A professional inside linebacker prospect flat-out has to make plays every game. Look for people with "take-on" skills, playing leverage, instincts, toughness, tackling skills and range. Pass coverage skills are a plus, but in most sub-package defenses, inside and or middle backers are often substituted.
Thomas Korte from Hillsdale College (MI), Carroll College (Montana)'s Owen Koeppen, Montana State's Bobby Daly and Montclair State's (the alma mater of the late and great Sam Mills) Cornell Hunt, are four small college players who have put up some very impressive numbers.
Glenn Cook of Miami returns after red-shirting in 2007 due to injury and could factor with a solid senior season. James Bryant of Louisville is a former teammate of Cook, but transferred after the Hurricanes moved him to the fullback position. He gets his chance to prove them wrong in 2008.
Duke University ILB Mike Tauiliili heard his named called many times during the 2007 season. Let’s hope for the Blue Devils sake, he and his defensive teammates can spend a little more on the sidelines in 2008. Former Clemson player Antonio Clay got it done on the field, but off-the-field issues have ended his playing career for the Tigers. Look for him to resurface somewhere in 2008.
| Grade |
Last |
First |
School |
2007 Stats
Solo - Assist - Total - Sack - TFL |
| D |
Palmer |
Ronnie |
Arizona U |
55-28-83-0-4-0 |
| D |
Owens |
Ben |
Arkansas St |
46-50-96-0-6-0 |
| D |
Koeppen |
Owen |
Carroll College (MT) |
82-37-119-8-13-1 |
| D |
Manalac |
Ryan |
Cincinnati U |
50-26-76-1-5.5-1 |
| D |
Clay |
Antonio |
Clemson U |
15-11-26-0-1-0 |
| D |
Vincent |
Cortney |
Clemson U (ex) |
32-24-56-2-7.5-0 |
| D |
Horinek |
Jeff |
Colorado St |
46-48-94-0.5-4.5-0 |
| D |
Tauiliili |
Mike |
Duke U |
53-55-108-4-13-3 |
| D |
Korte |
Thomas |
Hillsdale College |
67-42-109-1.5-9.5-5 |
| D |
Lubojasky |
Cody |
Houston U |
16-43-59-0-2-1 |
| D |
Phipps |
Ryan |
Idaho St |
56-60-116-4-11.5-1 |
| D |
Jackson |
Terrence |
Indiana (PA) U |
44-43-77-2-13-2 |
| D |
Walker |
Reggie |
Kansas St |
28-37-65-3-5-1 |
| D |
Bryant |
James |
Louisville U |
No 2007 stats - Transfer |
| D |
Hudson |
Joey |
Miami (OH) |
50-49-99-2-8-2 |
| D |
Cook |
Glenn |
Miami U |
No 2007 stats - Injury |
| D |
Panter |
Austin |
Michigan U |
5-2-7-0-1-0 |
| D |
Hightower |
Deon |
Minnesota U |
53-17-70-0-9.5-0 |
| D |
Christopher |
Brock |
Missouri U |
57-48-105-1.5-7.5-1 |
| D |
Daly |
Bobby |
Montana State U |
76-60-136-5-15.5-0 |
| D |
Hunt |
Cornell |
Montclair St |
68-59-127-1.5-9-2 |
| D |
McCarthy |
Tim |
Northern Illinois U |
4-12-16-0-1-0 |
| D |
Curtis |
Terry |
Ohio St |
No 2007 stats - Injury |
| D |
Bacon |
John |
Oregon U |
18-24-42-0-1.5-1 |
| D |
Schantz |
Andy |
Portland St |
38-47-85-3-9-0 |
| D |
Mulitalo |
Cyrus |
Sacramento St |
36-52-88-4-13.5-1 |
| D |
Sapp |
Marvin |
So Carolina U |
50-11-61-0-1-0 |
| D |
Maynor |
Patrick |
Stanford U |
51-37-88-6-16.5-0 |
| D |
Flaherty |
Jake |
Syracuse U |
45-50-95-1-6.5-0 |
| D |
Vincent |
Adam |
Texas-El Paso |
50-31-81-1-5.5-0 |
| D |
Hutton |
Jake |
Utah St |
58-44-102-1-3.5-1 |
| D |
Warren |
Brett |
Virginia Tech |
23-20-43-3.5-5.5-1 |
| D |
Trent |
Greg |
Washington St |
46-43-89-4-5.5-0 |