Positives
Highly versatile defender who’s made an impact from numerous positions, including edge-rusher
Continuously grew in terms of reading keys and diagnosing plays during collegiate career.
Flexible body type that can bend around blocks and change directions in space
Sudden feet to win with quickness in short areas
Adequate initial burst to close from static positions
Possesses a quick and impact full spin move as a pass-rusher
Fluid hips to turn and run in pass coverage with foot quickness to plant and drive on the ball
Comes downhill with urgency to fill holes when he reads decisively
Works across the box with fluidity as a lateral mover while keeping shoulders square to the line of scrimmage
Can jump laterally to elude blocks with quickness
Consistently wraps up to drag ball-carriers to the ground
Doesn't stop his feet to lunge as a tackler, drives hips through while churning his legs
Surprising strength when taking on backs in the hole
Plays with an endless motor and infectious intensity level
Has a way of getting to the ball at a high rate
Negatives
Severe lack of length with arms that measure in at just under 29 inches
Gets impatient while reading, bounces around too much and takes false steps
Can be too aggressive in run fits and overrun plays, losing his gap discipline
Closing speed in the open field is merely average
Misses too many plays trying to chase to the perimeter, will get outrun even when he has an angle
Doesn't possess functional strength as a rusher and is limited by short arms
Hops around too much in pass coverage, imprecise footwork
Struggles to attain adequate depth in zones
Statistically unproductive in coverage, played a spy role often
Doesn't pick his way through congestion well due to lack of length
Poor job taking on interior linemen in the box while holding ground
Aiming point as a tackler can drop incredibly low to make up for lack of size
Will let ball-carriers come to him instead of attacking them by coming downhill
Notable injury history
NFL Comparison: London Fletcher, LB, Washington Redskins
Collegiate Statistics
Year Team Tackles TFL Sacks FF PD INT
2009 Wisconsin 54 10.5 5 5 3 1
2010 Wisconsin 7 2 1 0 0 0
2011 Wisconsin 143 19 2.5 5 7 2
2012 Wisconsin 104 10 4.5 3 6 0
2013 Wisconsin 112 8.5 4 2 2 0
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/chris-borland-1.html
Personal Notes
A 3 star prospect as a recruit in class of 2009, unranked by both ESPN and Rivals
Took a medical redshirt after a third surgery on his shoulder in 2010
48 career starts at Wisconsin
2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
2013 Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
2013 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Ratings Chart
Overall
Chris Borland is one of the more divisive prospects in all of the 2014 draft class. His attacking style, consistent production and sought-after intangibles will endear him to numerous teams. Others won’t be able to overlook his size limitations and the fact that he isn’t as athletic as you might wish an undersized linebacker would be. His versatility for defensive schemes and skill set for special teams should keep him on an NFL roster for a long time. Borland is going to be drafted into a starting lineup, though, and he’ll still have something to prove when he does.
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