We already listed the first two, here are the rest and info on each of them.
Round 3
John Greco (OT)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 320
College: Toledo
Conference: Mid-American
Hometown: Youngstown, OH
High School: Boardman
Overview
A mainstay on the Rockets' offensive line, John Greco filled a huge void at left offensive tackle when he replaced Nick Kaczur (New England) as a sophomore.
The coaches felt that Greco was more than capable of handling that tough assignment after seeing him excel at right tackle during his first year with the team. He was so impressive in 2004 that he became the first offensive lineman to win the Norman Cohen Award, given to the team's top freshman.
At Boardman High School, Greco was named first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference honors as a junior. He helped the team share the conference championship in his junior year and the squad finished second in the conference in Greco's freshman season. He also lettered one season in basketball, the same team that produced former Toledo All-Mid American Conference center, Chris Tuminello.
Greco enrolled at Toledo in 2003, performing on the scout team as an offensive tackle. That preparation period helped him take over right tackle duties in 2004. He generated 59 knockdowns with seven touchdown-resulting blocks, helping the offense rank 11th in the nation with an average of 459.2 yards per game.
As a sophomore, Greco took over left tackle duties. The explosive Toledo offense ranked 10th nationally in scoring (35.8 points per game) and with their new left tackle leading the way, the rushing attack ranked 13th in the country, averaging 216.8 yards per game, a vast improvement over the previous season, when the Rockets averaged 160.8 yards per game on the ground. Greco finished that season with 86 knockdowns and 10 touchdown-resulting blocks, earning All-Mid American first-team accolades.
Greco picked up All-MAC first-team honors in 2006. The team co-captain registered 90 knockdowns and came up with ten touchdown-resulting blocks. He allowed three sacks on 386 pass plays and guided an offense that averaged 326.9 yards per game.
Greco was a third-team All-American and first-team All-MAC choice during his final season. He led a front wall that allowed only 16 quarterback sacks, as the offense generated 5,373 yards (447.8 yards per game), leading the MAC in total offense, rushing and scoring. He delivered 99 knockdowns, coming up with 14 touchdown-resulting blocks.
Career Notes
The three-time All-MAC selection has delivered 275 knockdowns and 34 touchdown-resulting blocks during his three seasons at the demanding left tackle position...Started 49 consecutive games, including 36 at left tackle.
High School
Attended Boardman (Youngstown, Oh.) High School, playing football for head coach Gary Smith...First-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region choice as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference honors as a junior...Helped the team share the conference championship in his junior year and the squad finished second in the conference as a freshman...Lettered one season in basketball.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick frame with good bone structure and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk...Quiet leader on the field, but will not hesitate to take a teammate to task for a poor performance...Uses his size and lower-body strength to get movement off the snap, especially when working in-line...Demonstrates good knee-bend and recovery quickness to protect the pocket and adequate change-of-direction agility...Hard worker in the weight room, taking well to hard coaching...Intelligent athlete who is quick to locate stunts and shows good patience on twists...Easily takes plays from the chalkboard to the field...More tenacious drive blocker than Nick Kaczur with great lower-body strength to get leverage and widen the rush lanes...Plays with true aggression, going full blast until the whistle...Has the knee-bend to stay low in his pads off the snap...Lacks explosion, but has a decent initial step, but relies more on patience in pass protection...Has the upper-body strength and body lean to engulf smaller defenders...Must do a better job with hand placement, but has a punishing hand punch that will generally knock the defender off-balance...His explosive jolt is one of his best assets...Plants his foot in the ground and moves his feet well to get a strong push off the snap, showing a good concept for taking proper angles for the running game...Has the strength to finish. will fall off some blocks when he gets his hands outside the frame...When he gets his hands on the defender early in the play, he will win most one-on-one battles...Won't fire out of his stance and get to the second level quickly, but is patient waiting for linebackers to target. Takes good angles, but his long foot speed is not evident, but he does strike with force when landing...In straight-up blocking, he is a good mauler...Has adequate anchor and slide in pass protection, showing the vision to read and react to twists and games. Will be better when he improves his hand placement...Good working down the line of scrimmage, but needs to be lighter on his feet sliding back in pass protection.
Negatives: Lacks the athleticism and long arms (29 5/8-inch length) to be effective reaching and mirroring edge rushers on the left side. Might be a better fit back at right tackle or inside at guard, where his limited reach would not be as exposed as it would be at left tackle...Does not have great muscle tone in his arms or legs but is more thick than he is sloppy...Shows good natural power (420-pound bench press)...Best on the short pull, as he looks a bit sluggish trying to go long distances...Has just adequate quickness off the snap, relying more on his patience to let the defender make the first move before countering...Must do a better job of maintaining hand placement. Will come off some blocks early and, when he gets his hands on the outside, he will lunge when punching...Does not have the timed speed to get on defenders with quickness when trap blocking. Can open his hips and move down the line, but is just not quick enough to reach the target...Must do a better job coming back to the inside in his pass set, as he does not slide back fluid enough or keep his hands inside his frame to counter throughout the play.
Compares To: NICK KACZUR-New England...Greco was a capable replacement for Kaczur at left tackle back in 2005, but like Kaczur, he is not left tackle material at the next level. A possible return to the right tackle spot or inside to guard will be a better fit for a player with his drive-blocking ability and strong hand punch. He struggles with his slide back in pass protection and perhaps due to his shorter-than-ideal arms, he will get his hands outside his frame and overextend. He is good on the short pull, but lacks the quickness to adjust to moving targets. He has a strong anchor taking on defenders over his head, but despite his weight-room strength, the only pop he generates on contact is when he uses his hands properly.
Injury Report
No injuries reported.
Round 4
Justin King (CB)
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 192
College: Penn State
Conference: Big 10
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
High School: Gateway
Overview
One of the top deep coverage cornerbacks in college football, King has also demonstrated outstanding skills performing on offense as a split end and on special teams as a gunner and returner. He has also shown the same accomplishments in the classroom, having graduated in December 2007 with a 3.0 grade point average, earning Dean's List and Academic All-Big Ten Conference accolades.
After playing on offense and defense as a true freshman, he went on to start every game at right cornerback the last two seasons. During that time, he deflected 21 passes and intercepted three others. After a stellar performance at the 2008 NFL Combine, King proved that athletically, he is more than ready to take on the daunting task of playing professional football at the young age of 20.
Playing for Penn State seemed to be a natural thing to do for King, whose step-father, Terry Smith, played as a wide receiver for head coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions for 1988-91. Smith would coach King during his playing days at Gateway High School. The youngster announced on the night of Nov. 15, 2004 that he would enroll at Penn State, arriving on campus in January 2005.
Shortly thereafter, King began contacting other premier players across the nation who were considering Penn State, asking them to join him to help PSU win Big Ten Conference and national championships. Within days of King's announcement, other top prep players began giving Paterno their commitments, including Derrick Williams, the nation's top-rated player. Before he finished "campaigning," King and fellow Gateway High tight end Jon Ditto were joined by 13 other prep prospects from Western Pennsylvania to wear a Nittany Lions uniform.
King was rated the nation's top cornerback and the top player in Pennsylvania at Gateway High School. He played in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl, was the 2004 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player-of-the-Year and a first-team All-State selection by numerous media outlets. He shared the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player-of-the-Year honor and was a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 squads. He was co-winner of the Mercury Award, presented annually to the top player in Western Pennsylvania, and was a Parade All-American.
King led the team to an 11-2 mark in his senior season and the Western Pennsylvania District 7 Class AAAA title game. He rushed for 1,902 yards and 33 touchdowns on 208 attempts, and also had nine receptions for 180 yards and three scores. Defensively, he collected 25 tackles and an interception. As a junior, King rushed for 1,763 yards and 29 touchdowns. For his career, he carried the ball 544 times for 4,519 yards, the third-highest total in District 7 Class AAAA history, and scored 59 touchdowns. King also was an accomplished sprinter on the track-and-field team for two years.
A Freshman All-American selection by The Sporting News as a multiple-position true freshman in 2005, King started five of 12 games as a slot receiver/split end, in addition to seeing reserve duty at right cornerback. He delivered 11 tackles (9 solos) with two pass deflections. He gained 227 yards on 18 carries (12.6 avg), 126 yards with a pair of touchdowns on 10 receptions and 40 yards on three kickoff returns (13.3 avg).
With the graduation of Anwar Phillips, King concentrated on right cornerback duties in 2006. He totaled 30 tackles (22 solos) with six pass deflections and an interception. He earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference and second-team All-Big Ten accolades.
King's 2007 season was actually two-phased, as the first-team All-Big Ten Conference pick started the year showing excellent coverage skills, allowing 18 catches for 227 yards (12.6 avg) with no touchdowns through the first six games. He did not allow any receptions vs. Illinois and Wisconsin. The second half of the campaign saw him struggle considerably, as he was charged with 490 yards and six touchdowns on 32 grabs (15.3 avg). He finished the year with 49 tackles (36 solos), 15 pass deflections, two interceptions and a fumble recovery while starting all 13 games.
Career Notes
King is the last Nittany Lion to play on both sides of the ball in a game (2005)...Started 31 of 38 games at Penn State, including 26 at right cornerback...Recorded 90 tackles (67 solos) with a fumble recovery, 23 pass deflections and three interceptions for 6 yards in returns...Rushed 18 times for 227 yards (12.6 avg), caught 10 passes for 126 yards (12.6 avg), including two touchdowns and returned three kickoffs for 40 yards (13.3 avg).
