2012 NFL Draft outside linebacker rankings: An improved Zach Brown is tops

by Dan Kadar on Sep 16, 2011 10:46 PM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

It's still early in the college football season, but now is as good of a time as any to update individual position rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft.

Several members of the outside linebacker class have stepped up early this season, especially North Carolina's Zach Brown. He's always been an athletic marvel, but is playing stronger this season. The big question about this class is Oklahoma's Travis Lewis, who is out with an injury. If he comes back and doesn't play well, his stock may drop.

Note: The position rankings aren't currently in line with the site's top 200. After each position ranking is released, a new top 200 will be published.

1. Zach Brown | 6'2, 230 pounds | OLB | North Carolina - Prospect notes

2. Courtney Upshaw | 6'2, 263 pounds | OLB/MLB | Alabama - Prospect notes

3. Travis Lewis | 6'2, 232 pounds | OLB | Oklahoma - Prospect notes

4. Keenan Robinson | 6'3, 235 pounds | OLB | Texas - Prospect notes

5. Tank Carder | 6'3, 237 pounds | OLB/MLB | TCU - Prospect notes

6. Ronnell Lewis | 6'2, 244 pounds | OLB/DE | Oklahoma *

7. Brandon Lindsey | 6'2, 250 pounds | OLB/DE | Pittsburgh - Prospect notes

8. Nigel Bradham | 6'2, 238 pounds | OLB | Florida State- Prospect notes

9. Sean Spence | 6'0, 220 pounds | OLB | Miami (Fla.) - Prospect notes

10. Lavonte David | 6'1, 220 pounds | OLB | Nebraska

11. Danny Trevathan | 6'1, 230 pounds | OLB | Kentucky

12. Adrian Robinson | 6'2, 250 pounds | DE/OLB | Temple

13. Nico Johnson | 6'3, 245 pounds | OLB | Alabama *

14. Greg Williams | 6'3, 240 pounds | OLB | Pittsburgh

15. Tyler Nielsen | 6'3, 235 pounds | OLB | Iowa

16. Mychal Kendricks | 6'0, 240 pounds | OLB | California

* denotes underclassman

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I see Tank as more of a 4-3 MLB

He’s a great attacker

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue."

by ct17 on Sep 16, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, Tank Carder should be listed with the middle linebackers.

There’s Nico Johnson…. He plays ILB for ’Bama a vast majority of the time.

Courtney Upshaw as a OLB/MLB? He plays mostly with his hand in the dirt as a pass rusher. He could totally play OLB in a 3-4 defense but a MLB spot? IDK about that at this point.

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by d-jackfan10 on Sep 17, 2011 3:14 AM EDT reply actions

Nico does seem more of a WILB, so a Will LB in a 4-3

I think Upshaw could handle the SILB in a 3-4 on some teams, should probably stick outside though

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Sep 17, 2011 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Nico a WILL? I don’t think so, he is pulled on passing downs for CJ Mosley. Nico is a big 6’3", 245 pound run stopper.

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by d-jackfan10 on Sep 17, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Other than that he’s been playing at times with his hand down, why don’t you think he could play middle? I think he’s more ideal as a 4-3 Sam, but could see him in the middle.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 17, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think that Upshaw is athletic enough moving backwards to play in a 4-3 defense as a linebacker. He isn’t fluid enough IMO. I think he is more of an attacker and a pass rusher than a read and react linebacker and I think that putting him in a 4-3 defense would be a mistake.

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by d-jackfan10 on Sep 17, 2011 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

And I’ve always thought Carder was more of a 4-3 Will than anything else.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 17, 2011 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

David had a sick interception today.

Turned and ran with a receiver, and dived in front to make the play. Awesome. He’s still making mistakes, but that’s mostly because he’s just trying to do everything himself. I guess that’s the result of often being the only LB on the field for much of last season.