Aaron Rouse

Positional Rankings: QB RB FB WR TE OT OG C - DE DT ILB OLB S CB - K P

Position: Safety

School: Virginia Tech

Status: Senior

Height: 6-4

Weight: 215

40-Yard Dash: 4.40 (EST)

Aaron Rouse’s physical presence is almost unnatural. Based on his size and speed alone many projected Rouse as a late first rounder before the beginning of the 2006 season. Some NFL scouts dubbed him as “the best player that you’ve never heard of.”

In his 2005 campaign with the Hokies, Rouse led the team in tackles, taking snaps at both safety and whip linebacker. Rouse gravitated to the role of leader after the fiasco that was the Gator Bowl (Jimmy Williams’ ejection and StompGate). He rallied the team, and began the season as the undisputed owner of Foster’s lunchpale (the trophy for defensive leader).

Rouse’s versatility in stopping the run and sound coverage ability helped to ear mark the Hokies as one of the best defenses coming into the 2006 season. As a reward for his outstanding play he was moved to the coveted “rover” position in Bud Foster’s defense.

The 2006 season. Rouse began the season as arguably the best safety in the country. However, once the time came to play a meaningful game, Rouse was no where to be found. Georgia Tech picked apart the Hokie secondary and not all of it was Calvin Johnson. Assigning Rouse to the Georgia Tech receiving corps was too much.

Things only got worse as Rouse was pitiful in the very next game against Boston College. He loafed around the field and ended the night on the bench before engaging in a heated argument with fellow teammates Vince Hall and Brandon Flowers. After the poor back-to-back performances Rouse lost sole ownership of the rover position to another senior, Cary Wade. Since then, Rouse has improved his tackling and put in more effort. However, the two seniors still continue to split time.

What happened? Rouse’s play and behavior mark a 180-degree turn from the 2005 season. There are some talented safeties in this year's draft and Rouse did himself a major disservice by playing so poorly. LaRon Landry and Brandon Meriweather already had a healthy lead coming into the season, but many saw Rouse as the dark horse that might steal the crown.

The good news for the Norfolk native is he has unmatched size and strength. Also helping Rouse is the recent talent of Virginia Tech defensive backs in the NFL (DeAngelo Hall, Jimmy Williams, and Eric Green, all of whom Rouse played with in Blacksburg). Nonetheless, those late first-round dreams are all but forgotten.

Rouse’s attitude will be of major concern. That same issue haunted his former teammate, Jimmy Williams, in the 2006 draft, where he slid from a sure top-15 pick all the way into the meat of the second round. Barring jaw-dropping numbers from the combine, the same slide is likely to plague Rouse.

Third Round