High School
Attended Gateway (Pittsburgh, Pa.) High School, playing football for his step-father, former Penn State wide receiver Terry Smith...Smith also serves as the school's athletic director...Rated the nation's top cornerback and the top player in Pennsylvania...Played in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl, was the 2004 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player-of-the-Year and a first-team All-State selection by numerous media outlets...Shared the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player-of-the-Year honor and was a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 squads...Co-winner of the Mercury Award, presented annually to the top player in Western Pennsylvania, and was a Parade All-American...Led the team to an 11-2 mark in his senior season and the Western Pennsylvania District 7 Class AAAA title game...Rushed for 1,902 yards and 33 touchdowns on 208 attempts, and also had nine receptions for 180 yards and three scores. Defensively, he collected 25 tackles and an interception...As a junior, he rushed for 1,763 yards and 29 touchdowns...For his career, he carried the ball 544 times for 4,519 yards, the third-highest total in District 7 Class AAAA history, and scored 59 touchdowns...Also was an accomplished sprinter on the track-and-field team for two years.
Analysis
Positives: Has a tight waist and hips, with good leaping ability and a smooth running stride...Shows proper timing moves to make plays on the ball in flight, doing a good job of extending and riding up the receiver to reach around and deflect the pass... Fluid in his backpedal, showing quickness, control and proper pad level on his breaks...Smooth turning in transition and flashes suddenness when closing...Maintains position on the receiver in man coverage, whether playing, trailing, covering or allowing cushion on the pass...Has better ball reaction skills to the thrown ball than vs. the run, showing the timing and a break on the play, with excellent hand/eye coordination to disrupt receivers in their routes...When he sees the play develop, he shows good urgency getting to the thrown ball (too reluctant to attack vs. the run, though)...Lacks the strength to be effective in press coverage, but has the speed to stay with the receiver throughout the deep patterns (needs to not allow so much cushion, though, as he is better playing off the hip of his man rather than challenging them with room)...There is almost no wasted motion in his backpedal, thanks mostly to his loose hips...Has the burst to close on plays in a hurry and gets his hands on a lot of throws due to good timing...Snatches the ball naturally as a receiver and could see playing time on offense (tends to trap the ball when going for the interception, though)...Shows good acceleration staying with receivers on deep routes...Has good hip swerve in his change of direction during man coverage and eats up a lot of ground tracking the ball in flight...Displays a better feel and awareness to instinctively react to throws in his zone than when asked to play near the line of scrimmage (gets lost in trash)...Has good suddenness in his plant-and-drive to transition quickly...Shows very good elevation when going for the high point on the thrown ball...Has the sudden closing burst to prevent long gains on throws underneath...His hip agility is evident in how quickly he can change direction without having to throttle down...Might get out-jumped by bigger receivers, but will do whatever he can to ride up on the opponent to deflect the pass.... Must develop wrap-up tackling skills, but is a decent hitter working in space...On offense, he hit the seam quickly as a receiver and has the lateral quickness to make the initial tackler miss.
Negatives: Has just adequate upper body muscle definition and while he could use more bulk on his frame, the additional weight could affect his timed speed...Has marginal strength and seems to shy away from contact when asked to provide run support...More of an ankle biter as a tackler, as he does not get in good position to wrap and secure...Takes too much chances with his cushion (too confident in his closing speed) and the bigger receivers had great success in gobbling up that cushion, getting behind him and making plays in the end zone on him in 2007...Must show better concentration on the field, as he tends to throttle down when not involved in the action and it is rare to see him search out hats working near the line of scrimmage...Must develop thicker skin, as he lets one bad play affect him throughout the game...Not a natural hands catcher and could have some vision issues, as he struggles to get in position and turn around to look the ball in on deep routes...Lacks pop on contact and is more of a drag-down type of tackling, hoping to hold on until help arrives (will let others make plays near the X's, as he refuses to get near offensive linemen)...Gets caught out of position often, especially when he eyeballs the quarterback for as long as he does...Susceptible to play-action, pump fakes and double moves (not the most instinctive guy on the field)...Makes plays on the ball rather than staying with his pass coverage assignment and while he has good timed speed, the explosive recovery burst is very inconsistent...Marginal playing in press coverage, as he will get his hands placed properly to mirror, but does not generate the punch to reroute...On the rare chances of playing in run support, blockers easily engulf him, as he does not have the upper body strength to shed or slip under blocks...Has good leaping ability, but will lose more than a fair share of jump ball battles vs. bigger receivers...Good at reaching around to deflect the pass, but a lot of those deflections could have been interceptions if he did not try to trap or body catch the ball...Questions arise about his courage, as he does not like contact, especially vs. the running game.
Compares To: ANWAR PHILLIPS-New Orleans...Like the player he replaced in the Penn State lineup, King lacks aggression in his game and does everything he can to shy away from contact or lend support to the running game. He has great timed speed, but gets overconfident with it and allows too much of a cushion. Just look at what big receivers like Ohio State's Brian Robiskie, Indiana's James Hardy and Michigan State's Devin Thomas did to him in 2007. Like Phillips and Alan Zemaitis, King has gotten great publicity at PSU, but he has to show better courage, instincts and production on the field. Honestly, with his speed and past experience, it might be wise just to convert him to receiver.
Injury Report
2008: Could not complete agility tests at the NFL Combine due to cramps in his calves.
Round 5
Roy Schuening (OG)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 308
College: Oregon State
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Pendleton, OR
High School: Pendleton
Overview
A model of consistency for the Beavers, Roy Schuening started 50 consecutive games at Oregon State, breaking the school record of 48 straight starts by linebacker Richard Seigler (2000-03).
While Schuening manned the right guard position most often, he showed his versatility and team-first attitude by shifting over to right tackle for the final four contests when injuries depleted the offensive line's depth.
Schuening also excelled in the classroom, as he was one of 20 players on the team that earned Academic All-Pac-10 Conference honors over the last two years. His drive-blocking skills made the national media take notice, as he was awarded with first-team All-American honors as a senior.
At Pendleton High School, Schuening was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive line. He earned All-Intermountain League honors as a junior and senior and was the league Lineman of the Year in 2002. He was also the most valuable lineman at the Oregon State and Oregon summer camps in 2002.
Schuening added second-team All-State recognition on defense and honorable mention on offense as a senior. He received two votes on the Long Beach Press Telegram Best in the West list and played in the Les Schwab Oregon Bowl in 2003. He was a member of the Super Prep Western All-Region team and ranked third on its list of top athletes for the state of Oregon and Washington.
For his defensive career, Schuening recorded 114 tackles and 17 sacks. He also lettered two years in wrestling and three in track. He broke the school record in the shot put with a toss of 56-6 as a senior.
Schuening enrolled at Oregon State in 2003, spending the season performing on the scout team. In 2004, he was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-American and All-Pac-10 Conference squads. He started all twelve games at right offensive guard, collecting 47 knockdowns and five touchdown-resulting blocks as the team averaged 379.5 yards per game in total offense.
The right guard was one of three OSU offensive linemen to receive postseason honors, as he was awarded All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention. He again manned the right guard spot, helping the Beavers improve their running game from 70.7 yards per game in 2004 to 122.5 yards in 2005. He totaled 69 knockdowns and was credited with seven touchdown-resulting blocks.
Schuening was again chosen All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention in 2006. He started all 14 games, leading a front wall that paved the way for the Beavers to average 242.4 yards per game passing. He would go on to register 75 knockdowns and also made eight touchdown-resulting blocks.
In 2007, Schuening started the first nine games at right guard and the final four games at right tackle. Despite playing with a bout of walking pneumonia earlier in the year, he dominated in the trenches. The offense generated a bulk of its 4,831 yards (371.6 yards per game) over the right side of the line. Schuening would proceed to lead Pac-10 blockers with 17 touchdown-resulting blocks, adding 114 knockdowns to pick up All-American and All-Pac-10 Conference first-team accolades.
Career Notes
Schuening holds the school record with 50 consecutive starts, topping the old mark of 48 by Richard Seigler (2000-03)...In his last two seasons, he registered 185 knockdowns and 18 touchdown-resulting blocks.
High School
Attended Pendleton (Ore.) High School, playing football for head coach Bo Yates...Three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines...Earned All-Intermountain League honors as a junior and senior and was the league's Lineman of the Year in 2002... Most Valuable Lineman at the Oregon State and Oregon summer camps in 2002...Added second-team All-State recognition on defense and honorable mention on offense as a senior...Received two votes on the Long Beach Press Telegram Best in the West list and played in the Les Schwab Oregon Bowl in 2003...Member of the Super Prep Western All-Region team and ranked third on its list of top athletes for the state of Oregon and Washington...For his defensive career, Schuening recorded 114 tackles and 17 sacks...Also lettered two years in wrestling and three in track...Broke the school record in the shot put with a toss of 56-6 as a senior.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick, well-proportioned frame with solid upper-body mass, well-defined arms and legs, wide waist and hips and a frame that can carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk...Plays with true aggression, giving total effort until the whistle...Has good field vision, showing alertness picking up the blitz and twists...Hard worker in the training room and has taken to his role of mentoring the younger players...Shows very good balance and body control when he maintains proper pad level working in-line...Has good communication skills working on double teams with his center and tackle...Has good quickness off the snap to seal the shaded defender (better when he sinks his pads)...Can gain advantage with his first step and aggressively hits on initial contact, driving hard with his legs to get movement (needs to shoot his hands better)...Can jolt the defender with his hand punch, but lacks consistency (uses his body and leg drive more often to get movement than to flash consistent hand power)...Good position blocker who keeps his feet working in-line, but is a little stiff in his hips when changing direction...More of a wall-off type of drive blocker, but showed better ability to follow through with his blocks as a senior, as he learned to use his reach to keep defenders away from his body...Has good balance and keeps his base when working at the line of scrimmage (can be pushed back by a quick bull rush)...When he avoids piles, it is due to his ability to stay on his feet...Lands on second-level defenders with good force and gets out in front on short pulls (not as effective folding linebackers when having to run long distances)...Has the knee bend and lower-body strength to anchor in pass protection...Did a better job of keeping his feet active to slide and mirror at guard than he did at tackle...Quick to place and recoil his hands when protecting the pocket (needs to generate a stronger punch)...Has just adequate blocking ability in space, but is an aggressive in-line blocker...Extends his hands well to separate and has made slight improvement with his punch, but must work on improving his pop and shiver...Has good recovery agility vs. stunts, doing a nice job when playing flat-footed, as he is efficient making adjustments in his short-area slide.
