ROBERT AYERS
ARPER
TENNESSEE
#91
PROJECTION: 2nd-3rd Round COMPARISON: -
CLASS SENIOR
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 270 lbs.
HOMETOWN Clio, SC
HIGH SCHOOL Marlboro County
BIRTHDAY 9/6/1985
|
YEAR |
TACKLES |
TFL |
SACKS |
INTS |
FF |
|
2008 |
49 |
15.5 |
3.0 |
1 |
0 |
|
2007 |
34 |
12.0 |
4.0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2006 |
25 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2005 |
5 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS: Nice size & strength...Quick first step...Nice acceleration...Stout vs. the run...Vesatile (DE/OLB)
WEAKNESSES: Lacks experience & wide array of pass rush moves...Not very explosive...Will take plays off
OVERALL: A one year starter, Robert Ayers was highly recruited out of high school as a linebacker and he has the versatility to play standing up at the next level. He appeared in 48 games over his career, but didn’t become the full-time starter until his senior season when he started all 12 games. Even though he was the starter as a senior, he wasn’t an every-down defender. Ayers looks the part with a cut physique, nice size, and good measureables. He isn’t overly explosive, but shows a quick first step and is fast off the snap. Ayers will hold his own against the run and shows a powerful base. He isn’t an elite athlete, but has good acceleration off the edge and shows a good combination of speed and strength. Ayers’ lack of experience shows as he looks inconsistent at times and doesn’t have a wide-array of pass rush moves. He is known for taking plays off and his passion for football has been questioned several times. Ayers might not be an every-down defender which will definitely hurt his draft stock. He isn’t much of a sack-artist, but will make plays behind the LOS and collected 15.5 tackles for loss as a senior and 31.5 total over his career. Ayers earned First Team All-SEC honors as a senior and was one of the best players during the week of practice prior to the Senior Bowl. He also won Player of the Game during the actual Senior Bowl Game. Ayers is set to have a better career in the pros than he did at the collegiate level. He stayed mostly durable thus far throughout his career.
BOTTOM LINE: A player with great measureables and quickness off the edge, Ayers really made a splash over the past year, but NFL teams will be weary of just one year of starting experience/production.
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
TACKLES |
TFL |
SACKS |
INTS |
FF |
QB HURRY |
|
9/1 |
@ UCLA |
L 27-24 |
2 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9/13 |
UAB |
W 35-3 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9/20 |
FLORIDA |
L 30-6 |
2 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
9/27 |
@ AUBURN |
L 14-12 |
4 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
10/4 |
NO. ILLINOIS |
W 13-9 |
5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
10/11 |
@ GEORGIA |
L 26-14 |
9 |
3.5 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
10/18 |
MISSISSIPPI STATE |
W 34-3 |
2 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
10/25 |
ALABAMA |
L 29-9 |
4 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
11/1 |
SOUTH CAROLINA |
L 27-6 |
7 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
11/8 |
WYOMING |
L 13-7 |
2 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
11/22 |
@ VANDERBILT |
W 20-10 |
6 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
11/29 |
KENTUCKY |
W 28-10 |
6 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
NO BOWL GAME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5-7 (3-5) |
|
49 |
15.5 |
3.0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
2008 STATISTICS