2026 IDP Alert: Linebacker Prospects
Welcome to 2026 IDP Alert: Linebacker Prospects!
Now that the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, and Combine Week are complete, we take a look at this class and rank them properly. Wow. This class is stacked at LB, with tons of three-down potential early, depth later. Perfect for any IDP Owner in they need help.
The 2026 rookie linebacker class is straight-up stacked- with one of the deepest, most loaded groups in recent memory. Scouts and analysts are calling it a “deepest LB class in years” with blue-chip freaks at the top, explosive athletes in the middle rounds, and solid contributors dropping into Day 3. It’s the kind of year where teams could snag multiple immediate-impact starters without reaching, and fantasy/IDP managers are salivating over the tackle potential.
But how deep is your league, and how clever are your league mates? As most of our strategies are known, a player has to look really hard to find an edge. As edges fade in Fantasy Football, especially in IDP Leagues, use this as your all-in-one tool guide to understand the player, how to use the stats, know this draft class, and lastly, how to rank them. You won’t want to miss this.
| Name | Ht | Wt | Hand | Arm | Wing | 40 | 10-YD | BP | Vert | BJ | SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonny Styles | 6-5 | 244 | 1032 7/8 | 80 7/8 | 84 | 4.46 | 1.56 | 43.5 | 134 | 4.267 | 7.09 |
| CJ Allen | 6-1 | 230 | 10 1/8 | 31 1/2 | 75 1/2 | ||||||
| Jake Golday | 6-4 | 239 | 9 1/2 | 31 7/8 | 76 7/8 | 4.62 | 1.63 | 9 | 125 | 4.347 | 7.02 |
| Anthony Hill Jr. | 6-2 | 238 | 9 5/8 | 32 3/8 | 79 | 4.51 | 1.58 | 2 | 137 | 125 | |
| Josiah Trotter | 6-2 | 237 | 10 1/4 | 32 1/4 | |||||||
| Jacob Rodriguez | 6-1 | 233 | 9 1/4 | 31 1/4 | 4.57 | 1.63 | 8.5 | 121 | 4.196 | 6.9 | |
| Kyle Louis | 6-0 | 224 | 9 1/2 | 32 | 4.53 | 1.58 | 3 | 9.5 | 129 | 4.266 | |
| Bryce Boettcher | 6-1 | 233 | 9 | 31 5/8 | |||||||
| Justin Jefferson | 6-0 | 223 | 10 | 31 3/4 | 4.57 | 1.63 | 8.5 | 125 | |||
| Kaleb Elarms-Orr | 6-1 | 234 | 9 | 31 3/4 | 4.47 | 1.59 | 40 | 124 | 4.41 | ||
| Aiden Fisher | 6-0 | 232 | 9 1/2 | 31 1/6 | |||||||
| Deontae Lawson | 6-3 | 226 | 9 1/4 | 31 7/8 | |||||||
| Taurean York | 6-0 | 235 | 8 1/2 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 4.48 | 7.32 | |||
| Harold Perkins Jr. | 6-0 | 223 | 8 1/2 | 31 1/2 | |||||||
| Lander Barton | 6-4 | 233 | 9 1/2 | 32 1/2 | |||||||
| Xavian Sorey Jr. | 6-2 | 228 | 9 3/4 | 32 | 4.63 | 1.66 | 37.5 | 120 | 4.427 | ||
| Keyshaun Elliott | 6-1 | 233 | 9 1/4 | 32 | 213 | 8 | 125 | ||||
| Kendal Daniels | 6-5 | 242 | 9 1/2 | 32 1/2 | |||||||
| Eric Gentry | 6-6 | 221 | 10 1/2 | 35 1/4 | |||||||
| Wade Woodaz | 6-3 | 236 | 10 | 32 5/8 | |||||||
| Jimmy Rolder | 6-2 | 240 | 9 3/8 | 30 1/3 | 36 | 119 | 4.267 | ||||
| Shad Banks Jr. | 6-1 | 230 | |||||||||
| Scooby Williams | 6-2 | 231 | 9 1/4 | 32 | |||||||
