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2011 Denver Broncos Draft Cameos: Ben Ijalana

Offensive Tackle/Guard - Ben Ijalana, Villanova

Height:  6'3"
Weight:  317
40yd:  5.35

Interest Level:

Private Workout:  Yes
Private Visit to Team Facility:  No
Attended Proday:  No
Other: -

Quick Take:

A man among boys at Villanova, he has an excellent reach, good knee bend and a nice strong base to work from.  Dominated the competition at his level, and should get a shot to try out as a tackle in an NFL camp, but marginal height could eventually lead to sliding him inside.  Additionally he may need to work on speeding up and refining all aspects of his pass protection for the NFL.  Wasn't able to workout at the combine due to a double sports hernia.

Where He Goes in the Draft:

Bottom of the 2nd Round

What is Denver's Interest In Him?

Medium.

He is a good depth prospect, but Denver's workout was primarily aimed at getting a feel for his actual speed and ability to adjust to the NFL level of competition.  he does everything right, so the question becomes, can he still do it right at NFL speed?  there have been no clues how he fared in their workouts of him, and he very well may have been still held back because of the hernia.  the most likley opportunity to obtain him, at any rate is to see if he slips to #67 in the third, or trade back up into the 2nd to look at him.

Round
Position, Name


CB Patrick Peterson


DT Marcell Dareus


QB Blaine Gabbert

Top OLB/DE Von Miller
1
DE Robert Quinn


DT Nick Fairley


QB Cam Newton

Middle OT Nate Solder
OT Anthony Costanzo
DE Da'Quan Bowers
DE Aldon Smith

Bottom DT/NT Phil Taylor
DE Adrian Clayborn
OG/C Danny Watkins
OLB Akeem Ayers

Top

QB Jake Locker
QB Christian Ponder
DE Jabaal Sheard
QB Ryan Mallett
CB Brandon Harris
QB Andy Dalton

2 Middle RB Mikel LeShoure
OLB Bruce Carter
ILB Quan Sturdivant

Bottom OT Ben Ijalana
RB Daniel Thomas

Top
3 Middle

Bottom

Top
4 Middle

Bottom
5 Top

Bottom
6

7

[Note:  All players in the table are ranked by overall grade within their round grouping, however, the round groupings are based on where this player will likely be drafted based on where teams are currently selecting in the draft.  Therefore a player is ranked within a group by his level of ability, but players in nearby groupings may have higher or lower actual grades, despite being in a different group.  Confusing enough for you? --Styg]