Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus has become one of the top pass-rushing prospects in 2012. Mike Mayock has Mercilus ranked as the No. 4 defensive end. Mel Kiper projects that the Titans will take Mercilus with the 20th pick in the draft. Charley Casserly has Mercilus at No. 10, to the Bills.
Every team will have a full and fair chance to eyeball Mercilus this weekend. He writes in a draft diary for the Chicago Tribune that he’ll do whatever they want him to do at the Scouting Combine.
“I’ve been doing everything I can here so I’ll be ready to show them I can even be an outside linebacker in a 3-4, as well a 4-3 right end,” Mercilus writes. “If they want me to do outside linebacker drills at the Combine, I will.”
That’s the right attitude. And that’s one of the intangibles that gives far more insight into a guy’s love for the game than anything he does running around in his shorts.