Outside Linebackers AUTHOR’S NOTE: The next three players are deemed mostly unsuitable for conversion to the 3-4 outside linebacker position, yet their overall talent means they can’t just be ignored, some 3-4 team might decide to take a chance on them. Despite possessing more overall talent than some of those before them, they have been added here as unlikely 3-4 OLB conversions. 13) Bjoern Werner, Florida State
14) Alex Okafor, Texas
Okafor just doesn’t have the flexibility or quickness to play standing up as a linebacker but has the frame to add weight and muscle and be a very productive 4-3 end in the NFL. 15) Sam Montgomery, LSU
Montgomery is a solid straight-line player who can attack or chase with the best of them, but lateral movement and flexibility is not his forte. Strictly a 4-3 end. 16) David Bass, Missouri. W. St.
Dominant at the Division II level with 39.5 sacks in his four years, Bass was invited to the East-West Shrine Game and seemed to fit in fine with the big boys. He performed very well in the agility drills at the Combine. A diamond in the rough sleeper. 17) Quanterus Smith, W. Ken.
Not very strong against the run but has pass rush skills as his three sacks against Alabama’s offensive line will attest to. Smith was leading the nation in sacks until he tore his ACL Werner surprised at the Combine late in the season. He could be the showing more flexibility than ex- best low-round/UDFA roll of the pected in the linebacker drills, but it dice in the draft at this position. would be a waste of his talents to put him there. He’ll be a demon as a 4-3 18) Travis Johnson, San Jose State end for some lucky team. With 38 sacks in high school and 32 in College, the 2012 WAC Defen“he’ll be demon as a sive Player of the Year, has out-performed expectations at every level. 4-3 end” A smart, high-motor player that de67 | Cheesehead TV 2013 Draft Preview
spite “tweener” size, could surprise once again at the NFL level. 19) Devin Taylor, South Carolina
Taylor burst onto the scene as a sophomore with 7.5 sacks and 13 TFL, but his numbers have declined his last two seasons despite opponents having to key on Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney. Appears too upright and stiff for 3-4 OLB, yet did very well in the agility drills at the NFL Combine. 20) Chase Thomas, Stanford
Thomas is not the biggest, fastest or most athletic linebacker prospect, but he’s an over-achieving high-effort guy that projects to be a good backup and valuable special team player at the very least. 21) Nathan Williams, Ohio State 22) Ty Powell, Harding 23) Wes Horton, USC 24) John Youboty, Temple 25) Travis Long, Washington St. 26) Stansly Maponga, TCU 27) Brad Madison, Missouri 28) Cameron Meredith, Nebraska 29) Marquis Jackson, Portland St. 30) Robert Maci, Purdue 31) Meshak Williams, Kansas St. 32) Tourek Williams, Florida Int. 33) Larentee McCray, Florida
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