Negatives: Has a good grasp of the playbook, but does go through mental lapses on the field...Does not always react quickly to the bull rush and is slow to get good hand placement vs. double moves...Will short arm at times and must learn to use his hand punch better to shock and jolt...Needs to open his hips better in attempts to generate movement and when he gets too high in his stance, he gets too narrow with his base to drive defenders off the line...Must do a better job of shifting his weight and lowering his pads, as he showed late in his senior year when playing tackle that he lacks the foot movement and kick-slide to mirror vs. edge rushers in pass protection...Better blocking at the line of scrimmage, as he does not always take good angles and struggles when he takes on speed moves in space...Lacks the change-of-direction agility you look for from a lineman working into the second level...When he gets too tall in pass protection, he could be walked back into the pocket.
Compares To: JAHRI EVANS-New Orleans...Schuening has enough foot speed off the snap to reach and seal vs. shaded defenders. He is aggressive on initial contact and drives hard with his legs to gain movement, but needs to improve his hand punch, as it is rare to see him shock and jolt. He has the strength to rock the defender back, but must keep his hands inside his framework better and use them with better consistency. He has a good base and knee-bend in pass protection, but is better served working in-line, as his lack of lateral agility was exposed late in his senior year when taking on the speedy edge rushers at offensive tackle. He has not been used much on pulls, but has the quickness to be efficient there in the short area. He does struggle some working in space and must do a better job taking angles when trying to locate second level defenders.
Injury Report
2006: Suffered a mild concussion in a mid-August scrimmage.
2007: Played in the Stanford game (10/27) with walking pneumonia.
Round 7
Chris Chamberlain (DB)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 226
College: Tulsa
Conference: Conference USA
Hometown: Bethany, OK
High School: Bethany
Overview
Called by the Tulsa coaching staff the team's finest athlete, the Golden Hurricane weak-side linebacker could be ready for another position change at the professional level. Having been recruited as a quarterback and defensive back, he shifted to the linebacker unit upon his arrival on campus.
Over the years, Chamberlain developed a great understanding of the linebacker position and is a solid force against the run and pass. With his great foot quickness and ability to see the field and make plays in space, many scouts feel strong safety will be his final destination. He closed out his career as the school's fifth-leading tackler, registering 352 tackles in 50 games.
Chamberlain was a four-year letter-winner and three-year starter at Bethany High School, lining up at quarterback and free safety his final three years. He led his team to a 13-2 record and the Class 2A state title as a senior, earning District 2A-1 Player of the Year honors. He was selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) All-State West team and also earned first-team All-State honors from the Daily Oklahoman as a defensive back. He was named the Little All-City Offensive Player of the Year by the Daily Oklahoman and was chosen to the Oil Bowl team.
In 2003, Chamberlain rushed for 2,096 yards and 25 touchdowns, as he also threw for 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns from his quarterback position. He also recorded 147 tackles and had 10 interceptions. As a junior, he had 108 tackles with eight interceptions while also rushing for 518 yards and 11 scores and passing for 997 yards and eight more touchdowns. During his career, he posted 399 tackles and picked off 20 passes. He rushed for 2,777 yards and 37 touchdowns, while completing 148-of-324 passes for 2,433 yards and 29 scores.
Chamberlain played in 11 games as a true freshman, starting five of Tulsa's final six games at weak-side linebacker. He produced 48 tackles (24 solos) with three sacks, 5.5 stops for losses and four pressures. He also recovered two fumbles and caused another.
He started all 13 games as a sophomore, finishing third on the team with 88 tackles (53 solos), adding 4.5 sacks and 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused two fumbles, broke up two passes and intercepted another.
In 2006, Chamberlain shifted to strong-side linebacker, earning All-Conference USA third-team accolades, as he started the team's final eight contests. He posted 51 tackles (31 solos), two sacks and 3.5 stops for losses. He returned one of two interceptions for a touchdown, deflected another pass and was credited with a pair of pressures.
As a senior, Chamberlain garnered All-American honorable mention and All-Conference USA first-team honors. He set the school single-season record and ranked fifth in the nation with 165 tackles (101 solos), including three sacks and a team-high 12.5 stops for losses. He caused three fumbles, knocked down a pass and intercepted three others. He also saw action on offense, gaining 22 yards with a touchdown on nine carries and caught three passes for 74 yards (24.7 avg).
In 50 games at Tulsa, Chamberlain started 40 contests. He recorded 352 tackles (209 solos) with 12.5 sacks for minus-96 yards, 32.5 stops for losses of 155 yards and eight quarterback pressures. He caused six fumbles and recovered two others. He gained 48 yards with a touchdown on six interception returns and broke up four passes.
Career Notes
Chamberlain's 352 tackles rank fifth in school history behind Nelson Coleman (413, 2004-07), Michael White (389, 1987, 89-91), Robert Tennon (388, 1976, 78-80) and Lovie Smith (367, 1976-79)...His 202 solo tackles rank third in Golden Hurricane annals, topped by White (227) and Smith (211)...Set the school single-season record with 165 tackles in 2007, topping the previous mark of 148 by Levi Gillen in 1997...His 165 tackles rank fifth on the Conference USA single-season record chart behind Hanik Milligan of Houston (174 in 2001), Rod Davis of Southern Mississippi (168 in 2002), Brad Jackson of Cincinnati (168 in 1997) and Jeff Kerr of East Carolina (167 in 1997)...His 102 solo tackles in 2007 topped the previous Tulsa single-season record of 95 by Tennon in 1979 and rank third in league annals behind Mulligan (102 in 2001) and Davis (122 in 2002).
High School
Attended Bethany (Okla.) High School, playing football for head coach Ron Renshaw...Four-year letter-winner and three-year starter, lining up at quarterback and free safety his final three years...Led his team to a 13-2 record and the Class 2A state title as a senior, earning District 2A-1 Player of the Year honors...Selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) All-State West team and also earned first-team All-State honors from the Daily Oklahoman as a defensive back...Named the Little All-City Offensive Player of the Year by the Daily Oklahoman and was chosen to the Oil Bowl team...In 2003, he ran for 2,096 yards and 25 touchdowns, as he also threw for 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns from his quarterback position...Also recorded 147 tackles and had 10 interceptions...As a junior, he had 108 tackles with eight interceptions while also rushing for 518 yards and 11 scores and passing for 997 yards and eight more touchdowns...During his career, he posted 399 tackles and picked off 20 passes...Rushed for 2,777 yards and 37 touchdowns, while completing 148-of-324 passes for 2,433 yards and 29 scores.
Analysis
Positives: Well-defined athlete with muscular arms and thighs, but lacks ideal bulk to play linebacker (except in a Cover-2 schemes) and with his range, he could be more effective utilized as a strong safety...Shows impressive flexibility, agility, balance, body control and change-of-direction skills...Reads and reacts to the plays instinctively, having the valid quickness to maintain position on the receivers in short-to-intermediate routes...Smooth turning out of his backpedal and has a sharp initial burst to get a good jump on the ball, demonstrating little wasted motion planting and exploding in transition...Physical tackler who squares up, drives with his legs and wraps securely...Reacts to plays in front of him with no hesitation, quickly defending vs. the curls and out patterns...Times the pass well, displaying the ability to compete for the ball at its high point...Adequate in run support, keeping his hands active to fight off the low blocks, but can be engulfed when he lets the offensive linemen get a piece of his jersey...Keeps his shoulders square taking on ballcarriers along the perimeter, playing at a low pad level to attack the runner's outside leg...Comes under control to make the wrap or take-down tackle...Has enough balance and quickness to make read mistakes and overcome them with his speed when playing off the edge...Knows how to twist and get small to slip past blocks when trying to pressure the pocket...On offense, he shows abilities to catch, run and throw the football...Quick and smooth in his route progression and has the body control to get to off-target tosses...Former prep quarterback who plants firmly before unleashing the ball, which he carries chest high to get a quicker release...On special teams, he shows good vision to pick up the gunners to protect the returners...With his vision and ability to run with the ball and block, he could make an efficient fullback in the pros if experiments on defense fail.
Negatives: If he is to remain at linebacker, he will need to add more bulk and improve his overall strength (struggles to split double teams and loses battles when a lineman gets into his body)...Needs technique refinement in man coverage, as he will over-pursue and miss tackles at times...Has decent natural speed in coverage, but sometimes takes bad angles in pursuit...Not really a punishing bull rusher and he tends to get bounced around by bigger blockers when asked to step up and fill the rush lanes...While he has a smooth turning motion, he tends to side-pedal at times, preventing him from getting an explosive break on the ball near the point of attack...Has to retreat to get off a blocker when trying to attack the inside gaps...Sometimes gets too aggressive rising for the hit and will lose a good fit in attempts to make contact...When he gets reckless in pursuit, he will slide off and miss some tackles.
Compares To: DARNELL BING-New York Jets...Except for a Cover-2 scheme, Chamberlain isn't an ideal fit at outside linebacker, but with his range and man coverage ability, he could be more effective as a strong safety. He is a self-made player who entered the program as a 200-pound quarterback and got to see action on offense as a senior. He has just a little more room on his frame to bulk up, but the added weight could impact his quickness. Use him at safety first and if he fails to produce, playing weak-side linebacker in a Cover-2 would be his next alternative. He could also be an efficient blocker/third-down receiver as a fullback.
Injury Report
2006: Missed the season opener vs. Louisiana-Monroe (8/30) and sat out fall camp while recovering from knee surgery.
