Brian Duncan Scouting Report

Perhaps no defensive player benefited more from the switch to a 3-4 defense prior to the 2010 season than Brian Duncan. The inside linebacker turned strongside linebacker made his final move to the buck hybrid position for his senior season. As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Duncan was a tackling machine. The 6-1, Baton Rogue, Louisiana native totaled 69 tackles and made a variety of all-freshmen teams.

The following two seasons Duncan led the Red Raiders in tackles and seemed to always be around the ball in order to make the big play. After tallying 94 tackles in 2008 and 88 tackles in 2009, there was some mystery about how he would respond to defensive coordinator James Willis' new scheme. Duncan was asked to do less tackling and more blitzing as the hybrid end/linebacker. The result was a team high 12.0 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks through the regular season. Duncan's tackle total dropped to 58, but he quickly proved to everybody that he can be a traditional linebacker or a pass rushing linebacker at any level.

Duncan's versatility is a mixed bag as far as his draft stock is concerned. He could have been a solid outside linebacker in a 4-3 NFL defense, but he has shaped his body to fit the buck position at Texas Tech. The good news is that Duncan can get the job done in any system. He can continue to gain weight if he ends up as a pass rushing linebacker or regain some of his quickness by preparing to be a traditional outside linebacker or even an inside linebacker. Every NFL team, regardless of scheme, should have him on their board and know that he can get the job done no matter where they want him to play.