5'11", 230, 4.59
100+ tackels the last three seasons.
Pros: Kevin is a prototypical tough, nasty, blue-collar linebacker who will get in your face and hurt you. He plays tough & fast, closes quick, is great against the run, instinctive with read/react skills, and plays with passion for the game.
Cons: Kevin has been playing MLB at Oregon but because of his height will probably be moved to OLB in the pros that will expose his one weakness, pass coverage techniques. He will need time to better develop in this area.
Perhaps the attention he has attracted in the past has suffered due to sharing the acclaim with deserved teammates. Yet his return as the linebacking corps elder statesman should allow his talents to receive proper acclaim. The Pac-10's top returning tackler (8.8 avg.) became Oregon's first defender to accumulate 100 or more tackles in consecutive seasons in seven years after posting 114 in 2002. Is now just 62 stops shy of becoming Oregon’s first player to crack its all-time top-10 list since 1999. Has parlayed 26 career starts and 37 consecutive appearances while earning Ad Art Ironman Award each of the last two years as the player with the most playing time. Characterization as "best instinctive player ever to put on an Oregon uniform" may appear overexaggerated except to those who have watched him play over time. Combines great recognition of plays unfolding before him and uncanny anticipation with the reflexes that allow him to quickly swarm to the football. Parlays great physical attributes with an unsurpassed mental grasp of the game to elicit great expectations for the coming year. Also assumes role as one of program's most respected leaders on and off the field. Tested as school's second-fastest backer in the 20-yard shuttle ever following 2001 workouts (3.81 seconds), as well as one of program's top power clean specialists (341 lbs.) of all-time at his position. The only question remaining is how to get him off the field to gain an occasional breather.