2007: Left the Oklahoma game (9/21) with a leg contusion and cramps...Suffered a knee sprain in the Army clash (11/17) but did not miss any game action.
Round 7
David Vobora (OLB)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 236
College: Idaho
Conference: WAC
Hometown: Eugene, OR
High School: Churchill
Overview
David Vobora was a tackling machine at Idaho and the versatile linebacker is the 10th player in school history to lead the team in tackles at least twice during a career. He has been among the nation's elite the last two years, as his 134 tackles as a junior ranked seventh in the NCAA and his 148 in 2007 ranked third. Both of those totals led the Western Athletic Conference and his 148 tackles are the fourth-highest in a season by a WAC player.
Having arrived on campus as a 195-pound linebacker, few figured that Vobora would make such an impact during his time with the Vandals. He started most of his career (29 games) at weak-side linebacker, but with his vision and ball awareness, the two-time team captain and Most Valuable Player has also filled in capably at middle linebacker (started four games).
At Winston Churchill High School, Vobora served as team captain as a junior and senior, competing as a linebacker, safety, tight end, quarterback and running back during his three-year career. He was an honorable mention All-Midwestern League quarterback as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference accolades as linebacker his junior year. He was also an honorable mention All-Conference linebacker as a sophomore. He added two letters in basketball, earning honorable mention All-Conference as a senior. He garnered National Honor Society recognition and was a Leadership representative.
As a senior, Vobora played inside linebacker and strong safety while performing double duty on offense as the quarterback for the first half of the year and running back for the latter half. In the past, the Lancers used Vobora at tight end, wide receiver and free safety.
Vobora, whose father, Andy, was a linebacker at the University of Oregon, decided to enroll at Idaho rather than attend his father's alma mater. As a true freshman, Vobora appeared in 12 games, starting three contests at weak-side outside linebacker, sharing the position with Robert Davis. He finished his first season totaling 17 tackles (12 solo). In 2005, Vobora started six contests at weak-side linebacker. He was limited late in the season by a shoulder problem, but still ranked sixth on the squad with 42 tackles (27 solo), including five stops for losses, as he caused three fumbles and recovered two others.
As a junior, Vobora earned All-Western Athletic Conference first-team accolades. The team captain and MVP finished seventh nationally with 11.17 tackles per game and also ranked tied for 22nd in the nation with 16.5 stops for losses, the most by a Vandal since Idaho joined the WAC. He registered 134 tackles (84 solo), the eighth-best season total in school history. He added two sacks with a pair of pressures and caused two fumbles. He also picked off a pass and broke up two others.
In 2007, Vobora garnered All-American honorable mention, All-WAC first-team honors and team MVP recognition. He started ten games at weak-side linebacker and two others in the middle. He was limited in fall camp with a shoulder contusion, getting off to a slow start with just four hits vs. Southern California in the season opener before going on a tear that saw him register at least 10 tackles in 10 of his next 11 games.
Vobora's 148 tackles (86 solo) in 2007 rank second on the school single-season list. He had one sack with two pressures, as he caused and recovered a fumble. He also broke up a pass and intercepted another.
In 45 games at Idaho, Vobora started 33 contests. He ranks sixth in school history with 341 tackles (209 solo), including three sacks for minus-22 yards, 28 stops for losses of 94 yards and four quarterback pressures. He recovered three fumbles and caused six others. He also intercepted two passes and had five pass deflections. He registered at least 10 tackles in 17-of 24 games over his last two seasons with the Vandals.
Career Notes
Vobora's 341 tackles rank sixth in school history behind Sam Merriman (1979-82; 519), Jason Shelt (1992-96; 461), Tom Hennessey (1983-86; 390), Duke Garrett (1990-94; 360) and Chris Nofoaiga (1997-2000; 355)...His 324 career tackles (Idaho played in the Sun Belt Conference in 2004) rank third in Western Athletic Conference annals behind Robert Rodriguez of Texas-El Paso (2001-04; 443) and Andy Avalos of Boise State (2001-04; 354)...His 134 tackles in 2006 rank eighth on the school record list and his 148 tackles in 2007 tied Jason Shelt (1993) for second behind Tom Hennessey's 180 hits in 1986...His 134 tackles in 2006 also rank eighth on the WAC season-record chart, and his 148 in 2007 placed him fourth, surpassed by Jimmy Cottrell of New Mexico State (179 in 2005), Jeff Ulbrich of Hawaii (169 in 1999) and Matt Griebel of New Mexico State (149 in 2005)...His six forced fumbles tied Pisa Tinoisamoa of Hawaii (2000-02) and Robert Rodriguez of Texas-El Paso (2001-04) for eighth on the conference career-record list.
High School
Attended Winston Churchill (Eugene, Ore.) High School, playing football for head coach Jack Wigmore...Served as team captain as a junior and senior, competing as a linebacker, safety, tight end, quarterback and running back during his three-year career...Honorable mention All-Midwestern League quarterback as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference accolades as linebacker his junior year...Honorable mention All-Conference linebacker as a sophomore...Added two letters in basketball, earning honorable mention All-Conference as a senior...Garnered National Honor Society recognition and was a Leadership representative.
Analysis
Positives: Has a lean, yet athletic-looking frame with large hands, defined chest and shoulders and developing thighs and calves...Makes up for a lack of ideal size and bulk with very good instincts, as he is always around the ball and almost never bites on play action or misdirection...Generally durable athlete, but will play with pain...Undersized linebacker, but has adequate timed speed and outstanding productivity...Has good all-around athletic ability, agility, balance and body control...Has good acceleration to the ball and uses his experience as a prep quarterback to quickly read hats and react to the quarterback's movement...Overall strength is an issue, but he can make up for it with rapid acceleration to the ball, staying low in his pads with arms extended to drag down and latch on as a tackler...Displays good mental alertness, as he is the type who reads and reacts quickly with good instincts...Makes all the defensive calls and can adjust on the field, whether at weak side or middle linebacker...Exhibits good character on the field and in the locker room...Coachable, well-liked guy and highly respected by all, as he is a good team leader who leads by example and is also outspoken...Demonstrates quick instincts and good discipline as a player, as he is quick to read and react to the run or pass...Is good flowing down the line, as he has the functional lateral movement, taking good angles to close on the ball with urgency...Runs well through traffic, accelerates with a burst and plays with effort taking on outside running plays...Generally effective in space or in the hole, as he is good at colliding with the opponent and rarely misses a tackle...Undersized and won't make much impact vs. inside runs at the next level, but is a good fit for the weak-side, as he is quick to scrape through traffic, avoiding or slipping blocks to make a tackle or squeeze the hole...Plays strong at the point of attack on outside runs to him and is very effective on plays away from him with good speed and effort to give chase down the sidelines (will be a step behind on long pursuit to the opposite hash, as he has too much hip stiffness to fly to the ball suddenly)...His lack of playing strength works against him, but he uses his hands well to defeat cut blocks and seldom stays blocked for long... Displays good use of his hands to protect himself and shed blockers, but doesn't overpower lineman...Not a pass rusher, but does flash the ability to be disruptive with speed and football instincts...In the zone he is alert to threats, as he gets deep quickly, reads the quarterback well, anticipates and reacts quickly and drives on the ball or receiver...In man coverage, he is able to stay snug to a running back, cover wheel routes downfield and run with tight ends in trail coverage...Effective breaking down in space and is alert to handling his switch-off assignment in the short zone...Has the straight-line acceleration and desire to be an effective gunner on special teams.
Negatives: Has a lean, developing frame, but has struggled in the past to add bulk and maintain weight without a structured training program...Has adequate lateral agility, but lacks overwhelming athleticism in any one category...Built more like a strong safety, but does not have the feet, redirection agility or speed to handle receivers in the deep third of the field to play safety at the next level...Because of his key-and-diagnose skills, he is better served playing weak-side linebacker at the pro level, as he gets washed out of action too much trying to split double teams playing in the middle and his size/bulk issues, along with adequate strength makes him a poor fit to try and overpower offensive tackles on the strong-side (gets pushed around by linemen and tight ends)...Has good weight-room strength, but gets engulfed by bigger blockers too much and does not see those weight-room figures translate to the football field...Can flow to the ball in the short area, but hip stiffness makes him get a step behind receivers coming out of his breaks...Does not have the exceptional range to chase down plays at the opposite end of the field, but has enough burst to push the outside running game back inside...Needs to play at a lower pad level, as backs push him back when running right at him, due to his high stance...Does not use his hands with force to shock a lead blocker, nor use them with any great regularity in attempts to reroute receivers in press coverage... Must do a better job of flipping his hips to get a cleaner break in transition...Does not show the timing or natural hands to deflect or pick off many passes in coverage... Even though he has a lot of tackles, he is not a classic wrap-up tackler and does not show much explosion behind his hits (more of a drag-down type with adequate collision strength)...Rarely faced top-level competition.
Compares To: VINNY CIURCIU-Minnesota...Unless Vobora can suddenly increase his bulk and size, he appears likely to be limited to Cover-2 schemes. He is a versatile, instinctive linebacker with good discipline on the field, but is best when making plays in front of him. He gets engulfed by bigger blockers too much and does not have pass rush skills to be an efficient edge rusher. He is more of a drag-down type of tackler than one who will wrap, but his lack of natural hands and his hip stiffness make him a bit of a liability in man coverage. He's struggled to maintain weight in the past and marginal pass coverage skills prevent him from moving to safety. Late in the draft, he is worth a look because of his outside run ability and could develop into a nice addition for the sub package and special-team coverage units.
Injury Report
2005: Did not play vs. Boise State (11/19) and San Jose State (11/26) games with a shoulder contusion.
2006: Left the Washington State game (9/9) with leg cramps.
2007: Held out of contact the last two weeks of August camp with a shoulder contusion that limited him in the season opener vs. Southern California (9/01).
