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DeMeco Ryans
OLB | (6'1
", 236, 4.69) |
ALABAMA
Scouts Grade: 91
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Strengths: Is quicker than fast. Moves well laterally and when coming forward. He is instinctive and his technique is outstanding. He plays with leverage and shows very good balance and body control. Is quicker than fast. Takes excellent angles in pursuit and is a reliable, powerful tackler. Really has a nose for the football. Is disciplined and will execute his assignments. He shows good recognition skills and won't take too many false steps. He shows adequate-to-good range in underneath zone coverage. Gets good jumps on the ball and also shows good ball skills when in position to make a play. He has developed his array of pass rush moves and is relentless in pursuit of the QB. He has spent some time with his hand down as an edge rusher on obvious passing downs. He is a hard worker on and off the field. Intelligent player and good student. High character person with elite overall intangibles.
Weaknesses: Is an elite prospect but lacks elite top-end speed and ideal size. While he possesses adequate size as a MLB or WLB, he lacks ideal height and bulk for an SLB and will struggle to stack at the LOS vs. taller, bigger TE's in the NFL. Will need to improve his overall strength. A better fit size-wise at WLB in the NFL, but lacks ideal top-end speed at that position. Will have some trouble when forced to turn and run vs. faster RB's one-on-one. Had some minor injuries during career at Alabama, including both hamstrings in spring of 2005.
Overall: Ryans played a reserve role as a true freshman in 2002. He finished with a team-high 126 total tackles as a sophomore in 2003. He also set the school's single-game record versus Arkansas with 25 total tackles that season. As a junior in 2004, he finished with 78 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Ryans started all 12 games as a senior in 2005 and finished with 76 tackles, 12 TFL, five sacks and one interception. He finished his career at Alabama with 37 starts and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. Ryans was a four-time All-Academic SEC selection and was also a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Top VIII award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in athletics, scholarship and community service and is given each year to a total of eight student-athletes from Division I, II and III. Ryans is an experienced, intelligent and versatile linebacker prospect that improved with each season of experience and finished with his best season as a senior in 2005. While Ryans spent most of his time in college at the SLB position, he showed the versatility to play all three LB positions. We think his best fit will be at WLB in the NFL. Ryans lacks elite speed and he will need to improve his bulk and strength in order to match up better in the NFL. However, he plays the game with outstanding technique and instincts. He is quick, aggressive, tough and active versus the run. He shows outstanding tackling skills and he has developed into a solid contributor in the passing game both as a pass rusher and in coverage. Ryans has the physical tools to develop into a playmaking fulltime starter in the NFL and he is polished enough to contribute immediately as a rookie. Ryans should be one of the top-five linebackers selected in the 2006 draft most likely late in the first round.