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+---- Thread: *Ranking the LB Prospects of Season 17 (/showthread.php?tid=14005)
*Ranking the LB Prospects of Season 17 - woelkers - 06-25-2019
Just when you thought we were done for the day, we're back with another position group to rank! This time, we're taking the five linebackers looking to make names for themselves in this league, a smaller (and arguably less impressive) group than the last couple, but still worth a look from the needier GMs in the DSFL. Again, we'll start from the bottom of the list.
5. Tyrone Baker, LB, University of Virginia: The 6'4, 235 lb Baker puts the SPEED in speed rusher; the former Cavalier is easily the fastest of his class of linebacker prospects. However, that's just about all the Colorado Springs native excels at; although his strength and tackling are par for the course given his play style and experience, Baker ranks lowest of the crop in agility, intelligence, hands, and endurance, leaving him quite a bit of catching up to do if he's looking to find the same success as the rest of his class. Fortunately, catching up is what Baker appears to have been born to do.
4. Daniel Glisack, LB, University of Oregon: Glisack is maybe the most interesting linebacker in his class; the 6'2", 228 lb former Duck prefers to play in coverage, and he has the football smarts and range of motion to do just that, ranking top of the class in both intelligence and agility. However, his hands are just average, so he struggles to do much more than bat the ball down, and his speed is no more impressive, which leaves him over-matched if he has to play man to man. The Portland-born prospect is hoping his brains will do enough to carry him to the top of the draft, but we can't see him going much higher than third among linebackers, which does not bode well for him.
3. Ronald Watkins, LB, University of Maryland - Baltimore County: Who doesn't love an undersized player from an underdog school? At 6'1", 225, Baltimore native Ronald "the Watt" Watkins is the smallest of this crop, and it shows: the former Retriever's strength and tackling rank tied for last in the class with Glisack. Fortunately, also like Glisack, Watkins prefers to play in coverage, and he seems tailor made for producing results; Watkins has the best hands in the class by far and away, and he has the endurance to stay on the field and show them off every down. Unfortunately, Watkins doesn't have great agility, so he won't be making too many spectacular plays, nor is his speed particularly high, so don't hold your breath for too many pick sixes from the start, but Watkins certainly has room to grow into a promising talent in this league. He can be expected to hear his name slightly before Glisack on draft day, but given his size and school, he may slip to fourth among linebackers.
2. Jason Carver, LB, University of Rutgers: At a glance, the 6'2", 230 lb Carver doesn't appear particularly special. The Calgary kid isn't at the top of the list in any measured category (he's just about middle of the pack in every statistic that matters for a linebacker prospect), nor is the former Scarlet Knight unique in the way he plays (he's another coverage linebacker, for those taking notes). However, the youngest linebacker in the draft shows unmatched balance among players at the position, so while he may not be an outstanding coverage player, he makes up for it by contributing to run defense as well. Plus, Carver has one of the better work ethics among this class of linebackers, so don't sleep on the kid; he has potential to make your team a champion.
1. Nate Oliver, LB, University of California - Los Angeles: The 6'4", 250 lb Oliver is one of three former Bruins on the defensive side of the ball in this draft class, and there's a real argument to be made that he's the one teams should be watching most closely. His strength and tackling rank highest among linebackers, useful areas to excel in for a speed rusher hoping to play in opposing backfields more than in his own. The biggest point of concern for the Davis native is whether he has the speed to reach opposing quarterbacks before they release the ball; speed isn't a major problem for Oliver, but he does rank tied for last among his peers in that department, and is quite a bit slower than fellow speed rusher Baker. However, there is little doubt Oliver is worth a gamble for a team in need of a linebacker, especially given his work ethic; look for him to go early in the draft.