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LB Scouting Reports - 2024
Bird’s Eye View: Positional Analysis
The LB class lacks any true stars but this class has plenty of quality athletes with the agility and foot quickness desired by NFL systems. Cedric Gray (North Carolina) is the best prospect in this class due to his productivity, speed, range, and tackling ability. The best athlete in this class is Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M), who has tremendous speed and range although his instincts still need development. Other top prospects in this draft include Payton Wilson (North Carolina State), Junior Colson (Michigan), and Marist Liufau (Notre Dame).
Positional Grade: C-
Tommy Eichenberg / Ohio State
6020 / 233 / 31.5” Arms
32.5” vertical / 9’8” broad jump
Brother, Liam, plays OC for the Dolphins. Prototypical size and build for a MLB. Keys and diagnosis quickly and fills aggressively against the run. Excellent instincts and is generally near the ball. Smooth and athletic for his size. Very good range. Effectively stacks and sheds and makes TFLs. Brings pads on contact and is a reliable open field tackler. Gets good depth on his zone drops. Enough athleticism to match up with some RBs and TEs in space but may lack some desired speed and range for off the ball LB duties.
Tommy Eichenberg / Ohio State
Player Comparison:
Nick Bolton / Kansas City
Jeremiah Trotter / Clemson
Player Comparison:
Jordan Hicks / Cleveland
Jeremiah Trotter / Clemson
6000 / 228 / 31.4” Arms
7.13 3-cone drill / 21 reps (225 lbs)
Adequate size and build for an NFL ILB. Son of former NFL Pro Bowl LB of the same name. Excellent instincts. Keys quickly and closes on the ball. Strong and physical. Effective stripping the ball and creating turnovers. Lacks some desired speed and range and has trouble matching up with speed in space. Effective in zone coverage when he can watch the QB’s eyes. Effective blitzer with a good closing burst. Smart and aware and capable of being the defensive signal caller.
Junior Colson / Michigan
6020 / 238 / 32.4” Arms
33.5” vertical / 9’4” broad jump
Prototypical size, frame, and length for an ILB. Plays with good balance and light feet and clears trash well. Effective inside blitzer. Athletic and rangy – gets good depth in his pass drops. Instinctive with a high football IQ. Flows through traffic with light feet. Powerful hitter and tackler. Reliable and experienced LB who can play on all three downs.
Junior Colson / Michigan
Player Comparison:
Kenneth Murray / Tennessee
Cedric Gray / North Carolina
Player Comparison:
Zaire Franklin / Indianapolis
Cedric Gray / North Carolina
6014 / 234 / 32.4” Arms
4.64 40 / 35.5” vertical / 10’0” broad jump
Prototypical build and athleticism for an off the ball NFL LB. Great speed, burst, and range. Excellent blitzer due to closing burst. Physical tackler. Breaks down well in the open field. Improved his ability to shed blocks but still needs continued development. Instincts have noticeably improved over the last three seasons. Displays enough coverage ability to pick up TEs and RBs in man. Very effective in zone coverage where he can watch the QBs eyes to the ball. Gets excellent depth on his zone drops. Competes at the catch point – great leaping ability. Recorded 145 tackles in 2022, which led the nation.
Payton Wilson / North Carolina State
6040 / 233 / 30.4” Arms
4.43 40 / 34.5” vertical / 9’11” broad jump
Brother is a pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers (Bryse). Former state champion high school wrestler and it shows through his ability to shed blocks. Tall and long off the ball LB. Athletic, rangy, and covers a lot of ground at the second level. Very good speed – recorded a 23.7 MPH GPS. Experienced and productive. Good instincts. Keys quickly against the run. Comes in under control and is a disciplined tackler. Not used much in man coverage but looks comfortable in zone. Doesn’t offer much pass rushing ability but has an effective closing burst when he gets free. Too athletic and physical for most TEs to block. Has suffered numerous injuries during his career in Raleigh. 2023 Bednarik Award winner.
