Names like Shane Conlan and Lavar Arrington come to mind when you talk about the Great Linebackers at Penn State. In the Last 8 Years Sunday GM's have scouted the Penn State Defense looking for that Stud Backer after all they don't call it Linebacker U for nothing. The Bluedude was sitting around thinking about Bills 1st Round Bust Aaron Maybin of Penn State. I pondered the thought of how many Backers in the last Decade have been drafted to the NFL or UnDrafted as in One Case from Happy Valley from the Linebacker Position?The Bluedude found out that there have been a Couple of Misses (or Bad Draft Grades) as well as a Surprise or Two, and a Couple of Players that have met Expectations being drafted from Linebacker U....Drum Roll Please
2005
Kansas City Chiefs aka #ChiefsNation #RedFriday OLB TAMBA HALI
(pictured #91)
They got this one right and Tamba Hali is even getting better as he gets Older. A 1st Round Pick that possibly overshadowed Teammate Cameron Wake even though Wake had a FA Contract with the G-Men and didn't make it. Hali is a Monster and arguably the Closest thing since the Late Great HOF Backer D.T. of #ChiefsNation and #Bama...Derrick Thomas.
Miami Dolphins aka the Aqua Boyz 305 #PHINSNation DE CAMERON WAKE
Went undrafted in the 2005 Sunday Draft and invited to NY Football Giants Camp. Didn't make the Roster as Current G-Men GM Jerry Reese doesn't miss too often. Wake had a couple of stints in the CFL and made some noise after a Few Seasons. Then the Dolphins beat out about 4-5 Suitors and the Rest is History.
2007
Jacksonville Jaguars #Jags #JAGSnation ILB PAUL POSLUSNY
Almost a 1st Rounder as he went early 2nd Round and his Draft Grade was right on. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as they drafted One Stud Nittany Lion Backer from the Past Shane Conlan in the Late 80s to go with that Bruce Smith, Biscuit Bennett, Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Darryl Talley led Bills Dynasty. Played Four Seasons with the Bills now playing for the Jags trying to put them back into AFC South contention.
2008
Dallas Cowboys #CowboyNation #Boys #BigD ILB DAN CONNOR
Drafted by the Carolina Panthers Middle to late 3rd Round has never really played due to then the Panthers Excellent Depth at Backer. Has since got cut and now the Dallas Cowboys have him on the Roster playing with Former Linebacker U Teammate Sean Lee.
2009
NY Jets #GangGreen #NYJets #JetNation #GothamCityGreen OLB AARON MAYBIN (pictured #58)They Jets just cut Mr. Maybin and he like former Jet 1st Rounder Vernon Gholston of The Ohio State University was a clear El Busto with all the Fixings. The Grade was right from a Production and Talent Capacity coming out of Penn State. The Buffalo Bills again drafted Maybin #1 in 2009 and boy did they miss. Everything you see from a Physical Stature on Maybin is Dead On until you put him in the Game....Where did He Go?...Where did who Go?
2010
Dallas Cowboys #CowboyNation #Boys #BigD ILB SEAN LEE
(pictured #50)They picked him up in the 2012 Draft in the middle to back half of the 2nd Round and for once the Cowboys hit a Grand Slam without sacrificing Picks to get him. He is more Instinctive and Fluid Posluszny and now he is the unquestioned Leader of that Cowboys D as everything comes through Mr. Lee. Draft Grade could and should have been Early 2nd Round as he should have been slotted about 10-15 Pick North of where he landed.
2010
San Francisco 49ers #Niners #FortyNiners #NinerNation ILB NAVORRO BOWMAN (pictured #53)
A 1st Team All-Pro Last Season and out off all the Picks in this Post he is a "Monsters Inside QBs" Nominee. What's even more unbelievable is that he went Late 3rd Round at Pick 91. Bowman is the Real Deal and he has a Close Relationship to former Penn State Super Backer Lavarr Arrignton and People in the Know call Navorro..Lavorro Bowman as Bowman picked Penn State because of Arrington attended there as well.
BUST...Maybin
STUDS...Hali, Lee, Wake, and Bowman
STEADY DIET...Posluszny
BOOK still Open...Connor
With all those Players listed is Happy Valley still Linebacker U?
Maybin was awful. Hali has been a Stud from almost Day 1. Lee was a Solid Pick for #TeamJerryBigD. Wake was an excellent signing by Current Phins GM Jeff Ireland. Bowman was a Steal for the Niners as he is next in line to Hali as a "Baaaaaaad Man". Posluszny has been Steady Eddy. Connor might make it happen in Big D but with Lee on IR for 2K12 Connor is getting Reps and we will have to wait to grade Connor with a healthy Lee in 2K13.
Draft Numbers from Pro-Football-Reference.com....360 Degrees from the Bluedude
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