YOUR Source for Everything NFL DRAFT
LB Scouting Reports - 2025
Bird’s Eye View: Positional Analysis
The 2025 LB class falls in line with recent classes in that there are few immediate starters to be found but good overall depth with a bunch of prospects that will likely have to excel on special teams to earn time on the defensive side of the field. The top prospect and only certain first round pick in April is Jalon Walker (Georgia), a fierce pass rusher who lacks the desired size to line up at EDGE on running downs and will likely play off the ball LB on early downs. Regarding more traditional LBs, the top prospects are Jihaad Campbell (Alabama), Smael Mondon (Georgia), Jay Higgins (Iowa), Nick Martin (Oklahoma State), and Jeffrey Bassa (Oregon).
Positional Grade: C-
Eugene Asante / Auburn
6’ / 220 / 30” Arms / 72 & ½” Wingspan
Transfer from North Carolina. Average height with a good frame and modest size but room to add more. Lacks desired length and reach. Game is based on speed and agility. Fast, quick-twitched athlete with great range and mobility. Hits like a tank. Keys against the run and screen game exceptionally well – very aggressive and comes down hill with bad intentions. Dangerous blitzer with the ability to bend, flatten, and close quickly on the QB. Better blitzing than in coverage. Instincts in coverage are still developing. Developing his ability to track the QB’s eyes in zone coverage and displays the athleticism and fluidity to be developed into a quality man coverage LB, although he lacks experience at those duties.
Eugene Asante / Auburn
Player Comparison:
Owen Pappoe / Arizona
Jeffrey Bassa / Oregon
Player Comparison:
Terrel Bernard / Buffalo
Jeffrey Bassa / Oregon
6’1 & 1/8” / 230 / 31 & ¼” / 78 & ¼” Wingspan
Good size – possesses desired height, frame, and mass. Nice length with an impressive reach. Looks the part of an NFL off the ball LB. Naturally athletic and smooth. Matches up well with RBs in coverage. Excellent range in zone coverage where his length is a notable asset. Uses length well to break up passes in coverage. Scrapes and flows effectively against the run – uses body well to create space. Very secure open field tackler who breaks down well in space. Flashes an effective closing burst on the QB as a blitzer. Good instincts. Solid read and react skills but is more of a finesse player who prefers to run around blocks than to stack and shed. Needs to improve his core strength and ability to fill and support against the inside run. Intelligent team leader. Very effective communicator at the second level.
LaVonta Bentley / Colorado
Transfer from Clemson. Average height and frame with solid, well-distributed mass throughout his body. Average length and reach. Reads and reacts quickly to the run game – fills aggressively. Good instincts and is not easily fooled by play action. Very quick sideline to sideline with an impressive burst to meet the runner in the hole. Fundamentally solid tackler who brings his pads and follows through on the tackle attempts. Very effective inside blitzer with a quick closing burst. Inexperienced in man coverage but with the foot speed and agility to handle those responsibilities.
LaVonta Bentley / Colorado
Player Comparison:
Jeremiah Trotter / Philadelphia
Jamon Dumas-Johnson / Kentucky
Player Comparison:
Monty Rice / New England
Jamon Dumas-Johnson / Kentucky
6’ & ¼” / 246 / 32” Arms / 78 & 1/8” Wingspan
Transfer from Georgia. Possesses an ideal frame and mass for ILB while lacking some height but having the desired length including a significant reach. Reads keys well and attacks the alley in the run game. Very strong and sheds blocks easily – very effective hands fighter. Good range within the box where he scrapes and flows through trash well. Stressed by speed in space and lacks some desired agility to handle RBs and quick TEs in man coverage. Much more effective against the run than pass. Started 35 career games at Georgia and Kentucky. He was charged with drag racing and reckless driving in January 2023 while at Georgia.
Power Echols / North Carolina
​Average size, stature, and length for an off-the-ball LB. Displays excellent instincts – rarely fooled. Reads and reacts quickly and shoots gaps like a RB – fills with violent intent. Brings pads on contact and works to finish tackles. Very aggressive run support player who too often overruns plays and loses containment. Breaks down well and is a fundamentally solid tackler. Very good range – fast and covers a lot of ground. Not tasked with man coverage responsibilities much but has the agility and range to handle those duties. Great mental and physical make up for special teams duties.
