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2014 NFL Draft inside linebacker rankings

C.J. Mosley is getting all of the attention, but there are a few day two prospects at inside linebacker worth keeping an eye on.

By Matthew Fairburn
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

For most of the 2013 season, the NFL Draft community has wanted Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley to be the next Luke Kuechly. He's not worthy of quite that much praise, but Mosley appears to be the only first-round lock among the inside linebackers in the 2014 draft.

After Mosley, Yawin Smallwood of Connecticut is a player worth keeping an eye on. He and Shayne Skov are the two most likely candidates to be the second inside linebacker off the board in May. Chris Borland of Wisconsin has created quite a bit of buzz this fall, but the undersized linebacker lacks the top end strength to take on blockers.

One of our sleepers is Avery Williamson of Kentucky. What he might lack in range he makes up for with superior pre-snap recognition and in-play instincts.

We have 15 linebackers ranked. Here's our full list.

1. C.J. Mosley | 6'2, 232 pounds | Middle linebacker | Alabama
2. Yawin Smallwood | 6'3, 244 pounds | Middle linebacker | Connecticut
3. Shayne Skov | 6'3, 245 pounds | Middle linebacker | Stanford
4. Chris Borland | 5'11, 248 pounds | Middle linebacker | Wisconsin
5. Max Bullough | 6'3, 242 pounds | Middle linebacker | Michigan State
6. Avery Williamson | 6'1, 241 pounds | Middle linebacker | Kentucky
7. Jordan Zumwalt | 6'4, 235 pounds | Middle linebacker | UCLA
8. Lamin Barrow | 6'2, 232 pounds | Middle linebacker | LSU
9. Greg Blair | 6'2, 252 pounds | Middle linebacker | Cincinnati
10. Preston Brown | 6'2, 257 pounds | Middle linebacker | Louisville
11. DeDe Lattimore | 6'1, 237 pounds | Middle linebacker | South Florida
12. Andrew Jackson | 6'1, 265 pounds | Middle linebacker | Western Kentucky
13. James Morris | 6'2, 240 pounds | Middle linebacker | Iowa
14. Glenn Carson | 6'3, 235 pounds | Middle linebacker | Penn State
15. Marquis Spruill | 6'0, 224 pounds | Middle linebacker | Syracuse

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