ULL's Dwight Bentley creates NFL buzz

One young man getting plenty of buzz in the NFL scouting circles is UL-Lafayette senior cornerback Dwight Bentley.

Bentley, a former prep standout at Pahokee High School in Florida, the same high school that produced former Saints All-Pro and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Rickey Jackson, looks a lot like former Nicholls State University All-American and current Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb.

Webb, a former college cornerback was moved to free safety at Nicholls State because of the fact that teams just would not throw the ball in his direction, and college teams have found out that Bentley, like Webb, has excellent foot speed, terrific ball skills with the ball in flight, and he will come up quickly to aid in run support. The 5-9 ½, 185-pound senior has recorded 43 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 3 pass interceptions, 3 pass break-ups, and he has forced 2 fumbles in 2011.

Bentley’s quick hips, first-rate plant and drive skills to the ball and very good recovery speed will likely land him a spot in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft, but he could vault himself into the second round with excellent post-season workouts.Bentley is currently ranked as my 61st best player available for the 2012 NFL draft and that is two spots higher than another highly regarded pro prospect from UL-Lafayette in tight end Ladarius Green.Green has caught 22 passes for 236 yards, averaged 10.7 yards per catch and scored 5 touchdowns in 2011.