The New England Patriots are in Indiana today to look at U of Indiana's LB Matt Mayberry. He was their starting Middle Linebacker and was voted preseason Third Team All-Big Ten. According to WEEI,
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound linebacker registered 108 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 3 INTs as a senior for the Hoosiers. An Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2009, he started the final 24 games of his career at middle linebacker and closed out his time in Bloomington with nine double-digit tackle games and at least 10 stops in eight of his final 11 conference contests. Mayberry ended his career with 251 tackles, 139 solo, 10.5 sacks (73 yards), 22.5 tackles for loss (99 yards), three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Those are pretty impressive numbers. Mayberry is a two year starter and ILB and is projected to go late in the draft. Luckily, we have plenty of late round picks and I wouldn't mind us utilizing a late rounder on an experienced prospect like Mayberry.
NFLDraftBible.com had an interview with Mayberry earlier in the year. Here are a few key exerpts:
What are your official height, weight and 40 time?
I am 6 foot 2 and 240 pounds. The last time I ran a 40 it was a 4.49.What do you consider your biggest strength?
My attitude and speed! I love the game of football more than anything in the world and take pride in preparing physically, mentally, and emotionally.
What part of your game have you been working to improve?
I have been working on everything possible. From linebacker drills to catching balls and of course working out and getting bigger, faster, stronger…There is not a day that goes by where I want to be laying in bed at the end of the night wondering what I could have done to make myself better. I like to leave everything out on the field each and every day. There is never anything you can't work on to get better. I take pride in my work ethic!What are your future goals, other than playing in the NFL?
My future goal outside of playing in the NFL is to become a successful trainer, helping kids achieve their dreams that they have had since they were little kids, just like people did for me. I like to give back to people and there is no better way than helping people achieve their dreams and give them all of the knowledge that I have garnered from the great people who surround me each and every day!
Why should an NFL team draft you?
A NFL team should draft me because I will go to work every day and bring that intensity to practice and games every Sunday. I love the sport of football and think there was no better sport created--this is the best game in the world! I love what I do and work very hard at it. I am a positive influence on my teammates and do the right thing outside of football. Outside of all that, I think my football skills speak for themselves on how effective I can be for a team with the mindset of always needing to get better.
Here are his Pro Day statistics:
LB Matt Mayberry ran a 4.57 and 4.58 in the 40, had a 9-foot broad jump, a 4.32 short, a 7.07 three-cone and did 24 bench press reps.
I think that Mayberry represents an extremely interesting prospect with a lot of upside. He's a little small in weight for our ILB role, but if he manages to add 5-10 pounds of muscle (something that can absolutely happen over the course of a year), he could definitely make an impact. He is a high quality person on and off the field who could immediately effect our special teams and provide much needed depth at ILB in the later rounds of the draft. He's a great find.