Strengths: Natural running ability Power Good athlete Rare agility Big upside Quick feet Yards after contact Accelerates to the second level Good pad level Physical runner Cutting ability Quickness Elusiveness Good size Great fit for a zone-blocking system Scheme versatility Real strength Short-yardage ability Capable of breaking off long runs Weaknesses: Durability Tore up knee…

Career Recap: Even though Mingo didn’t register double-digit sacks last season, he was one of college football’s fiercest pass-rushers in 2011. Mingo fell short of leading his own team in sacks as Sam Montgomery barely topped him by one sack, but in many ways Mingo was the more disruptive of the two and LSU’s best…

Strengths: Explosive speed Very fast; can score on any reception Phenomenal run after the catch ability Stretches the defense vertically Ability to get separation from cornerbacks Quickness Quick twitch; sudden out of breaks Tough to tackle in the open field Shifty runner Dangerous on runs out of the backfield Good size Leaping ability Red-zone weapon…

Career Recap: Brandon Jenkins had a breakout season in 2010 as a first-year starter at right end. He led Florida State in sacks while the Seminoles led the nation in sacks. Jenkins notched 13.5 sacks with 21.5 tackles for a loss. He had five multi-sack games and was voted the team’s MVP. Jenkins started out…

Strengths: Pass-coverage ability Covers a lot of ground Man coverage potential on tight ends, backs Sideline-to-sideline defender Explosive Splash plays Extremely athletic All over the field Instinctive Extremely physical Play recognition Hard hitter Gets deep in his pass drops Aggressive attitude Blitzing ability Scheme versatility Could play inside or outside linebacker Big upside Weaknesses: Major…

Career Recap: After redshirting in 2009, Faulk saw his first playing time during the 2010 season. He made two starts at right tackle in the final two games of the year. Entering the 2011 season, the Tigers held a competition for the starting left tackle position after losing Joseph Barksdale to the NFL. Faulk won…

Strengths: Explosive Toughness, unafraid of hard hits Routinely comes down with difficult catches Great combination of size and speed Excellent run after the catch ability Plays with an attitude Good route-runner Scheme versatility Extremely athletic Very good body control Makes highlight-reel catches Quickness to get separation Physical with cornerbacks Scheme versatility Weaknesses: Character concerns Drug…

Strengths: Ball skills Absolute ballhawk Dangerous with the ball in his hands Elite, rare hands for a cornerback Takeaways Splash plays Great at jumping routes Reaction skills Should be a good zone corner Straight-line speed Can be physical with offensive players Good run defense Potential to develop some man-coverage skills Upside Weaknesses: Bites on double…

Career Recap: Thomas has been an impact defender for the Cardinal since his freshman season. He started his career in 2009 as a defensive end and made eight starts at the position. The freshman had 36 tackles and four sacks. Thomas was moved to outside linebacker in 2010 in Stanford’s 3-4 defense, and that position…

Strengths: Consistently gets separation Route-running Quickness Sudden out of his breaks Beats defensive backs for contested catches Quick feet Can work as a possession receiver Has some strength Makes plays downfield Good body control to make tough sideline catches Adept at finding soft spots in zone Effective operating in all levels of the defense Third-down…