INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Name School HT. WT. 40-Yd. Dash Rd.

1. LUKE KUECHLY Boston College 6-3½ 243 4.60 1

Finished with 532 tackles (36½ for loss) in three seasons, the second-highest total since the NCAA began recording tackles as an official statistic in 2000. "He's very, very solid and very, very safe," said Don Gregory, Carolina's director of college scouting. "You know what you're getting." Probably could play anywhere in any scheme. "Tremendous football player," San Diego GM A.J. Smith said. "He's a tackling machine." Finished with 2½ sacks and 15 "big" plays (interceptions, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles). Often compared to Paul Posluszny. "He's almost leaving before the ball is snapped to the place the ball is going because he's such a great film-study guy," one scout said. "I think he's a better athlete than people give him credit for. He will overcome whatever limitations he might have because of his intelligence." Led all LBs in the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test with 34. Third-year junior played at Cincinnati St. Xavier High. "If you consider (James) Laurinaitis great and (Sean) Lee great and Posluszny great, then, yeah, he'll be great," another scout said. "I love the way the kid plays but he's not a dynamic player. He's better than A.J. Hawk now, but not that A.J. Hawk that was at Ohio State."

2. DONT'A HIGHTOWER Alabama 6-2 265 4.64 1

Fourth-year junior. "In terms of being an inside backer and controlling the line of scrimmage and playing from tackle to tackle, he's awfully good," one scout said. "I mean, he crushes guys. He's one of the few 'Mike' backers I've done that when an offensive lineman comes at him they kind of crumble in front of him. If he stays with the same group of coaches he can be (great). But change is not good for that guy. He's smart, but he's slow to adapt to things." Played inside on early downs but rushed with his hand down at end five to 10 snaps a game. Five scouts said 3-4 SOLB would be his best position. "That would maximize his potential," another scout said. "He's a power rusher." Blew out his knee in mid-2009 and wore a brace until late 2010. "He's big and pretty athletic for his size, but he will have some limitations in space and this is a passing league," a third scout said. "What bothers me is he doesn't always pull the pin. Doesn't always play with a lot of urgency. Kind of plays careful at times." Started 42 of 44 games, finishing with 234 tackles (21 for loss), five sacks and five "big" plays. Out of Lewisburg, Tenn.

3. LAVONTE DAVID Nebraska 6-0½ 230 4.58 2

One of half a dozen players in the draft that played at Miami Northwestern High. "He's really instinctive," one scout said. "He's a JC guy who had no strength program until he got to Nebraska. He easily can be 235 in the league. He's a lot thicker in the lower body than you think. Tough as nails." Started all 27 games for the Cornhuskers on the weak side, finishing with 285 tackles (28 for loss), 11½ sacks and seven "big" plays. "He's got to play 'Will' and be kept off blockers," another scout said. "But he can run and he hits. He plays bigger than what he is. He's not everything you want, that's for sure. But, boy, can he play." Scored 16 on the Wonderlic and has no problems learning, according to scouts. "For a JUCO kid he has great instincts," a third scout said. "He's good. He's real good."

4. MYCHAL KENDRICKS California 5-11 239 4.46 2-3

Started 29 of 51 games, including 15 outside and 14 inside. "He's floats around and has to be protected, but he makes a lot of plays," one scout said. "He is an active, high-motor guy that gets to the football." Beat up. Has had shoulder surgery, played on a bad knee and underwent thumb surgery last season. Also regarded as a character risk by some teams. Scored 14 on the Wonderlic and might need reps. "Hell of a football player in a 4-3," another scout said. "He doesn't fit a 3-4." Out of Fresno, Calif. Finished with 258 tackles (36½ for loss), 13½ sacks and 11 "big" plays.

5. BOBBY WAGNER Utah State 6-0½ 235 4.46 2-3

Probably worked out better than any LB with a blazing 40, top vertical jump (39½) and top broad jump (11-0). "But he's more than a workout guy," one scout said. "He's a really good player. He was the best player on special teams during the Senior Bowl game. He could have won the Senior Bowl MVP. He runs like the wind. Remember Kendrell Bell? That's who he is." Finished with 445 tackles (29½ for loss), 4½ sacks and nine "big" plays as four-year starter. Tallied eight on the Wonderlic. "That's about what he played to," another scout said. "Not very instinctive. Once he saw the football, he could cover up for getting started late. In zone coverage he had a terrible time figuring out which guy was in his zone. He was a grab-and-wrap guy. He'd prefer to trip you up and take you low. He's not a real, real tough guy." Hails from Ontario, Calif.

6. SEAN SPENCE Miami 5-11½ 230 4.67 3

A widely admired prospect. "If he had any kind of size he'd be a top-10 pick," one scout said. "He's my favorite player this year. I love him." Coach on the field type with winning personality. Exudes confidence. "I like the hell out of him," another scout said. "He will come up and throw a flipper into guys and knock them down. Sometimes he gets knocked down because he's (light). Downhill guys don't last very long." Durability and size are the big questions. Compared by one scout to Jonathan Vilma. "Everything about him, the makeup of the kid, makes you believe he will succeed," Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik said. Finished with 318 tackles (47 for loss), 10½ sacks and six "big" plays in 47 games (40 starts). Was David's teammate at Miami Northwestern. "But I'm not a favorite of his," a third scout said. "He's just a small guy. He's going to run into problems at the next level."

7. NIGEL BRADHAM Florida State 6-2 241 4.60 3-4

Physical, aggressive player. "He's best outside in a 4-3 but he can play inside, too," one scout said. "He's a middle-of-the-draft guy as a two- or three-position backup. Might be able to start eventually." Became the first player in almost 20 years to lead the Seminoles in tackles for three straight seasons. Finished with 306 (21½ for loss), nine sacks and 10 "big" plays in 53 games (39 starts). Excellent athlete with average reactions. "He's a stiff, straight-line guy," another scout said. Hails from Crawfordville, Fla. Looks like he was weaned on a weight machine.

8. JAMES-MICHAEL JOHNSON Nevada 6-1 242 4.64 4

Four-year starter. Made 27 starts in the middle and 23 outside. "Solid tackler but needs work covering backs out of the backfield and on pursuit angles," one scout said. "Might be better-suited as a rush end. Good size and quickness." Out of Fairfield, Calif. Finished with 299 tackles (39½ for loss), 8½ sacks and 12 "big" plays. "He's just there," another scout said. "Makes a play here and there. He's not one of those guys who goes 100 miles an hour. He lacks instincts."

9. TERRELL MANNING North Carolina State 6-2 236 4.75 4

Fourth-year junior surprised and disappointed some teams by declaring a year early. "He would have benefited from staying in," one scout said. "I do like his instincts and being able to sift through the traffic." Played hard, posted a 23 on the Wonderlic and started 26 of 36 games on the weak side. Finished with 193 tackles (27½ for loss), 10 sacks and a whopping 18 "big" plays. Has had knee problems. "Raw in a lot of areas but he saved himself some durability coming out," another scout said. "He doesn't do anything terrific but he does it all. He can play the point. Pretty good play speed. Good effort guy. Physical. He's got a pretty good feel and he's able to rush the passer, too." Hometown is Laurinburg, N.C.

10. CALEB McSURDY Montana 6-1 245 4.85 5-6