| Owen Heinecke | 6-1 | 227 | 9 3/8 | 30 3/8 | 4.62 | 1.62 | 34.5 | 119 | 7.15 | ||
| Jack Kelly | 6-1 | 246 | 9 1/8 | 31 1/4 | 4.57 | 1.61 | 37 | 125 | 4.197 | 7.12 | |
| Red Murdock | 6-1 | 236 | 10 3/8 | 31 1/8 | |||||||
| Ernest Hausmann | 6-1 | 221 | |||||||||
| Jordan Pollard | 6-0 | 211 | |||||||||
| Wayne Matthews III | 6-2 | 227 | |||||||||
| Triston Newson | 6-2 | 230 | |||||||||
| Stefon Thompson | 6-1 | 240 | |||||||||
| Sean Brown | 6-0 | 224 | |||||||||
| Keli Lawson | 6-4 | 223 | |||||||||
| Justin Flowe | 6-2 | 220 | |||||||||
| Jason Henderson | 6-1 | 225 | |||||||||
| Namdi Obiazor | 6-2 | 229 | 10 1/2 | 31 3/4 | 4.53 | 1.56 | 37 | 119 | 4.367 | 7.24 | |
| Karson Sharar | 6-1 | 231 | 10 1/8 | 31 1/8 | 4.56 | 1.59 | 40 | 123 | |||
| Wesley Bissainthe | 6-2 | 226 | 9 3/4 | 31 7/8 | |||||||
| West Weeks | 6-2 | 230 | 9 1/4 | 30 3/8 | |||||||
| Jaden Dugger | 6-4 | 240 | 9 3/4 | 34 7/8 | |||||||
| Caden Fordham | 6-1 | 232 | 8 3/4 | 30 1/2 | |||||||
| Jackson Kuwatch | 6-4 | 230 | 9 | 31 | |||||||
| Declan Williams | 6-0 | 242 | 9 5/8 | 30 5/8 | |||||||
| MacArthur Harris III | 6-0 | 235 | |||||||||
| Dasan McCullough | 6-5 | 235 | |||||||||
| Jack Dingle | 6-4 | 240 | |||||||||
| Tre Freeman | 6-0 | 230 | |||||||||
| Nikhai Hill-Green | 6-2 | 235 | |||||||||
| Mac Uihlein | 6-1 | 230 | |||||||||
| Desmond Purnell | 5-11 | 231 |
Thoughts and notes about this chart:
- Many top prospects skipped testing (e.g., Perkins, Barton, Allen) to save for pro day so their stock didn’t fall, but didn’t surge either.
- Avrell Reese worked out with the Edges. Upon that revelation, we removed him from LBs.
- Smaller/undersized LBs (York) or those without numbers faced scrutiny, while longer/taller ones with speed (e.g., Eric Gentry at 6-6/221) have intrigue but limited data here.
- In a loaded LB class (Ohio State duo Styles/Reese dominating headlines), the chart shows testing translated to big jumps for explosive, versatile WILLs—Styles is the clear class riser from this snapshot.
- Little pet peeve. Notable players got Combine snubs this year, while some guys showed up and did not participate. I may have dinged them in the rankings because of it. Oops.
Biggest Risers
- Sonny Styles, Ohio State: Sonny Styles, Ohio State: The Consensus Number One could move any higher (was already #1), but these measurables put him through the roof: 6-5/244 4.46 40 (tied fastest) 1.56 10-yard split, record-breaking 43.5-inch vertical (best for LB his size since 2003) 135 broad jump, 7.09 3-cone, 4.26 shuttle. A near-perfect RAS (9.99).
- Anthony Hill Jr., Texas: Strong showing in drills as expected. 4.51 40 (ranks 3rd behind Styles and Orr) 6-2/238 (excellent size) 1.58 split (T-2nd behind Styles) 37-inch vertical 125 broad (T-3rd) Metrics (RAS 9.93) reinforce his athletic WILL profile. Looking like fool’s gold. Still Profiles as a two-down player (coverage concerns). The buzz alone will make him a Top-75 selection.
