Victor Aiyewa of Washington ~ 6.1/220
"A former strong safety who made the move to linebacker to add some much needed athleticism to the Washington defense. Is a smart, hard-working kid who has earned numerous All-Pac-10 academic honors and is a high character kid. Is seeing his first real playing time of his career in 2010 and has made the most of it. Showcases good range and depth in his drop, is able to keep his legs under him, open up his hips and quickly redirect and get after the football in the run game. Possesses good range in zone, has the ability to get up to speed quickly and gets his hands on a lot of footballs. Possesses good ball skills and looks natural playing the pass instead of the man when asked to click and close.
Showcases good instincts and feel when asked to play the run game as well. Will bite on some play fakes and take some false steps at times, but overall does a nice job putting himself around the play and breaking down on contact. Is a very good wrap-up tackler who brings his legs, sees what he hits and routinely gets his man on the ground. Lacks ideal power when asked to hold up inside and needs to continue to add some more bulk. More of a run and hit guy who looks limited in the type of schemes he can play in in the NFL. However, has a nose for finding the football, exploding down the line and making plays in the backfield and can play well in space in the pass game.
Impression: Won't be drafted high because of his size and lack of playing time — only a one-year starter. However, the guy can run, play the football and tackle in space. Looks like a very interesting late-round pick who can come in, help out on special teams and in the right scheme maybe mature into a player down the line."
Showcases good instincts and feel when asked to play the run game as well. Will bite on some play fakes and take some false steps at times, but overall does a nice job putting himself around the play and breaking down on contact. Is a very good wrap-up tackler who brings his legs, sees what he hits and routinely gets his man on the ground. Lacks ideal power when asked to hold up inside and needs to continue to add some more bulk. More of a run and hit guy who looks limited in the type of schemes he can play in in the NFL. However, has a nose for finding the football, exploding down the line and making plays in the backfield and can play well in space in the pass game.
Impression: Won't be drafted high because of his size and lack of playing time — only a one-year starter. However, the guy can run, play the football and tackle in space. Looks like a very interesting late-round pick who can come in, help out on special teams and in the right scheme maybe mature into a player down the line."
"Overview: 2010: Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 ... named to the Academic All-Pac-10 second team ... played in all 13 games, starting all but the Arizona game ... finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the Pac-10 and 11th (tied) in the nation with 1.50 tackles for loss per game ... 21.0 tackles for loss ranked No. 4 in UW single-season history ... had a big game in the Holiday Bowl vs. Nebraska, with four total tackles, including three tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles ... season-high 10 tackles, as well as half a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble, in the season-opener at BYU ... eight tackles and half a sack vs. Syracuse ... six tackles, one for loss, vs. Nebraska ... five tackles, with one-and-a-half for a loss in the win at USC ... four stops, one for loss, vs. Arizona State ... made seven tackles, three of them for a loss, in the win over Oregon State ... big game at Arizona with three-and-a-half tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble at Arizona ... six tackles, one-and-a-half for loss vs. Stanford ... another top game at Oregon, with seven total tackles, three-and-a-half for loss and one sack ... six stops each in wins over UCLA and California ... seven tackles, including a sack, in the Apple Cup win over Washington State ... won the 101 Club Academic Award at the team's postseason awards banquet ... served as a game captain for the Syracuse, Oregon State and UCLA games.
2009: Played in all 12 games, starting at one safety spot vs. Arizona and at Arizona State ... earned first-team Academic All-Pac-10 for the second straight season ... season-high six tackles, including one for a loss, in the win over Arizona ... made five tackles in the season opener vs. No. 11 LSU ... had four stops at Stanford ... one tackle each vs. Idaho, ASU and Cal.
2008: Played in four games: Oregon, Arizona, Oregon State and Notre Dame ... started at safety vs. Oregon State ... earned first-team Academic All-Pac-10 honors ... notched eight tackles, including six solo at Arizona ... recorded seven tackles, five solo, vs. Oregon State ... also had one tackle each vs. Oregon and Notre Dame.
