LB, Ohio University
Rankings: 29th-ranked inside linebacker by Pro Football Weekly. Graded as a player who could make an NFL training camp but likely needs time in a developmental league.
NFLDraftScout: 13th-ranked ILB, #303 player overall, 7th-round/free-agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2011: Three-time team captain. Started all 14 games. 116 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, one sack, 3 forced fumbles, 4 pass breakups, one interception.
2010: Medically redshirted after three games. 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one blocked kick. Had been named to several preseason all-America teams.
2009: Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-America. Second team all-Mid American Conference. Started all 14 games. Led MAC in tackles. 155 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, one interception.
2008: Second team all-Mid American Conference. Started 11 of 12 games, 10 at middle linebacker, one at strongside LB. 104 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two pass breakups, one interception.
2007: Played in all 12 games. 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble.
Major: biology.
Injuries:
2011: Played through a shoulder sprain and hamstring problems.
2010: Had surgery in January to repair a slight tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. Required surgery in October after tearing a tendon in his right big toe, causing him to miss all but three games.
Pro day stats: (NFL Combine LB averages in parentheses)
4.63 40 (4.74 average - Keller would have been in the top five at the Combine)
1.59 10-yard split
37” vertical jump (34.25”)
10'0" broad jump (9'8.5")
DNP 3-cone drill (6.82)
4.44 20-yard shuttle (4.28 average - Keller would have been in bottom 3)
28 bench press (23 average - another top five performance)
Multiple sources have Keller's pro day 40 time as 4.56 and say he ran it during a downpour.
Positives:
Tackling machine with an excellent head for the game. Strong enough to play inside, quick and agile enough to play outside. 37-inch vertical. Has excellent instincts, which allows him to play fast. Reads and reacts well. Always moving to the ball. Breaks down well. Shows good footwork and use of leverage. Violent with his hands. Stacks and sheds well. Takes good angles. Good wrap-up tackler. Aggressive blitzer. Good pre-snap recognition and gets his teammates adjusted accordingly. Aggressive, smart, hardworking, like a coach on the field. Has ideal mentality for special teams and his football IQ makes up for his other shortcomings.
Negatives:
Limited athlete, undersized and short-armed. Lacks explosive burst and pursuit speed and won't run down many NFL ball carriers. Poor range sideline-to-sideline. Needs to have the play coming right at him. Has weight room strength but it doesn't translate to the field. Lacks hitting power and strength to take on and shed blockers. Has played very little at outside linebacker and has not done much pass rushing. Limited in pass coverage. Tight-hipped with a poor back-pedal. Doesn't get deep drops or change directions well. Major liability in the open field and will struggle to cover anybody. Durability may also be an issue.
Compares to: Tim McGarigle (Rams 7th-round pick, 2006).
Fun Facts: Noah does not lack a fallback plan if football doesn't pan out; there are several doctors in the Keller family and he's planning to go into medicine himself. Noah's a former Nebraska state shot put champion and his brother Zac was a teammate of Rams sixth-round pick Greg Zuerlein at Nebraska-Omaha.
RamView: Every team needs to have a few Noah Kellers, doesn't it? Just a football player. Can't question his head or his heart, and several of his pro day results wouldn't have been as good as they were if he didn't have good strength and explosiveness. He's really going to have to prove the NFL game isn't too fast for him, though, and his injury history is a concern. If he makes a misplay at this level, I'm not sure he has the elite athleticism needed to recover and still make the play. But a player with Keller's intangibles and college productivity certainly stands a chance of success in the Rams' 2012 cattle call for linebackers.
Chance of making roster: 40%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, CBS Sports, Ohio University athletics, ESPN, Kearney (Neb.) Hub, National Football Post, Sports Illustrated, The Ohio University Post, Nebraska-Omaha athletics
Photo: Pro Football Weekly
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