Yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, all the glamour guys (QB, RB, WR) of the NFL Draft had their day in the sun and spoke with the media. But today is the day I've had circled for quite some time. With the Buffalo Bills' current needs, one would think the defensive end and linebacker positions are areas that must be addressed.
So with that, here's some highlights from my conversations with the nation's elite at those positions here at the combine.
If you want the unofficial 40-yard dash times and bench pressing results, I've got them listed in my live blog from earlier today.
Defensive End: Aaron Maybin, Penn State (1st)
- Added 20 pounds on to his frame. Subject to criticism for playing around 230 lbs. this past season. He feels comfortable at 250 lbs., and pending on what defensive scheme drafts him, he can keep his weight the same or shed some pounds and play outside linebacker.
- Says he'll bring "a lot of athleticism, a lot of hard work, and a lot of desire."
- Aaron thinks he'll be ready to make an immediate impact saying "I'm going to work harder than everybody that's ahead of me and do everything that the coaches ask of me."
- Measured in at 6'3".
Brandon Williams, Texas Tech (3rd-4th)
- 6'3", 260 lbs.
- Feels he has the ability to play in the 4-3 as a defensive end or in the 3-4 as a rushing linebacker.
Brian Orakpo, Texas (1st)
- Credits Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's system for being effective in both a 4-3 and 3-4 defensive scheme.
- Fully healthy and will be working out.
- His best attribute is getting after the quarterback. "It's not about the sacks it's about the pressure."
Cody Brown, Connecticut (4th-5th)
- Former basketball player, but gave it up to focus exclusively on football.
- A pass rushing defensive end that credits the use of his hands as the most important part of his technique.
Connor Barwin, Cincinnati (2nd-3rd)
- Has experience at tight end and defensive end, and is also a prospect at the 3-4 OLB position.
- Often times he's compared with Patriots' linebacker Mike Vrabel.
- Played basketball at Cincinnati, averaged about 10 minutes for two seasons.
Maurice Evans, Penn State (5th-6th)
- Had a marijuana arrest in September. He says he's learned from the incident and moved past it.
Pannel Egboh, Stanford (5th-6th)
- 6'6", 275 lbs., but hopes to get up to 290 soon. Entered college at a mere 220.
- Played both the 3-4 and 4-3 defensive end in college.
- Talked with the Packers, Vikings, Broncos and Jets.
Paul Kruger, Utah (2nd-3rd)
- An interesting injury history. A car accident in junior high school cost Kruger a kidney and his spleen. He's had to wear a pad on his abdomen since as a result. Then in 2007, he was stabbed in the midsection and suffered a punctured lung.
- Just turned 23, and added his age added a great deal in to his decision to declare for the draft as a junior.
- Served his mission for the Mormon church in Kansas City, MO.
Tim Jamison, Michigan (3rd-4th)
- 6'2", 256 lbs., which is lighter than he's used to being.
- Feels he can fit in with any defensive scheme.
Will Davis, Illinois (4th-5th)
- 6'2", 261 lbs.
- He said playing in the Big Ten gets you ready to play in the NFL because of it's physicality.
- Participating fully in all workouts.
- His mother is the deputy minister of state in Liberia.
Defensive Tackle: B.J. Raji, Boston College (1st)
- Raji is going to work out this week, to prove he's got a lot of mobility for being such a big guy. He registered at 337 lbs. today.
- Talking about being down in the trenches, "Your moves have to be very sharp and aggressive, otherwise you'll get taken over."
- Spoke very highly of his teammate and fellow DT Ron Brace, saying often times teams wouldn't even bother running against them.
Terrance Taylor, Michigan (4th-5th)
- Talked about how hard it was to go in to the season as the 2nd rated DT and ending the year as the 10th. Now he's just out to prove that he still has that ability.
- Has an extreme dislike for Ohio State. When asked about a former teammate, or as the reporter phrased it "your brother," that transferred to the Buckeyes, Taylor said "He ain't my brother if he transferred to Ohio State." Seconds later he added, "He made his choice. He's a good player. He's my friend. But brother? No."
- 6'0", 306 lbs.
Evander Hood, Missouri (2nd-3rd)
- Nicknamed 'Ziggy'
- Weighed in at 300 lbs.
- At Missouri, the defensive linemen participated in drills that stressed stripping at the football.
- "Even if I have to ride the bench 5-6 years before I get in, I'll do everything I can to make the team a whole lot better."
Linebacker: Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (Top 10)
- 6'1", 254 lbs.
- Widely considered to be the safest pick in the draft.
- Played the strongside linebacker role at Wake Forest. Curry believes he could play both that and the weakside position in the 4-3 scheme. Hasn't played the middle linebacker in a game at all, however.
- Thinks the weakside position is the most fun of the three, however.
Brian Cushing, USC (1st-2nd)
- From New Jersey, and has thought about the possibilities of playing for the Jets or Giants.
- Denies all rumors that he had taken steroids at any point in his life.
Clay Matthews III, USC (2nd-3rd)
- Walked on at USC, and built up from special teams player to being in the linebacker rotation.
- Entering USC 6'1", 210 lbs. At the combine? 6'3", 245 lbs.
- His father, Clay Matthews Jr., played for the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons as a linebacker. His uncle is Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews. Not to mention his grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr., played for the San Francisco 49ers back in the day as well.
- Played an "elephant" role at USC, which focused on getting after the quarterback.
- Is going to participate in all drills this week.
Darry Beckwith, LSU (4th-5th)
- Thinks it's incredibly important to know all three linebacker positions for his team.
