Is Kansas ILB Ben Heeney the Chris Borland of the 2015 NFL Draft?

Last year, there were more than a few doubts among the draftnik community regarding Wisconsin inside linebacker Chris Borland. He wasn't big enough to thrive at the professional level. Or athletic enough.

After 108 tackles, two interceptions and a sack for the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie, Borland left a lot of pundits and scouts dining on crow.

It's a bit chewy but not as bad you might think. Barbecue sauce helps.

So does cooking the bird first.

Well, this year many of those same criticisms are being levied at Kansas inside linebacker Ben Heeney, but just as with Borland, there's reason to think that more bird will be on the menu by the time all is said and done.

Heeney certainly didn't have any problem piling up numbers in Lawrence. A three-year starter for the Jayhawks, Heeney averaged over 105 tackles a season from 2012-2014, including a career-high 127 stops a year ago.

Year	G	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	INT	FF
2011	12	8	0	0	0	0
2012	12	112	12.0	0	0	1
2013	10	87	11.5	3.0	3	0
2014	12	127	12.0	1.5	1	2

Heeney quickly developed a reputation as an old-school "gamer," a player who goes all-out on every play. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports referenced that nonstop motor in his scouting report on the 6'0", 231-pounder:

"

Heeney had virtually no experience at linebacker in high school and didn't get much instruction there as a freshman, but the new coaching staff saw his potential and he flourished as a three-year starter, leading the Jayhawks in tackles each season. He lacks ideal NFL size and length, but leaves it all on the field and thrives on instincts, playing with a throwback, fierce style. There is a lot to like about Heeney with his play speed and read/react skills to be a hunter, but the body stiffness and average athleticism limit his next level upside.

"

It's that last part where things get cloudy.

Heeney is, by NFL standards, undersized (and then some) for an inside linebacker—over 15 pounds lighter than the 248 pounds Borland played at as a rookie.

In fact, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com views Heeney as a middling Day 3 pick, in part due to those physical limitations:

"

Undersized inside linebacker with a big motor and willingness to take chances. Lacks the athleticism to recover from mistakes in the running game and is too tight to cover in space against the pass.

"

Heeney, for his part, told Jesse Newell of The Topeka Capital-Journal that he's heard what the naysayers have said about his physical limitations—and he isn't buying what the critics are selling:

"

Whether it is or not, a white linebacker, you’re considered not athletic. You’re considered a gym rat, a film rat, a student of the game … which I would say I am. I’m in the film room. I like watching film and studying film.

But my athleticism has always either been diminished or just basically like it hasn’t been there, like I have no athleticism — like basically everything I’ve been doing is just based off my hard work and stuff. But my athleticism speaks for itself.

"

As BJ Kissel of the Kansas City Chiefs' website tweeted, Heeney's athleticism certainly wasn't in question at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Quite the opposite in fact:

That 60-yard shuttle drill time of 11.06 seconds wasn't just the best time by a linebacker at this year's combine. It was the fastest time in that drill ever by a linebacker at the combine.

Unfortunately, questionable size and athleticism aren't the only criticisms surrounding Heeney, and this is where he and Borland part ways in the eyes of scouts.

Borland was praised last year leading up to the draft for his football instincts. Rarely was he caught out of position. He doesn't overpursue.

Or should I say didn't, since Borland shockingly retired last month after one season amid concerns about head trauma and his long-term health.

However, as Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller wrote in ranking Heeney 10th among this year's linebackers, far too often at Kansas Heeney's nonstop motor led him to be in the wrong place at the wrong time:

"

Missed tackles are a major issue for Heeney, and they are what keep him ranked lower than other linebackers here. Part of Heeney being a freelancer who makes big plays is that he completely blows plays, too. He'll shoot gaps and be nowhere near the ball and takes himself out of position to make a lot tackles. That leads to questions about vision and instincts for this undersized linebacker.

"

It wasn't just Miller who noticed it either. An NFC scout expressed nearly identical concerns while speaking with Zierlein.

"I'm not saying he doesn't have instincts or work hard, but he guesses way too much," the scout said. "He's always around the ball, but he's also missing too many tackles to play in our league."

It's a valid concern. At times Heeney's aggressiveness was more curse than blessing at Kansas. Call it Jon Bostic syndrome for the Chicago Bears linebacker who goes a million miles an hour on every play—often in the wrong direction.

Playing like your hair's on fire is great. But without some measure of control, you'll take yourself out of as many plays as you blow up.

The thing is, that should (in theory at least) be an area where Heeney will improve with experience and coaching. At Kansas, Heeney was the most talented defender on the field. If he didn't make plays, odds were pretty good they weren't going to get made.

In the NFL, that won't be the case. Heeney will have a role to play—and play within.

If he can do that, learn to rein himself in a bit and play within both himself and the scheme a bit more, then that relentless nature and his better-than-advertised athleticism could easily make Ben Heeney the latest young player to shake off "too small" and "too slow" in favor of "Huh. Turns out the kid can play."

Just like Chris Borland did in San Francisco a year ago.

And with Heeney predicted by most as a Day 3 selection, that could make him one of the biggest value picks of the entire 2015 draft.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter at @IDPManor.