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: Answered a lot of questions the last few weeks between the Senior Bowl and the Combine. (Made himself a lot of future money at the Combine, Top-65 prospect now.. 4.57 40 (ranks 6th) 1.63 split 38.5-inch vertical (3rd only behind Styles and Orr) 121 broad. Now, Sprinkle in a decorated All-American (Bednarik/Butkus winner pushed him firmly into Day 2 draft capital range
- Kyle Louis: Was already my LB8, A strong day as well:4.53 40 time (Only Styles, Hill, and Orr were faster)1.58 split (2nd to only Styles)129 broad (Elite for his height and weight. Helped solidify his Round 3/late Day 2, expecting folks to start talking about him more now.
- Jake Golday, Cincinnati: Jake Golday LB4 Let’s face it. We were all expecting him to ball out, and he sure did. 4.62 40 (7th) 135 Vertical (9th) 1.63 split (alright) 125 broad T-3rd) 7.02 3-cone (3rd). Respectable for a versatile 6-4/239 Developmental LB. Keep him in the top-50 conversation.
- Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU, had an outstanding day, which might be the understatement of the decade. Measuring in at 6’2″ and 234 pounds (with 9-inch hands and 31½-inch arms), he posted elite numbers across the board: 40-yard dash: Official 4.47 seconds (2nd-fastest and just .01 behind only Sonny Styles’ 4.46) 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds (5th) Vertical jump: 40 inches (2nd) among LBs (Only Karson Sharar and Styles’ historic 43.5 was higher) Broad jump: 124 (top-7) A sleeper of mine, as you know, has now proven he’s right up there with top names and edged most of them. Early Day 3 prospect incoming.
- Xavian Sorey Jr., Arkansas: I called my shot on the podcast and kept this blitting LB relatively high. He did not disappoint with 4.63 40, 1.66 split, 37.5 vertical, 120 broad, all decent enough athleticism for
- Jack Kelly, BYU: I scouted him at the Senior Bowl, so I was not surprised by a 4.57 40. (T-5th) I knew he was fast down in Mobile, AL, where they were clocking him insane speeds of over 20MPH. His tape is of a blitzing LB, but what I did not expect is the extra athleticism here: 125 broad jump (T-3rd), 1.61 split, 37 vertical, 7.12 3-cone good numbers for a SAM LB, reinforcing late Day 3 value.
- Justin Jefferson, Alabama: fully participated in testing with plenty of above-average numbers: 4.57 forty, (T-7th) 10-yard split: 1.6 (T-7th) Vertical jump: 38.5 inches (T-6th) Broad jump: 125 (T-3rd). I don’t know what to make of Jefferson’s game sometimes. In a loaded Draft class tape (imo) doesn’t show anything spectacular + doesn’t make splash plays, but what DOES hold up a good player. Reliability alone should get him into the 3rd round, especially what he did here. LB 14-16 talks don’t sound that strange any longer.
Fallers or Underwhelming
- Taurean York, Texas A&M: If you remember what I said on the IDP Hunter podcast, he should have come to this event with a huge chip on his shoulder. Being able to match all the top elite talent in this draft with athletic production, his only ding was his height, and he was expected to show out. Instead, we got no 40/jumps reported, a bad 3-cone/short shuttle among LBs in some notes, and an undersized frame (5-11/226 with short 30″ arms) didn’t help. His football IQ and green-dot experience keep him relevant (early Day 3 projection), but his athletic profile has limited upside. Debating if he is a fade for me, actually.
- Harold Perkins Jr., LSU: Biggest fade in this entire draft for me. He is a coverage linebacker who can’t cover. Where will he play? With no testing numbers listed (likely skipped full workout like some top prospects), shorter arms (31 1/2″) were noted. His elite speed/motor from tape carried him, but no explosion to elevate stock—stayed in early Day 3 range.