Power Echols / North Carolina
Player Comparison:
Tatum Bethune / San Francisco
Cal Haladay / Michigan State
Player Comparison:
Devin Bush / Cleveland
Cal Haladay / Michigan State
Possesses average mass and length on a smaller than desired frame. Shorter than desired. Very instinctive. Keys quickly and aggressively against the run – fills the hole quickly and violently. Plays with leverage and can push an offensive lineman back on his heels. Very good range – especially against the run. Gets good depth in his zone drops. Not efficient in man coverage and needs to improve in this respect – lacks discipline and is a liability in man coverage. Comes in out of control too often and falls off too many tackle attempts. Non-stop motor and plays with a nasty edge. Great mental makeup for special teams play.
Jay Higgins / Iowa
5’11 & ¾” / 226 / 31” Arms / 73 & 7/8” Wingspan
Lacks the desired height and mass but possesses an athletic frame. Average length and reach. Very instinctive – rarely fooled by play action or the QB’s attempts to manipulate coverage. Excellent read and reaction skills – finds the right alley and fills aggressively. Very good in zone coverage where he gets good depth in his drops and reads the QB’s eyes and jumps routes effectively (see INT v Iowa St). Less experienced in man coverage but has the foot quickness and agility to match up with RBs and most TEs in coverage. Solid, wrap-up tackler who breaks down well in space. Very good range and excellent pursuit skills. Adept at punching the ball loose and causing fumbles. Willing to stack and shed but prefers to use his speed and agility to beat the blocker. Led the nation with 171 tackles in 2023.
Jay Higgins / Iowa
Player Comparison:
Lavonte David / Nebraska
Nick Jackson / Iowa
Player Comparison:
Maema Njongmeta / Cincinnati
Nick Jackson / Iowa
Transfer from Virginia. Lacks desired height and overall length. Good frame with solid, well-distributed mass. Very good instincts – smart and rarely fooled by play action. Keys quickly against the run and fills with violent intentions. Breaks down exceedingly well and secures the tackle. Quick and agile enough to handle TEs and some RBs in coverage. Not as strong as desired and has difficulty shedding blocks. Very quick and prefers to use speed to beat his blocker. Has over 430 career tackles in college and always seem to be near the ball. Great mental makeup for special teams duties.
Shemar James / Florida
6’1 & 3/8” / 226 / 32 & ¼” Arms / 76” Wingspan
​Possesses the desired height, frame, mass, and length desired at LB. Very long reach and owns a significant wingspan that he utilizes well in coverage to break up passes. Excellent athlete with light feet, loose hips, and a sudden burst – flows effortlessly through traffic and has sideline to sideline range. Fills the alley hard against the run – fires like a missile when he sees the run play develop. Effective in zone coverage where he can read the QB’s eyes and jump the route. Physical and effective against TEs in coverage where his length and twitch are useful in coverage. Displays solid coverage instincts and is rarely fooled by play action. Needs additional development in hand fighting techniques to better shed blocks.
Shemar James / Florida
Player Comparison:
Quincy Williams / NY Jets
Kobe King / Penn State
Player Comparison:
Jeremiah Moon / Florida
Kobe King / Penn State
Prototypical size for ILB with good height, a large frame, and a solid and powerful mass. Excellent length with long arms and a significant reach. Very physical and strong. Effectively uses off hand as a club to strip ball while securing tackle with the other arm. Fills hard against the run. Lacks great agility or athleticism in space – tightness in his hips is exposed by RBs in space. Matches up effectively with TEs in coverage although his lack of technique can be exposed in man coverage at times. More effective in zone coverage than man coverage where his instincts and vision allow him to be effective watching the QB’s eyes and anticipating routes. Smart and aware. Very good communicator.
Cody Lindenberg / Minnesota
6’2 & 1/8” / 239 / 33” Arms / 77 & ½” Wingspan
​Ideal height, frame, and mass with very long arms and reach for the position. Very instinctive – solid in zone coverage where he is rarely fooled by the QB. Good read and react skills but occasionally fills the wrong hole, leaving and alley for the RB to exploit. Light on his feet and has very good range. Great tackler – breaks down well and understands tackling methodology. Assignment responsible with great football intelligence. Improving blitz ability. Used as a stand-up EDGE in passing situations and at the Senior Bowl and has the length, power, and agility to be developed. Smart with a very high football IQ.
