Jonathan Brown, Senior, Linebacker, Illinois
Overview:
The Illinois defense has not had many high points lately, but they probably have the best linebacker in the Big Ten. Jonathan Brown has been asked to do a lot for the Illini and he has not disappointed. By the end of his true freshman campaign in 2010, Brown was making a significant impact. He finished the season by tallying five tackles, a half of a sack and a forced fumble against Baylor in the Texas Bowl. That led to much higher expectations heading into 2011. Brown stepped up his game and led the Illini with 108 tackles and added 19.5 tackles-for-loss.
Brown’s numbers did slip a little in 2012, but he also missed the last three games of the season with an injury. In a little over eight games, Brown totaled 59 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. If he stays healthy, Brown should have a great senior season and again be the leader of the Illinois defense.
Final Projection:
Brown has proven that he can be extremely effective getting in the backfield and making big plays. At 6-1 and 235 pounds he has a nice combination of size and speed and his versatility will make him an attractive option to just about every NFL team. With a healthy and productive senior season, Brown will be a first round prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft. It would be helpful if Illinois could make some headlines for the right reasons throughout the 2013 season, but Brown will make his own headlines during the NFL combine.
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