2008 NFL Draft Preview: Phillip Merling Out of Clemson

Phillip Merling is a 6'4 276 lb defensive end out of Clemson. Philip gave up his senior year to be eligible for the 2008 NFL draft. He was fifth on the Tigers team in tackles and had seven sacks last season. Both NFLdraftscout.com and Fox sports are projecting Merling as a first round pick.

Phillip Merling upside is he is motivated. He has a fiancé and a one year old daughter. He also has a mother he wants to support. Phillip states "If it wasn't for my daughter I probably would have stayed another year of school, finish up and graduate." Currently NFLdraftscout.com has him ranked as the third best defensive end in the draft. Fox sports have him as the fourth best. NFLdraftscout.com states "in addition to his ability to pressure the passer, he also was involved in some pass coverages for Clemson." Fox sports call him a sure thing. Merling has good speed for a lineman which will help in the next level. Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden said Merling "has the ability to be successful in his professional career." Merling played against good competition in the ACC and should be able to adjust to the next level in the NFL.

Phillip Merling downside is he could use the help of a NFL strength trainer. 17 reps at the 225lb bench press, even with a sore groin at the combine was not a stellar workout. He is an underclassman, which is both good and bad. He has one less year of playing experience than the seniors in the draft.

Teams that could be interested in Merling include the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers. A poor Pro Day workout could cause Phillip to drop to the second round where more teams would have a chance to draft him. A great work out would solidify Merling as a first round draft pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

Sources:
NFLdraftscout.com
Foxsports.com