http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/leon_joe :
Leon Joe
Position: Outside/Inside Linebacker
College: Maryland
Height: 5-11
Weight: 232
Hometown: Fort Washington, Md.
Analysis | Agility | High School | Personal
OVERVIEW
An athletic linebacker who was one of the most underrated players in the country the last few years … An outstanding sideline-to-sideline player from his "Will" (weakside) linebacker position, he was also Iron Terp (honor bestowed on top performers in the team's offseason conditioning program), who is the strongest linebacker on the team and posted the highest strength index ever by a Terp linebacker (785) in 2002 … He also owns the Terp record for bench press (475 pounds) and vertical jump (41 inches) by a linebacker … In 48 games, he recorded 322 tackles (200 solos) with three sacks for minus-23 yards, 22½ stops for losses of 61 yards, 25 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, two interceptions and five pass deflections while starting his final 37 contests.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a compact, yet muscular frame with above-average quickness, body control and change-of-direction agility … Makes up for a lack of instant ball recognition skills with his physical ability … Shows the speed needed to reach the outside to take down ball carriers … Has a sudden burst and takes proper angles when closing … Has the lateral agility and leg drive to work around the piles … Has the speed to cover tight ends and ball carriers beyond the short area … Has adequate hip flexibility in his pass drops, showing the foot speed and agility to come out of his backpedal without gathering himself … Will look up crossers (receivers on crossing patterns) and shows quickness to react to the switch-off in the zone … Effective blitzer with the speed off the corner to outmaneuver blocker.
Negatives: Lacks ideal height … Late to react when asked to break down plays … Despite his awesome weight room power, it does not translate to the field (struggles to take on and shed blockers) … Shows marginal hand usage to maintain position on receivers in the short zone … Does a poor job of anticipating the receiver's routes, but compensates with quickness to recover … Can get past blockers, but lacks pass-rush moves in attempts to get to the quarterback (poor hand usage shows in his marginal ability to deliver good swim moves) … Tries to overpower blockers too much and rather than shed, he tries to use his forearm flipper to split double teams, resulting in rush lanes opening for the runner … Because of his lack of bulk, he gets washed out quite a bit vs. the larger blockers … Could possibly move to strong safety due to his quickness, but his inability to recognize routes could pose a big problem there.
AGILITY TESTS
4.43 in the 40-yard dash (indoor track) … 4.6 in the 40-yard dash (outdoors) … 475-pound bench press … 615-pound squat … 363-pound power clean … 41-inch vertical jump.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Friendly (Fort Washington, Md.) High, playing both outside and inside linebacker as a senior, recording 165 total tackles (88 solos) and 10 sacks … As a fullback, he averaged 10 yards per carry in limited attempts … Scored four touchdowns, including a 95-yarder in the state semifinals … Helped spearhead Friendly to the county's first Maryland state title in 10 years … FHS went 13-0, won the 3A state championship and finished the season with a final ranking of No. 3 by the Washington Post … All-Region selection by Super Prep and Prep Star … Rated the No. 3 linebacker in the state by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming entering his senior year … First-team all-county selection as a junior when he played strictly outside linebacker. Friendly went 10-2 and advanced to the state semi-finals … Also an outstanding sprinter on the track team.
PERSONAL
Criminal Justice major … Son of Leslie Bishop-Joe and Clarence Joe … Born Leon Maurice Joe on Oct. 26, 1981 … Resides in Fort Washington, Md.
