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Darron Lee- Scouting Report


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This is basically a thesis length scouting report on him from the NFL Draft Report.  It's a blog, but I do think they reviewed tapes and watched him play quite a bit.  They also have some reports on other guys that you can check out.   I'll leave the link at the bottom of the article (trust me, it's a ton of reading).  I can't quote it for some reason, so I separated my typing with the website via a large line.  They most common comparison seems to be Lavonte David.  

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As The NFL Draft Report stated prior to the 2015 season, the potential displayed by Darron Lee was “off the charts,” as this former high school safety took to playing linebacker like a fish takes to water. Now, with the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine having completed their testing for the linebackers in attendance, this red-shirt sophomore heads home satisfied that he has proven any of his doubters wrong.

Some draft analysts stated that Lee was a “work in progress” and “did not excite” in 2015 like he did in 2014 during the Buckeyes’ national championship march. Unknown to many scouts, at the time, but Lee was playing with a lower leg injury during the first half of his sophomore campaign. With several Buckeyes suspended earlier in the year, the strong-side linebacker felt that even on one leg, he needed to be out on the field.

Lee recovered just in time – for the late season tough part of the schedule. He recorded at least seven tackles with one stop behind the line of scrimmage and one quarterback pressure in each of his final four appearances. While he delivered 66 tackles (36 solos) for his final season at Ohio State, it is how he compiled those statistics that were even more impressive.

On 53 plays he made vs. the running game, Lee limited his opponents to an average gain of a miniscule 0.68 yards per attempt. The longest gain vs. the linebacker was a 9-yard scamper. He delivered eleven crunching third-down stops and another on a fourth-down play vs. those ball carriers, posting fourteen of those tackles inside the red zone, including four on goal-line stands. In addition to taking down thirteen runners for losses, ten more were tackled at the line of scrimmage for no gain. He also made five touchdown-saving tackles after runners broke free from other Ohio State defenders in 2015.

Proving that his high school safety skills were elite, Lee saw 38 passes targeted into his area. He allowed seven to be caught for a total of 50 yards (18.42 pass completion rate). On fourteen plays, he stopped receivers on third downs, twice doing so on fourth-down snaps. He rerouted/jammed ten receivers away from catchable tosses, deflected two others throws and intercepted another vs. Northern Illinois that he returned 41 yards for a touchdown. He was also credited with ten QB pressures, causing two fumbles on the 4.5 sacks he registered.

At the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee solidified his position in the first round. Performing at just five pounds lighter than his playing weight, he was timed at 1.55 seconds in the 10-yard start; 4.47 in the 40-yard dash; putting up the 225-pound bench press seventeen times; registering a 35 ½-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump. Showing that he has room on his frame to grow, his arms measured at a length of 33 ¼-inches and his hands were 9 ½-inches.

Do not let his class ranking fool you – anyone that has attended an Ohio State practice, or seen Lee in action on game day, the first thing that comes to mind is intensity. That drive, that desire to excel was something that the OSU coaches failed to recognize, at first, during their recruiting trails. Now, after the freshman played an integral part in the Buckeyes winning the 2014 national championship, it is his natural leadership that the staff banked on to give Ohio State a repeat performance towards excellence.

While the offense struggled throughout the schedule, Lee played an integral part on a defensive unit that finished the 2015 regular season ranked 12th in the nation in pass defense (176.2 ypg), sixth in passing efficiency defense (101.92 rating), second in scoring defense (14.0 ppg), tenth in total defense (303.5 ypg) and 22nd in rush defense (127.3 ypg).

Scouts are very aware that this talented athlete has the “it” factor, one that even has some of those analysts favorably comparing him to the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Derrick Brooks. Others see similarities in his style of play to the man who eventually replaced Brooks in Tampa - Lavonte David. Off the field, Lee is a calm, well-spoken, humble guy who could almost be described as laid back. On the field, though, it is a different story, as that hunger, that intensity and most of all – his blessed athletic ability shines through.

You are almost jolted out of your seat when you see Lee on the field. A pleasant sort to talk to - his persona changes in an instant when his foot first touches the playing field. After all, this is a player with a lot to prove – mostly to himself, as he is his own harshest critic. Yet, that is what makes those same scouts call him the Big Ten Conference’s best athlete to perform on the defensive side of the ball since Charles Woodson became the first defensive player to garner Heisman Trophy honors as a Michigan Wolverine.

That first step on to the field is followed often by Lee hooting and hollering with his team-mates, bouncing up and down trying to do anything he can to fire up the Buckeyes before they play a game. The unquestioned playmaker of a highly aggressive defensive unit, he is sort of the “peanut butter” to the “jelly” offered by defensive end Joey Bosa and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington.

The trio manned the strong-side of the field in 2014, combining for 182 tackles, 25.5 sacks (minus 176 yards), 48.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage (losses totaled 228 yards), seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries that were advanced 98 yards with two touchdowns. This season, the tandem of Lee and Bosa terrorized opposing backfields, as the strong-side performers have posted 23 quarterback pressures, two interceptions, six pass deflections, seven sacks and 25.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

To say that Lee has turned into one of the top playmakers in college football is a vast understatement. His freshman season is the best by a first-year Buckeye since linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer burst on to the scene in 1996. Lee ranks fourth on the OSU freshman annual record chart with his 7.5-sack performance in 2014. The only Ohio State freshmen to record more sacks in a season for the Buckeyes are Katzenmoyer (12.0 in 1996), Brent Johnson (nine in 2000) and Vernon Gholston (8.5 in 2006).

Lee also finished second on the school freshman record chart with 16.5 tackles-for-loss, topped by only Katzenmoyer (23.0 in 1996). He ranks fifth on the OSU freshman record chart with his lost yardage total (70) on stops-behind-the-line of scrimmage, topped by Katzenmoyer (103 yards in 1996), Vernon Gholston (86 in 2006), Dan Wilkinson (83 in 1992) and Shad Williams (78 in 1970).

The heart and soul of the Ohio State defense was not something that head coach Urban Meyer envisioned when he first spotted a young high school quarterback attending the team’s summer camps. "You take a kid like Darron Lee — and that’s where Luke (Fickell) did such a great job recruiting him because I didn’t see it. But it’s not my job to see it, it’s his job to see it," Meyer said. "He came to camp like three or four times. Here’s a quarter-back from New Albany and it’s how do you — that’s where I give Coach Fickell a lot of credit because he did a great job, man."

Lee was a quarterback at New Albany High School where he led his team to an appearance in the state semifinals as a senior. In high school football, teams will often put their best player at quarterback and that was the case with Lee, according to Meyer. Lee had moved to New Albany, Ohio during the eighth grade and attended New Albany High, where he competed as a quarterback, wide receiver, safety and return specialist for Eagles head coach Mark Mueller.

Lee was rated the 29th-best safety in the nation, Lee received four-star status from Scout.com. He was also rated the 28th-best overall player in the state of Ohio by ESPN after he accounted for over 1,700 yards of offense and 21 touchdowns as a senior. He was also a standout performer for the track team and did well in the classroom, graduating with a 3.0 grade point average.

After a standout performance during Ohio State’s 2012 summer camp, Lee convinced the Buckeyes coaches that this was a player definitely worth investing a scholarship in. They did not know where he would play, as he did perform as a 200-pound quarterback. His frame would quickly fill out, thanks to a high volume of chocolate milk shakes, and the like.

When Lee first arrived on the OSU campus in 2013, he didn’t know what position he would play, and quite frankly, he did not care – he was a Buckeye and as far as he was concerned, that was all that mattered. Even the coaches listed him as “athlete” on their initial roster chart. Under defensive guru Luke Fickell, Lee grew – both in stature and in physical size. After red-shirting in 2013, he returned to 2014 offseason drills at 235 pounds - ready to stake his claim top a starting job – anywhere with the first unit was okay by him.

It was OSU defensive coordinator Luke Fickell who had offered Lee a football scholarship after an impressive performance at Ohio State’s Senior Advanced Camp and the New Albany standout quickly accepted, becoming the coach’s “prized pupil” over the course of the next two seasons. Lee played wide receiver, quarterback and safety for New Albany as a senior, but even as 2013 fall camp opened, it wasn’t settled where he would play for the Buckeyes, though he thought he might begin as a safety. “It’s probably going to be on the defensive side of the ball,” Lee said. “That’s all (Fickell) really told me: ‘We just really want you on the team.’ That’s all I needed to hear.”

Described as a fierce competitor - “I’ll do whatever I can to help my team win,” Lee said, “whether that be being the water boy or scoring touchdowns or making interceptions.” It was that intensity that saw Lee instantly fill the linebacker vacancy created by Ryan Shazier’s departure to the National Football League. Lee was even better than Fickell had predicted, turning into their ultimate playmaker in 2014.

The Big Ten Conference Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and National Freshman Defensive MVP selection by The NFL Draft Report started every game, finishing third on the team with 81 tackles (54 solos), ranking second on the squad with 7.5 sacks and 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. The defensive unit scored six touchdowns – two by Lee on fumble recoveries, as he also set up three other touchdowns when he caused interceptions via his quarterback pressures. He also caused a pair of turnovers and made 27 of his tackles on third-down snaps.

Lee is recognized in the locker room as a high-character, hard-working player, one that is expected to take on the leadership role this season. “They want high-quality kids to play at Ohio State,” his prep coach, Mike Mueller said. “I think Darron fits that.” Part of Lee’s personality, Mueller said, is to not only demand excellence from himself but from his teammates.

Lee concurred. “I’m responsible for everybody on the team,” he said. “If somebody is not busting their tail, I’ll get on him, not only to help him but to help the guy next to him, to help the team.”

Lee can also be disarmingly matter-of-fact. Take the Ohio State linebacker’s scoop-and-score touchdown vs. Navy during his college debut, a 61-yard fumble return that helped the Buckeyes stay afloat when the Midshipmen seemed to have them on the ropes in the 2014 season opener. “I saw Joey (Bosa) shed a block and then attack the quarterback,” Lee said in a near monotone. “It was really just job assignment. I was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.”

On the field, opponents swear that they sometimes see “fire in his eyes.” That is nothing new to his teammates, though. “I think that’s his game face,” Ohio State senior linebacker Joshua Perry said. “He’s trying to put the game face on. But when we get out here, Darron is so fun to be around. He probably has one of the most fiery personalities on the team. He’s really upbeat. He’s bouncing around all the time. He’s loud. He’s got a lot of juice and energy. He’s one of the guys who keeps me up. I can have good conversations with Darron. He loves people. He loves picking guys up and being a catalyst.”

