Major ’backers
Ex-Alabama star Reuben Foster tops the list of linebacker prospects for the NFL draft,
As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY Sports is providing rankings for each position group. Today: linebackers.
1. REUBEN FOSTER, ALABAMA
Ht., wt.: 6-0, 229. Foster was the top-ranked linebacker before the NFL scouting combine, and he remains there even after being sent home early after a verbal altercation during the medical checks. That punishment kept Foster from being able to complete his slate of interviews and participating in onfield drills, but his film and college production at Alabama should be more than enough to make him the No. 1 inside linebacker drafted, perhaps as high as in the top 10. Foster is an excellent tackler but also has the speed and athleticism that should allow him to hold up in pass coverage — a critical skill set teams seek when drafting a linebacker in the first round.
2. HAASON REDDICK, TEMPLE
Ht., wt.: 6-1, 237. Reddick is the draft’s fastestrising linebacker, in part because of a spectacular series of workouts at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine, where he ran 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The question about Reddick is that he projects to linebacker in the NFL after playing as an undersized defensive end at Temple. But he has all the physical traits and athleticism that should convince NFL teams that he can make the switch. He has passrush skills (he had 101⁄ sacks as a 2 senior), and his predraft workouts have shown he should have the coverage abilities teams covet.
3. ZACH CUNNINGHAM, VANDERBILT
Ht., wt.: 6-3, 234. If college production matters, Cunningham has a strong case. He led the Southeastern Conference in tackles last year as a junior and recovered four fumbles, both signs that he manages to be around the ball. Also helping Cunningham’s case to be a firstrounder is how easy it is to picture him in any defensive scheme. He is versatile enough to play weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense but also could move to the inside for a team running a 3-4. And with so many NFL teams running some sort of hybrid scheme, Cunningham could be plugged into a variety of different roles.
4. JARRAD DAVIS, FLORIDA
Ht., wt.: 6-1, 238. Davis declined to participate in on-field drills at the scouting combine to maximize his recovery time from the ankle injury that cut short his final season at Florida. But he appears to have done enough at his pro-day workout at Florida — including a 4.56second 40-yard dash — to answer linger questions about his health, which should give teams confidence he’ll be able to display the same sideline-to-sideline coverage range in the NFL that he did in college.
5. RAEKWON MCMILLAN, OHIO STATE
Ht., wt.: 6-2, 240. There is no questioning McMillan’s college credentials after his three years as a starter at Ohio State, but he has spent this spring trying to prove that he can quickly transition to the NFL, just like former Buckeyes defensive teammates Darron Lee and Joey Bosa did a year ago. The knock on McMillan was his athleticism, with questions about whether he had the speed necessary to stand out in the pros. He helped answer that with a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, third best among linebackers in Indianapolis.
6. ANTHONY WALKER, NORTHWESTERN
Ht., wt.: 6-1, 238. When Walker weighed in at the scouting combine at 238 pounds, it showed he had heard one of the biggest questions about himself and was willing to answer it. Walker played at closer to 250 pounds at Northwestern, and that extra bulk likely would ham- per his speed and fluidity in an NFL defense. But if he can manage to keep a slightly leaner frame, he projects as a prototypical middle linebacker.
7. KENDELL BECKWITH, LSU
Ht., wt.: 6-2, 243. Beckwith suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament late in his senior year, so an NFL team will have to draft him based on his college film and interviews. That injury was a setback for his draft stock, though he told reporters at the scouting combine that he had started running and expected to be healthy in time for training camp.
8. ELIJAH LEE, KANSAS STATE
Ht., wt.: 6-3, 228. Lee didn’t get an invite to the scouting combine, so he didn’t get to measure himself directly against the other top linebackers in this draft class. But teams likely will give him a hard look after a solid career at Kansas State that included more than 100 tackles and two interceptions last year. Lee is slightly undersized, which might have teams concerned about his ability to hold up against the run. But given how often teams are using sub passing packages, having a smaller, faster linebacker is becoming increasingly valuable, and that could increase Lee’s stock.
9. ALEX ANZALONE, FLORIDA
Ht., wt.: 6-3, 241. Anzalone looks the part of an NFL inside linebacker and performed well at the scouting combine. But a team is largely going to have to draft Anzalone on his potential after an injury-plagued career at Florida. He missed the last five games of the year with the Gators (in his only season as a starter) because of a broken arm, and he dealt with shoulder issues earlier in his career.
10. RYAN ANDERSON, ALABAMA
Ht., wt.: 6-2, 253. Anderson was extremely productive in college, recording nine sacks last year while playing alongside other talented frontseven players, including Foster and Tim Williams. But Anderson faces plenty of questions in the draft process regarding his athleticism. He hasn’t helped alleviate those concerns yet, especially after running a slower 40-yard dash at his pro day in Tuscaloosa (4.84 seconds) than he did at the combine (4.74).