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5 Potential breakout NFL stars no one sees coming for 2019

By Randy Gurzi

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Gerald Everett #81 of the Los Angeles Rams makes a 40-yard touchdown catch during the fourth quarter of the game to make it 54-51 over the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Gerald Everett #81 of the Los Angeles Rams makes a 40-yard touchdown catch during the fourth quarter of the game to make it 54-51 over the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /

5. Ben Banogu, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts

In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts found quite the bargain when they took South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard at No. 36 overall. The second round pick went on to record 163 tackles with seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Those remarkable numbers were overlooked when selecting the Pro Bowl rosters, but Leonard was a First-Team All-Pro and won the 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Fast forward to 2019, and the Colts are hoping to once again turn one of their second-round picks into a stud defender. At No. 49 overall, the Colts grabbed TCU’s Ben Banogu. An edge rusher who doesn’t have ideal size, Banogu projects as a linebacker for Indianapolis but does what they need more than anything — he gets after the quarterback.

Banogu recorded 17 sacks in two seasons with TCU after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. He was overlooked coming into the NCAA and still had some of that same problem in the NFL. He was knocked for his lack of outside moves as an edge rusher which could hurt his chances at succeeding. However, the Colts showed last year that they understand where to put their defenders to get the most out of them.

Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus did a great job ensuring Leonard was successful as a rookie despite coming from a small school. Expect him to get Banogu in position to succeed as well.

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