Below are the 2011 linebacker rankings for the NFL Draft. This includes both inside and outside linebackers.
Outside Linebackers
1. Von Miller-Texas A&M
2. Bruce Carter-North Carolina
3. Akeem Ayers-UCLA* (ILB)
4. Justin Houston-Georgia* (DE)
5. Mason Foster-Washington
6. K.J. Wright-Mississippi State
7. Chris Carter-Fresno State (DE)
8. Nate Irving-North Carolina State (ILB)
9. Dontay Moch-Nevada (DE)
10. Kenny Rowe-Oregon (DE)
11. Thomas Keiser-Stanford*
12. Quan Sturdivant-North Carolina (ILB)
13. Doug Hogue-Syracuse
14. Jeremiah Hunter-Iowa
15. Lawrence Wilson-Connecticut
16. Adrien Moten-Maryland
17. Colin McCarthy-Miami (Fla.) (ILB)
18. Ross Homan-Ohio State (ILB)
19. Brian Rolle-Ohio State
20. Eric Gordon-Michigan State
21. Chris Walker-Tennessee (DE)
22. J.T. Thomas-West Virginia
23. Craig Stevens-Auburn
24. Spencer Paysinger-Oregon
25. Jonas Mouton-Michigan (SS)
26. Brandon Peguese-Hampton
27. Quentin Davie-Northwestern (ILB)
28. A.J. Jones-Florida
29. Winston Venable-Boise State (SS)
30. Malcolm Smith-USC
31. Michael Morgan-USC
Inside Linebackers
1. Kelvin Sheppard-LSU (OLB)
2. Josh Bynes-Auburn
3. Martez Wilson-Illinois* (OLB)
4. Greg Jones-Michigan State (OLB)
5. Sandon Mark Herzlich-Boston College (OLB)
6. Mike Mohamed-California
7. Brad Jefferson-Georgia Tech
8. Mario Harvey-Marshall
9. Chris White-Mississippi State (OLB)
10. Nick Bellore-Central Michigan
11. Casey Matthews-Oregon
12. Elijah Joseph-Temple
13. Alex Wujciak-Maryland
14. Derrell Smith-Syracuse
15. Akeem Dent-Georgia (OLB)
16. Brian Duncan-Texas Tech
17. D.J. Smith-Appalachain State (OLB)
18. Greg Lloyd Jr.-Connecticut
19. Scott Lutrus-Connecticut
20. Orie Lemon-Oklahoma State
I’m glad to see that there’s someone else who likes Josh Bynes, he’s not getting the respect he deserves even though he was the second standout of that Auburn defense behind Nick Fairley this year. As for the other middle linebacker from the national championship game, in my opinion Matthews is much better than the five guys you rank from 6-10… he’s nothing like his brother, but he can be a very solid and steady 4-3 middle linebacker.
I’m starting to grow a bit more on Casey. Was really interested in his workout because he seems limited athletically, but he got hurt benching. It’s pretty crowded in that 6-11 area and I’m going to have watch and re-watch more games before I’m officially settled. Casey’s instincts certainly are impressive, but as I previously said, he seems too limited athletically.