But ask him about his individual success, he'll often deflect it for the betterment of the team. “If the offense can’t convert on some stuff, we’ve got to go out there and stop them. That’s our job," Lee said. "That’s what Coach Meyer reiterates to us is to stop them and that’s our job."

The good thing for Ohio State fans and the scary thing for other Big Ten offenses is Lee may only be scratching the surface. He's just two years into learning a new position. To Meyer, Lee's potential is unlimited. "You talk about a future, it’s ridiculous what that kid’s gonna be like if he continues to get better," he said.

"He’s gonna be an NFL player someday if he keeps going," Meyer said. "Think about the confidence in yourself as a recruiter and an evaluator to saying, ‘You know what, I’m going to take this kid and make something of him.’ Turns out, Luke Fickell made the right decision handing this once 200-pound athlete that scholarship back during the summer of 2012.

Lee earned second-team All-American honors from The NFL Draft Report and Sports Illustrated, adding All-Big Ten Conference recognition during the 2015 regular season. In twelve starting assignments, he recorded 59 tackles (29 solos) with two sacks, nine stops behind the line of scrimmage and nine quarterback pressures. He also returned an interception 41 yards for a touch-down, in addition to causing a fumble and posting five touchdown-saving tackles.

CAREER NOTES

Lee has started all 28 games that he appeared in for the Buckeyes, as the strong-side linebacker totaled 147 tackles (90 solos), adding 12.0 sacks for minus 87 yards, 27.5 stops for losses totaling 121 yards and seventeen quarterback pressures that included causing three interceptions and two fumbles…Returned both of his fumble recoveries for touchdowns, amassing 94 yards, as he deflected five passes and intercepted three others for 67 yards in returns, including a 41-yard touchdown.

Statistical Breakdown Against the Run…Lee was directly involved in 129 running plays, as those ball carriers gained a total of 61 yards (0.47 ypc), good for sixteen first downs (four the result of a Lee penalty) and no touchdowns…Also assisted other Buckeyes on thirteen running plays that totaled 59 yards (charged to the initial tackler) and came out of his area to chase down ball carriers to prevent seven touchdowns (total of 50 yards)…Recorded 26 third-down hits and made 34 of his tackles inside the red zone, including six on goal-line plays…Posted a total of 33 tackles-for-loss (solos and assists), in addition to taking down runners at the line of scrimmage for no gain on eleven other rushing attempts.

Against the Pass…Lee saw 88 passes targeted into his area, as opponents completed sixteen of those tries (18.18%) for 82 yards, an average of 5.13 yards per completion and 0.93 yards per attempt…Among the 88 targeted tosses, he rerouted/jammed his coverage assignment away from 29 passes (32.95%), as he also forced two fumbles, and caused another two receivers to drop passes… Recorded 26 third-down stops and another three on fourth-down attempts, as he also took down one receiver at the line of scrimmage for no gain and three for losses…Among his seventeen quarter-back pressures, one led to a fumble and three others caused interceptions, with the Buckeyes converting three of those turnovers into touchdown drives…Lee assisted other OSU defenders after their opponents caught seven passes that totaled 38 yards, in addition to registering three touchdown-saving tackles.

NCAA Career-Record Results…Among current NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players, Lee ranks 24th with an average of 0.88 tackles-for-loss per game (ranks eighth among first- and second-year players)…Lee is currently ranked 83rd with 25.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. That figures placed third among first- and second-year players, as he is topped by only Texas A&M rush end Myles Garrett (32.5) and Northwestern linebacker Anthony Walker (28.5).

School Season-Record Results…Lee’s 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage tied A.J. Hawk (2005) for 13th place on the school’s overall record chart…His 7.5 sacks in 2014 tied Joey Bosa (2013) for 21st on the Buckeyes annual record list.

School Freshman Season-Record Results…Lee ranks fourth on the OSU freshman annual record chart with his 7.5-sack performance in 2014. The only Ohio State freshmen to record more sacks in a season for the Buckeyes are Andy Katzenmoyer (12.0 in 1996), Brent Johnson (nine in 2000) and Vernon Gholston (8.5 in 2006)…Lee also finished second on the school freshman record chart with 16.5 tackles-for-loss, topped by only Andy Katzenmoyer (23.0 in 1996)…His lost yardage total (70) on stops behind the line of scrimmage rank fifth-best ever by an Ohio State freshman, topped by Andy Katzenmoyer (103 yards in 1996), Vernon Gholston (86 in 2006), Dan Wilkinson (83 in 1992) and Shad Williams (78 in 1970).

DARRON LEE SCOUTING REPORT

Body Structure…Lee has a well-built, angular frame, with good chest thickness, broad shoulders, tight waist and hips, thick thighs and calves. He has added over thirty pounds of muscle since entering the program as a freshman safety. He still has room for additional upper body growth and should max out at 245 pounds. He has very long arms and large hands, along with a linear frame, with “ripped” upper body muscle tone. While it may appear that he is too lean to play rush end or “elephant back” at the next level, he has the bubble and thick thighs and calves to be capable of holding his ground vs. multiple blockers as a second level defender. He aligns mostly on the strong side, but his frame and exceptional closing speed are better suited for the weak-side at the professional level. He will need to add bulk in his upper body to compete at the next level, but he has room on his frame to carry the additional weight without it impacting his overall speed. Even though he is not real bulky, he is a stout athlete with good muscle definition and is impressively defined in his calves and biceps.

Athletic Ability…Lee is a durable athlete who might play like his “hair is on fire,” at times, but he has excellent explosiveness coming off the snap. He shows fluid change of direction agility that is evident in his above average range. He maintains balance working down the line and has the hip flexibility to come of his backpedal and drop back in the zone sharply. He has superb leaping ability and plays with good strength. He can chase the ball down from sideline to sideline and utilizes his leaping skills to be disruptive going up or knocking down the ball. His lateral range allows him to flow to the ball with great ease of movement He stays on his feet working through trash and has the quickness to suddenly close on the ball. He has an outstanding closing burst and good suddenness closing on the ball, which makes him an ideal fit as a weak-side linebacker at the next level. He shows very good balance and body control to consistently make the turn as an edge rusher, when asked to come up and play at the level-one position. With his shiftiness and change of direction agility, Lee has no issues avoiding blockers when shooting the gaps. He shows suddenness in his initial move off the ball and gets to top speed quickly. He has the lateral agility and change of direction agility to slip off blocks and string plays wide. He shows very good strength upon initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes. He could use more bulk for the outside linebacker position, but compensates with good explosion coming off the ball and above average power behind his hits. Lee has great agility and athletic ability, playing with ideal quickness and speed. He shows fine balance closing on the ball and the ability to stay on his feet working through trash. With his flexibility, he is quick to redirect and work his way to the flow of the ball. He has the quickness of a safety dropping back in zone coverage and is an above average space player, thanks to the suddenness when closing. He looks very athletic moving to the ball, showing fluid change of direction, acceleration and body control in attempts to keep the action in front of him. He is simply a very athletic defender, showing the hip swerve and flexibility you find in a safety, rather than a linebacker. He shows suddenness in his initial move off the ball and gets to top speed quickly. He has the lateral agility and change of direction agility to slip off blocks and string plays wide. He shows good strength upon initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes. He could use more bulk for the strong-side outside linebacker position, but compensates with good explosion coming off the ball.

Football Sense…Lee has really developed his read and react skills the last two seasons, as he has the field vision and smarts to excel as a weak-side linebacker. He appears very good at keeping the action in front of him from the strong-side and he is a hard worker who flashes aggression. He is not the type who will overreact and get caught up in a slugfest when he locates the ball and he has demonstrated above average shed ability when he has to combat multiple blockers while working through trash. He shows a good feel for plays in front of him and has no problems digesting the playbook. He continues to pick up blocking schemes well and no matter where he is positioned (has the ability to stunt all over the field and even drop back in zone coverage as a Cover-2 type), as he is a savvy player who has a good grasp of the playbook and a very good understanding of most game situations. He is not the type that will take poor angles in pursuit, showing the hip action to quickly turn coming out of his backpedal. He is very alert maintaining eye contact with the ball when working through trash. He picks up traps and pulls easily and shows fluid feet retreating in pass coverage. He stays focused through-out the play and knows his teammates’ assignments well enough to line other players. He is a naturally instinctive player with very good field vision. He is a quick study, doing a nice job of taking plays from the chalk board to the field. He prepares well and understands his assignments. He plays with savvy and knows what he’s doing on every down.

Competitiveness…This kid has a relentless motor. Lee plays until the whistle and takes advantage of his excellent range to make plays sideline-to-sideline. He makes plays all over the field and delivers force behind his hits. He shows outstanding toughness and a desire to compete. One thing that is unquestioned is his high energy. He will step up and take on the lead block and is not the type that monitors his statistics, as only a victory is important to him. Still, he is the team’s top playmaker and the defense’s success revolves around his performance. He plays a physical game and shows excellent explosiveness. He plays with true aggression and will not hesitate to take on and face up to the larger offensive linemen.

Key and Diagnostic Skills…Originally, it was thought that Lee would begin his Ohio State career as a strong safety and then move to weak-side linebacker when his body matured. Through tireless work and a strong nutritional program, he soon grew into the strong-side linebacker spot, but at the professional level, he will likely settle in as a “Bandit” or at the weak-side second level position. He has shown not only a willingness to take on any task, but has quickly adapted to his new environment. He excels at locating the ball while taking on combo blocks playing, but he was much more comfortable in his “freelance” role in the second level, recording a total of 20 tackles-for-loss while limiting ball carriers to 23 yards on 66 running plays and pass catchers to nine catches on 50 passes targeted into his area during his first varsity, followed by yielding only 36 yards on 53 plays vs. the run last season, posting thirteen more stops-for-loss. He has the range to get to the ball suddenly, doing a nice job of opening his hips to change direction and string the plays out. Lee shows above average instincts and awareness, as he consistently makes fluid and decisive adjustments on the move and has a good nose for the plays in front of him. When he sees the plays develop, he has good reactions to misdirection and play action. He has developed a natural feel for the keeping the action in front of him and can track and flow to the ball well. With his “check-&-go” ability coming off the edge, along with his natural quickness, he is a dangerous threat to constantly impact the pocket when blitzing from the weak- or strong-side position (might yield considerable bulk to the left offensive tackles, but few have the footwork to retreat and gain advantage when Lee comes out of his stance with suddenness). It is obvious that Lee is a natural athlete with excellent instincts and field vision. He is very quick coming off the snap, staying low in his pads while generating quick lateral movements to string the plays wide. He has the natural ability to always anticipate the flow of the ball and he simply excels at reacting and tracking down the ball (see 2015 Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Michigan games). The thing you see on film that he is really a patient type that plays under control and has no problems identifying what the offense throws at him, despite his constant “chatter” and air of confidence in the trenches. It is very hard for a quarterback to get Lee to bite on misdirection or play action fakes. He has a keen sense for the ball, especially on plays in front of him, especially playing vs. the run. He is alert dropping back in zone coverage. He shows awareness sifting through trash and his anticipation skills will generally see him get to the ball quicker than most. Thanks to his loose hips, he rarely struggles in attempts to recover when he over-pursues. He has a good grasp of the playbook at several positions and does a good job of finishing his assignments.

