[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Terrance Smith was a three year starter for the Florida State Seminoles where he played middle linebacker in 2013 and then moved to outside linebacker for his final two seasons. An ankle injury in 2015 slowed his red-shirt senior season causing him to miss four games and finish fourth on the team with 66 total tackles. Smith’s 219 career tackles, 3 interceptions, 12 TFL, and outstanding leadership is flying under the radar making Smith one of this year’s most underrated draft prospects.
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Height: 6’3”
Weight: 235 pounds
Year: Senior
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BCS National Champion.
All-ACC Honorable Menton (2015).
Second-Team All-ACC (2014).
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Can shed blocks and stack at the point of attack.
Excellent acceleration and can explode through holes to make tackles at the line of scrimmage.
Rangy athlete with long arms.
Natural mover who looks smooth and agile.
Smart player with good instinct who can read and react well.
Plays fast and aggressive.
Effective when used on blitz packages.
Experience playing middle and on the outside.
High ceiling with enough athleticism and developmental skill to some day become a starter
Great special teams contributor.
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Durability concerns. Missed time from injuries during his freshman and senior seasons.
Will need to add weight and strength.
Undersized to play the middle in a 4-3.
His narrow frame and lack of strength might limit his effectiveness as a tackler in the NFL.
Not a rookie starter, but should stick on a roster because of good production as a special teams player.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][/vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1458959504961{padding-top: 15px ;background-color: #dbdbdb ;}”]
Tevin Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars
Telvin was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He is also a tall, rangy linebacker from Florida State who has made an early impact in the NFL with 232 tackles in his first two seasons.
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Vikings fit? Yes
Anthony Barr and Eric Kendrick will once again command most of the snaps at the linebacker positions for the Vikings in 2016. With good depth behind them in Audie Cole, Edmond Robinson, Brandon Watts plus newly added free agents Emmanuel Lamur and Travis Lewis, the linebacker position doesn’t appear to be a high priority this draft season. However, a late round linebacker who could steal a final roster spot from Watts or Lewis who also has the upside to project as a future starter, just might be on the Vikings radar.
A naturally smooth athlete like Smith who has good size and production from a major program such as Florida State usually doesn’t escape the national draft hype the way Smith has. His range, acceleration, agility and length make him an exciting prospect who could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft.[/vc_column_text]
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The guy I'm liking right now is Deion Jones from LSU.Although he only had one year as a starter,he possesses a lot of traits Zim looks for.Speed,Athleticism,Team first attitude,cover skills,could be had in round 4 and is a special teams demon so could garner some snaps immediately.
Aussie, clearly teams will be impressed with Jane's speed and skill set. I think he is over rated and will be drafted before the Vikings pick in the late third round. He is highly aggressive and undersized and my concern is he will be easy to manipulate against the run in the NFL. (NFL teams will run at him). I can tell you Zimmer is not happy with being ranked 17 against the run. So an early round linebacker that is great in pass coverage may not be a perfect match. Now if he falls to the fourth round like you suggest (because he is limited to only a weak side 4-3 fit in the NFL) Zimmer might be able to improve his ability in run support. Don't get me wrong, I would certainly take him in the 4th, but I think he will be drafted higher than that because his ability to play in coverage. Defending the run will be Zimmer's priority in my opinion.
Should read Jones' not Jane's. Sorry
I agree with you Carl that an early round LB is definitely on the cards.Depending how the board falls,maybe even round 1.
The draft is loaded with the smallish linebackers like Darron Lee and Su'a Cravens and Deion Jones... and a lot of people are targeting those guys to fill the Vikings hole at weak side. NOT ME.
I like a big thumper in the middle to improve the run defense in the base unit. Reggie Ragland, Joshua Perry, Kentrell Brother, Blake Martinez or maybe the kid from Minnesota DeVondre Campbell could be developed.
I like Eric Kendericks as the "Mike" linebacker in nickel, but I would consider moving him to weak side in base D if we drafted a proven run stopper in the middle like Ragland in round 1 or Perry in round two. These types of linebacker would come off the field in nickel so the need is not great in the early rounds (I get that). But if a best available situation happen with Ragland falling to 23, or Perry available in round 2, or Brothers in round 3... I would not rule out those linebackers.
If the Vikings drafted Lee, Cravens or Jones, (like a lot of people are saying), who would then come off the field in Nickel? Those smallish guys have value because they can play nickel and sub packages. I just have serious question marks as to whether they can offer help in run support at the NFL level in the base defense.