- Lander Barton, Utah: No testing numbers (skipped), despite good size (6-4/233). No burst.
- Josiah Trotter, Missouri: No testing data, run-stuffing profile intact, but no athletic pop to move him up.
Wow, we have a lot of updates here. With all this news coming out. Let’s re-rank them:
LB 1. Sonny Styles
Five-Star Recruit that thrives in zone coverage, but he’s your complete package.
Fun Fact: He’s a rare breed, has a missed tackle rate under 10%, and his run coverages are above 80. That puts him in a rare category: 95% at his position, with names like Peyton Wilson, Fred Warner, play Cashman elite names. He’s gonna be a blue-chipper next level.
LB 2. CJ Allen
might be the safest prospect of them all, he’s only 21 years old, he profiles as an inside linebacker. He moves side to side against defenders. He’s a great angler as a tackle,r and you could only assume that makes him great at attack, which it does; he’s got a 94.8 run defense grade and a miss tackle rate of 7.8%. He also committed no penalties in college. Add to this the splash play factor, six interceptions, six sacks, and two fumbles, he’s gonna be an assured fire threat in every league, so if you miss out in the top two, this is your guy.
LB 3. Jake Golday
At 6’4 235, he’s a developmental prospect total enigma as a prospect. Surrounding him, I was talking about myths earlier hes a bigfoot myth type of prospect. For starters, he’s rumored to run a 4.2. We don’t know if that’s true.
His coverage grade checks out at 77.5. At one point this season, it was over 80, and run grades were a 90.6. Phenomenal. He’s got. familiarity as a pass rusher, and new found llinebacker me intrigues me.
Odd story. Started out at Defensive End, zero-star recruit at Central Ark, then redshirted and was a rotational player until ultimately going to Cincinnati last year and only getting eight starts. Then 2024 happened, and he blew up. Ended up this lone season playing 12 games. In those 12 games, produced 105 total tackles, 6 TFL, which I’m interested in. He’s rumored to run the combine at 4.2, but there’s a lot of urban myths surrounding this bigfoot player. I’m going to need to see it up close and at the Combine, but for right now, the film shows the athletics and the intangibles are enough to get me interested.
Developmental prospect, why I have him at 5. Irony worst part of his game is the pass rush, yet that is what he transitioned from.
LB 4. Jacob Rodriguez
With strong Combine and Senior Bowl performances, it’s going to be hard to keep him out of top-three talks for much longer. This is a linebacker who had 13 fumbles in college, including 7 in 2023.
Now, some of my colleagues do push back on this stat. All those forced fumbles were against lower-level teams. So I push back,
A hot name right now at the Senior Bowl, he was going crazy every time I turned around. He was getting a fumble or an interception in every practice. The concern has been his athleticism, a question he certainly answered at the Combine this week.
LB 5. Josiah Trotter
There are some coverage concerns(47.9), but dude is gonna turn 21 like a week before the draft, so I think he can get there, and he is already a brick wall as a run defender. So he transferred to Missouri, where he got that starting middle linebacker box role, and he turned into a terminator, 84 tackles, 13 TFls, 2 sacks, while anchoring a team that was top 10 in total defense nationally. Strong tape, all you have to do it slook at the tape at South Carolina. The coverage is concerning, but he has the kind of profile that could work around it.
LB 6. Anthony Hill
So I know he is a Combine winner, but his issue is coverage, not speed. Big difference. Folks may miss this and draft him too high. An impressive 6’3 240 impressive size athletic linebacker profile isn’t a bad prospect at all. I just have those reservations. He could make every tackle. If you could coach him up, make him a better coverage guy.
Tape is littered with too many open-field missed plays (15.3%) and coverage concerns, with his coverage barely making it to 60.1, which leads me to believe he’s a two-down player. Now here’s something that coverage ranks 170th amongst linebackers with the one stat I care about, which is coverage stops.
LB 7. Kyle Louis
Fantastic Senior Bowl week, I got to see him down there with my own eyes.
