Positives…Compactly built player with very good field instincts...Takes a very patient approach in his game and rarely plays out of control...Very quick to recognize the plays, especially in passing situations...Takes on blockers with force and is very decisive filling the holes at the line...Gets excellent leverage with his hand swipes when engaging the bigger blockers...Knows how to rock opponents back and is very adept at redirecting the tight ends in the short passing areas...Has the sideline agility to make plays all over the field and the quickness to run down the ball carriers from behind...Has a fluid lateral movement, adjusting to the flow of the game...Works well making tackles in space and shows the foot shuffling skills to get back on his zone in pass coverage... Gets good depth in his drops and anticipates quickly when playing the zone.
Negatives…Lacks the ability to be an effective pass rusher, as he tends to get stood up and pushed around at the line...Has not been effective as a blitzer, preferring to wait for the play to come to him rather than penetrate into the backfield...Size is a drawback, as he's generally matched up against the much taller tight ends on the strongside...Could move to the weakside, but his lack of effectiveness rushing off the edge could pose problems there…Has very short arms and small hands.
CAREER NOTES
Three-year starter at strongside outside linebacker...Solid, all-around player who kept the defense "honest" with his insistence that everyone played in control...Has been compared to Minnesota Vikings star Ed McDaniel, for his size, field presence and quickness...Finished his career with 253 tackles (179 solos), six quarterback sacks and 34 stops behind the line of scrimmage...His 34 career tackles for losses were the most by any active Tennessee player on the 2000 squad.
2000 SEASON
All-Southeastern Conference first-team pick by the Associated Press and The Sporting News... Started all year at left (strongside) outside linebacker...Led the team with a career-high 83 tackles (56 solos) while also making five sacks for minus 50 yards and 10 stops for losses of 24 yards... Deflected four passes and intercepted another...Caused and recovered a fumble...Credited with 22 big plays and also had an interception.
Preseason...Missed spring drills after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.
Southern Mississippi...Opened the season with 7 tackles (5 solos) and 2 stops for minus 4 yards.
Louisiana-Monroe...Posted 8 tackles (6 solos) as he caused a fumble, deflected a pass, picked off another, had an assisted sack for minus 10 yards and 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Georgia...Had a 15-tackle (12 solos) performance, the most hits in a game during his career.
Alabama...Made 6 hits with an assisted sack for minus 8 yards and 2 stops for losses.
South Carolina...Collected 2 stops for minus 7 yards and 6 tackles (4 solos).
Memphis...Followed with a 10-tackle effort.
Arkansas...Registered a 7-yard sack and a fumble recovery.
Kentucky...Had 11 tackles (8 solos) and a career-high 3 sacks for losses of 25 yards.
Vanderbilt...Made 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 6 hits (3 solos).
Kansas State (Cotton Bowl)...Closed out his career with 7 tackles and 2 stops for minus 6 yards.
1999 SEASON
Started the first nine games at left outside linebacker...Recorded 51 tackles (36 solos) with nine stops for losses of 21 yards...Caused and recovered two fumbles...Deflected three passes and made 17 big plays.
Wyoming...Began the season in fine fashion, advancing a fumble recovery 18 yards for a touchdown while also making 6 tackles (4 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage.
Memphis...Delivered 3 stops for losses and 7 solo tackles.
Georgia...Caused a fumble and was in on 5 tackles, including one for a loss.
Alabama...Added a pass break-up, a fumble recovery, 9 tackles (5 solos) and a stop for a 3-yard loss.
Notre Dame...Posted 6 tackles (5 solos) with a pass deflection and a stop for a loss.
Kentucky and Vanderbilt...Did not play...Suffered a knee injury in practice prior to the Kentucky clash, undergoing arthroscopic surgery.
Nebraska (Fiesta Bowl)...Returned to action, collecting 10 tackles with a 7-yard sack.
1998 SEASON
Moved into the starting lineup at left outside linebacker, finishing second on the team with 79 tackles (60 solos) and 11 stops for losses of 37 yards...Picked off a pass and deflected four others...Caused two fumbles and recovered another.
Houston...Credited with 7 tackles (3 solos).
Auburn...Followed with a season-high 11 tackles (6 solos), an interception and a forced fumble.
Alabama...Deflected a pass and posted 7 tackles (5 solos).
Alabama-Birmingham...Registered 8 hits (6 solos), including 2 stops for losses of 16 yards.
Arkansas...Had 9 tackles (8 solos) and 2 stops for minus 4 yards.
Kentucky...Posted 10 tackles (9 solos) with 3 stops for losses of 9 yards.
Vanderbilt...Made a stop behind the line of scrimmage, causing a fumble on that play and came up with 5 hits (4 solos).
Mississippi State...Was in on 6 tackles (5 solos), including one for a 3-yard loss.
Florida State (Fiesta Bowl)...Had 4 tackles (2 solos), sacked QB Marcus Outzen for a 6-yard loss and made 3 stops behind the line of scrimmage for minus 17 yards.
1997 SEASON
Played in the first two games, recording 11 tackles (8 solos) with a 5-yard sack, a stop for a 7-yard loss and a forced fumble.
Texas Tech...Caused a fumble, made 4 hits and had a 5-yard sack.
UCLA...Earned his first career start, lining up at right outside linebacker as he registered 7 tackles, including one for a loss, but suffered a torn knee ligament...Under-went surgery and was lost for the year...Granted a medical hardship.
1996 SEASON
Appeared in every game as a reserve outside linebacker...Made 29 tackles (19 solos) with three stops behind the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble.
AGILITY TESTS
4.7 in the 40-yard dash...31.5-inch vertical jump...9'6" broad jump...415-pound bench press... 420-pound squat...300-pound power clean…29 ½-inch arms…8-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Named Tennessee's Class AAA "Mister Football" as a senior at Marion County (Tenn.) High... Two-time All-State and three-time All-Region and All-District pick, adding MVP honors in 1994 and 1995 on state championship teams...Four-year starter who helped lead Marion County to three state championships and overall record of 56-1 (15-0, 11-1, 15-0, 15-0)...Rushed for 2359 yards and scored 40 touchdowns as a senior...Finished his career with almost 6000 yards rushing and 85 touchdowns...On defense in his senior year, he made 85 tackles, four tackles for a loss, fumble recovery, three fumbles caused and five interceptions...Four-year starter at defensive back and two-year starter at tailback...Lawrenceburg Quarterback Club Prep Player of the Year in 1995...Also played baseball.
PERSONAL
Urban Studies major...Born Eric Lebron Westmorland on 3/11/77...Resides in Jasper, Tennessee.
