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NFL Draft 2018: Top 32 draft prospects entering Week 13

By Charles Rahrig V

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 08: Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Orlando Brown (78) during the Oklahoma Sooners 45-40 victory over the Texas Longhorns in their Red River Showdown on October, 2016, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 08: Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Orlando Brown (78) during the Oklahoma Sooners 45-40 victory over the Texas Longhorns in their Red River Showdown on October, 2016, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 07: Malik Jefferson #46 of the Texas Longhorns looks to the sideline for a signal in the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 07: Malik Jefferson #46 of the Texas Longhorns looks to the sideline for a signal in the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
26

Malik Jefferson

OLB, Texas

When it comes to pure outside linebackers in this draft class, Malik Jefferson is pretty much in a class of his own. He’s not that unique EDGE defender that teams at the next level love, but he’s an outside linebacker in the purest sense.

All season long, he’s displayed that tenacity that teams have fallen in love with over and over again. He generates plenty of pressure, he gets after the quarterback and makes a living in the backfield.

More importantly, he never quits on a play and seemingly has extra tanks of energy reserve lying around whenever he needs them. The Longhorns had a huge win on the road over West Virginia this past week.

With the victory, they are bowl eligible in Tom Herman’s first year. They also held the Mountaineers to just 14 points. Jefferson tied for the lead in tackles with seven and again showed that consistency he’s built his 2017 campaign on.

25

Roquan Smith

LB, Georgia

After losing to Auburn in embarrassing fashion and having their undefeated record fall, the Georgia Bulldogs came out with plenty of fire against Kentucky. They ran all over them and defensively, they were lights out.

It all started with star linebacker Roquan Smith. In this type of atmosphere, it was going to take leadership to get the team back in the right frame of mind ready to put a beating on a team in a case of football therapy.

Smith had a monstrous afternoon with nine tackles and a sack. He led all defenders in tackles and continued to show why he is one of the best linebackers in the nation and will be a leader at the very next level.

Teams looking for a linebacker with great potential will be looking at Smith. He and Rashaan Evans are the class of the SEC and very well the class of all of college football. Now, they have Georgia Tech before a big test in the SEC Championship Game.

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