cumby amassed 160 hits in 1979. His career-high 157 tackles (94 solo) rank seventh on the school's single-season list and were the third-highest total in the NCAA ranks (his average of 11.21 tackles per game ranked seventh nationally). Lofton also had a sack, 10.5 stops for loss and four forced fumbles. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown, scored once on three interceptions and deflected two passes. That performance earned him consensus All-American and All-Big Twelve Conference honors, in addition to being selected Big Twelve Defensive Player of the year by the Associated Press.

6) Ali Highsmith (LSU)- Highsmith has found himself slipping since an uninspiring performance at the combine. Once regarded as the No.2 outside linebacker behind Kieth Rivers, Highsmith has now fallen from the upper echelon of linebackers. Highsmith is the ideal weakside linebacker prospect. He is a very good athlete, with excellent closing speed that flies around the field. He has the ability to come off the edge and close on the quarterback, and the speed to chase backs down. Highsmith is very good in coverage, where his athleticism and speed allow him to stay stride for stride with his man and follow them all over the field. In seven games this year, Highsmith ranks second on the squad in tackles with 45 tackles, which includes five tackles for losses and a sack. Highsmith was one of ten semifinalist for the Butkus Award and despite his poor combine showing he should be a solid performer at the NFL level.

7) Jordan Dizon (Colorado)- Dizon was a Butkus Award finalist, and as a four-year fixture in the starting lineup was one of the inspirational leaders of the Colorado defense. Dizon was the nation’s leading tackler this past, and had been for all but one week this past season, as he has 160, or an average of 13.3 per game, with 120 being solo stops. But that doesn’t begin to tell the story of what he has accomplished or meant to CU’s defense. As the Buffs’ defensive captain, he played 796 snaps all but 44 snaps for the CU defense. He has 14 tackles for loss, including four quarterback sacks, and another eight for zero gains by the opponent, all team bests, as are his school record 19 third down stops. He also has an interception, two pass break-ups, four hurries, two near-sacks, a forced fumble and a caused interception. Dizon had a career-high 22 tackles in the opener against Colorado State. Dizon should be a bargain to the NFL team that drafts him, he is projected to be a 4th or 5th round pick, but should perform as well as the top linebackers taken in this draft.