Payton Wilson / North Carolina State
Player Comparison:
Alex Anzalone / Detroit
Curtis Jacobs / Penn State
Player Comparison:
Dre Greenlaw / San Francisco
Curtis Jacobs / Penn State
6010 / 241 / 31.4” Arms
4.58 40 / 35” vertical / 10’4” broad jump / 18 reps (225 lbs)
Looks the part of the modern era LB with a solid frame and good overall length. Very quick and has great range. Fast and can cover TEs, RBs, and some WRs in coverage. Effective blitzer with a good closing burst. Instincts are still developing. Highly experienced and productive LB with multiple years of starting experience in Happy Valley.
Aaron Casey / Indiana
6007 / 231 / 32.6” Arms
4.75 40 / 30” vertical / 9’9” broad jump / 16 reps (225 lbs)
Very good size – looks like a MLB. Fills aggressively against the run. Very good tackling form – gets low, brings his pads, and drives through the tackle. Knows how to get skinny and shoot gaps. Very good instincts and reads keys well. Alert and aware. Responsible for defensive calls and has a high football IQ. Smooth mover and has good range. Very good blitzer with an effective closing burst. Tries to avoid blocks and needs development in hand fighting techniques.
Aaron Casey / Indiana
Player Comparison:
Jack Sanborn / Chicago
Edgerrin Cooper / Texas A&M
Player Comparison:
Quay Walker / Green Bay
Edgerrin Cooper / Texas A&M
6020 / 230 / 34” Arms
4.51 40 / 34.5” vertical / 9’10” broad jump
Excellent size with desired length and a large wingspan. Reads the play, keys, and slices through the line like a guided missile. Sound, wrap-up tackler. Very good lateral agility and range. Very good blitzer with an impressive closing burst. Instincts still need development and he is too easily fooled by play action – too often runs himself out of plays.
Nathaniel Watson / Mississippi State
6020 / 233 / 32.7” Arms
4.63 40 / 31” vertical / 9’3” broad jump
Nicknamed “Bookie.” Looks the part – good height, solid build, and excellent length, especially arm length. Excellent instincts – always near the ball in both run and pass defense. Plays with outstanding leverage – brings pads on contact. Very good stacking and shedding ability displaying strength, hand use, and body lean to create space and get off blocks. Extremely experienced and productive college MLB with a consistent high level of play shown over several seasons. Fundamentally solid tackler who breaks down well in space. Very effective blitzer exhibiting timing and closing burst.
Nathaniel Watson / Mississippi State
Player Comparison:
Patrick Queen / Pittsburgh
Steele Chambers / Ohio State
Player Comparison:
Denzel Perryman / LA Chargers
Steele Chambers / Ohio State
6010 / 226 / 30.4” Arms
33.5” vertical / 9’4” broad jump / 7.13 3-cone drill
Adequate size and length. Moves well and has excellent range – very fast. Matches up well with RBs and TEs in coverage. Solid in run support but needs improvement in stacking and shedding blocks – tries to run around blockers instead of engaging and shedding them. Nicked up by injuries throughout his career in Columbus.
Michael Barrett / Michigan
5110 / 233 / 32.1” Arms
Average size and length. Sixth year senior with plenty of experience. Possesses good speed and range and has the athletic profile to match TEs and RBs in space. Breaks down well in space and consistently secures the tackle. Keys quickly against the run. Effective blitzer with good closing burst. Needs continued development in shedding techniques – stays blocked too long.
Michael Barrett / Michigan
Player Comparison:
Christian Harris / Houston
Darius Muasau / UCLA
Player Comparison:
David Long / Miami
Darius Muasau / UCLA
6000 / 225 / 31.4” Arms
4.70 40 / 36.5” vertical / 9’9” broad jump
Undersized but extremely physical off the ball LB. Brings his pads on contact and unloads on the ball carrier. Key and diagnosis quickly against the run. Very good instincts. Athletic and fluid. Has the range to play zone effectively. Has enough athleticism to cover TEs and some RBs in man coverage.
