Who will be the best steal in this years draft? My bet may go to senior Ben Burr-Kirven. Linebacker, Washington University.
If you haven’t watch any Washington University football games this past season, you probably have never heard the name Ben Burr-Kirven. Ben is a linebacker for the Huskies and has been being overlooked this entire offseason. He is listed at six feet tall and about 220 lbs. Here are some things that stand out to me about Burr-Kirven:
- Stats: Yes, I know…stats lie. But when a player has 176 total tackles in a season, that should be something that definitely stands out. He also had 2 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles.
- Athleticism: This guy is a freak. He is the type of player who can drop back into pass coverage anywhere on the field, while at the same time he can fill a gap and light up a running back. I expect him to run in the mid-4.5s at the combine.
- Instincts: When watching some film, it became obvious that he has a great feel for the game and great instincts. This makes me feel like he can have an immediate impact at the next level.
- Intensity: Burr-Kirven always plays with a chip on his shoulder, and its noticable in his play. Having lots of intensity is extremely important in football, especially when playing linebacker. Ben loves to hit people but is good at controlling it. Ben Burr-Kirven is a controlled chaos player that affects every game he plays in.
- Consistency: This past season, he had 10+ tackles in 12 out of 14 games. This is considered playing at an elite level. PFF had him graded out at a 91.2, which is one of the highest defensive players in the nation!
At the end of the day, there are not many players in college football that have been as good as Burr-Kirven. But his lack of elite size will keep some teams away. Someone will get him on day 3 likely, and I believe he will compete for a starting spot in his rookie year. If you don’t know this name yet, you should probably learn it… because Ben Burr-Kirven has the tools to be a top notch linebacker in the NFL.
Pro Comparison: Leighton Vander-Esch
Team Fits: Vikings, Jets, Patriots