rookie season in 2007

Top 5 NFL Linebackers Ready for the SpotlightA few years ago I took a look at the top 10 NFL players you didn’t know, but needed to. All of those players were from the defensive side of the ball, where it’s easier for young stars to be passed over by the media. These days there is an entire crop of young defensive stars that you may not have heard of, which is why I’ve made this top 5 NFL linebackers ready for the spotlight list. If you’re a diehard fan, you will surely recognize the names but if you’re a more casual fan of the sport you likely won’t recognize any of them.The fact is that some of the stalwarts of the last decade at linebacker are on their way out. Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher only have so many years left and guys like Derrick Brooks and Zach Thomas are left hoping for midseason call ups, so it’s time for the best young linebackers in the game to get their chance to shine. Here are the top 5 heir apparents at the linebacker position.The Carolina Panthers haven’t been able to live up to expectations this season, but you can’t blame it one Jon Beason. Beason is in the midst of his third NFL season and has started every game he has ever played. He grabbed 140 tackles in his rookie season and 138 tackles last year. He has five career interceptions and he has the first two sacks of his young career this year, showing an improved attacking ability.Elvis Dumervil Outside Linebacker Denver Broncos Age 25The other four guys on this list are middle or inside linebackers, meaning they are run stuffers and play callers. Dumervil on the other hand is a havoc causing wrecking ball on the outside of the field, pressuring the quarterback and creating turnovers. Dumervil is in his fourth NFL season and is a major reason that the Broncos defense has been so solid this year. He already has 10 sacks on the year, increasing his career total to 36. He has also forced eight fumbles, including two on the year. Dumervil has started all but one game in the last three years, but didn’t start any in his rookie season, showing his marked improvement as time has gone on.Barrett Ruud Middle Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers Age 26Barrett Ruud is actually in his fifth NFL season but he really broke out onto the scene in 2007. That year he started all 15 games he played, piled up 114 tackles, forced three fumbles and grabbed two interceptions. Last year he finished with two more INTs, 137 tackles and he’s on pace to get even more this year. Ruud is the centerpiece of christian louboutin replica a defense that has completely changed from the recognizable squad that led the Bucs to the Super Bowl. Make no mistake about it though, Ruud is equally capable of propelling a defense towards the top of the league.Lofa Tatupu Middle Wholesale Snapbacks Hats Linebacker Seattle Seahawks Age 26Lofa Tatupu is probably the most recognizable name on this list for casual fans of the NFL. That’s replica christian louboutin shoes because at age 26 (he’ll be turning 27 soon) he has already completed four full NFL seasons, starting every single game along the way. He averaged 107 tackles per season over his first four years, spearheaded the defensive unit that helped the Seahawks get to the Super Bowl and has only missed one game in his career. He also has 9 career interceptions and 6 forced fumbles. He’s not a pressure guy, he’s the defensive quarterback and everything flows through him.Patrick Willis Inside Linebacker www.chihairstraightener.us.com San Francisco 49ers Age 24All of these players are excellent NFL linebackers, and all of them will be making their fair share of Pro Bowl appearances before all is said and done. Patrick Willis though may be the best of the bunch, and he has already fulfilled a great deal of his potential. In his rookie season in 2007 he piled up 174 tackles. Last year he had another 141 and he’s on pace for about 150 160 once again. Plus he has improved his pass coverage and his aggressiveness with coach Mike Singletary at the helm, already grabbing 2 interceptions and notching 2.5 sacks on the year. This guy is a beast and he’s just getting started.Fun note: Think that NFL players don’t fit into a mold? All five of these players range between 5’11" and 6’2" with a weight between 237 lbs and 248 lbs. If you take out the outlier, Elvis Dumervil, then Beason, Ruud, Tatupu and Willis are all shockingly similar in their builds, standing between 6’0" and 6’2" and weighing between 237 and 242 lbs.Now that you know some of the best young breakout defensive players in the NFL, don’t forget to read up on the NFL’s breakout offensive player of 2009, Steve Smith. If you take out the outlier, Elvis Dumervil, then Beason, Ruud, Tatupu and Cheap Snapbacks Willis are all shockingly similar, standing between 6’ 6’2" and weighing between 237 242 lbs.