Kalen DeLoach / Florida State
5114 / 210 / 31.4” Arms
4.47 40 / 30.5” vertical / 9’11” broad jump
Kalen DeLoach / Florida State
Player Comparison:
Dorian Williams / Buffalo
Edefuan Ulofoshio / Washington
Player Comparison:
Divine Deablo / Las Vegas
Edefuan Ulofoshio / Washington
6004 / 236 / 32.7” Arms
4.56 40 / 39.5” vertical / 10’9” broad jump
Undersized ILB – looks like a safety. Very fast and rangy. Very good athlete. Effective blitzer. Physical and tough. Extensive injury history – exacerbated by his physical style. Good instincts but keys so fast that he can still be fooled by play action. Good tackler but sometimes does not break down well in space and will miss some tackles as a result.
Marist Liufau / Notre Dame
6020 / 234 / 34.2” Arms
4.64 40
Good size with nice length. An explosive hitter with great closing burst on the ball carrier. Plays fast. Smart and recognizes formations and keys effectively. Keys quickly and accelerates towards the ball carrier. Explosive blitzer. Lines up off the edge and has the bend and burst needed to generate pressure on the QB. Great range and covers a lot of ground in pass coverage. Explosive athlete.
Marist Liufau / Notre Dame
Player Comparison:
Devin White / Philadelphia
Tatum Bethune / Florida State
Player Comparison:
EJ Speed / Indianapolis
Tatum Bethune / Florida State
5114 / 229 / 32.3” Arms
16 reps (225 lbs)
Transfer from UCF. Good size and thickness for an ILB. Powerful tackler and can level some hits. Covers ground effectively and his length is beneficial in coverage. Displays good coverage ability and closes on the ball effectively – big INT in ACC Championship Game against Louisville. Sound tackler and wraps up well in space. Needs improvement in shedding blocks.
Eric Gentry / USC
Tall, long, athletically framed LB. Long arms. Lacks some desired girth but is extremely rangy and covers a lot of ground. Gets skinny and knifes into the backfield. Very effective closing burst on the ball carrier. Good blitzer. Large wingspan is effective in coverage where he can get his hands on passes he’d otherwise never make. Lacks playing strength and cannot seem to shed blocks efficiently.
Eric Gentry / USC
Player Comparison:
Anfernee Orji / New Orleans
Trevin Wallace / Kentucky
Player Comparison:
Devin Lloyd / Jacksonville
Trevin Wallace / Kentucky
6010 / 237 / 32.5” Arms
4.51 40 / 37.5” vertical / 10’7” broad jump
Good size with solid mass and decent length. Athletic and fluid in space – moves surprisingly well considering his size. Gets good depth in his zone drops. Has the length and athleticism to match up with TEs in man coverage. Best against the run – fills quickly and effectively against the run. Stacks and sheds effectively – strong hand use.
JD Bertrand / Notre Dame
6010 / 235 / 30.5” Arms
20 reps (225 lbs)
Displays excellent range and pursuit skills. Fundamentally solid tackler – comes in under control. Very productive as a tackler at MLB. Has difficulty covering in man defense and gets exposed by speed the farther he must move. Effective blitzer and can beat a RB in pass pro. Good hand use to shed blocks. Intelligent and instinctive – reads blocking exceptionally well.
JD Bertrand / Notre Dame
Player Comparison:
Jerome Baker / Seattle
Jason Johnson / UCF
Player Comparison:
Akeem Davis-Gaither / Cincinnati
Jason Johnson / UCF
6005 / 230 / 31.1” Arms / 75.5” Wingspan
Possesses adequate size, mass, and length. Displays very good instincts. Nice hand use to shed blocks. Keys and triggers quickly and fills hard against the run. Has enough agility and fluidity to cover TEs and some RBs in coverage. Strong enough to fill and halt run lanes.
Nick Jackson / Iowa
Transfer from Virginia. Possesses desired size and length for an off the ball LB. Great instincts. Keys and diagnosis quickly. Excellent range and mobility. Very reliable tackler who breaks down well in space. Good blitzer who maintains lane discipline while rushing the passer.