Round 3
John Greco (OT)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 320
College: Toledo
Conference: Mid-American
Hometown: Youngstown, OH
High School: Boardman
Overview
A mainstay on the Rockets' offensive line, John Greco filled a huge void at left offensive tackle when he replaced Nick Kaczur (New England) as a sophomore.
The coaches felt that Greco was more than capable of handling that tough assignment after seeing him excel at right tackle during his first year with the team. He was so impressive in 2004 that he became the first offensive lineman to win the Norman Cohen Award, given to the team's top freshman.
At Boardman High School, Greco was named first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference honors as a junior. He helped the team share the conference championship in his junior year and the squad finished second in the conference in Greco's freshman season. He also lettered one season in basketball, the same team that produced former Toledo All-Mid American Conference center, Chris Tuminello.
Greco enrolled at Toledo in 2003, performing on the scout team as an offensive tackle. That preparation period helped him take over right tackle duties in 2004. He generated 59 knockdowns with seven touchdown-resulting blocks, helping the offense rank 11th in the nation with an average of 459.2 yards per game.
As a sophomore, Greco took over left tackle duties. The explosive Toledo offense ranked 10th nationally in scoring (35.8 points per game) and with their new left tackle leading the way, the rushing attack ranked 13th in the country, averaging 216.8 yards per game, a vast improvement over the previous season, when the Rockets averaged 160.8 yards per game on the ground. Greco finished that season with 86 knockdowns and 10 touchdown-resulting blocks, earning All-Mid American first-team accolades.
Greco picked up All-MAC first-team honors in 2006. The team co-captain registered 90 knockdowns and came up with ten touchdown-resulting blocks. He allowed three sacks on 386 pass plays and guided an offense that averaged 326.9 yards per game.
Greco was a third-team All-American and first-team All-MAC choice during his final season. He led a front wall that allowed only 16 quarterback sacks, as the offense generated 5,373 yards (447.8 yards per game), leading the MAC in total offense, rushing and scoring. He delivered 99 knockdowns, coming up with 14 touchdown-resulting blocks.
Career Notes
The three-time All-MAC selection has delivered 275 knockdowns and 34 touchdown-resulting blocks during his three seasons at the demanding left tackle position...Started 49 consecutive games, including 36 at left tackle.
High School
Attended Boardman (Youngstown, Oh.) High School, playing football for head coach Gary Smith...First-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region choice as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference honors as a junior...Helped the team share the conference championship in his junior year and the squad finished second in the conference as a freshman...Lettered one season in basketball.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick frame with good bone structure and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk...Quiet leader on the field, but will not hesitate to take a teammate to task for a poor performance...Uses his size and lower-body strength to get movement off the snap, especially when working in-line...Demonstrates good knee-bend and recovery quickness to protect the pocket and adequate change-of-direction agility...Hard worker in the weight room, taking well to hard coaching...Intelligent athlete who is quick to locate stunts and shows good patience on twists...Easily takes plays from the chalkboard to the field...More tenacious drive blocker than Nick Kaczur with great lower-body strength to get leverage and widen the rush lanes...Plays with true aggression, going full blast until the whistle...Has the knee-bend to stay low in his pads off the snap...Lacks explosion, but has a decent initial step, but relies more on patience in pass protection...Has the upper-body strength and body lean to engulf smaller defenders...Must do a better job with hand placement, but has a punishing hand punch that will generally knock the defender off-balance...His explosive jolt is one of his best assets...Plants his foot in the ground and moves his feet well to get a strong push off the snap, showing a good concept for taking proper angles for the running game...Has the strength to finish. will fall off some blocks when he gets his hands outside the frame...When he gets his hands on the defender early in the play, he will win most one-on-one battles...Won't fire out of his stance and get to the second level quickly, but is patient waiting for linebackers to target. Takes good angles, but his long foot speed is not evident, but he does strike with force when landing...In straight-up blocking, he is a good mauler...Has adequate anchor and slide in pass protection, showing the vision to read and react to twists and games. Will be better when he improves his hand placement...Good working down the line of scrimmage, but needs to be lighter on his feet sliding back in pass protection.
Negatives: Lacks the athleticism and long arms (29 5/8-inch length) to be effective reaching and mirroring edge rushers on the left side. Might be a better fit back at right tackle or inside at guard, where his limited reach would not be as exposed as it would be at left tackle...Does not have great muscle tone in his arms or legs but is more thick than he is sloppy...Shows good natural power (420-pound bench press)...Best on the short pull, as he looks a bit sluggish trying to go long distances...Has just adequate quickness off the snap, relying more on his patience to let the defender make the first move before countering...Must do a better job of maintaining hand placement. Will come off some blocks early and, when he gets his hands on the outside, he will lunge when punching...Does not have the timed speed to get on defenders with quickness when trap blocking. Can open his hips and move down the line, but is just not quick enough to reach the target...Must do a better job coming back to the inside in his pass set, as he does not slide back fluid enough or keep his hands inside his frame to counter throughout the play.
Compares To: NICK KACZUR-New England...Greco was a capable replacement for Kaczur at left tackle back in 2005, but like Kaczur, he is not left tackle material at the next level. A possible return to the right tackle spot or inside to guard will be a better fit for a player with his drive-blocking ability and strong hand punch. He struggles with his slide back in pass protection and perhaps due to his shorter-than-ideal arms, he will get his hands outside his frame and overextend. He is good on the short pull, but lacks the quickness to adjust to moving targets. He has a strong anchor taking on defenders over his head, but despite his weight-room strength, the only pop he generates on contact is when he uses his hands properly.
Injury Report
No injuries reported.
Round 4
Justin King (CB)
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 192
College: Penn State
Conference: Big 10
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
High School: Gateway
Overview
One of the top deep coverage cornerbacks in college football, King has also demonstrated outstanding skills performing on offense as a split end and on special teams as a gunner and returner. He has also shown the same accomplishments in the classroom, having graduated in December 2007 with a 3.0 grade point average, earning Dean's List and Academic All-Big Ten Conference accolades.
After playing on offense and defense as a true freshman, he went on to start every game at right cornerback the last two seasons. During that time, he deflected 21 passes and intercepted three others. After a stellar performance at the 2008 NFL Combine, King proved that athletically, he is more than ready to take on the daunting task of playing professional football at the young age of 20.
Playing for Penn State seemed to be a natural thing to do for King, whose step-father, Terry Smith, played as a wide receiver for head coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions for 1988-91. Smith would coach King during his playing days at Gateway High School. The youngster announced on the night of Nov. 15, 2004 that he would enroll at Penn State, arriving on campus in January 2005.
Shortly thereafter, King began contacting other premier players across the nation who were considering Penn State, asking them to join him to help PSU win Big Ten Conference and national championships. Within days of King's announcement, other top prep players began giving Paterno their commitments, including Derrick Williams, the nation's top-rated player. Before he finished "campaigning," King and fellow Gateway High tight end Jon Ditto were joined by 13 other prep prospects from Western Pennsylvania to wear a Nittany Lions uniform.
King was rated the nation's top cornerback and the top player in Pennsylvania at Gateway High School. He played in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl, was the 2004 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player-of-the-Year and a first-team All-State selection by numerous media outlets. He shared the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player-of-the-Year honor and was a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 squads. He was co-winner of the Mercury Award, presented annually to the top player in Western Pennsylvania, and was a Parade All-American.
King led the team to an 11-2 mark in his senior season and the Western Pennsylvania District 7 Class AAAA title game. He rushed for 1,902 yards and 33 touchdowns on 208 attempts, and also had nine receptions for 180 yards and three scores. Defensively, he collected 25 tackles and an interception. As a junior, King rushed for 1,763 yards and 29 touchdowns. For his career, he carried the ball 544 times for 4,519 yards, the third-highest total in District 7 Class AAAA history, and scored 59 touchdowns. King also was an accomplished sprinter on the track-and-field team for two years.
A Freshman All-American selection by The Sporting News as a multiple-position true freshman in 2005, King started five of 12 games as a slot receiver/split end, in addition to seeing reserve duty at right cornerback. He delivered 11 tackles (9 solos) with two pass deflections. He gained 227 yards on 18 carries (12.6 avg), 126 yards with a pair of touchdowns on 10 receptions and 40 yards on three kickoff returns (13.3 avg).
With the graduation of Anwar Phillips, King concentrated on right cornerback duties in 2006. He totaled 30 tackles (22 solos) with six pass deflections and an interception. He earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference and second-team All-Big Ten accolades.
King's 2007 season was actually two-phased, as the first-team All-Big Ten Conference pick started the year showing excellent coverage skills, allowing 18 catches for 227 yards (12.6 avg) with no touchdowns through the first six games. He did not allow any receptions vs. Illinois and Wisconsin. The second half of the campaign saw him struggle considerably, as he was charged with 490 yards and six touchdowns on 32 grabs (15.3 avg). He finished the year with 49 tackles (36 solos), 15 pass deflections, two interceptions and a fumble recovery while starting all 13 games.
Career Notes
King is the last Nittany Lion to play on both sides of the ball in a game (2005)...Started 31 of 38 games at Penn State, including 26 at right cornerback...Recorded 90 tackles (67 solos) with a fumble recovery, 23 pass deflections and three interceptions for 6 yards in returns...Rushed 18 times for 227 yards (12.6 avg), caught 10 passes for 126 yards (12.6 avg), including two touchdowns and returned three kickoffs for 40 yards (13.3 avg).
