Projo.com:

Scouting the Draft: Pittsburgh's Scott McKillop

03:20 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 21, 2009

By SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

With the NFL Draft slated for April 25-26, this is the 26th of daily looks at a player who could be on the New England Patriots' radar. All profiles can also be found at projo.com/patriots.
Related links

Scouting the Draft: See all of Shalise's 2009 Draft profiles

Your Turn: Which players are good fits for the Patriots in the 2009 NFL Draft?

Player: Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh

Height and Weight: 6-foot-1, 244 pounds

Position: Inside linebacker

Hometown: Export, Penn. (Kiski Area HS)

Senior year: 137 tackles (82 solo), 17 ½ tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 passes defensed

Career: 345 tackles (211 solo), 28 ½ tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 13 passes defensed, 3 interceptions

Honors: Football Writers Association first-team All-American, two-time Big East defensive player of the year, two-time first-team All-Big East

NFL Combine

4.70 seconds (40-yard dash)

27 reps (bench press)

35 ½ inches (vertical leap)

9-foot-11 (broad jump)

Is he a fit for the Patriots?

McKillop is a good size to play inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and opposing Big East coaches called him the smartest linebacker in the conference; scouts say he is given to sitting and breaking down film as a means of studying the science of the game.

A standout wrestler in high school, McKillop is incredibly instinctive, with an innate sense of how to get past blockers and above-average backfield awareness. He takes good angles to the ball and always seems to be in position to make a play. He is a good tackler in the open field.

McKillop isn't the quickest player, and he is more effective downhill than sideline-to-sideline. He lacks the speed to keep up with tight ends on long patterns, but does well defending against tight ends and running backs on short-yardage plays.

He was a reserve long snapper for the Panthers and also is a willing special teams participant.



MockingtheDraft.com:

6'2, 240 pounds | Pittsburgh | Middle linebacker

Strengths: An incredibly productive two-year starter who has the intelligence and savvy to make an NFL roster. Did well adjusting himself and teammates before the snap. Very intelligent football player who likes watching film and learning. Fundamentally sound player. By-the-book tackler. Good size. Was one of Pittsburgh's team leaders. Does a nice job breaking up passes. Had 11 pass breakups over his final two seasons.

Weaknesses: McKillop will be overlooked because he's not especially fast or athletic. Is too slow to get around the corner on a pass rush. Slow from time to time reacting to passes. Poor hands. Needs to get stronger in his lower body to handle bigger NFL running backs. Struggles at times shedding blockers.

Final word: What you see with McKillop is what you'll get. He was a product middle linebacker for the Panthers who knows the fundamentals of the game. While he's limited athletically, he makes up for it in determination and intelligence. Named a first-team all-conference member each of his two years starting.