Big Ten Football Top 150 Players: No. 125, Christian Kirksey, Iowa LB

125. Christian Kirksey, No. 20, LB, Iowa
2011 Stats: 110 tackles, 5 tackles-for-loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception

Strengths

A sure sign of the times is when even Iowa adjusts its defensive personnel away from bulk and toward speed, and a key harbinger of that change has been Kirksey, a 6'2", 220-pound linebacker. Kirksey's closing speed makes him an asset in both pursuit and tackling in the run game, and he's athletic enough to keep coverage on slot receivers and backs running routes in the passing game. 

Weaknesses

Of course, with that tradeoff of size comes a less intimidating presence in the interior running game, and Kirksey isn't talented enough at shedding blockers at the point of attack to mitigate his smaller frame. His overall athleticism isn't elite, either, though it's at least good by linebacker standards. With that, Kirksey spent a lot of time in pass coverage chasing receivers. That usually doesn't end well.

2012 Prediction

Kirksey led the Hawkeyes in solo tackles and tied James Morris for overall tackles in 2011, and he should be near the top in both categories in 2012, too. Additionally, Iowa is changing its defensive strategy to a more aggressive approach with the retirement of notoriously conservative coordinator Norm Parker. Replacement Phil Parker (no relation) is assuredly going to blitz more often.

If Iowa's going to blitz, Kirksey's the man to do it. He's got the best burst of anyone in the front seven, so if he gets a lane then there's going to be hell to pay for the quarterback. Plus, he's got the speed to turn the corner on the more slow-footed tackles as well. But he's going to need to improve his coverage skills and break up more than three passes if he wants to take the next step toward All-Big Ten status.