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2009 NFL Draft:
Inside Linebacker Rankings

The top 2009 inside linebacker prospects available for the 2009 NFL Draft in the order in which I believe they will be drafted. * - denotes 2010 prospect.

This page was last updated Dec. 7, 2008.

2009 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2010 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

Rey Maualuga, USC
Height: 6-3. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2009): Top 15 Pick.
12/7/08: The top 3-4 inside linebacker in this class, Rey Maualuga qualified for the All-America First Team. Through 10 games, he has 68 tackles, 2.5 TFL and two picks (one returned for a touchdown).

5/11/08: Rey Maualuga put up solid numbers in 2007 despite going through some nagging injuries. Maualuga had 75 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery.

2007: Slated to be the next great linebacker at USC, Rey Maualuga has the size and speed of a top-15 prospect. Had 78 tackles, two sacks and one pick in 2006, qualifying for the All-Pac-10 First Team.
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 243.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Projected Round (2009): Top 20 Pick.
12/7/08: The top 4-3 inside linebacker in this class, James Laurinaitis has 121 tackles, 5.5 TFL and four sacks as a senior. He was a first-team All-American.

5/11/08: James Laurinaitis probably would have been chosen seventh overall if he declared for the 2007 Draft. He has a shot to run a high 4.4 at the combine, which will blow everyone away.

2007: James Laurinaitis had two key interceptions at Washington.

Was the first sophomore to ever win the Nagurski Award (defensive player of the year). When looking at his production, it's not hard to figure out why. Laurinaitis recorded 115 tackles, five interceptions and four sacks in 2006.
Brandon Spikes*, Florida
Height: 6-3. Weight: 244.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2009): 1.
12/7/08: Brandon Spikes has been a beast this year, and is almost a first-round lock. Going into the SEC Championship, Spikes recorded 80 tackles, eight TFL, two sacks and four picks (two returned for touchdowns.)

5/11/08: In addition to being a sound tackler (a whopping 131 stops in 2007), Brandon Spikes is also great in pass coverage.

2007: The centerpiece of Florida's defense despite being only a sophomore. Either leading the Gators in tackles or sacking opposing quarterbacks on multiple occasions every single week.
Darry Beckwith, LSU
Height: 6-1. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2009): 3.
12/7/08: Darry Beckwith has missed some time with a knee injury. He has 48 tackles and a TFL.

5/11/08: A play-maker who had 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pick in 2007.

2007: Darry Beckwith has announced that he'll be returning for his senior season.

Beckwith could be one of the top outside linebackers in the 2009 class, so he should probably wait a year.
Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan
Height: 6-1. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2009): 3-4.
12/7/08: Don't blame Daniel Holtzclaw for Eastern Michigan's poor season. Holtzclaw, one of the more underrated players in the nation, notched 107 tackles and 4.5 TFL. He has started every game in his collegiate career.

5/11/08: Daniel Holtzclaw finished his 2007 campaign with 125 tackles and two interceptions. He probably ranks as the top under-the-radar linebacker in this class.

2007: Daniel Holtzclaw had 10 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in an upset over Western Michigan. Holtzclaw leads the MAC in tackles.

Holtzclaw has bulked up from 230 to 245 pounds, and is now a first-day prospect.

Holtzclaw has a habit of dominating the MAC; he won Player of the Week honors after notching 13 tackles and a pick against Northern Illinois. Needs to either bulk up or get quicker to move up this chart.
Dannell Ellerbe, Georgia
Height: 6-1. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2009): 3-4.
12/7/08: A disappointing senior season, thanks to a knee injury. Dannell Ellerbe notched 29 tackles and five TFL.

5/16/08: Dannell Ellerbe finished with 93 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 2007.

2007: Dannell Ellerbe, finally the full-time starter at Georgia, is a tackling machine; he led the team in stops the first two weeks of the 2007 campaign.
Jason Phillips, TCU
Height: 6-1. Weight: 234.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2009): 3-4.
12/7/08: Selected to the All-Mountain West First Team once again, Jason Phillips tallied 79 tackles, 12 TFL and 3.5 sacks this year.

