As part of our coverage leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft we will provide profiles of 200 prospects, including what the scouts around the league are saying and video interviews with each player.
Stephone Anthony (ILB), Clemson
6’3” | 243 lbs.
2014 stats:
75 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, INT, 3 passes deflected, 2 forced fumbles
Selection:
1st round, No. 31 overall (New Orleans Saints)
NFL
What scouts are saying:
"Carries an ideal frame for an inside 'backer, with thickness through the middle and broad shoulders, and he exhibits the explosive downhill first step and feisty demeanor to be a strong contributor in the box. He diagnoses early and does a good job of putting himself in position to make plays between the tackles against the run, and will hold his own when asked to drop back in short zone and cover the middle against the pass. As a tackler, he does a good job of extending and wrapping up below the waist to finish plays, and he prides himself on laying the occasional wallop without sacrificing technique." - CBSSports.com's Derek Stephens & Rob Rang
"Highly aggressive and will attack gaps, leaving cutback lanes for savvy runners to exploit. Just average lateral agility and sideline-to-sideline range, and he seems to take shallow angles against the run when the play goes to the outside. Too often relies on his burst to the ball and must show better pop on contact to disengage from blockers. He's stiff in the hips when asked to flip and redirect, so he'll waste some motion and take some time to get up to speed after making an adjustment, and thus far he hasn't shown "plus" coverage when asked to man up, flip and run with a tight end. Suspended for the first half of the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl due to a disputable targeting penalty against South Carolina." - CBSSports.com's Derek Stephens & Rob Rang
"Anthony showed off his athleticism this post season and now the question becomes whether he can play fast all the time as a pro. He tries to get downhill and make plays, but more often it feels like he's guessing rather than instinctive. If he can play with more control and play to his traits, he'll be a starting linebacker in the league." - NFL.com's Lance Zierlein
Video analysis provided by NBC Sports and Rotoworld NFL Draft expert Josh Norris.