High School
Attended Gateway (Pittsburgh, Pa.) High School, playing football for his step-father, former Penn State wide receiver Terry Smith...Smith also serves as the school's athletic director...Rated the nation's top cornerback and the top player in Pennsylvania...Played in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl, was the 2004 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player-of-the-Year and a first-team All-State selection by numerous media outlets...Shared the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player-of-the-Year honor and was a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 squads...Co-winner of the Mercury Award, presented annually to the top player in Western Pennsylvania, and was a Parade All-American...Led the team to an 11-2 mark in his senior season and the Western Pennsylvania District 7 Class AAAA title game...Rushed for 1,902 yards and 33 touchdowns on 208 attempts, and also had nine receptions for 180 yards and three scores. Defensively, he collected 25 tackles and an interception...As a junior, he rushed for 1,763 yards and 29 touchdowns...For his career, he carried the ball 544 times for 4,519 yards, the third-highest total in District 7 Class AAAA history, and scored 59 touchdowns...Also was an accomplished sprinter on the track-and-field team for two years.
Analysis
Positives: Has a tight waist and hips, with good leaping ability and a smooth running stride...Shows proper timing moves to make plays on the ball in flight, doing a good job of extending and riding up the receiver to reach around and deflect the pass... Fluid in his backpedal, showing quickness, control and proper pad level on his breaks...Smooth turning in transition and flashes suddenness when closing...Maintains position on the receiver in man coverage, whether playing, trailing, covering or allowing cushion on the pass...Has better ball reaction skills to the thrown ball than vs. the run, showing the timing and a break on the play, with excellent hand/eye coordination to disrupt receivers in their routes...When he sees the play develop, he shows good urgency getting to the thrown ball (too reluctant to attack vs. the run, though)...Lacks the strength to be effective in press coverage, but has the speed to stay with the receiver throughout the deep patterns (needs to not allow so much cushion, though, as he is better playing off the hip of his man rather than challenging them with room)...There is almost no wasted motion in his backpedal, thanks mostly to his loose hips...Has the burst to close on plays in a hurry and gets his hands on a lot of throws due to good timing...Snatches the ball naturally as a receiver and could see playing time on offense (tends to trap the ball when going for the interception, though)...Shows good acceleration staying with receivers on deep routes...Has good hip swerve in his change of direction during man coverage and eats up a lot of ground tracking the ball in flight...Displays a better feel and awareness to instinctively react to throws in his zone than when asked to play near the line of scrimmage (gets lost in trash)...Has good suddenness in his plant-and-drive to transition quickly...Shows very good elevation when going for the high point on the thrown ball...Has the sudden closing burst to prevent long gains on throws underneath...His hip agility is evident in how quickly he can change direction without having to throttle down...Might get out-jumped by bigger receivers, but will do whatever he can to ride up on the opponent to deflect the pass.... Must develop wrap-up tackling skills, but is a decent hitter working in space...On offense, he hit the seam quickly as a receiver and has the lateral quickness to make the initial tackler miss.
Negatives: Has just adequate upper body muscle definition and while he could use more bulk on his frame, the additional weight could affect his timed speed...Has marginal strength and seems to shy away from contact when asked to provide run support...More of an ankle biter as a tackler, as he does not get in good position to wrap and secure...Takes too much chances with his cushion (too confident in his closing speed) and the bigger receivers had great success in gobbling up that cushion, getting behind him and making plays in the end zone on him in 2007...Must show better concentration on the field, as he tends to throttle down when not involved in the action and it is rare to see him search out hats working near the line of scrimmage...Must develop thicker skin, as he lets one bad play affect him throughout the game...Not a natural hands catcher and could have some vision issues, as he struggles to get in position and turn around to look the ball in on deep routes...Lacks pop on contact and is more of a drag-down type of tackling, hoping to hold on until help arrives (will let others make plays near the X's, as he refuses to get near offensive linemen)...Gets caught out of position often, especially when he eyeballs the quarterback for as long as he does...Susceptible to play-action, pump fakes and double moves (not the most instinctive guy on the field)...Makes plays on the ball rather than staying with his pass coverage assignment and while he has good timed speed, the explosive recovery burst is very inconsistent...Marginal playing in press coverage, as he will get his hands placed properly to mirror, but does not generate the punch to reroute...On the rare chances of playing in run support, blockers easily engulf him, as he does not have the upper body strength to shed or slip under blocks...Has good leaping ability, but will lose more than a fair share of jump ball battles vs. bigger receivers...Good at reaching around to deflect the pass, but a lot of those deflections could have been interceptions if he did not try to trap or body catch the ball...Questions arise about his courage, as he does not like contact, especially vs. the running game.
Compares To: ANWAR PHILLIPS-New Orleans...Like the player he replaced in the Penn State lineup, King lacks aggression in his game and does everything he can to shy away from contact or lend support to the running game. He has great timed speed, but gets overconfident with it and allows too much of a cushion. Just look at what big receivers like Ohio State's Brian Robiskie, Indiana's James Hardy and Michigan State's Devin Thomas did to him in 2007. Like Phillips and Alan Zemaitis, King has gotten great publicity at PSU, but he has to show better courage, instincts and production on the field. Honestly, with his speed and past experience, it might be wise just to convert him to receiver.
Injury Report
2008: Could not complete agility tests at the NFL Combine due to cramps in his calves.
Round 5
Roy Schuening (OG)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 308
College: Oregon State
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Pendleton, OR
High School: Pendleton
Overview
A model of consistency for the Beavers, Roy Schuening started 50 consecutive games at Oregon State, breaking the school record of 48 straight starts by linebacker Richard Seigler (2000-03).
While Schuening manned the right guard position most often, he showed his versatility and team-first attitude by shifting over to right tackle for the final four contests when injuries depleted the offensive line's depth.
Schuening also excelled in the classroom, as he was one of 20 players on the team that earned Academic All-Pac-10 Conference honors over the last two years. His drive-blocking skills made the national media take notice, as he was awarded with first-team All-American honors as a senior.
At Pendleton High School, Schuening was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive line. He earned All-Intermountain League honors as a junior and senior and was the league Lineman of the Year in 2002. He was also the most valuable lineman at the Oregon State and Oregon summer camps in 2002.
Schuening added second-team All-State recognition on defense and honorable mention on offense as a senior. He received two votes on the Long Beach Press Telegram Best in the West list and played in the Les Schwab Oregon Bowl in 2003. He was a member of the Super Prep Western All-Region team and ranked third on its list of top athletes for the state of Oregon and Washington.
For his defensive career, Schuening recorded 114 tackles and 17 sacks. He also lettered two years in wrestling and three in track. He broke the school record in the shot put with a toss of 56-6 as a senior.
Schuening enrolled at Oregon State in 2003, spending the season performing on the scout team. In 2004, he was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-American and All-Pac-10 Conference squads. He started all twelve games at right offensive guard, collecting 47 knockdowns and five touchdown-resulting blocks as the team averaged 379.5 yards per game in total offense.
The right guard was one of three OSU offensive linemen to receive postseason honors, as he was awarded All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention. He again manned the right guard spot, helping the Beavers improve their running game from 70.7 yards per game in 2004 to 122.5 yards in 2005. He totaled 69 knockdowns and was credited with seven touchdown-resulting blocks.
Schuening was again chosen All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention in 2006. He started all 14 games, leading a front wall that paved the way for the Beavers to average 242.4 yards per game passing. He would go on to register 75 knockdowns and also made eight touchdown-resulting blocks.
In 2007, Schuening started the first nine games at right guard and the final four games at right tackle. Despite playing with a bout of walking pneumonia earlier in the year, he dominated in the trenches. The offense generated a bulk of its 4,831 yards (371.6 yards per game) over the right side of the line. Schuening would proceed to lead Pac-10 blockers with 17 touchdown-resulting blocks, adding 114 knockdowns to pick up All-American and All-Pac-10 Conference first-team accolades.
Career Notes
Schuening holds the school record with 50 consecutive starts, topping the old mark of 48 by Richard Seigler (2000-03)...In his last two seasons, he registered 185 knockdowns and 18 touchdown-resulting blocks.
High School
Attended Pendleton (Ore.) High School, playing football for head coach Bo Yates...Three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines...Earned All-Intermountain League honors as a junior and senior and was the league's Lineman of the Year in 2002... Most Valuable Lineman at the Oregon State and Oregon summer camps in 2002...Added second-team All-State recognition on defense and honorable mention on offense as a senior...Received two votes on the Long Beach Press Telegram Best in the West list and played in the Les Schwab Oregon Bowl in 2003...Member of the Super Prep Western All-Region team and ranked third on its list of top athletes for the state of Oregon and Washington...For his defensive career, Schuening recorded 114 tackles and 17 sacks...Also lettered two years in wrestling and three in track...Broke the school record in the shot put with a toss of 56-6 as a senior.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick, well-proportioned frame with solid upper-body mass, well-defined arms and legs, wide waist and hips and a frame that can carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk...Plays with true aggression, giving total effort until the whistle...Has good field vision, showing alertness picking up the blitz and twists...Hard worker in the training room and has taken to his role of mentoring the younger players...Shows very good balance and body control when he maintains proper pad level working in-line...Has good communication skills working on double teams with his center and tackle...Has good quickness off the snap to seal the shaded defender (better when he sinks his pads)...Can gain advantage with his first step and aggressively hits on initial contact, driving hard with his legs to get movement (needs to shoot his hands better)...Can jolt the defender with his hand punch, but lacks consistency (uses his body and leg drive more often to get movement than to flash consistent hand power)...Good position blocker who keeps his feet working in-line, but is a little stiff in his hips when changing direction...More of a wall-off type of drive blocker, but showed better ability to follow through with his blocks as a senior, as he learned to use his reach to keep defenders away from his body...Has good balance and keeps his base when working at the line of scrimmage (can be pushed back by a quick bull rush)...When he avoids piles, it is due to his ability to stay on his feet...Lands on second-level defenders with good force and gets out in front on short pulls (not as effective folding linebackers when having to run long distances)...Has the knee bend and lower-body strength to anchor in pass protection...Did a better job of keeping his feet active to slide and mirror at guard than he did at tackle...Quick to place and recoil his hands when protecting the pocket (needs to generate a stronger punch)...Has just adequate blocking ability in space, but is an aggressive in-line blocker...Extends his hands well to separate and has made slight improvement with his punch, but must work on improving his pop and shiver...Has good recovery agility vs. stunts, doing a nice job when playing flat-footed, as he is efficient making adjustments in his short-area slide.