Playing Strength and Explosion…Lee continues to work hard in the weight room to add more bulk and strength. He makes the most out of his functional power, and you can see the upper body bulk development that gives you confidence that his body is maturing nicely. He is quick to shed blocks thanks to his active hands and long arms that he uses effectively to keep blockers off his body. He keeps position and has a solid club move to separate from the larger blockers. He is more explosive than strong, at the moment, but generates natural pop upon contact. His ability to shock and jolt with his hands allows him to compensate for the size/bulk difference when facing up to the offensive linemen (normally yields 70-80 pounds when taking on offensive linemen, but still made 33 tackles for losses the last two years (solos and assists). He takes on the lead blocker and holds his ground at the point of attack. When he gets his hands on an opponent, he will usually leverage, shed and attack the ball. Playing him on the weak-side is where he is best suited, but when attaching himself to tight ends, slot receivers and the runners in the two-back set, he has become highly proficient in jamming and rerouting opponents away from the thrown ball (has allowed only nine catches of 50 balls targeted into his area, rerouting receivers away from 19 of those throws while batting away three other tosses and intercepting two others last season). Lee has more than enough playing strength to combat tight ends and lead blockers. There are times where he might struggle to shed when an offensive lineman latches on to his body. He is strong for his size and can hit with leverage to stun lead blocks and cause a pile. He has the hand strength to shed blocks quickly, doing a nice job of extending to keep blockers from attacking his body. He has the ease of movement agility to flow to the ball, staying at a proper pad level to extend, wrap and secure as a tackler. He constantly keeps his legs moving on contact, doing a nice job of driving the ball carrier back (see 2015 Virginia Tech, Hawaii and Indiana games). When he takes on blocks with his hands, he will generally separate and get off blocks quickly, but when they get outside his frame, linemen can have some success in locking on and neutralizing him. He has more than enough functional strength to take on blocks and shed vs. slot receivers, tight ends and fullbacks. He has no problems running down hill to fill the rush lane, but must maintain good leverage when taking on the linemen.

Lateral Pursuit and Range…Lee is an athlete with sudden explosion to the ball. He has excellent sideline-to-sideline range and ease of movement with outstanding balance. His flexibility allows him to plant, stop and redirect suddenly. He has an explosive closing burst and knows how to take proper angles to shorten the field. His change of direction agility allows him to turn and run on the ball. He uses his hands effectively to shed blocks and flow to the play. He has the agility to thread through traffic and the quickness to close. Lee covers the whole field and is especially effective chasing from the backside with an explosive burst. Rarely does he take bad angles. His hand usage lets him avoid blockers on the move, showing the desire to get to the ball and cut off the ball carrier. You can see that when he operates in the second level for pass coverage, that he has the lateral moves and run-&-chase ability to make plays along the sidelines. He keeps his feet and balance working through trash, more than enough to play in a stand-up position or with his hand down (has similarities to the Raiders’ Aldon Smith). He chases very well moving to the outside runners and makes many of his downfield tackles through sheer hustle. In Lee, you see a player that has a natural feel for the flow of the ball, showing quick lateral movement and fluid change of direction agility. He takes good angles in pursuit and stays low in his pads to deliver a clean wrap-up tackle. He is explosive when closing and has a natural flow in his backpedal. The thing you see on film is his ability to run through and around traffic. He gives great effort in pursuit and still plays under control to properly read and adjust to the flow of the ball (see 2015 Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan games). He has a natural feel for the flow of the ball, showing quick lateral movement and fluid change of direction agility. He has that ease of movement when changing direction to turn and run on the ball in an instant. He plays with good hand usage, balance and agility to thread through traffic. He is quick to pull the trigger when operating in pursuit, as he has the speed to cover ground from sideline to sideline, thanks to his excellent range and good effort.

Use of Hands…Lee uses his hands well, showing good strength to jolt and redirect tight ends in pass routes. He plays bigger than his size indicates, showing good physicality in his game. He uses his hands effectively to keep blockers off his feet and get around trash quickly. He is a natural hands catcher, even though he plays in a system where the linebacker is required to attack the man, rather than the ball, but you can see by his natural pass coverage skills that it is not difficult to evaluate his ability as a pass thief (see 2015 Northern Illinois; 2014 Maryland and Illinois games). The sophomore also his hands well to avoid blocks on the move, and thanks to good weight room strength, he will generally win the battles when asked to shed. There are times when his hands get outside his frame (leaves his body exposed), but he has the upper body strength to rip and shed vs. tight ends and smaller blockers. He is quite effective when he takes on one-on-one battles, as his speed, combined with a strong hand jolt, allows him to jump around and elude offensive linemen rather than taking them on. He has the hand punch needed to stun with consistency.

Tackling Ability…Lee makes things happen on the field thanks to his range and wrap-up tackling ability. He knows how to shorten the field by taking proper angles and has the lateral agility to flow to the ball. He stays square and does a good job of wrapping and securing. He plays at a good pad level and while he is still developing his strength for the next level (power is fine for the weak-side linebacker position, but size issues will not see him be a strong-side guy), he is an explosive hitter with the pop to drop running backs (tackled-for-loss or stopped at the line of scrimmage for no gain a total of 43 ball carriers on 119 plays he made vs. the run the last two years). Lee brings his arms properly to fit and secure. Even though he plays with reckless abandon, he is not prone to over-pursuing the play. He is an athletic tackler who will bring the ball carrier down when he faces up to his opponent. Lee is rapidly becoming a classic wrap-up tackler, as he consistently extends his arms properly to stalk and secure. He is the type that collides with ball carriers upon initial contact and has the strength to shed blocks and stay on the ball. He shows ease of movement getting to the ball when working in space. He has the leg drive and strength to get the ball carrier on the ground instantly. He brings a good thump upon contact and his hits have been known to jar the ball loose from several ball carriers. He brings his arms properly to wrap and is very fluid in his lateral movements to string the play wide. Lee is an athletic mover who is best when playing in space, but he has the raw power to make the wrap-up tackles in tight areas. He has the strength to attack the outside leg of the ball carrier to quickly impede that opponent’s forward progress. He will get out of control at times, but that will usually happen when he takes a wide loop to avoid lineman in his backside pursuit. Still, he is an aggressive hitter who closes fast, hits face up and wraps solidly (see 2015 Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan games). Lee is an impact type of wrap-up tackler, as it is rare for a ball carrier to break free when he engulfs his opponent. He is a very effective open field tackler, thanks to his ability to break down and read hats. He will get reckless at times and try to hurt people, but that leads to missed tackles. He is better when he uses his long arms to secure, but on the move, he can strike and explode on contact

Run Defense…When Lee is active with his hands, he has the moves to slip and avoid blockers to get through trash, but is best playing vs. the outside run than working in-line. When having to cover the inside rush, he does not have the bulk (certainly has the strength, though) to prevent the offensive linemen from riding him out, if they are able to lock on to him. He does have strength at the point of attack, but relies more on his quickness in order to step up and take on the lead blocks. When he uses his hands effectively, Lee is capable of filling the gaps. The thing I like about him is, even when the bigger blockers attack him, he works hard to get back into the play. He is best utilizing his change of direction and speed on the corners, where he can get to the ball carrier and cut off the play. He runs through traffic well and has the stop-&-go action to recover when he over-pursues. His speed lets him cut off runners with his backside pursuit and is very good at maintaining leverage and keeping containment vs. the outside run. He shows great agility and balance in that area, as he stays on his feet, clears trash and gets to the ball thanks to his quickness and speed. Against the inside run, Lee compensates for a lack of size and bulk with his change of direction agility and lateral movement to slip past blocks. He does a good job of coming down hill, but is best when using his hands to shed when working near the line of scrimmage, which allows him to fill the rush lane. He plays with good leverage taking on blocks coming off the edge. Against the outside run, few linebackers in college excel in this area like Lee. He has the speed and burst to head off ball carriers along the corners. He is a smart player who stays in control, but also shows urgency in making the play. He has the range to make plays sideline to sideline. His change of direction skills lets him cover large portions of the field. He runs to the ball well and has the hand usage to slip off passive blocks. When he closes on the ball, he will usually take good angles. His speed is evident when he simply explodes and accelerates to close. Lee is a much better tackler on the move than when trying to make plays in-line. He holds his ground well at the point of attack, and he fills quickly, but is best when unblocked. When he slips through and avoids blocks shooting the gaps, he is able to use his quickness to close. But, when he gets out of position, he struggles to get back into the play. Against the outside running game, he excels at getting containment. He has the speed to close and the range to make plays at the opposite sideline (see 2015 Maryland, Minnesota and Illinois games). He does a nice job of keeping his feet when getting wide for the play and tracks the ball well along the perimeter. He takes good angles to the ball and shows the alertness to avoid on the move.

Pass Defense…Considering that Lee worked mostly in the secondary as a safety and cornerback during his high school days, he has continued to have very good success handling pass coverage assignments, as he not only has defended and intercepted passes, he has also held opposing quarterbacks to just an 18.0 pass completion percentage vs. him, rerouting 28 receivers away from 88 targeted tosses while causing one fumble and one drop in assignments that saw just nine passes completed vs. him as a freshman and five more as a sophomore. He gets good depth in his pass drops and shows the range to close on the ball in a hurry. He has more than enough speed to run with the blazing receivers through their routes and the flexibility to mirror his opponent going deep.

