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Top 100 Prospects

In our best attempt to rank the top players in the 2010 NFL Draft, we have made our list of the Top 100 draft eligible prospects.

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2010 NFL Combine Recap: Nine Things NFL Scouts Learned

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Rankings: All Position Updates

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A Look Into the Upcoming 2010 Free Agency Pool

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Brian Cushing Report
Written by Mark Dulgerian   
Tuesday, 14 April 2009 07:33
Will the real "Linebacker U" please stand up? Ohio State is usually brought into the debate along with Penn State, Miami (FL), and Georgia. Opinions probably differ by region. But with three first round linebacker prospects, It’s safe to say USC was standing all the way to the Rose Bowl in 2008. The talent at USC has been nothing short of elite in recent years and one of the recurring questions with its prospects has been “How much did playing around so much talent aide their on field performance?”
Brian Cushing The college post season (or NFL preseason) has seen Brian Cushing emerge as the front-running candidate for being the first USC linebacker off the board. Cushing has shot up draft boards since the end of the regular season and has not looked back. He recorded 177 career tackles, 27 behind the line of scrimmage, while earning consensus All-America honors. There is no doubt USC had one of the best defenses college football has seen in years. With that said, scouts are left to wonder how much Cushing benefited from the talent around him. Still, when that is the question scouts have about you, you’re in good shape. 

Strengths:
Cushing is an athletic outside linebacker with serious pass rush ability. Not only that, he also has excellent instincts and does a good job of diagnosing when playing under control. At 6’3” and 245 pounds, Cushing is quick to the ball and packs a powerful punch when he gets there. He plays with intensity and plays to the whistle. Is terrific off the edge; has a very quick first step and excellent closing speed that make him a real threat. Plays with balance and leverage enabling him to maximize his natural strength when fighting off blockers. Uses his hands well to disengage from defenders and work his way through traffic. Takes good angles and is a sure tackler. He was a shining star on a defense full of prospects.

Weaknesses:
He sometimes finds himself playing overly aggressive and overrunning plays. Can sometimes be a bull in a China shop which results in missed gap assignments or open cutback lanes. With top talent around him, mistakes were usually masked by other playmaking teammates but NFL offenses will attack his tendencies. Injuries have plagued Cushing’s career. The guy plays with wreckless abandon and it cost him physically in college. After missing 5 games in 2007 and 3 games in 2008 along with a slew of surgeries, Cushing’s playing style doesn’t exactly translate into a long-lasting career in the pros.

Overall, Cushing is an athletic football player who plays with the intensity and aggression you want in a linebacker. His size and strength make him one of the better edge rushers in this year’s draft. He is one of the quickest linebackers in the draft and you’ll always find him around the ball. Durability is a major concern at this point, especially with his wreckless playing style. The thing that stands out the most to me is his ability to rush the passer and his technique. He’s got the physical tools and motor that you find in great NFL pass rushers. He is an ideal fit as an OLB in a 3-4 but also possesses the physicality to play in a 4-3. Cushing is worthy of a top-15 pick and I would not be surprised if he quickly emerges as one of the league’s standouts.  
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