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Draft Breakdown:
By: Wade Peery
Drop him a line at wadepeery@yahoo.com
2005 NFL Draft: Linebackers
1. Derrick Johnson-OLB-Texas Longhorns- the 2004 Butkus Award winner and 2004 Nagurski Award winner, Johnson is the front runner of this year’s crop of linebackers because of his ball-hawking ability and his innate ability to always be around the football. At 6-4, 230 pounds with 4.5 speed, Johnson may be the fastest linebacker of the group and is a lock to be a top 5 pick in the first round of this year’s draft. If there is one word to describe Johnson it would be disruptive. He was simply all over the field this season for the ‘Horns and racked up 130 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10 pressures, 8 pass breakups, and forced 9 fumbles this season. He tallied 458 tackles over his illustrious career at Texas and is bound to be a great one on the next level once he adds about 15-20 pounds.
2. Channing Crowder-ILB-Florida Gators- At 6’3, 245 pounds with 4.6 speed, there may not be another sophomore in the draft who is as ready for the next level as Channing Crowder. This guy has simply dominated ever since he set foot on campus in Gainesville as a true freshman, earning SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year honors from several publications. He burst onto the scene as a true freshman tallying 106 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. This season his numbers were down a bit, but that’s likely due to the fact he drew several double and triple teams throughout the season. He’s already NFL ready with his tremendous size, speed, and talent; he just has to get his act together off the field. He had a few off-the-field anger management issues, but teams will be willing to take the chance on him, because he’s been so dominant in his two seasons as a Gator. He’s likely to be selected late in the first round, but he’ll be a steal if he drops that low.
3. Barrett Ruud-ILB- Nebraska Cornhuskers- At 6’2, 240 pounds with 4.65 speed, Ruud may have better instincts than any other linebacker in the draft, including Derrick Johnson. The guy just always seems to have a nose for the football very much like Johnson and is incredibly instinctive. He may be a touch slower than certain players, but you can’t coach instinct and Ruud has ample amounts of it. He showed his ability to dominate games last season when he racked up 149 tackles, setting the record for most tackles in one season by a Cornhusker defender. Ruud will likely be drafted somewhere in the 3rd or 4th rounds, but he’ll definitely be a snag that late because of his amazing football instincts.
4.Shawne Merriman-DE/LB-Maryland Terrapins- At 6’4, 245 pounds with 4.6 speed, Merriman was a defensive lineman for the ‘Terps, but many project him as a linebacker on the next level. This guy is simply a freak who has posted a 41.5 inch vertical leap in previous years. He tested unbelievably well in Maryland’s combine when he posted a 38.5 inch vertical leap, 385-pound bench press, and 590-pound squat. There will be few other players in the draft that can match Merriman’s all-world athleticism. I think it would be best to keep him on the defensive line, because that has been his natural position in college, but if he’s used as a linebacker he’ll still be a very dangerous pass-rusher. Either way, Merriman’s future in the NFL is as a pass-rusher, with a 41.5 inch vertical leap, he’ll be a nightmare for quarterbacks to throw over on the next level.
5. Rian “Goo” Wallace-OLB-Temple Owls- At 6-4, 245 pounds with 4.65 speed, Wallace is the sleeper of this year’s linebacker crop. He didn’t get very much exposure because he played for Temple, but Wallace has shown over the years that he’s a playmaker. In 2003, he racked up 148 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss, which is even more impressive when you take into account the fact that his team doesn’t have any other talented defenders. He still tallied over 100 tackles and 5 tackles for loss this season despite drawing numerous double and triple teams. He’s the type of guy that can take over a game and I think he’ll likely be drafted late on the first day, possibly the 6th or 7th rounds. If he drops that low, he’ll make one NFL team happy, because he’s a huge sleeper prospect that will raise some eyebrows once he gets onto a roster. A few things that NFL teams will knock him for are character, because he was suspended for punching a teammate, and durability, because he injured his knee before entering college. Looks like to me the knee is just fine, Wallace will be a steal. Passing up on this guy will be a huge mistake.
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