2007: One of seven true freshmen to see action during the 2007 season ... saw all of his playing time on special teams ... played in all 13 games ... finished the season with six solo tackles and three assists, good for nine total tackles ... had two tackles vs. Oregon and again vs. Arizona ... also had one tackle each vs. Ohio State, at Oregon State, vs. California and at Hawai'i.
HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL: Helped the Hurricanes to a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in district play as a senior in 2006 ... team advanced to the third round of the playoffs ... named All-District (district 23, 5A) ... notched five interceptions during the season ... rated as the No. 89 safey recruit in the nation by Scout ... 2006 was first year of high school football played for coach Gene Johnson.
Strengths: Aiyewa is a former safety who transitioned to strong side linebacker as a senior and really excelled in 2010. Good athlete with good speed and quickness. A playmaker who uses his quickness and intelligence to make plays in the backfield. Very smart player who's an Academic-All Conference player. Good instincts to read and react to plays. Athletic ability to make plays all over the field. Excels as a linebacker in coverage due to his past time as a safety. Reads the QB and WR routes well, and closes on the ball in a hurry. Quick transition skills and good hips. Shows some ability as a pass rusher with his quick first-step off the edge. Good burst to get after the QB or make a tackle on the ball carrier.
Weaknesses: Below average size and strength for an NFL LB. He'll get pushed around at the POA. Can get swallowed up by big linemen. Uses quickness well to slip blocks, but struggles to defeat blocks with his hands. He has just one year of experience as a LB and is still learning the position.
Projection: UDFA, as Aiyewa will need to add strength and weight to make a roster. But because of his athletic ability and playmaking skills, he could be an option for a team to put on the practice squad to add that weight and strength."
2009: Played in all 12 games, starting at one safety spot vs. Arizona and at Arizona State ... earned first-team Academic All-Pac-10 for the second straight season ... season-high six tackles, including one for a loss, in the win over Arizona ... made five tackles in the season opener vs. No. 11 LSU ... had four stops at Stanford ... one tackle each vs. Idaho, ASU and Cal.
2008: Played in four games: Oregon, Arizona, Oregon State and Notre Dame ... started at safety vs. Oregon State ... earned first-team Academic All-Pac-10 honors ... notched eight tackles, including six solo at Arizona ... recorded seven tackles, five solo, vs. Oregon State ... also had one tackle each vs. Oregon and Notre Dame.
2007: One of seven true freshmen to see action during the 2007 season ... saw all of his playing time on special teams ... played in all 13 games ... finished the season with six solo tackles and three assists, good for nine total tackles ... had two tackles vs. Oregon and again vs. Arizona ... also had one tackle each vs. Ohio State, at Oregon State, vs. California and at Hawai'i.
HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL: Helped the Hurricanes to a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in district play as a senior in 2006 ... team advanced to the third round of the playoffs ... named All-District (district 23, 5A) ... notched five interceptions during the season ... rated as the No. 89 safey recruit in the nation by Scout ... 2006 was first year of high school football played for coach Gene Johnson.
Strengths: Aiyewa is a former safety who transitioned to strong side linebacker as a senior and really excelled in 2010. Good athlete with good speed and quickness. A playmaker who uses his quickness and intelligence to make plays in the backfield. Very smart player who's an Academic-All Conference player. Good instincts to read and react to plays. Athletic ability to make plays all over the field. Excels as a linebacker in coverage due to his past time as a safety. Reads the QB and WR routes well, and closes on the ball in a hurry. Quick transition skills and good hips. Shows some ability as a pass rusher with his quick first-step off the edge. Good burst to get after the QB or make a tackle on the ball carrier.
Weaknesses: Below average size and strength for an NFL LB. He'll get pushed around at the POA. Can get swallowed up by big linemen. Uses quickness well to slip blocks, but struggles to defeat blocks with his hands. He has just one year of experience as a LB and is still learning the position.
Projection: UDFA, as Aiyewa will need to add strength and weight to make a roster. But because of his athletic ability and playmaking skills, he could be an option for a team to put on the practice squad to add that weight and strength."
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