Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland was the Big Ten's defensive player of the year and finished his career with 421 tackles, but his lack of size is an issue for NFL scouts.
Borland measured 5-foot-11 and 243 pounds at Monday's Reese's Senior Bowl weigh-in and he won't blow anyone away with his 40 time. But NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock said Tuesday on NFL Network that scouts need to put away their prejudices about measurables when it comes to Borland.
Mayock called Borland "as fun a guy to watch on tape as I have ever seen" and praised his instincts and quickness. He compared Borland to former Dolphins LB Zach Thomas and a "sawed-off" Luke Kuechly. While Mayock admitted the measurables aren't necessarily there, he said he "wouldn't let this kid get out of the second round."
NFL Media analyst Charles Davis said he broadcasted numerous Wisconsin games and Borland is "a guy that kept getting better." Davis also mentioned Borland's measurables as being as issue but also said Borland "makes more plays than maybe what people expect."
But NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah isn't as high on Borland as Davis and Mayock. As for the concern with the measurables, "I saw some of that play out on tape," Jeremiah said. Jeremiah specifically mentioned lack of arm length as a concern when it comes to making tackles.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.