As far as defensive prospects go, there might not be a deeper position in the 2015 NFL Draft than inside linebacker.
NFL Draft 2015 inside linebacker rankings: A deep position headlined by Eric Kendricks
The UCLA senior may not blow people away with this size, but he’s a playmaking dynamo who is always around the ball.
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That’s not to say the position will be heavy early in the draft. There might only be one inside linebacker taken in the first round. But after that class features several potential starters.
Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State is expected to be taken in the first round because of his combination of size and athleticism. He may look like an ouside linebacker in frame, but he's adept at playing the run between the tackles.
Eric Kendricks of UCLA, however, grades out higher as a personal favorite. Kendricks doesn't have the size McKinney does, but his instincts are off the charts. People are going to freak out when he measures small at the NFL Scouting Combine but just watch a Bruins game and see how many plays he makes. The concerns will be levied against Denzel Perryman of Miami.
| 1. Eric Kendricks | 6'0, 230 pounds | ILB | UCLA |
| 2. Benardick McKinney | 6'5, 249 pounds | ILB | Mississippi State |
| 3. Denzel Perryman | 6'0, 242 pounds | ILB | Miami |
| 4. Reggie Ragland | 6'2, 254 pounds | ILB | Alabama * |
| 5. Hayes Pullard | 6'1, 235 pounds | ILB | Southern California |
| 6. Stephone Anthony | 6'3, 245 pounds | ILB | Clemson |
| 7. Amarlo Herrera | 6’2, 231 pounds | ILB | Georgia |
| 8. Ben Heeney | 6'2, 230 pounds | ILB | Kansas |
| 9. Ramik Wilson | 6’2, 237 pounds | ILB | Georgia |
| 10. A.J. Johnson | 6'2, 245 pounds | ILB | Tennessee |
| 11. Jeff Luc | 6'1, 251 pounds | ILB | Cincinnati |
| 12. Bryce Hager | 6'2, 235 pounds | ILB | Baylor |
| 13. Taiwan Jones | 6'3, 252 pounds | ILB | Michigan State |
| 14. Mike Hull | 6'0, 232 pounds | ILB | Penn State |
| 15. Trey DePriest | 6'2, 250 pounds | ILB | Alabama |
| 16. Jordan Hicks | 6'1, 234 pounds | ILB | Texas |
| 17. AJ Tarpley | 6'2, 241 pounds | ILB | Stanford |
| 18. Quayshawn Nealy | 6'1, 236 pounds | ILB | Georgia Tech |
| 19. Curtis Grant | 6'3, 240 pounds | ILB | Ohio State |
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