Position Breakdown: Outside Linebacker

1.  Khalil Mack (SR) 6'3 251 Buffalo
Analysis: Physical linebacker who uses speed and power to makes plays in the backfield. Can rush the passer or play in coverage. Could shed blocks better. Can fit in any scheme.
Projection:  Top 4

2.  Anthony Barr (SR) 6'5 255 UCLA
Analysis:  Elite athlete whose best football is still ahead of him. Versatile athlete who can rush passer or play in coverage. Needs to add weight. Not an overly aggressive player. Average instincts.
Projection: 1st Round

3. Kyle Van Noy (SR) 6'3 243 BYU
Analysis: Versatile playmaker. Has a knack for getting the QB (26 career sacks). Elite quickness. Has the ability to play in coverage. Speed is only average and will take bad angles at times.
Projection: Top 50

4. Marcus Smith (SR) 6'3 251 Louisville
Analysis:  Good speed and quickness. Relentless pass rusher. Experience standing and in coverage. Can match up with TEs. Lacks pass rushing moves. Struggles to shed blocks.  Can play out of control
Projection: Day 2

5. Ryan Shazier (JR) 6'1 237 Ohio State
Analysis:  Explosive athlete. Run and tackle linebacker. Good lateral agility. Gets hung up on blocks and struggles to disengage. Average instincts. Below average in man coverage. 4-3 WLB only.
Projection:  1st Round

6. Christian Jones (SR) 6'3 240 Florida State
Analysis: Versatile linebacker who can cover, tackle, and blitz. Only Average athlete. Doesn't use hands consistently to shed blocks. Lacks good strength. Jack of all, master of none player.
Projection:  3rd or 4th Round

7. Jonathan Brown (SR) 6'0 238 Illinois
Projection: 5th or 6th Round

8. Telvin Smith (SR) 6'3 218 Florida State
Projection: 3rd Round
9. Carl Bradford (JR) 6'1 250 Arizona State
Projection: Day 3 Pick

10. Adrian Hubbard (JR) 6'6 257 Alabama
Projection: 6th or 7th Round

Player Profile: Kyle Van Noy

Height:  6'3
Weight:  243
School:  BYU
Position:  Outside Linebacker
Ranking:  #5 Outside Linebacker
Projection:  2nd Round

Strengths
-Experienced. 52 games played. 36 games started
-Has the size (6'3 243) to be able to play the OLB in a 3-4 defense
-Above average speed (4.71) for a linebacker
-Explodes off the ball (1.60 10 yard shuttle). Can turn speed into power
-Uses his speed and quickness to get past tackles and to the QB (26 career sacks)
-Has some savyness to his pass rushing.  Good spin move and quick changes of direction.
-Has experience playing in a 3-4 and rushing from a two point stance
-Relentless pass rusher. Doesn't give up on getting to the QB
-Does a good job of setting the edge in the run game
-Uses his hands well to disengage from blockers and make plays
-Experience dropping into coverage
-Versatile. Lined up at OLB, DE, ILB, and out on slot WRs
-Has a knack for making splash plays 11 Forced fumbles in career
-Durable. No injury issues to speak of.

Weaknesses
-Shorter arms (31 5/8") could make it harder to disengage from blockers in the NFL
-Doesn't always take the best angles. Forces him to have to make a arm tackle
-Lack of strength could be an issue. Can be rocked back by a good punch
-Will relax if the play goes away from him
-Is gonna struggle to match up man to man in coverage

Summary
Kyle Van Noy is one of the better players nobody is talking about.  Why? I'm not sure, but he's a flat out football player who has a knack for making plays.  Van Noy plays all over the field in the Cougars defense but he's at his best when he's attacking.  He has 26 (13 in 2012) career sacks to go with 62 tackles for losses and can just take over games (Texas).  He has a knack for getting the quarterback with his speed and quickness.  It's not just his athletic ability he have some savyness to his rushing with change of speed and a nasty spin move.  Add in that he has the ability to play in coverage and there is a lot for teams to like.  Van Noy's best fit as a Strongside LB in a 3-4 defense or in a 4-3 Under.  There he can still blitz a lot and play in coverage.  I see Van Noy going in the second round, but wouldn't be surprised to see a team like New Orleans take him in the first, especially if Dee Ford is off the board.

2014 Draft Rankings: Defensive

Defensive End
1.  Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2.  Anthony Barr, UCLA
3.  Adrian Hubbard, Alabama
4.  Aaron Lynch, South Florida
5.  Trent Murphy, Stanford
6.  Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
7.  Scott Crichton, Oregon State
8.  Morgan Breslin, USC
9.  Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State
10. Kareem Martin, North Carolina

Defensive Tackle
1.  Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
2.  Tim Jernigan, Florida State
3.  Louis Nix, Notre Dame
4.  Anthony Johnson, LSU
5.  Will Sutton, Arizona State
6.  Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
7.  DeAndre Coleman, California
8.  Daniel McCullers, Tennessee
9.  Chucky Hunter, TCU
10. Travis Raciti, San Jose State

Outside Linebacker
1.  Kyle Van Noy, BYU
2.  CJ Mosley, Alabama
3.  Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
4.  Christian Jones, Florida State
5.  Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech
6.  Shayne Skov, Stanford
7.  Jake Ryan, Michigan
8.  Jonathan Brown, Illinois
9.  Ron Powell, Florida
10. Lamin Barrow, LSU

Inside Linebacker
1.  AJ Johnson, Tennessee
2.  Tony DePriest, Alabama
3.  Max Burrough, Michigan State
4.  Yawin Smallwood, UConn
5.  Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky
6.  Chris Borland, Wisconsin
7.  Eric Kendricks, UCLA
8.  Caleb Lavey, Oklahoma State
9.  AJ Tarpley, Stanford
10. Andrew Wilson, Missouri

Cornerbacks
1.  Bradley Roby, Ohio State
2.  Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida
3.  Jason Verett, TCU
4.  Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
5.  Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma
6.  Marcus Roberson, Florida
7.  Quandre Diggs, Texas
8.  Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
9.  Damian Swann, Georgia
10. Andre Hall, Vanderbilt

Safety
1.  Ed Reynolds, Stanford
2.  Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama
3.  Hakeem Smith, Louisville
4.  Tevin McDonald, Eastern Washington
5.  Jordan Richards, Stanford
6.  Tre Boston, North Carolina
7.  Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt
8.  Craig Loston, LSU
9.  Dion Bailey, USC
10. Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama