2009 NFL Draft Prospect Rey Maualuga

We've looked recently at a couple of the top NFL Draft prospects on the offensive side of the ball in quarterbacks Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Matt Stafford of Georgia, so we decided to shift gears somewhat and look at a potential star-in-the-making in USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, one of the hardest hitting defenders in the country.

Perhaps the most feared defender on the college level, Maualuga passed on entering the NFL Draft in 2008 following his junior season despite being projected as a first-round prospect. He's a big linebacker at 6-3 and 260 pounds, but he carries his size well. He's a very smooth athlete with sideline-to-sideline speed and even better short-range quickness. He possesses great instincts, has a nose for the ball, and always seems to be playing downhill.

For more of our thoughts, along with some nice photos of his college career, check out this Illustrated Profile of NFL Draft prospect Rey Maualuga...

Photo: Kevin Terrell / Getty Images