How Acquired: Selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft (211th overall).

College: USC

Oscar Lua emerged from spring practice last season as the starter at middle linebacker and performed well enough through the season, among stiff competition, to keep his starting spot. He led the team with 66 tackles, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass. The lasting memory of Lua’s season will be his punishing solo stop of an Arizona State running back on a 4th-and-1 as he met the back in the hole and drove him back several yards. This spring, Lua again fought off incredible competition to remain the starter at middle linebacker. He is a very smart player and although he lacks some physical tools, is a rock in the middle of the field defensively. Even if he is eventually beaten out for the starting spot, he is too talented to keep off the field and will see time in a rotation and as a major contributor on special teams.

Scouting Report:

Registered 36 tackles as a senior primarily coming off the bench. Full-time starter as a junior when he posted a career-high 66 tackles.

Pos: Hard-working two-down defender who shows a good head for the ball. Forceful up the field, explosive filling gaps and wraps up tackling. Stays with assignments, diagnoses the action and plays with reckless abandon. Aggressively puts his shoulders into ball carriers and flies around the field.

Neg: Struggles in coverage and lacks top sideline-to-sideline range. Possesses a short burst of speed that he cannot sustain.