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The countdown continues and our number thirty-two prospect in college football is...

Outside Linebacker Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina (Senior):

The Skinny: Part of one of the most talented defenses in all the land, Sturdivant is a smooth, instinctive, and athletic linebacker. The two things that stand out the most about him on the field are his ability to play sideline-to-sideline in the run game and his coverage ability in the pass game. Standing at 6’2” the muscular Sturdivant has fine NFL measurables in terms of his length and muscle mass and although his frame is not on the elite end, he has the ability to add more weight. In terms of scheme, Sturdivant is strictly a 4-3 linebacker, but he is versatile enough to man the weak side, middle, and the strong side, with the WILL likely his strongest position. While Sturdivant is a very versatile and steady player he offers very little in terms of creating turnovers or making splash plays against the pass. He also needs to get stronger and do a better job when asked to play in a phone booth and engage with blockers. At just around 230 pounds the linebacker needs to bulk up and get heavier whether he lines up inside or out, although if he does shift to the interior to the man the middle this becomes even more vital. It appears he will enter the league best prepared to contribute as a weak side linebacker, although some are convinced that middle linebacker is the position that offers him the highest ceiling. Sturdivant begins the season as our number 32-ranked prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft, but he is no lock to go in round one. He’s a borderline first rounder who should slip no further than round number two.

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

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Photo Courtesy of UNC Athletic Communications