Lee has the agility to open his hips and take no wasted steps in transition. He shows keen field vision and is consistent in keeping his head on a swivel. He has the leaping ability and timing, along with the hands to go for the ball in flight and pluck it outside his frame. His short area quickness allows him to shadow the tight ends and running backs on underneath routes. Lee also shows much greater discipline in his pass drops than most prospective linebackers eligible for the 2016 draft and continues to show that he is very capable in getting square to the ball and reacting when dropping off in the zone. Lee has the ability to drop off deep in the zone due to his hip swerve. He has the quickness to run with backs, tight ends and slot receivers in the short area and shows good vision, quickness and ball anticipation to be right in the receiver’s face in attempts to reroute (see 2015 Hawaii, Indiana and Minnesota games). He uses his hands with force in press situations and shows the hip swerve to operate in trail coverage. He takes no wasted steps in transition and is quick to turn coming out of his backpedal. He flips his hips properly and plays at a good pad level. He shows no stiffness in his turns and this allows him to drop off quickly. He gets very good depth in his pass drops and keeps his head on a swivel to locate the ball in flight. In man coverage, Lee has the quickness of a safety. He can turn and run with most tight ends and running backs. He looks natural maintaining position on the receiver when working underneath. His quick feet allow him to shadow even the speedier receivers on deep routes, doing a nice job of opening his hips to turn and run. He can really drop back in zone coverage due to his loose hips and upper body flexibility, also possessing the natural hands to come up with the ball when attacking it in flight (see 2015 Northern Illinois game).

Zone Defense…This is an area that Lee has very good experience in, as he was a high school defensive back and last season, was often operating as a nickel back-type during obvious pass plays. He has a very good feel for reading the quarterback, as is not the type that will eye the backfield too long (it helps that he was also a former quarterback in high school, as he can anticipate what the opposing passer might be thinking). He has the speed and recovery ability to shadow receivers through their routes, and is quick to recognize the patterns developing. When he gets a read on the play, he has the quickness to suddenly break on the ball. Lee has the ability to drop off deep in the zone due to his hip swerve. He takes no wasted steps in transition and is quick to turn coming out of his backpedal. He flips his hips properly and plays at a good pad level. He shows no stiffness in his turns and this allows him to drop off quickly. He gets very good depth in his pass drops and keeps his head on a swivel to locate the ball in flight. His ball awareness skills let him locate the ball quickly. He does a good job of picking up and switching off on receivers, keeping the play in front of him. He has an explosive break on the ball and keeps his hands properly extended to wrap and secure. He is so instinctive, you will rarely, if ever, see him frozen by the tight ends. His understanding of zone concepts and great ability to anticipate the ball in flight allows him to stay on the field for every down. Lee has the hip snap and fluid moves to stop, start and change direction in an instant. He shows a good feel for handling switch-offs and is an alert player who does a nice job of reading threats from the quarterback and timing his moves to get to the ball before the receiver. He has enough burst and athletic ability to discourage the passer from throwing into his area, as his anticipation and burst lets him get a quick jump on the ball.

Pass Rush and Blitz…In 2014, Lee became an outstanding blitzer and edge rusher. He shows explosion in his initial step and the ability to close and push the pocket. He takes good angles in his backside pursuit and runs with that explosive burst and fine timing to get a great jump on the ball. He closes with desire and is very good at shortening the field by taking proper angles. When working inside, he is very active with his hands, but can get hung up in traffic due to his lack of ideal bulk to defeat the offensive linemen. He has the valid speed to surprise a lethargic weak- or strong-side tackle when playing off the edge and does a nice job using his shoulder dip to escape when blockers try to engulf him. Even when yielding 70-80 pounds to an offensive lineman, with his array of moves (highly efficient spin move), he is hard for blockers in their attempts to square him up. For some strange reason, the team did not utilize Lee’s awesome edge rushing ability to its fullest this season, preferring him to remain in the second level rather than attacking the backfield. He was nursing a leg contusion earlier in the year, but really “amped” up his intensity creating havoc behind the line the second half of the 2015 season (see 2015 Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan games. Lee is better served when he is used quite a bit on stunts through the gaps, as he showed in 2014 that he can develop into a really explosive pass rusher. This season, he was more of a bull rusher. He is not your typical “one-move type” and he is better off when allowed to show the variety in his moves when attacking the pocket. He can find the rush land, bring heat and close on the quarterbacks when taking the route through the A- and B- gaps, using his hands well to get free when blockers get into his body.

Compares To…LAVONTE DAVID-Tampa Bay…Our staff regards David as the most underrated linebacker in the NFL, and also one of their elite playmakers. Forget what he can do – much like Lavonte David, you have to imagine that once he gains more experience, there might not be anything that can prevent Lee from taking that spot as his position’s “measuring stick” in the future. For a young linebacker with just two years of experience at the position, he was absolutely everywhere for the Buckeyes as a freshman and sophomore.

2015 SEASON...Named the best sophomore player in college football by The NFL Draft Report, that scouting information service also named the linebacker to their All-American Dream Team, as he was also selected second-team by Sports Illustrated…Despite those national accolades, he received just second-team All-Big Ten Conference recognition from the league’s coaches and third-team honors from the media…Received watch list honors from the Rotary Lombardi Award. In its 46th year, the award is presented by the Houston Sports Authority to the outstanding down lineman, end-to-end, either on offense or defense or linebacker. Also named on that list were Lee’s teammates, Joey Bosa, a junior defensive end, senior left offensive tackle, Taylor Decker, junior offensive guard, Pat Elflein and senior defensive tackle, Adolphus Washington. The Buckeyes’ Jim Stillwagon captured the award in 1970, followed by John Hicks being named the 1973 winner. Chris Spielman was the winner in 1987 and Orlando Pace repeated in 1996 after first winning that prestigious honor in 1995. The last Ohio State player to take home the award was A.J. Hawk in 2005…Lee was one of five Buckeyes that have been named to the 2015 Bronko Nagurski Award preseason watch list, announced by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The award is presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in college football. Joining Lee are junior safety, Vonn Bell, senior linebacker, Joshua Perry, Adolphus Washington and Joey Bosa, who was a finalist for the award last season. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2014 FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s membership, selects the 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in college football during the FWAA’s 75th anniversary year.

Season Statistics…Started all thirteen games at strong-side outside linebacker, as Lee ranked fifth on the team with 66 tackles (36 solos) that included 4.5 sacks for minus 35 yards…Ranks third on the squad with 11.0 stops for losses of 51 yards, adding ten quarterback pressures…Deflected two passes and returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown…Part of a unit that ranked 12th in the nation in pass defense (176.2 ypg), sixth in passing efficiency defense (101.92 rating), second in scoring defense (14.0 ppg), tenth in total defense (303.5 ypg) and 22nd in rush defense (127.3 ypg).

Lee Against the Run…The red-shirt sophomore was directly involved in 53 running plays, limiting his opponents to 36 yards (0.68 ypc), nine first downs (three via Lee penalties) and no touchdowns, as he recorded eleven third-down hits and one fourth-down tackle…Was in on thirteen stops-for-loss (solos and assists) while taking down ten other runners at the line of scrimmage for no gain…Lee delivered fourteen of his tackles inside the red zone, including four via goal-line stands, as he also registered five touchdown-saving tackles vs. the ground game.

Lee Against the Pass…Lee was directly involved in 38 pass plays, allowing seven receptions for 50 yards (7.14 yards per completion/1.32 yards per attempt), limiting his opponent to a pass percentage completion of .1842…Posted ten quarterback pressures, making fourteen third-down hits and two more on fourth-down snaps…Broke up two passes and intercepted another that he returned 41 yards for a touchdown…Caused a fumble and rerouted/jammed his coverage assignments away from ten passes, as he also came up with two touchdown-saving tackles vs. the aerial game.

2015 SEASON GAME ANALYSIS

Virginia Tech…The 42-24 season opener win extends Ohio State’s streak to fourteen consecutive victories, thanks to the heroics of their sophomore strong-side outside linebacker. In a game that saw starter Cardale Jones and backup J.T. Barrett struggle to stretch the field, Lee delivered six tackles, getting into the backfield for an assisted sack while delivering two third-down stops…Lee’s first tackle for the 2015 season came when he leveled J.C. Coleman on a three-yard carry over left guard in the first quarter…Early in the second quarter, he blew past left offensive tackle Jonathan McLaughlin to tackle Greg Stroman for a 4-yard loss during a rushing attempt…re getting yardage afterward. To put so much into it …Fourth quarter action saw Tech punt after Lee and defensive tackle Tommy Schutt converged in the backfield to sack reserve quarterback Brenden Motley for a 6-yard loss on a third-&-13 snap…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#4-J.C. Coleman (5:06-192)-Twelve carries for 43 yards (3.58 ypc) and no touchdowns…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted five plays vs. the run, as he twice assisted in making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, along with posting two hits on third-down plays, limiting his opponent to minus one yard rushing (-0.20 ypc) vs. the ground game. He also one play vs. the pass, allowing a 3-yard catch…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 128 yards, ten first downs and no touchdowns on 44 carries (2.91 ypc), as the opponent completed 15-of-25 passes (60.00%) for 192 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, finishing the day with 320 yards on a total of 69 plays (4.64 yards per attempt).

Hawaii...Lee finished the day with four tackles, including two sacks which matches a career-high in front of a crowd of 107,145 that witness Ohio State pull off a 38-0 rout of the Warriors…He rerouted slot receiver Marcus Kemp away from a deep pass and then pressured quarterback Matt Wittek into throwing the ball away on third-&-8, forcing a 28-yard Hawaii punt during the opponent’s game-opening possession…He forced Hawaii to punt again on third-&-10 when Lee assisted in taking Melvin Davis down on a 3-yard run over left guard, but on the ensuing kick, he was penalized for running into the punter…He made up for that miscue by reaching around Kemp to knock away another Wittek pass attempt just before halftime…Before the team headed to the locker room, Lee banged into Dayasyia Hagger on another errant toss by Wittek, as the receiver dropped the third-&-5 pass and out came the Hawaii punt unit once again with 0:39 left in the second stanza…In the second half, he sacked Wittek for a 7-yard loss, causing a fumble that Buckeyes frosh defensive end Sean Hubbard recovered, setting up an Ohio State drive that ended with a 20-yard field goal…Wittek was replaced by Ikaika Woolsey, but the new quarterback did not fare much better, as Lee swooped into the backfield to record an 8-yard sack on a third-&-8 snap to again force a Hawaii punt with 5:46 left on the game clock…After the game, a reporter asked Lee about the defensive unit as a group and the linebacker said, “We have so much fun out there. It doesn’t matter what position we’re put in, we’re such a close knit group. Honestly, we want to be out there the entire time. We’re family.”… Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#29-Paul Harris (5:11-190)-Fourteen carries for 46 yards (3.28 ypc) and no touchdowns (no reception)…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted five plays vs. the run, as he recorded two third-down hits and another on a fourth-down snap while posting two stops-for-loss and another that took down a runner at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Two of his tackles came inside the red zone, limiting his opponent to minus 15 yards rushing (-3.00 ypc) vs. the ground game…. He also a third-down quarterback pressure among his two third-down stops vs. the passing game, rerouting one receiver away from a pass play while causing another opponent to drop one toss, in addition to breaking up another throw and allowing one catch for three yards…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 80 yards, six first downs and no touchdowns on 35 carries (2.29 ypc), as the opponent completed 8-of-26 passes (30.77%) for 85 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the day with 165 yards on a total of 61 plays (2.70 yards per attempt).

