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2015 NFL Draft: Pre-Combine Ranking of Top 10 Inside Linebacker Prospects

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By @Spencer_NFL

2015 NFL Draft: Top 10 Inside Linebackers

Benardrick McKinney Mississippi State
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Despite being the defensive play-caller, inside linebackers are rarely drafted early. Last year, C.J. Mosley was the only ILB drafted in the first two rounds. That could change this year as three ILB prospects have a Round 1 or 2 grade. Here's a pre-Combine look at the top ILB prospects available in the 2015 NFL Draft.

10. Amarlo Herrera (Georgia)

Amarlo Herrera Georgia
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10. Amarlo Herrera (Georgia)

Amarlo Herrera Georgia
Getty Images

Though not as highly-touted as teammate and fellow ILB Ramik Wilson, Amarlo Herrera was the leader of the Georgia defense. He set the defense pre-snap and was arguably more versatile than Wilson. He's an above-average blitzer who finds the quickest path to the QB. He was adequate in man coverage but will be overmatched by the larger tight ends in the NFL. Herrera enters the Combine with a sixth-round grade.

9. Ben Heeney (Kansas)

Ben Heeney Kansas
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

9. Ben Heeney (Kansas)

Ben Heeney Kansas
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Heeney could very well be the Chris Borland of this draft. He's an extremely productive ILB who will slide in the draft based on his size. Production wise, Heeney's numbers as a senior were actually better than Borland's. While he probably won't be drafted as high as the Wisconsin ILB was last year (Round 3), Heeney's stock should rise based on Borland's performance as a rookie. Heeney is currently projected as a fifth-round pick.

8. Taiwan Jones (Michigan State)

Taiwan Jones Michigan State
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

8. Taiwan Jones (Michigan State)

Taiwan Jones Michigan State
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

While Heeney is undersized, Taiwan Jones is one of the larger inside linebackers in this class. He took full advantage of his one year at MLB after replacing Max Bullough. Jones is a hard-hitter who can take away the middle of the field when he's in zone coverage. When blitzing, he runs right through the middle of the offensive line to attack the QB. Even if his speed hinders his ability to be a starter, he should thrive on special teams.

7. Trey DePriest (Alabama)

Trey DePriest Alabama
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

7. Trey DePriest (Alabama)

Trey DePriest Alabama
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Teammate C.J. Mosley was a first-round pick last year, but Trey DePriest will have to wait a little longer this year. The main reason being he's limited to playing around the line of scrimmage. His speed just isn't where it needs to be to drop into coverage. He plays well in the box and excels at stopping the run. Even when blocked, he's able to break free and prevent a big play. His Round 5 grade could improve based on his speed at the Combine.

6. Hayes Pullard (USC)

Hayes Pullard USC
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. Hayes Pullard (USC)

Hayes Pullard USC
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Hayes Pullard is a four-year starter who led USC in tackles three out of his four seasons on the team. He knows how to read an offense, but sometimes he waits too long before making his move. His ball skills and one-on-one coverage abilities are as good, if not better, than any other ILB in the class. He's faced quality quarterbacks such as Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley on a yearly basis. Even against those two, he never looked out of place.

5. Stephone Anthony (Clemson)

Stephone Anthony Clemson
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5. Stephone Anthony (Clemson)

Stephone Anthony Clemson
Getty Images

A strong Senior Bowl is moving Stephone Anthony up the board. Anthony and Miami's Denzel Perryman, who both played for the South, were the inside linebackers who stood out the most. He has the speed to reach the sidelines but needs to improve his awareness so he's not chasing the play from behind. With such a great defensive line in front of him, it's even more impressive that Anthony was able to make so many plays.

4. Ramik Wilson (Georgia)

Ramik Wilson Georgia
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

4. Ramik Wilson (Georgia)

Ramik Wilson Georgia
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

There are mixed opinions on what Ramik Wilson's position should be in the NFL. Is he a 4-3 OLB or a 3-4 ILB? In my view, he's an inside linebacker who compares to Brandon Spikes. Both have similar size, and like Spikes, Wilson is much better against the run. He has decent speed, but not enough to match up against a TE. He's a downhill rusher and rarely misses a tackle. Wilson currently has a third-round grade.

3. Denzel Perryman (Miami)

Denzel Perryman Miami
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

3. Denzel Perryman (Miami)

Denzel Perryman Miami
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The top three inside linebackers are all fairly similarly graded. Because of that, Denzel Perryman's lack of size means he will likely be the No. 3 ILB off the board. At 5-foot-10, there are concerns that he will be overmatched at the next level. I don't see that being an issue, as Perryman is very physical and plays much bigger than his height would suggest. Either way, it's very unlikely he falls out of the second round.

2. Eric Kendricks (UCLA)

Eric Kendricks UCLA
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

2. Eric Kendricks (UCLA)

Eric Kendricks UCLA
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Kendricks has been one of the most productive linebackers in college football over the past few seasons. The Butkus Award winner led all FBS players with 101 solo tackles and finished fourth with 149 total tackles in 2014. He has outstanding quickness and can easily cover the entire field. He's capable of playing inside in a 3-4 defense or outside in a 4-3 scheme. Kendricks, whose brother Mychal plays for the Eagles, has a Round 2 grade.

1. Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State)

Benardrick McKinney Mississippi State
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State)

Benardrick McKinney Mississippi State
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Benardrick McKinney is one of the larger ILB prospects in this year's draft. His size allows him to attack the line of scrimmage and take on offensive linemen. His physical presence often caused ball-carriers to head towards the sideline rather than upfield. Even with below-average speed and agility, he finds his way to the football. McKinney has a late first-round grade and can play in any defensive scheme.

Shawn Spencer is an NFL Draft writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Spencer_NFL, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Related:
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