Inside Linebacker Prospect Rankings

Not an overwhelming amount of talent in this group, but there is still a fair amount of guys who can play and should end up being solid players in the NFL. I don't expect any of these backers to turn into superstars, and if your team is looking for a centerpiece to build a defense around they might want to wait a year or look to free agency.

1. Martez Wilson, Illinois 
I can give you three simple reasons to explain why Wilson is the number one inside linebacker prospect. First, at 6 foot 3, and 250 pounds he's the biggest prospect. Second, with a 4.49 40 yard dash time he's the fastest prospect. Third, with 23 reps on the bench, he's the strongest of the elite prospects. I've never been great with math, but I know Big + Fast + Strong = Good Linebacker (Usually).

2. Greg Jones, Michigan State 
A lot of other blogs have Jones rated lower than I do, but after seeing him play for the past four years at MSU I'm convinced he will become a playmaker for some team in the near future. After starting all four years in East Lansing, Jones was able to cement his place in Spartan history as the third all time leading tackler.

3. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina 
Yup, another member of the Tarheel defense finds his way onto the top of a position list. Sturdivant was the captain and leader of UNC last season, and was a very impressive four year starter. A negative on him is his recurring hamstring injuries, most recently causing him to miss seven games this past season.

4. Casey Matthews, Oregon 
Just like his brother, Clay (Pro-Bowl LB with the Packers), Matthews has been pretty underrated throughout his college career, and most experts see Casey going somewhere in the mid to late rounds. But something about his energizer bunny style tells me Casey might be able to have success in the NFL similar to his big bro. I'm pretty sure their secret power is their hair, so as long as he keeps that mane going he should be alright.


5. Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
Sheppard was able to rack up 100 plus tackles each of the past two seasons, and was named to the 1st Team All-SEC squad in 2010. He has the speed to play sideline to sideline, and also has the ability to play outside backer as well. At the very least, Sheppard will end up being a solid special teamer at the next level.