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NFL Draft: 3 Takeaways from Tennessee Vols LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin to the Detroit Lions

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions took Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Here are three takeaways from that pick.

Related Story: Ranking Every Vol in the 2017 NFL Draft

Jalen Reeves-Maybin joined Cameron Sutton and Alvin Kamara in deciding to return to the Tennessee Vols for his senior season last year and forgo the 2016 NFL Draft. But it didn’t work out well for Reeves-Maybin at all, as he played three games before suffering a season-ending injury.

However, he somehow managed to make it into the fourth round of the NFL Draft, joining Jim Caldwell and the Detroit Lions.

Despite questions about his size and the fact that he missed almost all of last year, Reeves-Maybin is a baller. And he is a leader. Any team would be lucky to have him for those intangibles.

Here are three takeaways from the Lions’ decision to take JRM.

1. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is a perfect fit for Detroit’s defensive scheme.

An undersized linebacker who flies to the ball, is very fast, and never gets out of position is perfect for what Teryl Austin runs as Detroit’s defensive coordinator. The Lions’ 4-3 scheme is almost like a new and improved version of the Tampa 2 defense. Remember how linebacker like Cato June thrived in Indianapolis?

Now, JRM will be able to be that type of guy in Detroit under Austin and Jim Caldwell. An outside linebacker in this bend-but-don’t-break 4-3 defense allows for Maybin to do what he does best: close in really fast, demonstrate great lateral quickness and always position himself to make the tackle.

2. The Lions will start Reeves-Maybin immediately.

They may have stolen him in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, but we are predicting that Jalen Reeves-Maybin will start immediately with this team. The Detroit Lions were in desperate need of linebackers. In fact, of the three main ones they are looking at this season, one was a massive disappointment in 2016, one is injury prone, and one was signed only to bring depth.

Knowing that the Lions still only took one other linebacker ahead of Reeves-Maybin: Jarrad Davis out of Florida. And Reeves-Maybin was the better of the two before he got hurt. At the same time, Reeves-Maybin is the perfect fit for the Lions’ system. So he’ll play sooner rather than later.

3. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is now teammates with college enemies.

Jarrad Davis and Jalen Tabor both did a lot of trash-talking about the Tennessee Vols while at Florida, and Tabor took direct shots at Reeves-Maybin. Well, now they’re all teammates in Detroit on the defensive side of the ball, which will be very interesting to see.

Vols fans will still hate Tabor forever. It was sad to see JRM unable to go against the Florida Gators last year, but it didn’t matter too much. He has enough trash to talk after Jauan Jennings’s burn of Tabor in that game. But this will be an interesting dynamic, as all three guys could start this Fall.

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