Northern Illinois…The Buckeyes’ playmaker was at it again, one week after his forced fumble set up an OSU field goal. This time, it was Lee who reached the end zone, making a mad dash with an interception for a 41-yard game-winning touchdown in the third quarter.

Lee made the spectacular interception to stop a fierce march by NIU in a too-close-for-comfort 20-13 Buckeyes victory. Unlike last week, when the Buckeyes shook free of Hawaii in the second half, they couldn't ditch Northern Illinois, needing Lee to save the day yet again, as he led a defense that did not allow any second half first downs. ''They're front seven is probably as good as anyone's in the country,'' Huskies quarterback Drew Hare said. With the Buckeyes offense snarled, the defenders took matters into their own hands. Lee jumped a quick pass to the sideline, picked it off, stiff-armed one Husky and then ran away from another he outweighs by about 60 pounds. ''I got the look I wanted outside,'' Hare said. ''I tried to throw the screen and their guy made a great play.'' Lee said he knew what play was coming by how the Huskies lined up. ''We needed to make something happen,'' Lee said. The linebacker's touchdown made it 20-10 with 1:44 left in the third. It was the second week in a row Ohio State scored a defensive touchdown and held its opponent under 100 yards passing. The offense that looked unstoppable in the opener at Virginia Tech has been nowhere to be found…Lee's third-quarter interception marked the third of his career. The touchdown was his third-career score and first off an interception.

He also had a key fourth quarter pressure to kill another NIU series…After the game, head coach Urban Meyer gushed when talking about Lee’s pass theft, “Great play. He's one of the best players in the country. I love that kid. And he's a high energy guy. He's got great, offensive skilled hands, and really is a great player for us.”…In the post game press conference, Lee fielded several questions, including his thoughts on the week leading up to the game and if he felt OSU was the best team in the country. He emphatically stated, “I don't really want to speak on that. But I know we've got a lot of work to do.”…Asked about the NIU offense and their starting quarterback, Lee said, “Honestly, that's a heck of a football team. That felt more like a Big Ten team, to be honest with you. That quarter-back, he made plays for them. We tip our hat to them; they played a heck of a ballgame on both sides of the ball. Quarterback made plays for them. Had other guys make plays for them. They came in here ready to play. And that was heck of a football team. We're just glad to get a W.”…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#28-Joel Bouagnon-(6:02-226)-21 carries for 78 yards (3 lost yards; 3.71 ypc), no touchdowns and three catches for 8 yards…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted one play vs. the run, as he limited his opponent to three yards rushing (3.00 ypc) vs. the ground game. He recorded one stop inside the red zone and two more on pass plays, allowing one catch for three yards while posting one quarterback pressure…He also posted two plays vs. the pass, allowing a 3-yard reception…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 110 yards, six first downs and one touchdown on 43 carries (2.56 ypc), as the opponent completed 14-of-31 passes (45.16%) for 80 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the day with 190 yards on a total of 74 plays (2.57 yards per attempt).

Indiana…While Eli might be the "Apple" in the eyes of OSU fans for his partial deflection of the final pass for the game, it was the Buckeyes own "super sophomore" in the middle of the action who shined through, making up for a pair of facemask penalties with eight tackles (6 solos) that included a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage…His first tackle for the day stopped Jordan Howard for a loss in the backfield, as the tailback injured his ankle on the play and was limited the rest of the contest. Lee followed by forcing an Indiana punt when he denied receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. room to get to a Nate Sudfeld third-&-5 pass during Indiana’s game-opening series…The Buckeye was charged for grabbing the face mask of Devine Redding on a 4-yard run that set up a 1-yard scoring run by the tail-back later in the opening frame…He made up for that error by stuffing Redding at the line of scrimmage during a second quarter third-&-2 carry…Redding was again capture by Lee for a loss on a third quarter rushing attempt…He chased Zander Diamont out of bounds on a 1-yard bootleg and then jammed Anthony Corsaro to prevent Diamont from completing a third-&-6 pass, forcing the Hoosiers to punt during early fourth quarter action…Another face mask penalty followed a Diamont pass completion to Ricky Jones, but Indiana failed to capitalize from the miscue…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#8-Jordan Howard (6:1-233)-Fourteen carries for 34 yards (lost 3 yards; 2.43 ypc), no touchdowns and two catches for 16 yards…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted seven plays vs. the run, as he limited his opponent to eight yards rushing (1.14 ypc) vs. the ground game. He recorded one third-down stop and another inside the red zone, posting two stops-for-loss while taking down one runner at the line of scrimmage for no gain. However, he recorded a facemask penalty that led to a touchdown drive vs. the ground game. He added three plays vs. the pass, including two third-down stops, rerouting two receivers away from incomplete tosses, but also registered another face mask penalty on a pass play vs. the aerial attack…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 176 yards, five first downs and three touchdowns on 55 carries (3.20 ypc), as the opponent completed 17-of-36 passes (47.22%) for 226 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing the day with 402 yards on a total of 91 plays (4.42 yards per attempt).

Penn State…Wearing black uniforms for the first time, the Buckeyes didn't look like themselves, though they did look a lot more like the dominant team many expected the defending national champions to be this season. Penn State knows exactly who its quarterback is, but Christian Hackenberg was again poorly protected vs. the Ohio State pass rush, as Lee recorded one of his four tackles behind the line of scrimmage…That stop came midway through the second quarter, as the strong-side linebacker tackled Brandon Polk for a 4-yard loss after the Nittany Lions “F” receiver after Polk had recovered a bad snap…Ohio State tallied five sacks as a team vs. the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes have recorded at least four sacks in five of seven games this season…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#26-Saquon Barkley (5:11-222)-26 carries for 194 yards (7.46 ypc) and no touchdowns (no reception)…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted four plays vs. the run, as he limited his opponent to two yards rushing (0.50 ypc). He recorded one touchdown-saving tackle and brought down another runner at the line of scrimmage for no gain vs. the ground game…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 195 yards, eight first downs and no touchdowns on 40 carries (4.88 ypc), as the opponent completed 7-of-13 passes (53.85%) for 120 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, finishing the day with 315 yards on a total of 53 plays (5.94 yards per attempt).

Minnesota…Lee delivered five tackles with two quarterback pressures and a pass break-up, as the Buckeyes limited Minnesota to just 33 yards rushing, marking the lowest total an opponent has gained on the ground all year. It was the fewest since Ohio State allowed just 16 yards on the ground to Penn State on October 25th, 2014…His first pressure forced Mitch Leidner to throw the ball away on a third-&-8 later second quarter snap that was followed by a UM punt…Another punt came later in the third quarter after Leidner again misfired after he was flushed out of the pocket by the strong-side linebacker…He stuck to K.J. Maye “like glue” to prevent a deep pass play from being completed just before third quarter action concluded…His finest moment of the day came during an early fourth quarter possession. Lee first tackled Rodrick Williams Jr. on a 2-yard run before the linebacker rerouted tight end Drew Wolitarsky away from a third-&-4 pass from Leidner. On first-&-goal, Williams turned the left corner and looked like he would score, but Lee clobbered the ball carrier for no gain at the OSU 4-yard line. On second-&-goal, he reached around Brandon Lingen to deflect a Leidner pass, thus preventing a touchdown…The Gophers failed to reach the end zone on their final drive, as Lee took down Rashad Still after a fourth-&-3 catch netted just two yards with 0:13 left and the Buckeyes ran out the clock…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#24-Rodney Smith (5:11-200)-Six carries for nine yards (lost four yards; 1.50 ypc), no touchdowns (had no receptions)…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted four plays vs. the run, as made two stops inside the red zone, a pair of touchdown-saving tackles, along with upending one runner at the line of scrimmage one third-down stop, limiting his opponent to two yards (0.50 ypc) vs. the ground game. He recorded six plays vs. the pass, rerouting two receivers away from pass plays, delivering one touchdown-saving tackle and recorded three first downs while allowing one reception for two yards on a fourth-down snap to end the game vs. the aerial attack…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 33 yards, no first downs and no touchdowns on 26 carries (1.27 ypc), as the opponent completed 27-of-45 passes (60.00%) for 281 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, finishing the day with 314 yards on a total of 71 plays (4.42 yards per attempt).

Illinois…Lee was tested often in pass coverage, but he made one touchdown-saving tackle during his aerial exploits, along with posting a QB pressure and seven tackles (4 solos) that included assisting in one stop-for-loss…The Illini were forced to punt after their game-opening drive, as Lee pressured Wes Lunt to throw away a third-&-11 pass…Later in the second quarter, Illinois settled for a 46-yard field goal after Lee had rerouted tailback Josh Ferguson away from Lunt’s third-&-4 pass attempt…After he saw Desmond Cain grab a 20-yard pass in his area, Lee had to race to the weak-side when Joshua Perry missed a tackle on a 38-yard reception made by “X” receiver Geronimo Allison…He later took down Malik Turner after a 15-yard grab, closing out his day by tackling Ferguson in the backfield for a loss during a fourth quarter running play…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#6-Josh Ferguson (5:10-199)-Twelve carries for 49 yards (lost three yards; 4.08 ypc), no touchdowns, catching five passes for 26 yards…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted two plays vs. the run, as made one stop-for loss while limiting his opponent to zero yards (0.00 ypc) vs. the ground game. He recorded seven plays vs. the pass, rerouting one receiver away from pass plays, delivering one touchdown-saving tackle, as he recorded two third downs while allowing three receptions for 39 yards, in addition to chasing down one receiver at the opposite side of the field after a 38-yard play…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 20 yards, four first downs and no touchdowns on 25 carries (0.80 ypc), as the opponent completed 23-of-47 passes (48.94%) for 241 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing the day with 261 yards on a total of 72 plays (3.63 yards per attempt).

