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One of these dudes.
Arden Key*, 3-4 OLB, LSU
Height: 6-5. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
2/24/18: Team sources think Key has high first-round talent and that he could be a devastating pass-rusher in the NFL. In a survey of league sources, Key was considered to be among the elite talents of this draft class. However, teams have major off-the-field concerns with Key and think they could cause him to slide in the 2018 NFL Draft. Key's off-the-field issues are similar to Randy Gregory or Tim Williams. While there are concerns, scouts also say that Key loves football and has worked on his own with pass-rushing guru Chuck Smith to develop his skills. Key has to interview extremely well in order to be a high pick, and team sources feel that Key has a much shot at panning out in the NFL if he goes to a secluded team like Green Bay or Buffalo to help keep him out of trouble.
Key had a slow start to the 2017 season. He missed two games and had to work himself back into playing shape after shoulder surgery limited his offseason training. Midway through the year, Key started to return to being a dynamic speed rusher off the edge. A late-season knee injury also knocked him out of a few games. In 2017, Key totaled 33 tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble. He put together impressive games against Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida. Key made a sack to clinch the comeback win over Auburn. He was phenomenal against Alabama, and the Crimson Tide couldn't block him.
9/1/17: Key was one of the best players in college football in 2016. He recorded 56 tackles with 14.5 for a loss, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes broken up on the year. He flashed a ton of potential as a freshman for LSU, totaling 41 tackles with 6.5 for a loss, five sacks and one pass broken up. Key is a dangerous pass-rusher with excellent speed and the ability to bend around the corner. He is lightning fast off the edge and has a ton of upside to develop.
Sam Hubbard, 3-4 OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 266.
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
2/24/18: In 2017, Hubbard collected 43 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. He had good moments, but still didn't always play up to his great skill set and wasn't consistent enough.
9/1/17: In 2016, Hubbard collected 46 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two passes batted. While rotating into the game as a sophomore, he showed his potential with 6.5 sacks. Hubbard also had 28 tackles with an interception. The senior could explode in 2017 as he has an early round skill set. Hubbard has a lot of physical talent, but he hasn't produced up to it. He could rise high if that changes as a senior.
Harold Landry, 3-4 OLB, Boston College
Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
2/24/18: Multiple teams sources told me that Landry belongs on the second day of the 2018 NFL Draft. They labeled his senior year tape as not impressive. Landry had a big drop in his pass-rush production year over year and put together some ugly games in run defense. Sources say that Landry is smaller than his listed numbers of 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, too. They believe he is an inch or two shorter and weighs in the 240s, which makes him more of a linebacker's body type for the NFL. Teams that run a 4-3 defense have concerns about Landry holding up on the edge because he is very undersized to be a base end. More than one NFL source sees Landry as a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In 2017, Landry had 38 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and two passes broken up. The senior missed a few games with an ankle injury late in the year.
Landry was a liability versus the run against the Fighting Irish, recording only one tackle while Notre Dame ran for seven touchdowns and had two players exceed 200 yards rushing. On the vast majority of his plays, Landry went against a freshman right tackle, yet was ineffective. Landry also lost his few reps against Mike McGlinchey, plus got rag dolled by Quenton Nelson. It was an ugly performance for Landry. He was slightly better against Clemson.
9/1/17: Landry had an impressive junior season as an edge rusher for Boston College, recording 16.5 sacks, 22 tackles for a loss, seven forced fumbles, four passes batted and 51 tackles. He contributed as a sophomore with 60 stops, and 4.5 sacks. Landry could fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. A general manager told me they thought Landry would have been a late first- or second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 NFL Draft.
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