2007: Jason Phillips led the Horned Frogs with 73 tackles, earning himself a spot on the All-Mountain West First Team.
Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh
Height: 6-2. Weight: 243.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2009): 4.
12/7/08: An extremely productive season for Scott McKillop - unless you're not impressed with 113 tackles, 14.5 TFL, four sacks, three passes broken up and a pick-six.

5/11/08: Scott McKillop went from an unknown backup in 2006 to one of the premier linebackers in the nation. He had 151 tackles on the year, including the decisive stop against Steve Slaton in Pittsburgh's shocking victory over West Virginia.
Worrell Williams, California
Height: 6-2. Weight: 249.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2009): 4.
12/7/08: Worrell Williams is having an outstanding season and will be targeted by 3-4 defenses in April. Williams has 55 tackles, five TFL and six passes broken up.

5/11/08: After playing the weakside position as a sophomore, Worrell Williams finally moved to the middle, where he had 98 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

2007: Didn't see much action as a sophomore, but Worrell Williams has worked his way into the lineup after working extremely hard this offseason.
Josh Mauga, Nevada
Height: 6-2. Weight: 246.
Projected 40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2009): 5-6.
12/7/08: Although he missed some time with a chest injury, Josh Mauga collected 7.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks and a pick-six as a senior.

5/11/08: Despite playing just eight games as a junior, Josh Mauga recorded 82 tackles and three pass break-ups. He missed the other games because of a minor knee injury.
Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
Height: 6-2. Weight: 267.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2009): 5-6.
12/7/08: Jasper Brinkley has 54 tackles, five TFL and 2.5 sacks... not bad for a guy coming off a nasty knee injury.

5/11/08: Jasper Brinkley was a late first, early second-round prospect before suffering a nasty injury during the 2007 season. He has to prove himself all over again this year.

2007: Jasper Brinkley is out for the year with a knee injury. He may apply for a medical redshirt and return to South Carolina in 2008.

A member of the All-SEC First Team, Brinkley is a monstrous linebacker who will be able to play numerous positions on an NFL team because of his impressive size and speed. Brinkley and Vince Hall, the top inside linebackers of the 2008 class, will be hoping James Laurinaitis and Rey Maualuga stay in school.
Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic
Height: 6-3. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round (2009): 6.
12/7/08: A transfer from Boston College, "Viva la" Frantz Joseph recorded 141 tackles and 9.5 TFL as a senior.
Antonio Appleby, Virginia
Height: 6-4. Weight: 248.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2009): 6.
12/7/08: Antonio Appleby missed a game and a half because of an ankle injury. He finished the season with 72 tackles and 7.5 TFL.

2007: Antonio Appleby started every game last year at middle linebacker for Virginia. He recorded 68 tackles, good for second on the team.
Joey Hudson, Miami of Ohio
Height: 6-2. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2009): 6-7.
12/7/08: A member of the All-MAC First Team, Joey Hudson totaled 109 tackles and eight TFL.

5/11/08: Joey Hudson had another solid year for Miami-Ohio but his weak triangle numbers and small size with restrict him to the later rounds.

2007: As a sophomore, Joey Hudson led Miami of Ohio with 97 tackles and five interceptions. Hard to imagine any collegiate inside linebacker garnering five picks. A very gritty player with a win-first mentality.
Dave Philistin, Maryland
Height: 6-2. Weight: 231.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2009): 6-7.
12/7/08: Dave Philistin had 91 tackles and four TFL as a senior.

5/11/08: Dave Philistin, who played the strongside linebacker position the past few seasons, will man the middle with Erin Henderson going off to the NFL. Philistin had 121 tackles in 2007.
Robert Henson, TCU
Height: 6-1. Weight: 229.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Projected Round (2009): 7.
12/7/08: As a senior, Robert Henson qualified for the All-Mountain West First Team. Henson has 73 tackles, nine TFL and two picks.

