Weighing in at 272 pounds, and standing 6 feet 2 inches, is one of the new additions to the Baltimore Ravens team; Courtney Upshaw. Upshaw, a pass-rushing outside linebacker from the University of Alabama, was selected in the second round with the 35th overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Upshaw enters the NFL with a strong resume from his college career with the Tide. This past year he won the BCS National Championship Game, where he was named Defensive MVP. He was also selected as a First-Team All-American for the nation and the SEC Conference, and he was named the 2011 Capital One Bowl Game MVP as a junior.
Despite all of his achievements in college the past two seasons, the senior from Alabama still fell to the second round to the Ravens due to his lack of production at the combine in the eyes of scouts. Regardless of what people might say about him, the Ravens are getting a “Raven” type football player who fits well with their defensive schemes.
During a segment on the NFL Draft Tracker Podcast with Matt “Money” Smith and Bucky Brooks, Smith asked Brooks why the Ravens always seem to luck out on these good college football players who slide down the draft for whatever reasons.
“They prefer to have players who have great production, who play with a passion, tough and relentless, and they get after the quarterback and fly to the football. Because of that, they have had a lot of success because this game is not played in shorts and t-shirts, it’s a man’s game that is played on the field, and you have to be violent and make it very collision friendly as we say on defense” said Brooks.
Although Upshaw will not have the first round pick pressure that some of his former teammates are going to be facing, Upshaw might be stepping into the biggest shoes this upcoming season.
The reigning 2011 Defensive MVP in Terrell Suggs will be sidelined for a majority of the 2012 season due to suffering a tear to his Achilles tendon. Suggs injured himself during one of the team’s off-season conditioning tests a few weeks before the NFL Draft. He told the team he is trying to come back before the season ends, however the Ravens still need to plan for his absence.
Additionally, the Ravens lost an additional starting outside linebacker, Jarret Johnson in free agency to the San Diego Chargers. The duo of outside linebackers had been together for the past eight seasons, and the break-up will force the Ravens to look for some other players to step up and contribute this upcoming season.
Many believe that Upshaw was drafted by the Ravens to help fill the void of Suggs’ presence on the defensive side of the ball. Upshaw will be asked to contribute immediately, along with fellow outside linebackers in 2009 selection Paul Kruger, and 2010 selection in Sergio Kindle who has yet to make any impact on the defensive side of the ball due to suffering a skull fracture prior to his rookie season with the team.
Once again, Smith asked Brooks on the NFL Draft Tracker Podcast, what sort of impact Upshaw can add to the Ravens defense as a rookie with the loss of Suggs.
“I think he steps right into Terrell Suggs spot because that’s the spot he played at Alabama. He played that rush hybrid-linebacker for Nick Saban down at Alabama and he really fits that role really well in Baltimore. This is someone who is not an elite athlete, but he is a go-getter off the edge, someone who plays with a lot of passion, brings a lot of energy to the table” said Smith.
At the Ravens rookie mini-camp practices, Upshaw seemed to have already made a good first impression on his coaching staff and head coach John Harbaugh.
“I’d say very positive impression that Courtney made. You know he is really sharp, really know’s football, does all those things you might not expect a bigger guy to do, he does those things well. He gets into coverage well, just a quick learner, he is off to a good start” said Harbaugh.
Upshaw still has a long way to go before he can be viewed as a Terrell Suggs type player in the eyes of his coaches; however he is off to a good start and making good use of the rookie training camp. What the Alabama native does between now and late July will dictate whether or not he can help contribute right away for the Ravens, who are in need of some help in the pass-rush.
Melissa Mahler from Pro Player Insiders was able to catch up with Upshaw while he was in New York for the NFL draft.
Outside of football, Upshaw enjoys bowling and watching any of the latest movies. His favorite food is cheeseburgers which he laughed when he said is why he was able to grow so much over the years.
If the Ravens have any hopes of getting back to the AFC Championship game in their 2012-2013 campaign, they will need their rookie outside linebacker to step up big in games just like he did at Alabama, who let’s not forget, won the BCS Championship Game last season with Upshaw as a key contributor on defense.
by Billy Bonneau and Melissa Mahler
Follow us on twitter @Melissa_PPI and @playerinsiders
