Grading System

NICK BARNETT

Position: OLB Class: Sr School: Oregon St. Conference: Pac-10 Ht., Wt.: 6'1½, 236 40 Time: 4.66 Grade: 3.91 Selected by Green Bay Packers Round 1, pick 29 (29 overall)

BIO: Two-year starter and former strong safety. All-Conference selection as a senior after leading the league with 121 tackles, also accumulating 20 1/2 tackles for loss, six sacks and breaking up seven passes. Originally received All-Conference honors as a junior when his tackle totals were 73-6-2. POSITIVES: Active linebacker who flies around the football field looking to make positive plays. Quickly reads or anticipates the action, displays sideline to sideline range and plays with a large degree of explosion. Immediately alters his angle of attack, covers a lot of area on the field and keeps the play in front of him. Breaks down well, plays with forward lean and pursues with speed from any direction on the field. Disciplined and takes good angles to the play. Placed over the slot receiver and though his numbers would not dictate so, very effective in pass coverage. Surprising strength at the point of attack and holds his ground against blocks or slides off them laterally. Good special teams player that blocked kicks in the past. NEGATIVES: Not efficient nor does he always play under control, over-pursuing the action on occasion. Can be hesitant and indecisive when the ball is in the air. ANALYSIS: Will start off as a productive special teams player at the next level but don't be surprised if he's a starting weak side linebacker by the end of his rookie campaign. PROJECTION: Early Second Round Photo: Matt Kincaid/Getty Images