- Prides himself on being hard-working and dependable.
- Played inside linebacker in college.
- 6'0", 242 lbs.
Gerald McGrath, Southern Mississippi (2nd-3rd)
- Recruited to school as an outside linebacker, but moved inside because he was able to call the plays and lead the defense. He loves the "x's and o's" of the game.
- Graduated in 3 years with a degree in sports administration.
- Was a wrestler in high school, had a 26-6 record.
- 6'1", 231 lbs.
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State (1st-2nd)
- 6'1", 244 lbs.
- Has met with the New Orleans Saints.
- Likes being the middle linebacker and making all the calls, and being involved in every play. Likes being a second coach on the field, and shoulders the blame when things go wrong.
- Even though his draft stock is lower than it was at this time last year, he doesn't regret coming back for a senior season. James felt he owed it to Ohio State, for being one of two schools that offered him a full ride to play football. Minnesota was the other school.
- His father is former WWF wrestler "Animal". His mother was a fitness model. Laurinaitis said, "I have a unique set of genes."
Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina (3rd-4th)
- 6'1", 252 lbs.
- Considers playing in the SEC an advantage coming in to the NFL because of all the different types of offenses used, as well as playing each game like it's a championship game.
Kaluka Maiava, USC (6th-7th)
- 5'11", 229 lbs.
- Played weakside linebacker at USC.
- One of four USC linebackers at the combine this week.
Marcus Freeman, Ohio State (3rd-4th)
- Considers himself an athletic linebacker that can run around and just make a lot of plays.
- Playing at Ohio State makes him feel he's as close as you can be to being NFL ready.
Rey Maualuga, USC (1st)
- 6'1", 249 lbs.
- Met with the Cardinals, Saints and Chiefs to this point. But he's meeting with 12 teams tonight alone.
- Feels he can fit in on the inside role in either a 4-3 or a 3-4.
- Apparently has a penchant for singing the USC fight song to the Ohio State prospects, but jokingly of course.
Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh (3rd-4th)
- A former wrestler in high school that was recruited by some schools. He chose to play football, partly because the opportunity to get a full scholarship for school was there.
- He knows the biggest knock on him is his speed. He hopes to prove them wrong by running a 4.6.
- Feels most comfortable either as a middle linebacker in the 4-3 or as an inside linebacker in the 3-4.
Tyronne McKenzie, South Florida (5th-6th)
- Prides himself on watching film and breaking down schemes so he can be "a coach on the film."
- He's a fan of the game, serving as a water boy of the Brandon Broncos as a child because his mother wouldn't let him play. The following year he started playing.
Zack Follett, California (3rd-4th)
- Played outside linebacker at Cal.
- When asked if he was comparable to Bill Romanowski, he replied "He's kind of a crazy nut. I wouldn't say I'm that crazy, but I guess I have a little Romo in me. I won't hit anybody in the jaw or anything like that."
- Spoke of a time that he hit fellow draft prospect Alex Mack (center) and former teammate so hard that he went flying, as did his mouthpiece. Mack popped right back up looking for the culprit, and Follett said, "I ran to the sideline and hid because I knew I was in trouble after that."
Quarterback: Drew Willy, Buffalo (5th-6th)
- Measured in at 6'3", 215 lbs.
- Most memorable game of his life was the Bowling Green game this past season, where the Bulls came back from 20 points down with just 10 minutes to go.
- He said he's out to prove his doubters about his overall arm strength wrong. He'll be throwing to the tight ends today in drills, and stressed that he has proved over his career that he's an accurate quarterback.
- He believes the best thing you can prove to an NFL team is that you're consistent at the quarterback position.
- Drew told us once he won the starting job when Turner Gill took over, Gill did everything possible to make Willy the best quarterback he could. He gave him pointers on ball security, and finding the holes in the secondary.
- Says he and Ball State QB Nate Davis were reminiscing about their respective careers in line for the medical screenings, but the MAC Championship never came up.
Mike Reilly, Central Washington (7th-Undrafted)
- 6'3", 214 lbs.
- Graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Pat White, West Virginia (3rd-4th)
- Teams are split on which position would be best for White. Some say he could make it as a quarterback, others say he needs to switch to wide receiver. White said, "I just want to help any way I can."
- Was drafted by a Major League Baseball team every year since he turned 18.
- "I just want to get on the field, somehow."
Stephen McGee, Texas A&M (4th-5th)
- Marred by injuries in his senior season, but participated in the East-West Shrine Game.
- Never thinks twice about coming back for his senior season, even though his draft stock has fallen.
- 6'3", 225 lbs.
- Says his shoulder injury that kept him out the majority of this season, now checks out and he's good to go.
- Former NFL head coach and current Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman told McGee, "You're going to be playing for a long time."
Running Back: Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern (5th-6th)
- He's all healthy except for his wrist. Throughout his college career he was injured quite a bit.
- 5'8", 211 lbs.
- He thinks little running backs are making a comeback. "We might be little, but we play big."
- Has not participated on special teams to this point.
Wide Receiver: Percy Harvin, Florida (1st)
- Amidst many injury concerns, Percy said he's all clear.
- Plans to show he's a crisp route runner at his pro day.
- Sees himself as a good slot receiver.
- 5'11, 194 lbs.
- Bench pressed 225 lbs. twenty times.
Quan Cosby, Texas (3rd-4th)
- 26 years old.
- Spent time in the Los Angeles Angels farm-system. Thinks those experiences helped him develop in to the player he became at Texas.
- Played quarterback in high school.
- 5'8", 194 lbs.
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