STRENGTHS - When healthy Mauti has been a highly productive linebacker for Penn State. Naturally instinctive, he is consistently fast reading and reacting to the play. He has legit sideline range against the run and can run with any tight end in man coverage. Instincts and aggressiveness show up in his quick fill of hole, takes on lead blocker strong in hole, sheds block and makes tackle at or behind the LOS. Quick and agile, Mauti can avoid OL blockers who try to block him on the second level and closes fast on the ball carrier to make the tackle. Impressive in his ability to bend knees and sink hips to drive up into ball carrier to make hard, violent hits/tackles with good form. Smooth and fluid dropping into coverage, Mauti can flip hips to adjust in coverage, he reads the QB/Pass/Route-Combinations well and has burst and ball skills to close fast and make play on ball to break-up or intercept the pass.
WEAKNESSES - The only real concern I have with Mauti in the NFL is whether his body can hold up as he is currently recovering from his third ACL surgery. He has torn the ACL in his left knee twice (He is currently re-habbing one of them) and the one is his right knee one time. He is not a huge linebacker and could have issues shedding if OL can lock up on him.
SUMMARY - Mauti is one of the frustrating players to write-up because his career has been so affected by knee injuries, but when healthy he was a highly productive player. If I gave Mauti a grade strictly for his on field play, I would likely give him a late first / high second round grade because he is truly an outsanding linebacker when healthy. Amazingly, before being injured in 2012, Mauti displayed the quickness, agility, flexibility and top speed that you would never expect for a player who had torn the ACL in each knee. While many college inside linebackers excel playing the run between the tackles, Mauti is different because he has sideline range versus the run and is excellent playing off the ball in coverage. Overall, because of the injuries I do not expect Mauti will be drafted before the late rounds of the Draft, but if he proves he is able to stay healthy (Which is a long shot as most players who struggle with injuries in college usually struggle to stay healthy in the NFL) he has what it takes to be a high end starting linebacker in the NFL. He fits best as a middle linebacker in a 43 scheme, but could also effectively play inside linebacker in a 34 defense or an outside linebacker spot in a 43 scheme.