Devon Kennard linebacker 5th round

[JMFP]

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/05/devon_kennard_scouting_report_on_giants_newest_linebackerdefensive_end.html

 

Crossing my fingers on this kid....supposedly smart as hell.

[JMFP]

It was a disappointing day for USC players Saturday as linebacker Devon Kennard was the only Trojan taken in one of the most underwhelming drafts in school history.

 

Kennard was the 174th player taken overall in the fifth round by the New York Giants, joining second-round pick Marqise Lee and third-round selection Marcus Martin.

 

USC led the nation in players drafted (nine) after former coach Lane Kiffins first season in 2011. But in the following three seasons, only 10 players were selected.

 

Safety Dion Bailey, defensive tackle George Uko and tight end Xavier Grimble bypassed their senior seasons and went undrafted. Bailey announced Saturday he would sign as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. Bailey was recruited to USC by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

 

Also undrafted were defensive end Morgan Breslin, offensive tackle Kevin Graf and tailback Silas Redd.

 

The Giants said Kennards intelligence impressed them during a pre-draft visit.

 

He made a great impression, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. He played multiple positions. Hes a tough hard-nosed football player. He was great on the (dry erase) board. He was great on that. He really convinced the coaches he was really a sharp football player.

 

That was echoed by Marc Ross, the Giants vice president of player evaluation.

 

This guys one of the sharpest guys weve had in terms of football knowledge, Ross said.

 

Best case scenario - this kid is an Antonio Pierce in terms of breaking down plays and using his brain to compensate for his athletic ceiling

[Tempest]

This would be the first time I have heard about how smart a linebacker is versus how many tackles he has made.

[BleedinBlue]

Yeah, if he stays healthy we might have caught lightning in a bottle. Fingers crossed

 

From the LA Times:

 

USC linebacker Devon Kennard was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday..

 

Kennard, 6-foot-3 and 249 pounds, was chosen with the 174th overall pick.

 

Kennard is the third Trojans player selected in the draft, joining receiver Marqise Lee, a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and center Marcus Martin, a third-round selection by the San Francisco 49ers.

 

Kennard, the son of former NFL offensive lineman Derek Kennard, played several positions for the Trojans after arriving from Phoenix (Ariz.) Desert Vista High.

 

Kennard began his career as a reserve defensive end but started games at outside linebacker as a freshman in 2009 under former coach Pete Carroll.

 

In 2010, new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin moved him to middle linebacker.

 

Kennard returned to defensive end in 2011 and appeared poised for an outstanding senior season when he tore a pectoral muscle on the eve of training camp.

 

Kennard was sidelined in 2012 but returned last season and played a hybrid linebacker position. He finished with a team-best nine sacks.