The Senior Bowl practices validated him for me. Exceptional coverage skills; he excelled in 1-on-1 drills (especially against running backs and tight ends), also picked off a pass and returned it for a TD. Practice was exciting to see on Day 3; I saw it with my own eyes. Little underized (6’0 224) and started his career with 13.2% missed tackle rate, which was down to 10.9% in 2025, but then became an outstanding tackling linebacker.
The case for Louis is well documented. Over the past two seasons in college, Louis amassed 182 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss, along with 10 sacks and six interceptions.
Across his final two college campaigns spanning 24 games, he recorded 182 total tackles, 24 of which were for loss, to go with 10 sacks and six picks.
In his last two seasons of college football, Louis tallied 182 tackles (with 24 for loss), 10 sacks, and six interceptions.
During the final two years of his college career, he finished with 182 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and six interceptions. Likely a player overlooked in drafts. (A testament to just how loaded this class is) Good grades, Coverage 72.3, Tackling 75.3, Pass rush 70,2 back in all up with a punch.
LB 8. Deontae Lawson
Sleeper alert. If healthy. Ten players in our ranks, and we still have a top-tier talent hiding in plain sight. Oddly, A player no one is talking about despite the high pedigree. Arrived at college pegged as one of the top linebackers in the country. In fact, 24/7 Sports ranked him as a five-star recruit. It took him two years to get on the field (redshirt then special teams), but he broke out and became a box linebacker and a Butkus award finalist despite missing the last 3 games, and that’s what his profile suggests he will be best at in the Pros, he’ll excel as 4-3 box linebacker and tackling jumps out on film.
This is a later-round prospect that I am interested in, the kind of player that Reams will build upon as a Leader in their locker rooms.
- 89.1 run defense grade during the 2025 season
- Impressive sack production with 4 total in 2025
- Ability to cover in the open field against backs and tight ends
- High football intelligence
- 7.1% missed tackle rate
Bottom line, he could be diagnosed plays don’t miss tackles and covers well, so this a later round three down player next level, and you could get him much cheaper than most of these players. Same production.
LB 9. Jaishaw Barham
Now check your league setting some platforms have him listed as a DL. I personally think he’s a better value as a linebacker. At any rate, like so many DL/LB options, this one determines how you see the landing spot. I could see him as a 3-4 inside LB or Will 4-3 linebacker.
One thing that stands out is the size: 6’3″, 243lbs. Regardless of where you play, you’ve got a football player is he doesnt miss tackles with 5.9% miss tackle rate. PFF Run grade is 90.4. You know, every year there’s a prospect that gets taken earlier than we think, and he has the build and accountability to be this person. Teams playing him at either position could value this type of prospect (prefer him as edge)
LB 10. Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Analytically, he checks out. Doesn’t get talked about enough with the top prospects of this draft. Started getting buzz Senior Bowl. His one on one films coverage drills at the Senior Bowl made me a believer. He was one of the faster lb in practice
PFF supports that statement; he had an 89.1 run defense grade. 75.4 coverage grade and a missed tackle rate of 7.1%
- In his 2025 season, Started every game.
- Led the team with 130 tackles.
- Added 11 tackles for loss (TFLs) and 4 sacks.
- Career highlights include strong run defense (PFF grades in that area), physical tackling (low missed tackle rate), and disruptive plays as a blitzer. He’s described as aggressive, fast, and effective against the run, though coverage skills are an area for growth, and it has shown up in all the film I’ve seen.
As far as prospects go in a 12-team league, you put him on the back end of the dozen list.
LB 11. Xavian Sorey Jr.
Now, don’t block me for saying this, but I believe the Senior Bowl practices validated my already high ranking. The Combine above confirms it. Spicy right.
A player that doesn’t get talked about enough, I obviously got him higher than most. He’s more of a blitzing LB. Athletic Traits. Makes plays just as good as anyone on this list above him. He’s 6’3 ” 220 lbs
He’s lower on my list because he has run defense tackling concerns, but you draft him as an outside blitzer. Regarding tackling, he’s proven he can do it. He had 81 tackles last year and 99 the season before
You ready for this? He’s had 37 pressures in the last two years combined!
