Richard Clebert DT 6’1 312 South Florida

The plan was to redshirt Clebert as a freshman in 2004, but he was called upon for late action, burning that redshirt. As a sophomore in 2005, he had 16 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and .5 sacks on the year. Clebert had 22 tackles, two for loss, and a sack as a junior last year. He was a key cog on the defensive line this season, as he had 32 tackles, eight for loss, and two sacks on the season.

Clebert creates a lot of pressure from the interior defensive line. He is built thick and low to the ground, and is tough to handle off the line of scrimmage. He gets a quick burst off the line and gets initial penetration, and from that point, he is in the backfield because he is too strong to bring down. Clebert has excellent strength and can collapse the pocket. He is a solid run stuffer, and gets consistent penetration up the middle.

While he is strong, Clebert may lack the overall size to compete in the NFL. He is short, and may have maximized his frame already. The massive interior lineman in the NFL can overpower him because they are bigger and can just drive him into the ground.

Clebert is a player that could fit well as a reserve lineman in the NFL. His lack of size may hinder his ability to be a consistent starter, but his tenacity and strength could allow him to be a contributing member of a team.