San Diego Chargers: Undrafted free agents have potential

Oct 19, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Curtis Grant (14) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes tight end

(86) during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

According to Henne:

DE Cameron Botticelli – Minnesota

Minnesota’s Defensive Lineman of the Year notched 29 tackles and 3.0 sacks as a senior.  The 6-4, 290-pound Botticelli also ranked second on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss.

OLB Ikechi Ariguzo – Northwestern

Ariguzo really came into his own his final two years with the Wildcats. The 6-3, 230-pounder totaled 210 total tackles, including 127 solo stops, and can play both on the strong side and weak side.

LB Nick Dzubnar – Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo

Owns his school’s single-season record after totaling 167 tackles as a senior.   The 6-2, 250-pound product out of Mission Viejo High School led the defense in tackles each of his last three seasons.

ILB Curtis Grant – Ohio State

Playing in 15 games for the National Champion Buckeyes, the hard-hitting Grant is a 6-3, 238-pound physical specimen.  He was voted co-captain by his teammates.

OLB Brock Hekking – Nevada

The 6-4, 255-pounder will make the transition after recording 180 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles with the Wolf Pack.

LB/FB Ryan Mueller – Kansas State

Mueller played defensive end in college and was a first team All-Big 12 selection by the coaches.  The 6-2, 245-pounder initially joined Kansas State as a walk on.

What the picks bring to the table:

In the draft, the Bolts acquired two LBs in ILB Denzel Perryman and OLB Kyle Emanuel. While both of those line backers fill the needs, the undrafted rookie free agents can still make the starting-day roster. It will definitely be more difficult to make the team with so many rookies, but I think at least one of these guys can find a way to make it.

If there was a guy who could make it, it would be Ikechi Ariguzo. Out of Northwestern (and via NUSports.com), Ariguzo “earned third consecutive Honorable Mention All-Big Ten accolade in third season as a starter (39 career starts)…Finished in a tie for 10th all-time at Northwestern with 333 career tackles (24.5 TFLs)…Led Northwestern with 104 stops in his senior campaign, tying for 10th in the Big Ten during the regular season with 8.7 tackles per game”

As I have stated, competition breeds the best overall product on offense, defense or even special teams. With the multitude of line backers that exist on the team, I think the best man will win that spot on the 53-man roster.

Next: Three Secondary Prospects to watch