Cody Lindenberg / Minnesota
Player Comparison:
Logan Wilson / Cincinnati
Jack Kiser / Notre Dame
Player Comparison:
Marist Liufau / Notre Dame
Jack Kiser / Notre Dame
6’1 & 3/8” / 227 / 30 & ½” / 75 & ½” Wingspan
Looks the part of the modern-era NFL off the ball LB with good height, solid frame and mass, but lacking some desired length and reach. Sixth year at ND with more than 65 career starts (program record). Experienced and instinctive. Fills the alley well against the run and displays solid read and reaction skills. Scrapes and flows without overcommitting in the run game. Fast and displays excellent range. Good coverage ability in the short zone. Matches up well with TEs and some RBs in coverage. Team leader who is responsible for defensive play calls. Very good communicator. Assignment responsible with a very high football IQ. Has an outstanding make up for special teams play.
Nick Martin / Oklahoma State
6’ & 1/8” / 222 / 30 & ½” Arms / 74” Wingspan
Marginal frame, mass, and length with an average reach. Very instinctive – sees play develop and fires like a missile towards the ball. Reads keys well and fill responsibilities consistently. Excellent range combined with instincts seems to put him near the ball on every defensive snap. Breaks down well to secure the tackle. Dangerous blitzer with an impressive closing burst. Likes to utilize speed and agility to run around blocks but is feisty and competitive and works to shed blocks. More effective in zone coverage where he can follow the QB’s eyes and attack the ball. Has the body type and skill set to handle RBs in man coverage. Seems to have a great makeup for special teams play. Missed most of the 2024 season with injury but participated in Senior Bowl practices.
Nick Martin / Oklahoma State
Player Comparison:
Nick Bolton / Kansas City
Francisco Mauigoa / Miami, Fl
Player Comparison:
Jack Campbell / Detroit
Francisco Mauigoa / Miami, Fl
6’1 & ½” / 231 / 32 & 3/8” Arms / 76 & 5/8” Wingspan
Transfer from Washington State. Looks the part of the modern era off the ball LB with the desired height, frame, and mass. Extremely long arms and reach for a LB. Very quick with a good forward burst – dangerous blitzer with an excellent closing burst. Comes in under control and breaks down well to make the tackle. Reads and reacts quickly and attacks the hole against the run or on the blitz – extremely aggressive in run support. Athletic and possesses sideline to sideline range but sometimes comes in too hot and loses containment. Stays glued on blocks and needs to improve shedding ability. Physical tackler who brings his pads on contact – big hitter. Athletic and quick in space with the skill set to match up well with TEs and most RBs in coverage.
Smael Mondon / Georgia
Looks the part of a modern-era off-the-ball LB with the desired frame, length, and mass. Fluid and smooth in coverage – very good range. Very hard hitter who delivers blows on contact. Fundamentally sound tackler in space. Very good eyes in zone coverage – tracks the QB’s eyes well. Very good read and reaction skills – fills the alley hard to shut down the run lane. Very instinctive and smart – alert and aware to the offense’s game plan, understands responsibilities, and is very assignment sound. Very good communicator who is responsible for setting the defense and getting all defenders on the same page. Effective blitzer with a good closing burst on the QB. Has missed significant chunks of time to injury and his medical evaluation will heavily impact his draft status.
Smael Mondon / Georgia
Player Comparison:
Jack Sanborn / Chicago
Xander Mueller / Northwestern
Player Comparison:
Micah McFadden / NY Giants
Xander Mueller / Northwestern
​Looks the part with good height, frame, and solid mass. Good length and reach. Very instinctive. Average athlete with good range that covers more ground than he should due to his elite instincts. Very good tackler who comes in under control. Leader who calls the defensive signals. Effective in zone coverage where he gets good depth in his drops and understands responsibilities. Limited athleticism exposed in coverage against fast TEs and RBs. Solid read and react skills. Good hand fighting skills for shedding blocks although he lacks some strength and can be manhandled by a physical OL on the second level.