Negatives: Has a good grasp of the playbook, but does go through mental lapses on the field...Does not always react quickly to the bull rush and is slow to get good hand placement vs. double moves...Will short arm at times and must learn to use his hand punch better to shock and jolt...Needs to open his hips better in attempts to generate movement and when he gets too high in his stance, he gets too narrow with his base to drive defenders off the line...Must do a better job of shifting his weight and lowering his pads, as he showed late in his senior year when playing tackle that he lacks the foot movement and kick-slide to mirror vs. edge rushers in pass protection...Better blocking at the line of scrimmage, as he does not always take good angles and struggles when he takes on speed moves in space...Lacks the change-of-direction agility you look for from a lineman working into the second level...When he gets too tall in pass protection, he could be walked back into the pocket.
Compares To: JAHRI EVANS-New Orleans...Schuening has enough foot speed off the snap to reach and seal vs. shaded defenders. He is aggressive on initial contact and drives hard with his legs to gain movement, but needs to improve his hand punch, as it is rare to see him shock and jolt. He has the strength to rock the defender back, but must keep his hands inside his framework better and use them with better consistency. He has a good base and knee-bend in pass protection, but is better served working in-line, as his lack of lateral agility was exposed late in his senior year when taking on the speedy edge rushers at offensive tackle. He has not been used much on pulls, but has the quickness to be efficient there in the short area. He does struggle some working in space and must do a better job taking angles when trying to locate second level defenders.
Injury Report
2006: Suffered a mild concussion in a mid-August scrimmage.
2007: Played in the Stanford game (10/27) with walking pneumonia.
Round 7
Chris Chamberlain (DB)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 226
College: Tulsa
Conference: Conference USA
Hometown: Bethany, OK
High School: Bethany
Overview
Called by the Tulsa coaching staff the team's finest athlete, the Golden Hurricane weak-side linebacker could be ready for another position change at the professional level. Having been recruited as a quarterback and defensive back, he shifted to the linebacker unit upon his arrival on campus.
Over the years, Chamberlain developed a great understanding of the linebacker position and is a solid force against the run and pass. With his great foot quickness and ability to see the field and make plays in space, many scouts feel strong safety will be his final destination. He closed out his career as the school's fifth-leading tackler, registering 352 tackles in 50 games.
Chamberlain was a four-year letter-winner and three-year starter at Bethany High School, lining up at quarterback and free safety his final three years. He led his team to a 13-2 record and the Class 2A state title as a senior, earning District 2A-1 Player of the Year honors. He was selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) All-State West team and also earned first-team All-State honors from the Daily Oklahoman as a defensive back. He was named the Little All-City Offensive Player of the Year by the Daily Oklahoman and was chosen to the Oil Bowl team.
In 2003, Chamberlain rushed for 2,096 yards and 25 touchdowns, as he also threw for 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns from his quarterback position. He also recorded 147 tackles and had 10 interceptions. As a junior, he had 108 tackles with eight interceptions while also rushing for 518 yards and 11 scores and passing for 997 yards and eight more touchdowns. During his career, he posted 399 tackles and picked off 20 passes. He rushed for 2,777 yards and 37 touchdowns, while completing 148-of-324 passes for 2,433 yards and 29 scores.
Chamberlain played in 11 games as a true freshman, starting five of Tulsa's final six games at weak-side linebacker. He produced 48 tackles (24 solos) with three sacks, 5.5 stops for losses and four pressures. He also recovered two fumbles and caused another.
He started all 13 games as a sophomore, finishing third on the team with 88 tackles (53 solos), adding 4.5 sacks and 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused two fumbles, broke up two passes and intercepted another.
In 2006, Chamberlain shifted to strong-side linebacker, earning All-Conference USA third-team accolades, as he started the team's final eight contests. He posted 51 tackles (31 solos), two sacks and 3.5 stops for losses. He returned one of two interceptions for a touchdown, deflected another pass and was credited with a pair of pressures.
As a senior, Chamberlain garnered All-American honorable mention and All-Conference USA first-team honors. He set the school single-season record and ranked fifth in the nation with 165 tackles (101 solos), including three sacks and a team-high 12.5 stops for losses. He caused three fumbles, knocked down a pass and intercepted three others. He also saw action on offense, gaining 22 yards with a touchdown on nine carries and caught three passes for 74 yards (24.7 avg).
In 50 games at Tulsa, Chamberlain started 40 contests. He recorded 352 tackles (209 solos) with 12.5 sacks for minus-96 yards, 32.5 stops for losses of 155 yards and eight quarterback pressures. He caused six fumbles and recovered two others. He gained 48 yards with a touchdown on six interception returns and broke up four passes.
Career Notes
Chamberlain's 352 tackles rank fifth in school history behind Nelson Coleman (413, 2004-07), Michael White (389, 1987, 89-91), Robert Tennon (388, 1976, 78-80) and Lovie Smith (367, 1976-79)...His 202 solo tackles rank third in Golden Hurricane annals, topped by White (227) and Smith (211)...Set the school single-season record with 165 tackles in 2007, topping the previous mark of 148 by Levi Gillen in 1997...His 165 tackles rank fifth on the Conference USA single-season record chart behind Hanik Milligan of Houston (174 in 2001), Rod Davis of Southern Mississippi (168 in 2002), Brad Jackson of Cincinnati (168 in 1997) and Jeff Kerr of East Carolina (167 in 1997)...His 102 solo tackles in 2007 topped the previous Tulsa single-season record of 95 by Tennon in 1979 and rank third in league annals behind Mulligan (102 in 2001) and Davis (122 in 2002).
High School
Attended Bethany (Okla.) High School, playing football for head coach Ron Renshaw...Four-year letter-winner and three-year starter, lining up at quarterback and free safety his final three years...Led his team to a 13-2 record and the Class 2A state title as a senior, earning District 2A-1 Player of the Year honors...Selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) All-State West team and also earned first-team All-State honors from the Daily Oklahoman as a defensive back...Named the Little All-City Offensive Player of the Year by the Daily Oklahoman and was chosen to the Oil Bowl team...In 2003, he ran for 2,096 yards and 25 touchdowns, as he also threw for 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns from his quarterback position...Also recorded 147 tackles and had 10 interceptions...As a junior, he had 108 tackles with eight interceptions while also rushing for 518 yards and 11 scores and passing for 997 yards and eight more touchdowns...During his career, he posted 399 tackles and picked off 20 passes...Rushed for 2,777 yards and 37 touchdowns, while completing 148-of-324 passes for 2,433 yards and 29 scores.
Analysis
Positives: Well-defined athlete with muscular arms and thighs, but lacks ideal bulk to play linebacker (except in a Cover-2 schemes) and with his range, he could be more effective utilized as a strong safety...Shows impressive flexibility, agility, balance, body control and change-of-direction skills...Reads and reacts to the plays instinctively, having the valid quickness to maintain position on the receivers in short-to-intermediate routes...Smooth turning out of his backpedal and has a sharp initial burst to get a good jump on the ball, demonstrating little wasted motion planting and exploding in transition...Physical tackler who squares up, drives with his legs and wraps securely...Reacts to plays in front of him with no hesitation, quickly defending vs. the curls and out patterns...Times the pass well, displaying the ability to compete for the ball at its high point...Adequate in run support, keeping his hands active to fight off the low blocks, but can be engulfed when he lets the offensive linemen get a piece of his jersey...Keeps his shoulders square taking on ballcarriers along the perimeter, playing at a low pad level to attack the runner's outside leg...Comes under control to make the wrap or take-down tackle...Has enough balance and quickness to make read mistakes and overcome them with his speed when playing off the edge...Knows how to twist and get small to slip past blocks when trying to pressure the pocket...On offense, he shows abilities to catch, run and throw the football...Quick and smooth in his route progression and has the body control to get to off-target tosses...Former prep quarterback who plants firmly before unleashing the ball, which he carries chest high to get a quicker release...On special teams, he shows good vision to pick up the gunners to protect the returners...With his vision and ability to run with the ball and block, he could make an efficient fullback in the pros if experiments on defense fail.
Negatives: If he is to remain at linebacker, he will need to add more bulk and improve his overall strength (struggles to split double teams and loses battles when a lineman gets into his body)...Needs technique refinement in man coverage, as he will over-pursue and miss tackles at times...Has decent natural speed in coverage, but sometimes takes bad angles in pursuit...Not really a punishing bull rusher and he tends to get bounced around by bigger blockers when asked to step up and fill the rush lanes...While he has a smooth turning motion, he tends to side-pedal at times, preventing him from getting an explosive break on the ball near the point of attack...Has to retreat to get off a blocker when trying to attack the inside gaps...Sometimes gets too aggressive rising for the hit and will lose a good fit in attempts to make contact...When he gets reckless in pursuit, he will slide off and miss some tackles.
Compares To: DARNELL BING-New York Jets...Except for a Cover-2 scheme, Chamberlain isn't an ideal fit at outside linebacker, but with his range and man coverage ability, he could be more effective as a strong safety. He is a self-made player who entered the program as a 200-pound quarterback and got to see action on offense as a senior. He has just a little more room on his frame to bulk up, but the added weight could impact his quickness. Use him at safety first and if he fails to produce, playing weak-side linebacker in a Cover-2 would be his next alternative. He could also be an efficient blocker/third-down receiver as a fullback.
Injury Report
2006: Missed the season opener vs. Louisiana-Monroe (8/30) and sat out fall camp while recovering from knee surgery.