Michigan State…On a rainy and windy day at Ohio Stadium, the Spartans took control of the Big Ten East, putting them into the thick of the playoff hunt and very likely ended the Buckeyes' chances to repeat as national champs. Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired and Michigan State, playing without injured Connor Cook, beat Ohio State 17-14 Saturday to snap the Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak…Ohio State managed just 132 yards vs. a rugged Spartans defense and lost for the first time to a Big Ten team in the regular season since Urban Meyer became coach four seasons ago…Lee produced seven tackles that included one stop behind the line of scrimmage…He stopped Tyler O’Connor on a third-&-3 run that netted just one yard, forcing the Spartans to punt after their first series for the second half…With four minutes left in the contest, Lee assisted in taking L.J. Scott down for a 1-yard loss on a rushing attempt…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#24-Gerald Hodges (6:00-216)-Fourteen carries for 65 yards (lost one yard; 4.64 ypc) and one touchdown (had no catches)…Lee Game Impact-The Buck-eyes defender posted seven plays vs. the run, as he made one stop-for loss and another inside the red zone, posting one third-down hit while limiting his opponent to 16 yards (2.29 ypc) vs. the ground game…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 203 yards, fourteen first downs and one touch-down on 51 carries (3.98 ypc), as the opponent completed 8-of-16 passes (50.00%) for 91 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, finishing the day with 294 yards on a total of 67 plays (4.39 yards per attempt).

Michigan… Unlike Ohio State, the Wolverines struggled to move the ball on the ground, as Lee was relentless in applying pressure, hurrying the quarterback three times while posting a tackle-for-loss for the seventh time this season, also producing seven hits (4 solos) that included a stop behind the line of scrimmage…Lee first pressured Jabrill Peppers on a trick play that failed. On the next snap, Lee again raced into the backfield on a third-&-5 snap, as a rattled Jake Ruddock threw the ball away and Michigan sent their punt unit on to the field…Early in the second quarter, Peppers again took a direct snap under center, but the former safety was flattened by Lee for a 1-yard loss. On second-&-goal, he refused to let Amara Darboh get into his route for a Ruddock pass. Then, on third-&-goal, Ruddock again threw wildly as Lee converged on the quarterback – the pressure resulting in an incompletion, followed by a 25-yard field goal, as Michigan salvaged some points from that 72-yard, 14-play series…A fourth quarter series was squashed when Lee brought down Grant Perry after the receiver caught a fourth-&-10 pass from Wilton Speight to end the linebacker’s production for the day…Ohio State has won 18 consecutive true road games (games on an opponent's home field), the longest such streak in the nation and extending the school record. The Buckeyes are undefeated, a perfect 18-0, in road games under Meyer, or since the start of the 2012 season…Primary Running Back Coverage Assignment-TB#4-De’Veon Smith (5:11-228)-Ten carries for 23 yards (2.30 ypc) and no touchdowns, adding three catches for 31 yards…Lee Game Impact-The Buckeyes defender posted five plays vs. the run, as he delivered one stop-for-loss, two hits on goal-line plays and one third-down tackle while limiting his opponent to eight yards (1.60 ypc) vs. the ground game…He recorded six plays vs. the pass, rerouting one receiver away from pass plays, delivering one touchdown-saving tackle, as he recorded two third-down plays vs. the aerial attack…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 573 yards, three first downs and no touchdowns on 25 carries (2.28 ypc), as the opponent completed 25-of-47 passes (53.19%) for 307 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finishing the day with 354 yards on a total of 72 plays (4.92 yards per attempt).

2014 SEASON...Named the National Defensive Freshman of the Year by The NFL Draft Report, there might not have been a better play-maker on the Buckeyes’ star-studded defensive unit than the red-shirt freshman… Also earned Freshman All-American team status from The NFL Draft Report, USA Today, Athlon’s, Scout.com and Phil Steele…The Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Sugar Bowl was assigned strong-side outside linebacker duties, where he started all fifteen contests…Lee often stunted, as he added experience on the weak-side, his projected professional position…The New Albany High School product finished third on the team with 81 tackles (54 solos), as his 7.5 sacks for minus 52 yards placed second on the squad…His sack total tied Joey Bosa (2013) for 21st on the school’s season-record chart while also placing fourth on the OSU freshman annual record list…Lee also finished second on the squad with 16.5 stops for losses of 70 yards, as that figure tied A.J. Hawk for the 13th-best in a season by an OSU player. That total placed second on the school freshman record chart, topped by only Andy Katzenmoyer (23.0 in 1996)…His lost yardage total (70) on stops behind the line of scrimmage rank fifth-best ever by an Ohio State freshman…Was part of a unit that ranked 19th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten Conference with an average of 342.4 yards allowed per game, finishing 34th in the FBS and fifth in the league in run defense (141.3 ypg), 26th in the country and fourth in the Big Ten in scoring defense (22.0 ppg) and 28th in the nation while ranking sixth in the conference in pass defense (201.1 ypg)…The Buckeyes also ranked second in the nation by recording six defensive touchdowns (Washington had seven), with Lee the ultimate playmaker for Ohio State. He scored two of those touchdowns via fumble recovery advancements – a 61-yard runback during his college debut vs. Navy and a 33-yarder for a score vs. Michigan. He also added two interceptions for 26 yards, as his 10-yard runback vs. Maryland set up an OSU touchdown drive, along with a 26-yarder vs. Illinois that led to another Buckeyes touchdown march…His forced fumble via a reception vs. Rutgers resulted in Ohio State recovering the ball for another score…Among his seven quarterback pressures, he caused interceptions vs. both Maryland and Minnesota, again causing a pass theft via a pressure that led to an OSU touchdown drive vs. Michigan…Lee limited his opponents to 23 yards on 66 running plays directed at him, as he yielded just seven first downs and no touch-downs while recording fifteen third-down hits and made nineteen of his tackles inside the red zone, including two on goal-line plays…Collected a total of eighteen tackles-for-loss (fifteen solos and three assists), in addition to registering four touchdown-saving tackles and taking down runners at the line of scrimmage for no gain on five other running plays…Lee was involved in 50 passes targeted into his area, as opponents completed nine of those tries (18.0%) for 32 yards, an average of 3.56 yards per completion and 0.64 yards per attempt…Rerouted/jammed his coverage assignment away from eighteen passes and also caused a fumble, and another receiver to drop a pass…Recorded twelve third-down stops and another on a fourth-down attempt, as he also took down one receiver at the line of scrimmage for no gain and one other for a loss vs. the passing game…Lee formed an outstanding “triangle” on the strong-side, as the linebacker played behind first level standouts, end Joey Bosa (53 tackles, 13.5 sacks for minus 96 yards, 21.0 stops for losses of 116 yards, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery) and tackle Adolphus Washington (48 tackles, 4.5 sacks for minus 28 yards, 10.5 stops for losses of 42 yards and one forced fumble)… That trio combined for 182 tackles, 25.5 sacks (minus 176 yards), 48.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage (losses totaled 228 yards), seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries that were advanced 98 yards with two touchdowns…48 other Buckeyes recorded defensive statistics in 2014, as that group combined for 820 tackles (average of 17.08 tackles per player), 19.5 sacks for minus 131 yards (0.41 sacks per player), 62 stops behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 221 yards, nine forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

AGILITY TESTS...4.47 in the 40-yard dash (hand-held)…4.54 in the 40-yard dash (electronic)…1.55 10-yard dash…2.60 in the 20-yard dash…4.20 20-yard shuttle…11.39 60-yard shuttle…7.12 three-cone drill…35 ½--inch vertical jump…11’-1” broad jump…355-pound bench press…Bench presses 225 pounds 17 times…33 3/8-inch arm length…10 1/8-inch hands...79 7/8-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL...Lee moved to New Albany, Ohio during the eighth grade and attended New Albany High School, where he competed as a quarterback, wide receiver, safety and return specialist for Eagles head coach Mark Mueller…Rated the 29th-best safety in the nation, Lee received four-star status from Scout.com…Was also rated the 28th-best overall player in the state of Ohio by ESPN…The three-year starter also lettered in track…Lee compiled a 3.0 grade point average.

Senior Season…Lee helped the Eagles compile an 11-3 record, including a 7-0 mark as the Division II State Final Four choice captured the regional and Ohio Capital Conference titles. Concentrating on quarterback and secondary duties, first-team Associated Press Division II All-state cornerback recorded five interceptions with three punt returns for touchdowns, as he also accounted for over 1,700 yards of offense and 21 touchdowns.

Junior Season…Lee helped the Eagles compile a 9-3 record, as the regional semifinalist also captured the Ohio Capital Conference title.

Track & Field Team…Lee competed for both the Eagles’ indoor and outdoor teams… During the 2012 indoor season, he had a personal-best 7.23-second clocking in the 60-meter dash and also had a 5’-10” high jump at the OSU Buckeye Qualifier Meet…At the Arnold High school Classic, he was a member of the 4x400 relay team that finish second with a time of 3:32.55…Performing for the 2012 outdoor team, he captured the 200-meter title with a 22.21-second clocking at the District Running Event and had a personal-best 43.52-second run as a member of the 4x100 relay team that finished third at the Stingel Invitational…His 4x200 relay squad won the District Running Event (89.28) and ranked second at the Stingel Invitational…The 4x400 relay team posted a top mark of 3:24.53 to win the District Running Event…Limited during the 2013 indoor season to concentrate on offseason football training, he timed 24.23 as his personal best in the 200 meters…For the 2013 outdoor team, he finished third in the 100 meters (11.10) at the Central District III Meet and had a 5’-8” high jump mark at the Wildcat Premier…His 4x400 relay team won the Central District III title (42.76), as his 4x200 squad placed third (1:31.58) at that event.

PERSONAL...Lee is majoring in Consumer and Family Financial Services…Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lee moved to Ohio as an eighth grader...His mother, Candice, is a news anchor for WCMH/Channel Four, the local NBC affiliate…Resides in New Albany, Ohio.  

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Ok, for some reason, I can't quote it.   

http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/16767808/the-nfl-draft-report-s--final-analysis----outside-linebacker-darron-lee-the-ohiostate-scouting-report.html

 

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2 minutes ago, win4ever said:

 

Scouts are very aware that this talented athlete has the “it” factor, one that even has some of those analysts favorably comparing him to the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Derrick Brooks. Others see similarities in his style of play to the man who eventually replaced Brooks in Tampa - Lavonte David. Off the field, Lee is a calm, well-spoken, humble guy who could almost be described as laid back. On the field, though, it is a different story, as that hunger, that intensity and most of all – his blessed athletic ability shines through.

You are almost jolted out of your seat when you see Lee on the field. A pleasant sort to talk to - his persona changes in an instant when his foot first touches the playing field. After all, this is a player with a lot to prove – mostly to himself, as he is his own harshest critic. Yet, that is what makes those same scouts call him the Big Ten Conference’s best athlete to perform on the defensive side of the ball since Charles Woodson became the first defensive player to garner Heisman Trophy honors as a Michigan Wolverine.