Deshawn Pace / UCF
6’1” / 208 / 30 & ½” Arms / 73 & ½” Wingspan
Transfer from Cincinnati. Good height and frame but looks like a safety lacking the mass and length desired at off the ball LB. Very good range – light feet and easy acceleration. Has the athletic profile to match up well with TEs and RBs in man coverage, although he lacks much experience. Range and foot quickness is especially useful in zone coverage. Solid read and react skills and is assignment responsible. Very instinctual and is rarely fooled. Secure, wrap-up tackler. Brother, Ivan, starts at LB for the Vikings as a similar under-sized off the ball LB. Should be a solid special teams contributor.
Deshawn Pace / UCF
Player Comparison:
Ivan Pace / Minnesota
Chris Paul / Ole Miss
Player Comparison:
Ernest Jones / Seattle
Chris Paul / Ole Miss
6’ & 7/8” / 224 / 30 & 1/8” / 75 & 3/8” Wingspan
Transfer from Arkansas. Adequate height with a solid frame and good overall length. Adequate arm length with a good reach. Displays the ability to pick up TEs and RBs in man coverage but is not tasked with that responsibility often in Oxford. Very good range and foot speed – ability to roam sideline to sideline in pursuit in the run game and zone coverage. Very active and physical in run support – solid read and reaction skills. Reliable, open field tackler. Very good instincts, especially in the run game. Not fooled often by play action but can be over aggressive and lose gap responsibilities at times. Needs to improve strength to improve ability to shed blocks. Effective as a blitzer with a nice closing burst. Displays promising upside in his ability to spy mobile QBs effectively. Productive, multi-year starter at both Arkansas and Ole Miss.
Cody Simon / Ohio State
Looks the part of an old school NFL LB with rare size for the current era of NFL LBs – big frame, broad shoulders, sculpted body with excellent mass for a MLB. Good height and length with long arms and a sizeable reach. Physical and fills against the run well – sheds blocks effectively and is one of the best LBs in this draft at defeating blocks. Strong and physically imposing. Powerful open field tackler who brings the hammer in run support. Has difficulty handling speed in space and can be overmatched in man coverage - slightly tight in the hips and loses phase at the break point. Dangerous blitzer who packs a powerful bull rush and an impressive closing burst – recorded seven sacks in 2024.
Cody Simon / Ohio State
Player Comparison:
Bobby Wagner / Washington
Jailin Walker / Indiana
Player Comparison:
Akeem Davis-Gaither / Cincinnati
Jailin Walker / Indiana
Transfer from James Madison. Undersized LB with a solid frame, good overall length, and a large wingspan but lacking some desired mass. Developing in his ability to shed blocks – effective against TEs but can be overwhelmed by offensive linemen. Very quick and active. Read and react skills combined with agility allow him to beat the blocker and make the tackle regularly. Good man cover skills against RBs and TEs. Aggressive and fills against the run well. Willing tackler who throws his whole body into the ball carrier – collisions that cause fumbles. Sometimes comes in out of control and misses tackles in space. Effective blitzer with a good closing burst. Should be a solid special teams contributor at the NFL level.
Jackson Woodard / UNLV
6’1 & 7/8” / 232 / 31” Arms / 77 & ½” Wingspan
Transfer from Arkansas. Good height, frame, and mass. Good arm length with a large wingspan. Very good leaping ability. Effective in zone coverage – gets good depth in his drops and watches the QB’s eyes in coverage well. Limited speed and agility exposed in man coverage but he is highly competitive and smart in coverage. Secure and fundamentally sound tackler. Reads keys and reacts well in the run game. Sound read and react skills – identifies the correct gap and fills aggressively. Good instincts and football intelligence – smart and rarely fooled. Effective blitzer.
Jackson Woodard / UNLV
Player Comparison:
Tommy Eichenberg / Las Vegas
Jalon Walker / Georgia
Player Comparison:
Nolan Smith / Philadelphia
Jalon Walker / Georgia
Possesses the build, length, and athleticism to play off the ball LB on run downs and line up on the edge on passing downs. Used as a versatile match up piece by the coaching staff. Extremely athletic with a freakish combination of speed, quickness, agility, length, and play making ability. Raw as a pass rusher and needs to add some pass rush moves to his arsenal. Reads and reacts quickly. Has a great first step and displays the ability to bend, flatten, and turn the corner. Elite closing burst on the QB or ball carrier. Very disruptive due to burst and speed. Ideal range. Instincts are still developing and can be fooled by play action. 2024 Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top LB.