Strengths: Instinctive Quickness Man-coverage ability on tight ends and slot receivers Fluid; can flip his hips and run Covers a lot of ground Always around the ball Solid run-defender Natural playing in the box Good height and length Should be able to play quickly Experienced & successful against good college talent Good blitzer Versatile Athletic…

Career Recap: There were pretty big shoes to fill for Thomas as he replaced Tyrod Taylor as the Hokies’ starting quarterback. Taylor racked up a lot of wins in his career for Virginia Tech, but Thomas took college football by storm with a fabulous debut season in 2011. He set the school record for rushing…

Strengths: Kick blocking Very strong Physical Fast, surprising closing speed Explosion Steady motor Powerful bull rush Can play tackle Perfect fit as a 3-4 end Great length Extremely well put together Scheme versatility Huge upside Excellent weight room work ethic Mature, dedicated Weaknesses: Pad level Raw Inconsistent in shedding blocks Older, turns 26 in July…

Strengths: Cannon for an arm Quick release Plus mechanics Big pocket presence Great height Can make all the throws Good deep-ball thrower Huge upside Large hands Can get hot and dominate in stretches Displays a gunslinger mentality Book smart Weaknesses: Accuracy issues Decision-making Ball security, prone to interceptions Not mobile, statue in the pocket Takes…

Strengths: Excellent vision Good balance Body lean Patient runner Intelligence Finishes runs well Can pick up some yards after contact Good feet Nice cutting ability Ready to contribute in the NFL Strong ball security Decisive runner Stamina Experienced Weaknesses: Slow Not very physical Lacks burst Will need to improve blocking Not a lot of receiving…

Career Recap: Teammate Shaun Prater had the bigger name and received more attention for the 2011 NFL Draft, but Hyde was the better prospect. He entered the starting lineup as a sophomore on the other side from Prater after serving as a backup during his freshman season in 2009. Hyde had an excellent debut with…

Strengths: Extremely physical Very instinctive Fast, flies around the field Devastating hitter Can separate the ball from the receiver Takeaways Splash plays Ballhawk Very good in pass coverage in the deep part of the field Reads a quarterbacks’ eyes Good hands for a defensive back Covers a lot of ground in pass defense Solid run-defender…

Strengths: Excellent cutting ability Phenomenal blocker Quickness Shifty in the open field Can break off long runs Decisive runner Vision Surprising power and strength Physical runner; runs with authority Picks up yards after contact Good receiver Reliable hands Runs good routes Plays hurt Fresh legs; not a lot of wear-and-tear Stamina; runs well in second…

Strengths: Extremely experienced Distributes the ball to a variety of weapons Good on touch passes Basis for good footwork Gamer Decision-making Field vision Accurate in college Intelligent Confident Good work ethic Leader Book smart Improved his game Great intangibles Does lots of charity work; will be a good presence in the community Weaknesses: Arm strength…

Career Recap: Buchanan was a true freshman backup for Illinois in 2009. He made eight starts the next year. The sophomore totaled 40 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Buchanan and teammate Whitney Mercilus both had breakout seasons in the Big Ten last year. Mercilus led the nation in sacks and…