5/16/08: An honorable mention for the All-Mountain West team, Robert Henson collected 62 tackles in 2007.

2007: Finished third on the team in tackles with 64 as a sophomore.
Maurice Crum Jr., NotreDame
Height: 6-0. Weight: 237.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2009): 7.
12/7/08: Maurice Crum Jr.'s numbers have taken a dive this year; he has 63 tackles, 4.5 TFL and two sacks.

5/16/08: A two-time captain at Notre Dame, Maurice Crum Jr. had 84 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two picks and three forced fumbles in 2007. Better yet, he has yet to miss a start in his collegiate career.

2007: Maurice Crum played extremely well in a losing effort against Michigan State. He seemed to be in the right place on almost every single play.

Crum has started every eligible game in his Notre Dame career. As a sophomore, he recorded 100 tackles, three sacks and a pick.
Derek Nicholson, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 234.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Projected Round (2009): 7.
12/7/08: Derek Nicholson has more than 25 consecutive starts. The significance behind this is that he had a torn ACL two years ago. Nicholson has 76 tackles and a whopping 15 TFL.

5/11/08: Derek Nicholson tore his ACL in 2006, but bounced back with a strong 2007 campaign, recording 79 tackles.
Ronnie Palmer, Arizona
Height: 6-3. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
12/7/08: Ronnie Palmer has 70 tackles on the year for Arizona.

2007: A play-maker who has a habit of picking off passes. Really seems to care about winning, unlike a few other players on both the collegiate and professional levels.
Pat Maynor, Stanford
Height: 6-2. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
12/7/08: Pat Maynor has 69 tackles, 8.5 TFL and four sacks as a senior. Unfortunately, the comment I made below still applies.

5/11/08: The Jordan Dizon of the 2008 NFL Draft. He's small for a middle linebacker, so look for an inept GM like Matt Millen to draft him in the second round. Don't get me wrong though - Maynor is talented, but he needs to bulk up.
Greg Trent, Washington State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 226.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
12/7/08: Still hasn't bulked up. Greg Trent has 88 tackles and 10.5 TFL as a senior for miserable Washington State.

5/11/08: Pretty small for a middle linebacker. That said, Greg Trent definitely makes an impact on the field. He had 89 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Mike Rivera, Kansas
Height: 6-3. Weight: 252.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
5/11/08: Mike Rivera always seems to be in the right place at the right time. It seemed like every time Kansas' defense caused a turnover, he was right there as a major factor.

2007: Started every game for Kansas as a sophomore and collected a team-leading 90 tackles.
Jon Copper, Virginia
Height: 6-0. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
12/7/08: Jon Copper has tallied 101 tackles and 5.5 TFL as a senior.

5/11/08: A former walk-on, Jon Copper made at least seven tackles in every game.
Rashad Bobino, Texas
Height: 5-11. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
12/6/08: Benched in 2008.

2007: Rashard Bobino started every game at middle linebacker in 2006. Had 74 tackles and 2.5 sacks last year.
Jeff Horinek, Colorado State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 238.
Projected 40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
2007: Started every game at Colorado State as a sophomore and registered 69 tackles, third most on the team.
Brett Warren, Virginia Tech -
Height: 6-1. Weight: 236. Projected 40 Time: 4.77. Projected Round (2009): FA.
Joe Mortensen, Kansas -
Height: 6-1. Weight: 245. Projected 40 Time: 4.81. Projected Round (2009): FA.
Brock Christopher, Missouri -
Height: 6-2. Weight: 240. Projected 40 Time: 4.80. Projected Round (2009): FA.
Adam Vincent, UTEP -
Height: 6-3. Weight: 245. Projected 40 Time: 4.80. Projected Round (2009): FA.

2009 NFL Mock Draft

NFL Picks

2008 Inside Linebacker Rankings

2009 NFL Draft: Inside Linebacker Rankings

2009 NFL Draft:
Inside Linebacker Rankings