LB 12. Taurean York
This is one of the top names on the list, and I have him a bit further. Run Defense is exceptional. He’s a Reliable tackler (7.4% missed)
tackle rate in 2024) above-average blitzer here too. He’s 5’10 “, 232. I have him ranked lower than the consensus because he is so small.
Undersized player who somehow became Ean SPN Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team honors. Tackling and run defense are going to be his bread and butter. He has developed into a good diagnostic of the play caller, and with his coverage skills, could potentially translate into a three-down green dot defender.
LB 13. Bryce Boettcher
He is two way sport player, already drafted by the Houston Astros. I liked his tape at the Senior Bowl, really played his higher ranking on this list, kind of want to move him up. I got to interview him. I asked him about his game he said it was cerebral.
Senior Bowl great tape. He shown he can be a three-down player.
LB 14. Aidan Fisher
People love this guy. He has great vision and instincts; he’s a classic green-dot three-down player; he had 323 tackles in three seasons. So why is he so low? You guessed it, played lower-level competition.
He gets dinged up on this list as he doesn’t have an ideal frame or size (6’1), but he is on my watchlist.
He could easily move into the next tier if he shows a little bit of that athletic talent at the Combine. Feels like he would be a player who would blow up.
Fisher deserves to go so much higher on this list. He was a semifinalist and finalist for the Butkus Award nominee, showing a knack for making splash plays and be right place at the right time when the ball is thrown
LB 15. Red Murdoch
Another stats guy like Fisher, 215 tackles in two seasons, both putting up pinball stats. IDK, be careful with this one. Buffalo is a college that produces LBs.
Its no coincidence his player comp is his
Like his teammate Saun Dolac, he shares the same story. People just come back to fantasy football, may fall in love with this guy, or better yet, someone who is just looking at the box score. Terrible way to evaluate. There’s one question. Likely just a two-down player next level, but I love the story.
LB 16. Justin Jefferson
He’s spotted a lot of times in folks’ top ten. Every list has sliders, right?
Traditional MIKE build. Thumper with good tackling consistency consensus has him higher, but limited range and coverage upside.
LB 17. Jack Kelly
It’s something the way BYU employed him and Isaiah Glasker as the dynamic duo. He was able to show his elite blitzing ability, 10 sacks last season, 5 the year before, that’s 15 sacks in two years. Effective pass rush is an understatement; he has had 128 pressures in his career.
At the table, he weighed in at 246, 2nd heaviest among LBs. He also clocked in at 18.94 MPH, which was 2nd best run time. As my friend Blake Williams @bpdub21 on Twitter told me, “He’s a monster, folks?”
LB 18. Jaden Dugger
Overall, the Shrine Bowl boosted his visibility as a hidden gem
A Snub From the Combin, yet Standout from Shrine
Bowl should be a late-round selection now. Put a nasty sack on the QB that went viral.
- He recorded two interceptions in team/11-on-11 drills on consecutive days (one each on Saturday and Sunday practices, with at least one noted as a highlight or “play of the day”).
- He excelled in coverage drills, showing elite range, instincts, and natural coverage ability for his size (leveraging his prior safety background at Georgetown).
- Reports emphasized his physicality, lateral quickness, ability to clear traffic in the box, and burst despite adding weight (measured at 6’4⅝”-6’5″, 240 lbs with long 34⅞”-35″ arms)
Drew was praised as a “riser” with potential Day 2 draft stock due to size, testing upside (anticipated strong Combine), and strong Shrine performance—analysts noted him as one of the week’s big winners and under-the-radar standouts.
LB 19. Kendal Daniels
Big nickel / LB-safety hybrid. high-upside chess-piece defender (6’5″, 242 lbs )
Teams like that hybrid build. Long, physical, downhill striker who thrives in run support but is still developing instincts in coverage.
