Scouting Blog
Linebacker Scouting Notes
By: Ed Hunt
Outside Linebackers 3-4
1. Nick Bosa, OLB, Ohio State
-strong bend
-draws double teams
-nice rip move that he uses often
-sometimes gets overpowered in run game
-needs a little flexibility on dip
2. Jachai Polite, OLB, Florida
-quick first step
-aggressive shedding blocks
-more used to standing up
-gets consistent pressure
-needs more of a bull rush
3. Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
-quick off the edge, speed rusher
-dropped a lot at Kentucky
-good open field tackler
-needs more than a rip move
-needs to hand fight better
4. Montez Sweat, OLB, Mississippi State
-quick around edge
-has some trouble getting off blocks
-brings regular pressure
-good pass rusher
-speed rusher
-good wingspan, but needs to build strength
5. Christian Miller, OLB, Alabama (underrated)
-best position is 3-4 OLB
-good pass rusher
-violent with his hands
-can help in run support
-has fluid hips for coverage
The Rest:
Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State
-stays in his running lane
-speed rusher
-needs to be more violent with his hands
-relies mostly on his speed rush and counter moves
-might be too stiff for dropping into coverage
Jaylon Ferguson, Edge, Louisiana Tech
-needs to pass rush in a lower stance
-good open field tackler
-decent pass rusher
-moves well and can function in coverage
-is a persistent pass rusher
D’Andre Walker, OLB, Georgia
-good pass rusher, brings pressure
-could be a 4-3 OLB
-gets off blocks well
-good hand placement as pass rusher
-good bull rush
Carl Granderson, Edge, Wyoming (Overrated)
-looks overmatched in pass rush
-competent in stunts
-needs to reform his technique
-looks capable of dropping into coverage
-violent hand fighter
Oshane Ximines, OLB, Old Dominion
-brings regular pressure
-rushes too upright
-tall with long arms
-good hand fighter
-average run defender
Chase Winovich, OLB, Michigan
-needs to be quicker
-good hand fighter
-good bull rush
-has some potential getting off blocks but this is a weakness
-not a good open field tackler
Jalen Jelks, Edge, Oregon
-gets overpowered by linemen
-needs longer arms
-plays with some aggressiveness
-can get off blocks
-doesn’t have the upper body strength to be a good pass rusher
Austin Bryant, Edge, Clemson
-quick first step
-not as strong as a run defender
-gets regular pressure
-has dropped into zone some
-benefitted from playing on a talented line
Joe Jackson, Edge, Miami (Overrated)
-sets the edge
-needs to be quicker on the pass rush
-does well on inside stunts
-gets off blocks well
-needs to get stronger as a pass rusher too
Ban Banogu, OLB, TCU
-gets overpowered in the run game
-can get off blocks
-not impressed with him as a pass rusher
-his primary move is his bend
-needs to become more proficient with his hands when pass rushing
Porter Gustin, OLB, USC
-persistent pass rusher
-gets blown off the line in run defense
-not the quickest pass rusher
-has surprising upper body strength
-used to rushing standing up
Sharif Miller, DE (4-3), Penn State
-not a good run defender
-needs better bend
-good hands as a pass rusher
-converts speed to power well
-much more of a 4-3 DE
Jesse Aniebonam, OLB, Maryland
-good vision in run defense
-needs to be quicker to the edge
-needs more moves as a pass rusher
-best move is a rip move
-pass rushed standing up
Cece Jefferson, OLB, Florida
-uses a mix of pass rush moves
-brings regular pressure
-quick first step
-needs to get off blocks better
-high motor player
4-3 Outside Linebackers:
1. Te’Von Coney, WLB, Notre Dame
-average in coverage
-has decent instincts
-gets off blocks well
-good run defender
-fits as will linebacker
2. Ryan Connelly, WLB, Wisconsin
-great instincts
-decent in coverage
-plays physical in coverage
-good open field tackler
-average run defender
3. David Long Jr., WLB, West Virginia
-good instincts
-can be a good run stopper
-decent in coverage
-good tacker
-not asked to blitz as much but is capable
4. Ben Burr-Kirven, SLB, Washington
-good in coverage
-average instincts
-good linebacker range
-good open field tackler
-decent run stopper
5. Nate Hall, OLB, Northwestern
-average in coverage
-high risk player in terms of decision-making
-capable run defender
-can tackle in a cluster
-needs better agility in space
The Rest:
Terrill Hanks, OLB, New Mexico State
-below average in coverage
-played a lot of zone
-can blitz
-below average instincts
-decent tackler
Vosean Joseph, OLB, Florida
-decent instincts
-gets off blocks well
-needs to be a better tackler
-good speed for blitzing
-not particularly impressed with his coverage
Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB, Wisconsin
-capable blitzer
-gets off blocks well
-good run defender
-not asked to drop in coverage a lot
-will linebacker is his best position
Jamal Davis II, OLB, Akron
-good run defender
-played DE at Akron
-capable tackler
-average pass rusher for an edge
-relative unknown in coverage
Jordan Jones, OLB, Kentucky
-below average instincts
-played a lot of zone coverage