That first step on to the field is followed often by Lee hooting and hollering with his team-mates, bouncing up and down trying to do anything he can to fire up the Buckeyes before they play a game. The unquestioned playmaker of a highly aggressive defensive unit, he is sort of the “peanut butter” to the “jelly” offered by defensive end Joey Bosa and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington.

 

 

 

i stopped reading right around this part......cant wait to get my #43 Lee jersey

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More from the same website:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a continuation of our staff finalizing grades in preparation for the NFL Draft. This report features the 2016 Linebacker Class. Our staff evaluates based on the player’s projected success and when an athlete is regarded as versatile enough to be considered a prospect at multiple positions, he is rated according to his ability at that spot. Examples are Su’a Cravens and Jatavis Brown, as both are rated at this position, including being evaluated with the strong safety class.

ACCESSING OUR RATINGS CHARTS

To find our complete ratings charts, follow these links below;

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/16699975/the-nfl-draft-report-s--by-the-numbers--series---the-final-2016-outside-linebacker-edge-rusher-class-ratings.html

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/16698222/the-nfl-draft-report-s--by-the-numbers--series---the-final-2016-middle-inside-linebacker-class-ratings.html

TEAMS WILL DRAFT BASED ON THEIR ALIGNMENT

With teams seeming to return to “old school” tactics by using the 4-3 defensive alignment, only ten teams will line up predominantly in a 3-4 base defensive scheme for the 2016 schedule. Among those organizations, Buffalo seems to be the most desperate to find a blue chip outside linebacker. Other teams in the 3-4 alignment that will look early in the draft to upgrade at this position are Arizona and New Orleans. Philadelphia will also have a crucial need, but more so to change their culture, as they plan to scrap the 3-4 and return to a 4-3 base system next season.

In order to have a successful 4-3 or 3-4 alignment, one of the outside ‘backers need to be big and physical. Often called the “Elephant,” made popular by the Packers, that athlete is usually relied upon to serve as a primary pass rusher. Depending on the scheme, the Elephant can be on either side of the defensive formation.

Strength is crucial, as the Elephant will often be challenged by double-team action from the right tackle and tight end, or having to fend off the cat-quick left tackles to get into the backfield successfully from the edge. More often than not, you will see teams try to convert rush ends to this position.

Some of the more notable performers being viewed as valid early draft round candidates who could perform well at the “Elephant” spot are Senior bowl standout, Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky and Georgia’s tandem of Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd. The Senior Bowl also intrigued teams on how they might utilize Virginia Tech’s Dadi Nicolas or Utah State’s Kyler Fackrell in that role. Maryland’s Yannick Ngakoue is another possibility, if the rush end can improve his overall speed. Smaller school talent that has captured teams’ attention is Stony Brook’s Victor Ochi.

The weak-side linebacker is the quicker of the two spots, as that player’s general assignments are usually required for blitzing from the edge, covering tight ends and slot receivers in the short-to-intermediate area. Their speed is a critical asset, as the weak-side ‘backer is often in pursuit of running backs or having to handle receivers in man coverage.

While his early 2015 season injury kept Myles Jack out of action after three games, many feel that he may not be fully recovered by training camp. Meanwhile, injured Notre Dame star, Jaylon Smith, will certainly be on the sidelines for the 2016 schedule, but some teams are still considering him as a late first round prospect. Jack can play any of the ‘backer spots, but most except that his range and quickness will be better suited for the “Will” outside position. Pac-12 Conference rivals Su’a Cravens is more of a Cover-2 type who might get more draft attention as a safety, but has the LaVonte David-like closing speed.

The same holds true for injured Florida State ‘backer Terrance Smith. He is on the light side, but has Cover-2 experience that would make him a nice late round target, as he can also play in the middle. Smith had injury issues the last two years, but is also experienced at playing in the middle. The “wild card” at weak-side linebacker could be emerging Senior Bowl star, Miles Killebrew of Southern Utah, but like Cravens, his deep zone coverage skills might afford a team a better option at strong safety.

Nineteen other teams remained predominantly in a 4-3 defensive alignment. Some, like Chicago, Minnesota and Tampa Bay operated out of a “Cover-2” scheme. Atlanta used multiple fronts with amoeba concepts, while Denver, Cleveland and Cincinnati would sprinkle in both alignments, based on the action on the field.

In the 4-3 alignment, the strong-side linebacker will usually be bigger than the weak-side defender. He usually has to take on both an offensive tackle and tight end during attempts to blitz and is often charged with stuffing the run. Finding a “Sam” player who has great ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks is what most position coaches are looking for in the draft. Atlanta, Miami and Seattle are some of the teams that will be scouring the draft for quality “Sam” guys.

One that would have been coveted for that role is Notre Dame middle linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has the skill-set to play any of the three spots. However, his reconstructive knee surgery will have teams re-evaluating his draft stock after medical exams at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. Most expect he will get a positive report – enough to keep him into talks for the top part of Round One. Also, keep an eye on Minnesota’s stud De’Vontre Campbell. He showed impressive athletic skills during the all-star practices, but his major weakness is a lack of ball recognition skills.

Ohio State played their linebackers at opposite positions that they are viewed in scouting circles. Darron Lee looks like the next big-impact type Buckeyes’ ‘backer, but the once 200-pound safety did struggle vs. bigger and multiple blockers on the strong-side. A shift to the “Will” position appears to be his quickest course to an NFL starting job. OSU weak-side guy, Josh Perry, is more built for the “Sam” position. He proved sorely lacking in the pass coverage department last season, as he allowed 21-of-27 targeted passes into his area to be completed.

The weak-side linebacker has to be the fastest of the team’s ‘backers on the field. He is the type that needs to not only be quick, but stay low in his pads in order to make plays chasing from the backside. He drops back often in pass coverage and also has to be slippery enough to maneuver through traffic. Jacksonville, Detroit and Minnesota are all expected to look for a weak-side upgrade during the first two days of the draft.

Outside of Lee, Jack and Cravens, “will” performers that could hear their names called by the end of Round Four are Skai Moore, Eric Striker from Oklahoma and a rising talent out of Louisiana State, Deion Jones, a late Senior Bowl addition who certainly made a lasting impression for scouts in Mobile that never saw him in action.

Based on our early ratings charts, there were three dozen outside linebackers eligible for the 2016 draft that we deemed draft eligible. Among those are nine blue chip talents expected to be selected during the first two rounds. This unit is being led by a trio of youngsters who opted to leave school early – Lee, Jack and Jaylon Smith, even though the latter two will see some draft stock slippage due to injury issues.

While the underclassmen are great additions depth-wise for the outside linebacker position, some of those that decided to leave school early might be in for a few disappointments come draft day. One that definitely falls into this category is Arizona’s Scooby Wright III. With a rash of injuries this season that exposed his athletic limitations trying to play through them, you have to wonder if his banner 2014 press clippings had a big role in what could prove to be a costly decision to turn professional.

Maryland’s Yannick Ngakoue is another junior taking a risk entering the draft. There is no doubting his skills as a pass rusher, but he has never been one to grasp the playbook. A move to linebacker at the next level could be stalled by his limitations as an edge rusher.

While my ratings chart reflect all draft eligible players that are considered draft worthy, several youngsters that indicated they might enter the draft actually decided to return to school for another year. Those returning to the NCAA ranks that likely would have been drafted include Auburn’s injured rush end/strong-side ‘backer Carl Lawson, fellow SEC standout, Jalen Reeves-Maybin from Tennessee, Louisville’s Devonte’ Fields, who led the nation in tackles-for-loss in 2015, his Cardinals teammate, Josh Harvery-Clemons, Stanford’s Peter Kalambayi and Florida’s Byron Cox Jr.

The draft’s third day could see teams unearth some nice finds still sitting near their home phones. Washington’s Travis Feeney has starting experience at both “Will” and “Sam” spots, but will likely be a weak-side performer in the NFL. Wisconsin’s Joe Schobert really came on strong as a senior and along with Temple’s Tyler Matakevich, their time at all three linebacker spots add to their resumes for teams looking to add depth.

Special team duties will fall upon any player trying to make a roster in the late rounds. One of the better gunners in the game is Colorado State “Will” man, Cory James. Mississippi’s C.J. Johnson recorded 23 special-team tackles during his first three years, but he was hobbled most of the 2015 schedule – first, with a broken leg, followed by meniscus issues in his left knee.

Auburn’s Kris Frost was all the talk in the SEC back in 2013, but since then, he’s bounced around the linebacker unit, posting a pair of pedestrian-like seasons. East Carolina’s Montese Overton is also being view for a 3-4 inside position. Boise State’s Kamalei Correa is a rangy tackler with the ability to also play inside, but other teams see the rapidly rising talent in a Bruce Irvin-like role as an edge rusher. Silberry Mouhon of Cincinnati will have to adjust to linebacker after life as a defensive end, but he has nimble feet and good balance for the position shift.

Myles Jack of UCLA is the defense’s wild card, as he could be drafted at either inside or outside linebacker. Other teams also consider him a worthy strong safety candidate, but he first needs to return to the field from his lingering meniscus injury. As far as our staff is concerned – undersized or not – there is no finer playmaker on the defensive side of the ball than Ohio State’s Darron Lee. The talk of his lack of bulk does not faze us – Derrick Brooks, Lavonte David, Thomas Davis and recently, Kwon Alexander, all have proven to be outstanding performers without the added weight.

A STATICAL LOOK AT THE HYBRID/ELEPHANT CHARTS

Due to the length of this research study, please go to the link below. This is a story about the top-rated hybrid defensive end/linebackers eligible for the 2016 draft. It starts with a brief history about the hybrids and its different versions and names. It is then followed by an in-depth statistical look at the top eight hybrids. That list includes Kamalei Correa-Boise State; Klyer Fackrell-Utah State; Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins-Georgia; Dadi Nicolas-Virginia Tech; Victor Ochi-Stony Brook; Joshua Perry-Ohio State and Noah Spence-Eastern Kentucky.

http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/11749608/the-nfl-draft-report---the-hybrid-defensive-end-linebacker--everyone-is-talking-about-the-elephants-in-the-room.html

Edge rushers will dominate the first two rounds of the draft. Some coaches in the Giants office have spent more time in Georgia breaking down the abilities the Bulldogs’ Leonard Floyd than they have on any other linebacker. Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky looks like a nice fit for Dallas in Round Two, as his off-field issues could scare away a team in the opening round. Kama;ei Correa of Boise State has been effective at getting to the quarterback, but he lacks the “san in his pants” to play level-one football.

