Inside Linebacker Rankings

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Top Overall Draft Prospects
Offense: QB RB FB WR TE OT OG C
Defense: DT NT DE Hybrid DE/OLB OLB ILB FS SS CB
Special Teams: K P RS LS

About Football ranks the top inside linebacker prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft based on their potential in the NFL. This is not necessarily a prediction of the order they will be selected, rather a prediction of which projects the best at the next level.

1. Greg Jones, Michigan State

2. Mason Foster, Washington

3. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina

4. Brian Rolle, Ohio State

5. Mike Mohamed, California

6. Colin McCarthy, Miami (FL)

7. Kelvin Sheppard, LSU

8. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

9. Nate Irving, North Carolina State

10. Jonathan Cornell, Ole Miss

11. Casey Matthews, Oregon

* - indicates underclassman

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Linebacker Clay Matthews

A third-generation NFL player, linebacker Clay Matthews was a first-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2009, which made a lot of sense because of the team's plans to switch to a 3-4 alignment. They needed all the talented linebackers they could get to help make the transition.

Matthews is the son of Clay Matthews Jr., a former Browns and Falcons linebacker, and grandson of Clay Matthews Sr., who played four seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s. He is also the nephew of one of the NFL's greatest offensive linemen in Bruce Matthews, so the pedigree is certainly there.

The younger Matthews hasn't disappointed so far, either, first putting together a season worthy of Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration and then following it up with a second-year performance worthy of Defensive Player of the Year honors. Matthews has clearly established himself as one of the biggest defensive forces in football.

Matthews is a perfect fit as a pass-rush linebacker, and he has excelled at doing just that with double digit sacks in each of his first two seasons. His combination of quickness and strength makes him very difficult to block as both a pass rusher and a run defender, and he plays with an intensity and tenacity that inspires the rest of his teammates.

In 2010, he recorded 60 tackles, 13.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. During the postseason, he had 16 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.

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