-average in man coverage
-below average run defender
-slow on the blitz
Chase Hansen, OLB, Utah
-needs to be a better open field tackler
-average in coverage
-average instincts
-needs to get off blocks better
-competent in the blitz
-best position is Will Linebacker
Drue Tranquill, OLB, Notre Dame
-Two ACL tears
-needs to be more physical in coverage
-good instincts
-good linebacker range
-good run supporter
-showed improvement in coverage at senior bowl
Sutton Smith, OLB, Northern Illinois
-played on the edge at Northern Illinois
-not a good open field tackler
-is able to shed blocks
-not asked to drop a lot in college
-hard to project him standing up at the next level
Kendall Joseph, LB, Clemson
-not good instincts
-not impressed with his run support
-needs to shed blocks better
-asked to drop into a lot of zone
-capable of the delayed blitz
Joe Giles-Harris, OLB/ILB, Duke
-good instincts
-not the best blitzer
-needs to get off blocks better
-not asked to drop into coverage as much
-I like him better playing inside linebacker
Dre Greenlaw, OLB, Arkansas
-overpowered on blocks, needs to get off blocks better
-not a great pass rusher
-average instincts
-needs to add strength
-average in coverage
Khalil Hodge, OLB/ILB, Buffalo
-gets off blocks well
-good instincts
-good run defender
-good range
-average in coverage
Emeke Egbule, OLB/ILB, Houston
-plays physical in coverage
-aggressive blitzer
-needs to get off blocks better
-not the best run defender
-perfect for the SAM linebacker position
Quart’E Sapp, OLB, Tennessee
-slow instincts
-needs to get off blocks better
-decent in coverage
-needs to be quicker around the edge in pass rush
-decent speed
Ulysses Gilbert III, OLB/ILB, Akron
-good in coverage
-needs to get off blocks better
-lined up against slot guys a lot
-below average instincts
-true SAM linebacker
Azeez Al-Shaair, OLB/ILB, Florida Atlantic
-tore his ACL and MCL
-above average instincts
-looks slow on tape
-needs to get off blocks better
-more used in zone coverage
Inside Linebackers
1. Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama
-gets off blocks well
-dropped into zone coverage a lot
-brings plenty of speed to his blitz
-looks decent in man coverage
-perfect for the mack LB position in a 3-4
2. Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan
-gets penetration on the LOS
-instincts are good but overcommits
-dropped into zone a lot in coverage
-is a capable blitzer
-hard hitter for a linebacker
3. Devin White, ILB, LSU
-good instincts
-can blitz
-needs to shed blocks better
-jury is still out on his coverage skills
-physical hand fighter
-best position is MLB
4. Tre Lamar, ILB, Clemson
-aggressive blitzer
-good range as a linebacker
-good hands shedding blocks
-decent instincts
-mostly a middle linebacker
5. Otaro Alaka, ILB, Texas A&M
-good run defender
-good instincts
-good open field tackler
-a little stiff in zone coverage
-maybe should be a buck linebacker
6. Josiah Tausefa, ILB, UTSA
-good instincts
-good open field tackler
-can blitz
-good in man coverage
-good in run support
The Rest:
Germaine Pratt, ILB, NC State
-below average instincts
-clutch tackler
-wasn’t asked to blitz a lot
-can cover tight ends
-needs to get off blocks better
-mack linebacker
TJ Edwards, ILB, Wisconsin
-needs to get off blocks better
-average instincts
-dropped into zone a lot
-good open field tackler
-decent in run support
Cameron Smith, ILB, USC
-not a very good blitzer
-can tackle
-has average instincts
-can play man coverage
-his best position is a 3-4 mack linebacker
Tre Watson, ILB, Maryland
-interviewed well
-average instincts
-average in run support
-needs to get off blocks better
-not asked to drop into coverage much
Tyrel Dodson, ILB, Texas A&M
-decent in run support
-average blitzer
-good in coverage
-below average instincts
-more of a mack ILB
Sione Takitaki, ILB, BYU
-playmaker in the backfield
-needs to get off blocks better
-average in run support
-good instincts
-below average in coverage
Deshaun Davis, ILB, Auburn
-good instincts
-downhill linebacker
-good tackler
-can spy the QB
-is a playmaker
Bobby Okereke, ILB, Stanford
-is a good run stopper
-needs to get off blocks better
-good instincts
-mostly plays zone coverage
-more of a downhill/middle linebacker
Jeff Alison, ILB, Fresno State
-playmaker in run support
-good instincts
-needs to get off blocks better
-not a great blitzer
-needs to be a better tackler
-more of a middle/buck linebacker
Dakota Allen, ILB, Texas Tech
-good in coverage
-good linebacker range
-good instincts
-needs to get off blocks better
-sheds blocks well
Terez Hall, ILB, Missouri
-decent instincts
-good blitzer
-decent at shedding blocks
-played mostly zone coverage
-best fit as a middle/buck linebacker
Ty Summers, ILB, TCU
-average in coverage
-good in run support
-a little stiff out there
-average instincts
-needs to be more of a sure tackler
Joe Dineen Jr., ILB, Kansas
-needs to get off blocks better
-good instincts
-good in run support
-okay in zone coverage
-decent LB range