Utah State’s Kyler Fackrell hopes his recent medical tests are enough to warrant a Round Two selection. He was highly coveted in 2014, but blew out his knee and missed the year. The wild card among edge types is Virginia Tech’s Dadi Nicolas. After leading the nation in QB pressures in 2014 and ranking among the best in tackles-for-loss, the Hokies used the 235-pounder at defensive tackle last year and the results were as expected – a frustrating season.

One non-Combine performer who could be the first not to go to Indianapolis, but be drafted, is Akron’s Jatavis Brown, one of the best tackling machines in the business. Size is an issue for the 5:11, 222-pound Zip, making some teams to prefer him as a strong safety. He has 4.52 speed, but utilizing him as a weak-side ‘backer might be the better course of action.

Another speedy, yet height challenged player is Louisiana State’s Deion Jones. Dallas has been keeping tabs on him, as some of their scouts see a lot of “Darren Woodson” in his game and wonder if he can transition to the secondary. Scouts are also stating that Southern California’s Su’a Cravens might bring better value in the defensive backfield than as a second-level performer.

THE LONE MIDDLE LINEBACKER FIRST ROUND PROSPECT

Reggie Ragland led the Tide in tackles seven times during his lone season in the middle last year. He paced the team with 102 tackles and was a near unanimous All-American selection. If Jarran Reed was the “backbone” of the Crimson Tide’s front wall, Ragland would have to be considered the defense’s heartbeat, as he seems to elevate the play of all around him. 

The consensus All-American and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year led the team to the national championship, pacing the squad with 102 tackles in 2015. He was a typical “old school” middle linebacker, directing traffic from the center of the field and roaming from sideline-to-sideline.

While some might be concerned that Ragland made only 6.5 tackles-for-loss last year and has generated only five sacks through 53 games, his basic assignment was to conduct traffic, plug inside rush lanes and handle second level pass coverage assignments. As for penetrating the back-field, opponents were more likely to be stopped by the linebacker’s sudden force. Even though his tackle-for-loss total as a senior (just 17.5 for his career), he took down fifteen ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain last year.

Additionally, he limited opposing running attacks to an average of 1.12 yards per carry vs. him last season, his first year manning the middle slot. Ragland took over weak-side outside linebacker duties after C.J. Mosley left for the NFL in 2014 and proceeded to deliver 95 tackles through thirteen starts, posting 10.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He had previously spent his first two seasons with the reserves, compiling 25 tackles through his first 24 contests.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

CREAM OF THE CROP…DARRON LEE-Ohio State

BEST OF THE REST…DEION JONES-Louisiana State and MYLES JACK-UCLA

BEST VALUE PICK…DADI NICOLAS-Virginia Tech

BOOM OR BUST…JOSHUA PERRY-Ohio State (pass coverage skills lacking)

BIGGEST SLEEPER…JATAVIS BROWN-Akron

SMALL COLLEGE FIND…TYRONE HOLMES-Montana and JATAVIS BROWN-Akron

EDITOR’S FAVORITE…DARRON LEE-Ohio State

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

CREAM OF THE CROP…REGGIE RAGLAND-Alabama

BEST OF THE REST…NICK VIGIL-Utah State

BEST VALUE PICK…KENTRELL BROTHERS-Missouri

BOOM OR BUST…SCOOBY WRIGHT III-Arizona

BIGGEST SLEEPER…BENIQUEZ BROWN-Mississippi State

SMALL COLLEGE FIND…LUKE RHODES-William & Mary

EDITOR’S FAVORITE…NICK VIGIL-Utah State

 

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http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/16765924/the-nfl-draft-report-s--final-analysis----a-final-look-at-the-2016-outside-linebacker-hybrid-class.html

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Just now, joewilly12 said:

Will he wear #43 in the NFL

i hope so, its been my lucky number ever since i dug thru the box of JV basketball jerseys in high school and pulled out the only on that (sorta) fit me......good ol' #43 lol

 

been waiting for someone of value to wear it so i can buy it lol

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1 minute ago, JOJOTOWNSELL said:

i stopped reading right around this part......cant wait to get my #43 Lee jersey

He definitely has potential, but as a Michigan fan, I've seen plenty of OSU-Michigan games, and Woodson stood out much more than Lee.  You could just watch Woodson and know he was going to be a star in the NFL.  I didn't see the same level of "jumping off the screen" with Lee, albeit he has the potential.  The one thing I read that was interesting was that they played him a bit out of position, so it'll be interesting to see how he translates in the new position.   

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Just now, JOJOTOWNSELL said:

i hope so, its been my lucky number ever since i dug thru the box of JV basketball jerseys in high school and pulled out the only on that (sorta) fit me......good ol' #43 lol

 

been waiting for someone of value to wear it so i can buy it lol

Thats great good story hope it works out for you. 

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3 minutes ago, HessStation said:

"Playing at 5 lbs LIGHTer than his playing weight," which at 232, means he was playing at 237 the exact same weight as the best ILB in football. 

Get it through you impenetrably thick heads.

I can literally gain 3 pounds over night depending on what I eat and whether or not I sh*t before weighing in.

The nitpicking over his weight shows a gross lack of creativity from the whiners. They need to do better.

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3 minutes ago, Fibonacci said:

I had bery high hopes on Millner and he is a bust. I don't have much expectation from Lee other than being an average starter maybe he will surprise me. 

Milliner's biggest problem was injuries. He could have very well been a stud CB but never had a chance to develop as he never got a chance to play consistent minutes due injury. CB is one of the hardest positions to transition from college to NFL (along with QB). Most CBs need time and by time I mean PLAYING time to develop. He was plagued by injuries.  

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6 minutes ago, PepPep said:

Milliner's biggest problem was injuries. He could have very well been a stud CB but never had a chance to develop as he never got a chance to play consistent minutes due injury. CB is one of the hardest positions to transition from college to NFL (along with QB). Most CBs need time and by time I mean PLAYING time to develop. He was plagued by injuries.  

Milliner had a lot of things stacked against him, but he was an elite athlete.  The biggest issue was that, Alabama doesn't teach their cornerbacks to backpedal.  In man coverage, they are taught to mirror the WR, therefore it was a major adjustment to him, adjusting to the NFL.  I saw him get killed a ton on comeback routes because he was so inclined to turn his hips when the WR got close to him, and NFL WRs used that as the point for curls and comebacks.  

I still have some faith in his ability, it's really his health that concerns me.  If he ever stayed healthy, I think he would make fine No. 2 CB in the league.  Unfortunately for us, that might just happen in a contract year.  

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30 minutes ago, legler82 said:

So basically he has no weaknesses.

In college he had very little weaknesses. His main weakness in college was defending the run while playing near the line of scrimmage. If an O-lineman gets his hands on him ion a run play, Lee is simply not big or strong enough to shed and get pushed out of the play. He can however make an impact in the run game shooting through the gap.

He DOES have more POTENTIAL weaknesses when projecting him as an NFL player. He will need to continue to improve his coverage and pass rush skills. He will need to get stronger. He will need to become a surer tackler. He has long arms but tends not to fully wrap up. Although piece is a thorough analysis of Lee, it definitely shines a much brighter light on his strengths than his weaknesses. 

BUT- this kid is incredibly versatile play-maker and a fantastic athlete with great field vision. I mean, that's the bottom line, that's what the take away should be. In Bowles system with the defensive line the Jets have and a SS like Pryor, this kid should absolutely positively excel b/c a lot of pressure will be take off of him, allowing him to practically roam free. So Jets fans should be glad Mac pulled the trigger on Lee and that Lee was actually there for the JEts to select, as a lot of 'experts' had him going higher than 20.       

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I love the pick. I thought before the draft that the Jets would take a safety and use him in this way - but instead they got Lee who is faster than most safeties and can rush the passer. With the Pats adding a second TE and with all teams spreading defenses out it makes sense to value a player like Lee very high. He will be used in nickel like Bowles said - but the Jets and most teams are in nickel a lot to counter these spread attacks like NE's. So it makes the position as important as any starter.

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I was hoping for Lee the entire night! When the Falcons were on the clock is when I was most nervous then Colts and Bills passed him up and I'm saying to myself.. "No way we actually pick him.. Jets never pick who I want" and then his name gets called. Great 1st round imo. If Maccagg didn't pull the trigger on Lynch I have to side with him.. He's the talent evaluator.. If a player is on the board at such a crucial position for us and we go after a different need, that should tell us something. I think Macc will get his QB when he feels the player is closer to a sure thing than Lynch was. Broncos barely have needs so of course it was a nice pick for them. Just because both our teams needed QB's doesn't mean us picking Lynch would of been an equally value pick. LB would of became a real problem next year if we didn't pick SOME kind of youth up.

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Just now, Patriot Killa said:

I was hoping for Lee the entire night! When the Falcons were on the clock is when I was most nervous then Colts and Bills passed him up and I'm saying to myself.. "No way we actually pick him.. Jets never pick who I want" and then his name gets called. Great 1st round imo. If Maccagg didn't pull the trigger on Lynch I have to side with him.. He's the talent evaluator.. If a player is on the board at such a crucial position for us and we go after a different need, that should tell us something. I think Macc will get his QB when he feels the player is closer to a sure thing than Lynch was. Broncos barely have needs so of course it was a nice pick for them. Just because both our teams needed QB's doesn't mean us picking Lynch would of been an equally value pick. LB would of became a real problem next year if we didn't pick SOME kind of youth up.

So if he stinks, we can blame it on you?

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I think Lee is going to be a star. I mean it. The kid is a playmaker and plays his best in the biggest games! When have we had a guy on Defense like that! He rises to the occasion. Him, Pryor, Leonard Williams, Sheldon, Mauldin. This Defense has some young talent.

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3 minutes ago, #bman said:

I think Lee is going to be a star. I mean it. The kid is a playmaker and plays his best in the biggest games! When have we had a guy on Defense like that! He rises to the occasion. Him, Pryor, Leonard Williams, Sheldon, Mauldin. This Defense has some young talent.

Mockdraftable (a website that compares combine stats/size to match up physical attributes) and Bobby Wagner and Demeco Ryans were his 3rd and 4th most comparable guys, just in terms of physical abilities.  Ofcourse, No. 1 and 2 were guys I haven't heard of, so can go either way, lol.  

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Friend of mine has seen Lee play many times in person, and is not impressed. He is also the same friend who said that Quinton Couples and Dee Milner wouldn't pan out as number ones.  I guess all we can do is wait and see.  Question is, will Lee be Mo Wilkerson or Kyle Wilson.

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