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2011 NFL Draft Watch #34: Von Miller
Written by Benjamin Klein    Thursday, 24 June 2010 16:49    PDF Print E-mail

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

Outside Linebacker Von Miller, Texas A&M (Senior):

The Skinny: The Butkus Award semifinalist is in many ways the first and last line of defense for the Aggies; he’s dominant enough to shutdown the opposition’s passing game with his disruptive abilities. To take advantage of Miller’s playmaking skills and versatility A&M will move him around the defense, as the hybrid defender has lined up at almost every position in the front seven. Miller is truly a terror to deal with is when he is rushing the passer. In 2009 the Texas native led the nation with his 17 sacks, which also happened to be one more than the entire Aggie defense registered in 2008…that’s the type of impact he can have. Many believe the linebacker is the most athletically gifted player on the Texas A&M roster. He does more than just sack the quarterback, looking to make the strip when he does get there (four forced fumbles) and getting his hands up when he doesn’t (five passes defended). Tipping the scales at 240 pounds Miller is clearly light in the pants for a 3-4 linebacker. He has excellent size for college defender but not the pros. His draft stock will have to contend with the fact that there are going to be bigger, stronger, and faster players at his position. While he has done fine work at the college level playing with his hand on the ground at times, it’s hard to imagine Miller providing much production playing in the trenches against NFL offensive linemen. Yes Miller is undersized, but his instincts as a pass rusher will make him a hot commodity come draft week. Whether it will be as a first or second round pick remains to be seen.

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

33. Brandon Harris, Cornerback, Miami

* * * * *

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Photo Courtesy of Glen Johnson/TAMU Athletics


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