Be sure not to miss the 2008 Miami Dolphins Draft Party, Presented by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. The draft party will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 2:00 - 6:00 pm at Dolphin Stadium. The party features full coverage of the NFL Draft, 2008 Season Ticket Select-A-Seat, player, alumni and cheerleader autographs as well as free parking and admission.
By Andy Kent
Special for MiamiDolphins.com
April 11, 2008
Compared to the 2007 group of linebackers, this year's crop doesn't appear
to be quite as deep. Last year, three linebackers were taken in the first round
– Patrick Willis, Lawrence Timmons and Jon Beason, with Willis winding
up as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with San Francisco. The only two
potential first-rounders in the 2008 class are USC's Keith Rivers and Penn
State's Dan Connor as defensive linemen look to be ripe for the picking early
come April 26th, with as many as eight projected to go in the first round.
Now with a handful of guys capable of playing either inside or outside, their
stock could rise depending on the needs of certain teams. Ali Highsmith of
LSU, whose cousin is former Miami Hurricanes running back Alonzo Highsmith,
could possibly sneak into one of the top 32 picks, but more than likely he
will fall into the second round. After Highsmith, there is a group of six
talented linebackers that are very close and could easily trade spots with
each other in order of selection. Two Virginia Tech Hokies are in the mix
in Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall, with Michigan's Shawn Crable, Georgia Tech's
Philip Wheeler, Okalahoma junior Curtis Lofton and Maryland junior Erin Henderson
all making strong cases for themselves.
BREAKING DOWN THE TOP LB PROSPECTS
Keith Rivers - Led the Trojans in tackles the last two years despite
being surrounded by some of the best defensive players in college football
like defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Another in a long list of speedy, athletic
players from the Sunshine State (Lake Mary), he has the potential to start
as a rookie at outside linebacker and helped himself considerably with his
performance at the Senior Bowl both on the practice field and in the game
as well as at the NFL Combine and USC's Pro Day. VIDEO
HIGHLIGHTS
Dan Connor - With the history and tradition of Linebacker U. in his favor, Connor possesses the toughness and instincts that are common among former Nittany Lions like LaVar Arrington and he has more potential than his immediate predecessor, Paul Posluzny, who went to Buffalo last year in the second round. He also is two inches taller than Posluzny and a little heavier, and that size should help make his transition to the NFL a little smoother as some scouts see him as an inside linebacker who could easily move to the outside when called upon. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Ali Highsmith - Clearly he has the bloodlines as cousin Alonzo helped Miami win its first national championship back in 1983 and was the third overall pick of the Houston Oilers back in 1987. Having also won a national championship in January with LSU, Highsmith knows what it takes to succeed at a high level, but he didn't look particularly big in Mobile when he took the field, which could bring his 6-foot-1, 225-pound frame into question, even for an outside linebacker.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Xavier Adibi - Opposing offensive coordinators in the ACC had lots of trouble deciding how to best neutralize the lethal combination of Adibi and Hall in the middle of that Virginia Tech defense, with Hall more in the mold of a Zach Thomas at middle linebacker. Adibi's mobility, quickness and deceptive foot speed caught the attention of quite a few scouts and coaches in Mobile, and he should be able to provide depth and even perhaps push for a starting job in the NFL.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Erin Henderson - He is rated slightly higher than his fellow underclassman,
Lofton, because of his size and big-play ability. At 6-2, 235, Henderson is
two inches taller than Lofton and also has the potential to start as a rookie
for the right team. VIDEO
HIGHLIGHTS
By Andy Kent
Dan Connor - With the history and tradition of Linebacker U. in his favor, Connor possesses the toughness and instincts that are common among former Nittany Lions like LaVar Arrington and he has more potential than his immediate predecessor, Paul Posluzny, who went to Buffalo last year in the second round. He also is two inches taller than Posluzny and a little heavier, and that size should help make his transition to the NFL a little smoother as some scouts see him as an inside linebacker who could easily move to the outside when called upon. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
