by Ed Reinke - AP

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His teammate Javier Arenas said he's like having a big and athletic version of Nick Saban on the football field.

Some consider him the next Brian Urlacher, at least when Urlacher was healthy. Saban, who doesn't just throw praise around, said he's the football version of Albert Pujols.

What Alabama's Rolando McClain is for certain the optimum linebacker prospect. He's got NFL size at 6-foot-4 and 258 pound. When he hits, he hits hard.

But McClain isn't just a shoulder-leading highlight-catching defender. He clearly knows how to wrap up and drives through the ball carrier.

This season, McClain's stat line is impressive. In eight games, e has 57 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, seven quarterback hurries, three passes defended and a forced fumble.

McClain will also do well in offseason testing. He recently told a reporter his body fat was only 9 percent. When asked about his 40 time, McClain said he ran a 4.59 and 4.63 over the summer.

But McClain isn't one of those players who doesn't play up to his speed. He's always going hard and fast toward the ball. He takes correct angles to the ball carrier and doesn't get caught up on blocks.

While McClain is rumored to have some anger issues, is that such a bad thing for a middle linebacker?

Most impressively, McClain is smart. As a sophomore, McClain became the leader of the vaunted Alabama defense. He's like another coach on the field, barking order at his teammates making sure they're in the proper position.

"He lines up the guys next to him," LSU coach Les Miles told reporters this week. "He understands backfield sets and what to expect. You can tell he's a very bright player. (He) understand the intricacies of the game."

Those intricacies are just what might make McClain a top five pick in the draft.