This week, we're going to put the spotlight on Jasper Brinkley, the snake-bitten inside linebacker out of South Carolina. Coming out of Georgia Military College (J.C.) in 2006, Brinkley (and his twin brother Casper) made an immediate impact on Steve Spurrier's South Carolina defense. Brinkley was a beast in '06, earning All-SEC honors and recording the second most tackles in the conference. Considered a sure-fire first-round pick heading into his senior year, Brinkley suffered a horrific season-ending knee injury against LSU. He wouldn't return.

After being given a medical redshirt, Brinkley returned in '08 to the great excitement of Gamecocks fans across the country. Only, you could tell he wasn't 100 percent. He was a tad slower off the snap, he wasn't racking up the tackles, and he wasn't the same ferocious hitter he was in '06.

That said, Brinkley looked good at the South Carolina Pro Day last week. At 6-1, 250 pounds, he's the ideal size for an ILB spot in a 3-4.

If a team wants to roll the dice and put a little faith in a guy who's worked his way all the way back from a potentially career-ending injury, they'll get plenty of bang for their buck in Brinkley. Think Michael Bush/Willis McGahee.

Brinkley is an under the radar guy at the moment, but when healthy has all the skills and physical tools to perform at the next level.

That is, of course, if that darn knee cooperates.