2007: Left the Oklahoma game (9/21) with a leg contusion and cramps...Suffered a knee sprain in the Army clash (11/17) but did not miss any game action.
Round 7
David Vobora (OLB)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 236
College: Idaho
Conference: WAC
Hometown: Eugene, OR
High School: Churchill
Overview
David Vobora was a tackling machine at Idaho and the versatile linebacker is the 10th player in school history to lead the team in tackles at least twice during a career. He has been among the nation's elite the last two years, as his 134 tackles as a junior ranked seventh in the NCAA and his 148 in 2007 ranked third. Both of those totals led the Western Athletic Conference and his 148 tackles are the fourth-highest in a season by a WAC player.
Having arrived on campus as a 195-pound linebacker, few figured that Vobora would make such an impact during his time with the Vandals. He started most of his career (29 games) at weak-side linebacker, but with his vision and ball awareness, the two-time team captain and Most Valuable Player has also filled in capably at middle linebacker (started four games).
At Winston Churchill High School, Vobora served as team captain as a junior and senior, competing as a linebacker, safety, tight end, quarterback and running back during his three-year career. He was an honorable mention All-Midwestern League quarterback as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference accolades as linebacker his junior year. He was also an honorable mention All-Conference linebacker as a sophomore. He added two letters in basketball, earning honorable mention All-Conference as a senior. He garnered National Honor Society recognition and was a Leadership representative.
As a senior, Vobora played inside linebacker and strong safety while performing double duty on offense as the quarterback for the first half of the year and running back for the latter half. In the past, the Lancers used Vobora at tight end, wide receiver and free safety.
Vobora, whose father, Andy, was a linebacker at the University of Oregon, decided to enroll at Idaho rather than attend his father's alma mater. As a true freshman, Vobora appeared in 12 games, starting three contests at weak-side outside linebacker, sharing the position with Robert Davis. He finished his first season totaling 17 tackles (12 solo). In 2005, Vobora started six contests at weak-side linebacker. He was limited late in the season by a shoulder problem, but still ranked sixth on the squad with 42 tackles (27 solo), including five stops for losses, as he caused three fumbles and recovered two others.
As a junior, Vobora earned All-Western Athletic Conference first-team accolades. The team captain and MVP finished seventh nationally with 11.17 tackles per game and also ranked tied for 22nd in the nation with 16.5 stops for losses, the most by a Vandal since Idaho joined the WAC. He registered 134 tackles (84 solo), the eighth-best season total in school history. He added two sacks with a pair of pressures and caused two fumbles. He also picked off a pass and broke up two others.
In 2007, Vobora garnered All-American honorable mention, All-WAC first-team honors and team MVP recognition. He started ten games at weak-side linebacker and two others in the middle. He was limited in fall camp with a shoulder contusion, getting off to a slow start with just four hits vs. Southern California in the season opener before going on a tear that saw him register at least 10 tackles in 10 of his next 11 games.
Vobora's 148 tackles (86 solo) in 2007 rank second on the school single-season list. He had one sack with two pressures, as he caused and recovered a fumble. He also broke up a pass and intercepted another.
In 45 games at Idaho, Vobora started 33 contests. He ranks sixth in school history with 341 tackles (209 solo), including three sacks for minus-22 yards, 28 stops for losses of 94 yards and four quarterback pressures. He recovered three fumbles and caused six others. He also intercepted two passes and had five pass deflections. He registered at least 10 tackles in 17-of 24 games over his last two seasons with the Vandals.
Career Notes
Vobora's 341 tackles rank sixth in school history behind Sam Merriman (1979-82; 519), Jason Shelt (1992-96; 461), Tom Hennessey (1983-86; 390), Duke Garrett (1990-94; 360) and Chris Nofoaiga (1997-2000; 355)...His 324 career tackles (Idaho played in the Sun Belt Conference in 2004) rank third in Western Athletic Conference annals behind Robert Rodriguez of Texas-El Paso (2001-04; 443) and Andy Avalos of Boise State (2001-04; 354)...His 134 tackles in 2006 rank eighth on the school record list and his 148 tackles in 2007 tied Jason Shelt (1993) for second behind Tom Hennessey's 180 hits in 1986...His 134 tackles in 2006 also rank eighth on the WAC season-record chart, and his 148 in 2007 placed him fourth, surpassed by Jimmy Cottrell of New Mexico State (179 in 2005), Jeff Ulbrich of Hawaii (169 in 1999) and Matt Griebel of New Mexico State (149 in 2005)...His six forced fumbles tied Pisa Tinoisamoa of Hawaii (2000-02) and Robert Rodriguez of Texas-El Paso (2001-04) for eighth on the conference career-record list.
High School
Attended Winston Churchill (Eugene, Ore.) High School, playing football for head coach Jack Wigmore...Served as team captain as a junior and senior, competing as a linebacker, safety, tight end, quarterback and running back during his three-year career...Honorable mention All-Midwestern League quarterback as a senior, adding second-team All-Conference accolades as linebacker his junior year...Honorable mention All-Conference linebacker as a sophomore...Added two letters in basketball, earning honorable mention All-Conference as a senior...Garnered National Honor Society recognition and was a Leadership representative.
Analysis
Positives: Has a lean, yet athletic-looking frame with large hands, defined chest and shoulders and developing thighs and calves...Makes up for a lack of ideal size and bulk with very good instincts, as he is always around the ball and almost never bites on play action or misdirection...Generally durable athlete, but will play with pain...Undersized linebacker, but has adequate timed speed and outstanding productivity...Has good all-around athletic ability, agility, balance and body control...Has good acceleration to the ball and uses his experience as a prep quarterback to quickly read hats and react to the quarterback's movement...Overall strength is an issue, but he can make up for it with rapid acceleration to the ball, staying low in his pads with arms extended to drag down and latch on as a tackler...Displays good mental alertness, as he is the type who reads and reacts quickly with good instincts...Makes all the defensive calls and can adjust on the field, whether at weak side or middle linebacker...Exhibits good character on the field and in the locker room...Coachable, well-liked guy and highly respected by all, as he is a good team leader who leads by example and is also outspoken...Demonstrates quick instincts and good discipline as a player, as he is quick to read and react to the run or pass...Is good flowing down the line, as he has the functional lateral movement, taking good angles to close on the ball with urgency...Runs well through traffic, accelerates with a burst and plays with effort taking on outside running plays...Generally effective in space or in the hole, as he is good at colliding with the opponent and rarely misses a tackle...Undersized and won't make much impact vs. inside runs at the next level, but is a good fit for the weak-side, as he is quick to scrape through traffic, avoiding or slipping blocks to make a tackle or squeeze the hole...Plays strong at the point of attack on outside runs to him and is very effective on plays away from him with good speed and effort to give chase down the sidelines (will be a step behind on long pursuit to the opposite hash, as he has too much hip stiffness to fly to the ball suddenly)...His lack of playing strength works against him, but he uses his hands well to defeat cut blocks and seldom stays blocked for long... Displays good use of his hands to protect himself and shed blockers, but doesn't overpower lineman...Not a pass rusher, but does flash the ability to be disruptive with speed and football instincts...In the zone he is alert to threats, as he gets deep quickly, reads the quarterback well, anticipates and reacts quickly and drives on the ball or receiver...In man coverage, he is able to stay snug to a running back, cover wheel routes downfield and run with tight ends in trail coverage...Effective breaking down in space and is alert to handling his switch-off assignment in the short zone...Has the straight-line acceleration and desire to be an effective gunner on special teams.
Negatives: Has a lean, developing frame, but has struggled in the past to add bulk and maintain weight without a structured training program...Has adequate lateral agility, but lacks overwhelming athleticism in any one category...Built more like a strong safety, but does not have the feet, redirection agility or speed to handle receivers in the deep third of the field to play safety at the next level...Because of his key-and-diagnose skills, he is better served playing weak-side linebacker at the pro level, as he gets washed out of action too much trying to split double teams playing in the middle and his size/bulk issues, along with adequate strength makes him a poor fit to try and overpower offensive tackles on the strong-side (gets pushed around by linemen and tight ends)...Has good weight-room strength, but gets engulfed by bigger blockers too much and does not see those weight-room figures translate to the football field...Can flow to the ball in the short area, but hip stiffness makes him get a step behind receivers coming out of his breaks...Does not have the exceptional range to chase down plays at the opposite end of the field, but has enough burst to push the outside running game back inside...Needs to play at a lower pad level, as backs push him back when running right at him, due to his high stance...Does not use his hands with force to shock a lead blocker, nor use them with any great regularity in attempts to reroute receivers in press coverage... Must do a better job of flipping his hips to get a cleaner break in transition...Does not show the timing or natural hands to deflect or pick off many passes in coverage... Even though he has a lot of tackles, he is not a classic wrap-up tackler and does not show much explosion behind his hits (more of a drag-down type with adequate collision strength)...Rarely faced top-level competition.
Compares To: VINNY CIURCIU-Minnesota...Unless Vobora can suddenly increase his bulk and size, he appears likely to be limited to Cover-2 schemes. He is a versatile, instinctive linebacker with good discipline on the field, but is best when making plays in front of him. He gets engulfed by bigger blockers too much and does not have pass rush skills to be an efficient edge rusher. He is more of a drag-down type of tackler than one who will wrap, but his lack of natural hands and his hip stiffness make him a bit of a liability in man coverage. He's struggled to maintain weight in the past and marginal pass coverage skills prevent him from moving to safety. Late in the draft, he is worth a look because of his outside run ability and could develop into a nice addition for the sub package and special-team coverage units.
Injury Report
2005: Did not play vs. Boise State (11/19) and San Jose State (11/26) games with a shoulder contusion.
2006: Left the Washington State game (9/9) with leg cramps.
2007: Held out of contact the last two weeks of August camp with a shoulder contusion that limited him in the season opener vs. Southern California (9/01).