LB 20. Dasan McCullough
6’5” 235 lbs hes a bit light. Family: His father, Deland McCullough, is a notable NFL/collegiate running backs coach, and his grandfather, Sherman Smith, is a former NFL player and coach.
Hes a LB/DL player coming off a bad year, but the 5.9% missed tackle rate got my attention. A scheme fits an ideal landing spot, and he’s off to the races.
LB 21. Lander Barton
A 6’4”, 236 lbs Former four-star recruit Younger brother of. He may be super athletic, a really good two-way athlete, and a good basketball player as well. He also has played tight end, so there’s that, too. But he is a fairly plain linebacker. Doesn’t really have any elite traits.
For example, his run defense is solid, PFF 89.1, despite having a higher missed tackle rate. Like his brother, NFL Linebacker Cody Barton, he will be a volume-based defender. Coverage skills are there. 130 tackles last season, but speed and overall study of the game are what I’m concerned with.
LB 22. Harold Perkins Jr.
Every draft has one. This is the fool’s gold; someone not understand film is going to overdraft this guy early. He’s a guy getting too much hype. He is such a limited player.
A far drop-off for the once five-star recruit. Some say the decline as a prospect predates his torn ACL in September 2024, but it’s been ongoing before that.
When they moved him to off-ball linebacker in 2023 and carried him into early 2024 action, where production dipped from his explosive freshman edge-rushing days (7.5 sacks, 13 TFLs in 2022) despite solid but less dominant sophomore numbers (75 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5.5 sacks). Post-injury in 2025, he returned for 12 games with respectable stats (around 55-56 tackles, 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 INTs), but
PFF metrics highlighted persistent issues: a career missed tackle rate of about 18.8% (pre-2024), escalating to higher open-field whiffs like 21.7%,13 missed tackles in 2025 (ranking poorly among LBs), a dismal 51.7coverage grade in 2025 (633rd out of 804 LBs), and ongoing run defense inconsistencies tied to his undersized 6’1″, 222-pound draft guides say he lacks power to get off blocks. I feel we seen this profile before, and it rarely pans out.
LB 23. Eric Gentry
A 6’6 Tall, rangy Plugger-style linebacker. Smooth mover in space with strong coverage traits, but needs play strength.
LB 24. Wade Woodaz
Good measurements, but did not participate. A Former Safety who could blitz 22 total pressures during the 2024 season (just 7 in 2025). Teams could take a shot at this type of profile. Missed a lot of tackles (16.3% is my only concern). That’s why he’s a later prospect.
Potent Potable (SNL Jeopardy joke) and other Honorable Mentions
LB 25. Isiah Glasker
Flashes of pass coverage and run pursuit. Some teams may draft him fringe 7th/UDFA special team player
LB 26. Cian Sloane
Developmental SAM type. That’s why I’m thinking he’s draftable. Physical atthe point of attack but stiff in coverage.
LB 27. Scooby Williams
Could have been an NFL-caliber player, but too many injuries. A former four-star recruit is now buried in the lower tier. Injury concerns have been raised. Out of eligibility. Could play Mike but profiles better as a Will linebacker, so he has dual play ability and could be a team’s value pick. But had a strong first three games of the season.
LB 28. Owen Heinecke
You know I don’t chase stats with these evaluation but this one checks out.
Productive college tackler. He’s a fun one when it comes to production.
He played in all 13 games. During that time, he had only five starts, but he took himself out when he was on the field. Attacking downhill, ended up with 74 tackles (2nd), with twelve TFLS and three sacks.
High effort but lacks NFL speed and range. Somebody could take a shot here
LB 29. Jackson Kuwatch
Had a great Senior Bowl. 6’3 230 clocked at 23 mph. Sneaky guy to go mid draft.
LB 30. Jimmy Rolder
Versatile depth LB. Solid instincts and leadership traits, but average athletic profile.
Deep Flyer
LB 30. Caden Fordham
Smart, assignment-sound defender. Limited athletic traits cap upside. Might make a team; be a good locker-room presence and a practice-squad player.