Overall
Much like Nick Fairley last year, Whitney Mercilus came out of nowhere to be arguably the best defensive lineman in college football. When watching him this year, he didn't look at all to be a fluke, as he proved to be a smart, well rounded football player with great ability. Mercilus has a very nice blend of size and athleticism. He has the size and strength to hold up in the run game, also effectively walking offensive lineman backwards with his Bull-Rush. He is an explosive athlete who gets a great jump off the line, and with his speed, and ability to "Bend" while maintaining that speed, he can turn the corner in an instant. You have to wonder though what the deal with Mercilus was for his first 2 years in college. Something definitely changed, from 2010 to 2011, as he went from 2 sacks in his first 2 years, to 16 as a Junior. But from the first game of his Junior season to the last, he did not look at all to be a guy who was a flash in the pan, and based on an entire season of consistently being a dominant pass rusher in the Big-10, he doesn't worry me at all. Mercilus will attract to all teams needing a pass rusher as he has the size and athleticism to be a fit in almost any defensive scheme. He should not fall out of the top 20 picks.
