| 2011 NFL Draft Watch #28: Akeem Ayers | ||||
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The countdown continues and our number twenty-eight prospect in college football is... Outside Linebacker Akeem Ayers, UCLA (Junior): Players Profiled To Date: 1. Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford 2. Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington 3. A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia 4. Marcel Dareus, Defensive Lineman, Alabama 5. Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU 6. Robert Quinn, Defensive End, North Carolina 7. Cameron Heyward, Defensive End, Ohio State 8. Ryan Williams, Running Back, Virginia Tech 9. Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa 10. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama 11. Anthony Castonzo, Offensive Tackle, Boston College 12. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama 13. Allen Bailey, Defensive Lineman, Miami 14. Greg Romeus, Defensive End, Pittsburgh 15. Prince Amukamara, Cornerback, Nebraska 16. Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin 17. Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, Arkansas 18. Marvin Austin, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina 19. Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame 20. Bruce Carter, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina 21. Aaron Williams, Cornerback, Texas 22. DeAndre McDaniel, Safety, Clemson 23. Stephen Paea, Defensive Tackle, Oregon State 24. Jonathan Baldwin, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh 25. Matt Reynolds, Offensive Tackle, BYU 26. Jurrell Casey, Defensive Tackle, USC 27. Ras-I Dowling, Cornerback, Virginia 28. Akeem Ayers, Outside Linebacker UCLA 29. Nate Solder, Offensive Tackle, Colorado 30. Rahim Moore, Free Safety, UCLA 31. Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson 32. Quan Sturdivant, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina * * * * * Available Now: Get your copy of the 2010 Post-Draft Recap & Rookie Fantasy Football Analysis right here. For more exclusive player reports order a copy of our first ever 2011 NFL Draft Prospectus, featuring the stars of tomorrow for '11 and beyond! CLICK HERE Follow us on Twitter @NFLDraftBible Let us know your thoughts, leave a comment below... Photo Courtesy of Don Liebig/ASUCLA 
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The Skinny: The UCLA linebacker has the bulk, length, frame and athletic ability that NFL decision makers dream of. Standing at 6’4” and 250-plus pounds with a frame that can add more weight, Ayers moves around the field with a fleetness of foot that you’d expect from a much smaller player. The first thing that stands out about his game tape is that he is an absolute turnover machine from his strong side linebacker position—he creates fumbles and interceptions at a startling rate. In 2009, more often than not those picks turned into touchdowns—he returned three of his four interceptions for scores as a sophomore. When asked to rush the passer (six sacks in 2009) Ayers shows very good burst coming off the line of scrimmage. He turns the corner with ease and shows a decent understanding of how to use his arms to keep offensive linemen from getting a grip. NFL teams that run multiple formations and demand positional versatility will fall head over heels for this Bruin. However, if he’s going to succeed as a linebacker at the NFL level, he needs to get more comfortable playing the run on a number of levels. First and foremost, his tackling must improve. That versatility can be a curse as much as it is a blessing—did someone say jack-of-all-trades, master of none? We value a player who can contribute in every aspect of the game and believe Ayers can be a first round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft should he decide to declare.