mattfivedefense2008

These rankings do not reflect where these players will go in the draft or how I think they will fall in the draft. It is just how good I think these players are on my personal draft board.

I have a key to better understand my star system:

: Elite Prospect

: Top 8 Prospect

: Solid First-Round Prospect

: Fringe First-Round Prospect; Very Strong Round 2 Prospect

: Second-Round Prospect

: Third-Round Prospect

: 4th-5th Round Prospect

: Late Round/Undrafted Free Agent

Defensive Ends

Chris Long, Virginia.
Extremely fun player to watch because he plays with so much intensity.
Vernon Gholston, Ohio State.
Phillip Merling, Clemson.
Calais Campbell, Miami.
Lawrence Jackson, USC.

Defensive Tackles

Glenn Dorsey, LSU.
Best defensive tackle prospect since Warren Sapp.
Sedrick Ellis, USC.
Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina.
Pat Sims, Auburn.
Dre Moore, Maryland.

Linebackers

Dan Connor, Penn State.
Jerod Mayo, Tennessee.
Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma.
Phillip Wheeler, Georgia Tech.
Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt.
Keith Rivers, USC.
Only reason he doesn’t get another half star is because he lacks consistency in gap responsibility.
Ali Highsmith, LSU.
Erin Henderson, Maryland.
Shawn Crable, Michigan.
Strictly a strongside linebacker in the 4-3.
Tavares Gooden, Miami.

Hybrid Linebackers

Chris Long, Virginia.
Despite popular opinion, Long is a better fit at hybrid in the 3-4 rather than 5 technique on the line because he lacks the bulk.
Vernon Gholston, Ohio State.
Derrick Harvey, Florida.
Shawn Crable, Michigan.
Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech.

Cornerbacks

Leodis McKelvin, Troy.
Outstanding Senior Bowl and should have a big Combine as well.
Mike Jenkins.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State.
Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech.
Chevis Jackson, LSU.
Great Tampa-2 corner, but he has enough (underrated) talent to play in any scheme. Might also be versatile enough to play free safety.