Scouting Profile: Jonathan Starks

Jonathan Starks--5'11", 200 lbs.
Hometown: Center Line, Michigan

Evaluation:
Speed: 9/10
Pass Rushing: 10/10
Coverage: 8/10
Run Defense: 9/10
Tackling: 10/10
Overall: 46/50

Pro player comparison: Elvis Dummervill (LB), Bernard Pollard (SS)

Historic player comparison: Zach Thomas (LB), Willie Wood (SS)

Projected draft position: Late 2nd--Early 3rd Round

Strengths--Hard hitter, natural strength, good leader on defense, extensive experience, causes forced fumbles (FF), fumble recoveries (FR) and turnovers at key times

Weaknesses--Size, size, size. This is Starks' key drawback. At 5'11", 200 lbs he is on the small side. He might be able to be moved to Inside Linebacker (ILB) or Strong Safety (SS), but this is going to be a stretch. Theoretically outside linebackers (OLBs) have been getting lighter in 3-4 defenses, so there is a chance he could slide in here if he could put on another 20 pounds.

Conclusion: Starks is going to be a tough draft prospect, almost solely because of size. It is almost too easy to say that he is a true "tweener." A decade or so earlier and Starks might well have not been drafted at all. However, his high college production and the increasing hybridization of the SS/LB position should help Starks. It is not too much of a stretch to see him as a Bernard Pollard or even Deone Buchanon type player. If Starks moves to SS, however, he is going to have to work to improve his coverage even more; his skills are moderately good for a linebacker but even for a Strong Safety he is going to need to show dramatic coverage improvement. If he stays at OLB and puts on weight an Elvis Dummervill would be a comparison. Interestingly enough Starks might well have been able to play pre-1995 as well. Zach Thomas is another prospect who comes to mind. While he was bigger, people tend to forget Thomas' size and height were viewed as a serious detriment that would likely have kept a less productive player from getting drafted at all. Historically people also forget Willie Wood, who essentially played strong safety for the storied early Packer teams (winning 3 NFL championships and Super Bowl I and II). Another undersized prospect who had played a different position in college, Wood's playing style is somewhat similar to Starks. Overall, Starks is too talented and too productive. Some team will likely take Starks in the late 2nd Round and will slide him in either as a LB or a SS, or in a hybrid role as Deone Buchanon was used in his early years with the Arizona Cardinals under Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles, before Bowles left to become the head coach of the NY Jets.