2014 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: C.J. Mosley, Linebacker, Alabama Crimson Tide
Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker C.J. Mosley (32) in action against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 232 pounds
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Scouting Report/Player Notes
2013 pre-season report
We were looking for Mosley to break out as a junior in 2012, and that’s exactly what he did. After sharing the starting job with Nico Johnson, Mosley became a full time starter at WILB where he was absolutely dominant, earning consensus first-team All-American and All-SEC honors in his junior season. In his All-American season, he had 107 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and a defensive touchdown on one of those picks. He was selected as the team’s defensive player of the week nine times last season, on a team that has stud after stud. This guy is the real deal, and he has scheme versatility. I think he is athletic enough to play OLB in a 4-3 defense, or could even play ILB in a four-man front. He is obviously well-versed in playing in a dominant 3-4 defense, so he could transition to the NFL and play in that scheme as well.
Does a good job of taking on blocks and shedding linemen to make plays. Has good anticipation skills and doesn’t let very much get past him. Very good at making plays behind the line of scrimmage and being used in blitzing situations. This is a player that never comes off the field and has been called the most dynamic player on the Alabama defense. He can cover, he can make plays behind the line, and he can be a force against the run. This is just a really instinctive linebacker prospect who does a lot of things really well. He is a first-round caliber prospect because of his scheme diversity, athletic ability, and the fact that he never has to come off the field. I am really impressed by Mosley and I think he is going to be a top 50 pick when all is said and done.
2012 pre-season report
Mosley came to Alabama and had a phenomenal freshman season in 2010 where he finished with 67 tackles, 10 passes broken up, and two interceptions, both for touchdowns. The Freshman All-American and freshman All-SEC performer came back as a sophomore and slightly regressed statistically, sharing the starting inside linebacker job with Nico Johnson. I would say, of Alabama’s draft-eligible linebackers, Mosley probably has some of the best overall talent. He’s a fantastic athlete with great size and speed, but he had just 36 tackles as a sophomore. Mosley has some injury concerns but he is a very good player who can break out as a top linebacker talent for the 2012 season.
Career Highlights (via Alabama athletics site)
2012 (JUNIOR): Starting weakside “will” linebacker in all nickel and dime extra-DB situations … consensus first team All-American and first team All-SEC choice … named first team All-America by the AFCA, Walter Camp, AP, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated … was a finalist for 2012 Butkus Award, presented to the nation’s top linebacker, and a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (top defensive player) … leads the team with 99 tackles (43 more tackles than the next player) … has made 10 starts … ninth in the SEC in tackles per game (7.62) … has seven tackles for loss (46 yards), four sacks (34 yards) and two interceptions, returning one 16 yards for a touchdown against Michigan … equaled the Alabama career record for interceptions returned for touchdowns (3) … also has one forced fumble, three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups … has posted four double-digit tackle games, with at least six tackles in 10 of 13 games … selected as one of the one of the Alabama defensive players of the week in each of the first six games and nine total games.
2011 (SOPHOMORE): C.J. Mosley shared the starting job at will linebacker with Nico Johnson … started six games this season with Alabama starting in a nickel defense while playing in 11 games … missed the Florida and Vanderbilt games after dislocating his elbow in the first quarter vs. Arkansas … returned for the Mississippi game but did not start … finished with 37 tackles on the season with 4.5 tackles for loss (-20 yards) and two sacks (-15 yards) … also broke up two passes and notced one interception … named one of the Defensive Players of the Week by the Alabama coaching staff following the Penn State game.
2010 (FRESHMAN): Mosley played in all 13 games as a true freshman and finished third on the team with 67 tackles … earned freshman All-SEC honors as well as first-team Freshman All-America honors from the FWAA, Rivals.com and CollegeFootballNews.com … registered two quarterback hurries and a team-high 10 pass breakups … tallied his first interception and took it back for a touchdown against No. 7 Florida … added another for 41 yards against Georgia State.
Stats
C.J. Mosley defensive stats via CFBStats.com
Video Highlights (via YouTube)