| 2011 NFL Draft Watch #34: Von Miller | ||||
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The countdown continues and our number thirty-four prospect in college football is... Outside Linebacker Von Miller, Texas A&M (Senior):
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 * * * * * 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 Glen Johnson/TAMU Athletics
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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.