Grading System

STEPHEN COOPER

Position: OLB Class: Sr School: Maine Conference: Atlantic 10 Ht., Wt.: 6'1, 235 40 Time: 4.72 Grade: 3.3

BIO: Four-year starter who led the team in tackles every season since his sophomore campaign. All-Conference and All-America selection last year, named Atlantic Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Totaled 121-21-9.5-3-4. All-Conference as a junior, sharing honors as A-Ten Defensive Player of the Year with numbers of 95-18-5-2-4. Totaled 84 tackles and 74 as a sophomore and freshman, respectively, with 10 tackles for loss each season. POSITIVES: Tough, hard hitting linebacker constantly making positive plays. Reads the action, disciplined and immediately picks up all his assignments. Scrapes well laterally, works to get involved and always around the ball. Displays a quick burst of speed filling gaps and also slides off blocks laterally on his way to the ball handler. Takes good angles to the action and gets depth on his pass drops. NEGATIVES: Not a quick defender who flashes on the scene, has difficulty shedding blocks by bigger lineman and must improve his overall play against the pass. ANALYSIS: Size dictates a move to weak-side linebacker but may need time and patience to develop his skills in space. Tenacity to make plays against the ball carrier lends one to believe he will be a good special teams player and someone who could flourish in a reserve role. PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent