Photo by: National Underclassmen Football Combine
NUC/ NFL - Top 5 OLBs 2014 NFL Draft Prospect Report
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Strength: Barr is an extremely athletic and explosive pass rusher off the edge with excellent closing speed. He is a very physical player who likes making big hits on opposing quarterbacks. Barr consistently gets into the backfield disrupting plays and making offenses account for him with constant double teams. His freakish type ability gives him a great advantage against offensive lineman, which makes him impossible to block at times. He has great pedigree as his father Tony Brooks played RB in the NFL, along with three uncles who also played in the league.
Weakness: Needs to improve his game against the run as he will get sucked in sometimes against play action. He also easily gets washed out of running plays when rushing up field. Still a raw player as last year was his first time ever playing defense and is still learning the nuances on the defensive side.
Final Analysis: Barr had a surprising breakout 2012 season as a junior with 13 sacks, 83 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, five passes batted and four forced fumbles. He was second in the nation in sacks and terrorized Pac-12 OL's all season. Barr is an excellent rusher who fits best in a NFL 3-4 defense. He went from being a fullback for two seasons into being a potential top 10 first-round pick.
CJ Mosley, OLB, Alabama, 6-2, 232 lb.:
Strength: Mosley is an extremely talented defender who excels in pass coverage and is also very effective when asked to blitz up the middle. He plays with great speed and shows good instincts for the LB position. Mosley is also a great vocal leader and brings a lot of intensity to his game.
Weakness: Mosley needs to become stouter in the ground game. Scouts would like to see him become more physical when taking on blocks and plugging holes in the trenches. He lacks the great size that scouts look for at the position and fits best in a 4-3 scheme.
Final Analysis: Mosley has been an excellent football player for Alabama in his career. He led the team last year with 107 tackles while also contributing two interceptions, four sacks, and eight tackles for a loss. NFL scouts love Mosley's presence on the field, which is embodied through playing smart, fast and physical football. He's a first round talent who has a chance to be a top 20-25 draft pick.
Other OLBs to watch:
Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU: Van Noy is an extremely explosive player who does a great job coming off the edge. He's a solid player against the run but looks more comfortable when defending against the pass. He drops well in coverage displaying good athleticism while also showing the ability to be effective as a blitzer. NFL scouts likes Van Noy physical skill set because he has a lot of upside to develop into a three down LB in the NFL. Scouts would like to see him become more active with his hands and get off blocks more consistently. Overall, Van Noy is the best returning player on the BYU defense and is an excellent LB prospect for the NFL.
Trent Murphy, OLB, Stanford: Murphy was the most impressive player that I watched on Stanford's stingy defense from 2012. Murphy is a physical defender who plays with good power and technique. He also shows the speed and quickness to play effectively in or outside the box. Murphy totaled 56 tackles with 10 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, and four passes broken up. Murphy is a versatile and explosive prospect with great size that can play in a variety of spots in a 3-4 defense. He also possesses the frame and versatility to line up as a DE in a NFL 4-3 defense.
Christian Jones*, OLB, Florida State: Jones led the Seminoles with 95 tackles and had eight or more in seven of his last nine games, including a 10-tackle performance in FSU's 31-10 win over Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl. He's explosive and plays with a relentless motor making plays in every direction on the field. He will sometimes play out of control and over pursue the action. Jones is a good middle round LB prospect to keep your eye on for next year's NFL draft.
*NUC Alum
NUC/NFL scouting reports include senior eligible players only.
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