Scouting Blog
2021 NFL Draft Linebackers
3-4 OLB
Joseph Ossai, OLB (3-4), Texas
-True Junior
-6’4, 253lbs
-two-year starter for the Longhorns
-All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019
-4-star recruit out of high school
-played DE for the Longhorns
-average pass rusher from the edge
-is persistent getting off blocks as a pass rusher
-does like to hand fight in the trenches
-gets handled by lead blockers in the run game
-has a quick first step and will test well enough to be able to drop into coverage
Patrick Jones II, OLB (3-4), Pittsburgh
-Redshirt Senior
-6’5, 260lbs
-high 4.7 40
-played four years for the Panthers
-3-star recruit out of high school
-quick first step
-great explosion from his stance to get to the edge
-his technique as a pass rusher is excellent
-I like how he is physical and gets off blocks in the run game
Hamilcar Rashed Jr., OLB (3-4), Oregon State
-Redshirt Senior
-6’4, 245lbs
-three years of good production
-didn’t do as great in Mobile
-3-star recruit out of high school
-2nd team all-Pac 12 in 2019
-14 sacks in 2019
-pass rushes from different angles
-decent run defender
-gets off blocks really well, saw him get off a double team
-too small to play 4-3 defensive end
-has to win the race to the edge to get pressure
-not great power as a pass rusher
-uses his hands well as a pass rusher
Quincy Roche, OLB (3-4), Miami (FL)
-Redshirt Senior
-6’3, 245lbs
-13 sacks in 2019
-4 years of college production
-transfer from Temple
-3-star recruit out of high school
-good speed as a pass rusher
-surprisingly strong bull rush
-decent at getting off blocks in the run game
-hard-nosed as a run defender
-very good pass rusher
-kind of had a dud of a senior year at Miami
Victor Dimukeje, OLB (3-4), Duke
-True Senior
-6’3, 265lbs
-four years of production
-2nd team all-ACC in 2019
-3-star recruit out of high school
-high effort speed rusher
-hand fights well as a pass rusher
-size and strength limitations weigh him down as a pass rusher
-needs to get off blocks better in the run game
-first step is very average
Daelin Hayes, OLB (3-4) Notre Dame
-6’3, 258lbs
-Redshirt Senior
-torn labrum ended his season early in 2019/he medical redshirted that year
-4-star recruit out of high school
-great foot speed as a speed rusher
-good bull rush
-gets off blocks well
-above average pass rusher
-average run stopper
-needs to get stronger as a pass rusher
Tarron Jackson, OLB (3-4), Coastal Carolina
-Senior
-6’2, 260lbs
-four years of production
-10 sacks in 2019 and 8.5 in 2020
-not highly recruited out of high school
-good at getting off blocks to get into the backfield
-has a good rip to get off his blocks and tackle the ballcarrier
-elite run defender for a projected 3-4 OLB
-drew double teams as an edge rusher for the Chanticleers
-played defensive end in Coastal Carolina’s system
-natural athlete as a pass rusher
William Bradley-King, OLB (3-4), Baylor
-Redshirt Senior
-6’4, 248lbs
-4 years of production
-8.5 sacks in 2019
-grad transfer from Arkansas State
-size suggests he would be better playing in space
-2-star recruit out of high school
-holds the point of attack in the run game
-decent pass rusher from the edge
-played DE for the Baylor Bears
-heavy hands as a pass rusher
-has a little trouble with his cadence with the snap
Wyatt Hubert, OLB (3-4), Kansas State
-Redshirt Junior
-6’3, 270lbs
-7 sacks in 2019 & 8.5 sacks in 2020
-some questions about his athletic ability
-3-star recruit out of high school
-1st team all-Big 12 in 2019
4-3 OLB
Micah Parsons, ILB, Penn State
-True Junior
-6’3, 244lbs
-two years of production in 2018 & 2019
-did not come back in 2020
-5-star recruit out of high school
-1st team all-Big 10 in 2019
-capable of executing run stunts
-has the range to really disguise what he is going to do on a play
-tries to be too heroic in coverage
-decent instincts but not excellent
-gets off blocks well in the run game
-4.4 speed
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, OLB, Notre Dame
-6’1, 215lbs
-two-years of production for the Fighting Irish
-has 4.5 speed as a linebacker
-3-star recruit out of high school
-needs to stay better balanced in coverage
-good linebacker range
-capable of blitzing as a linebacker and uses his speed to his advantage
-I like that he is physical in man coverage
-lines up a lot in slot coverage for a linebacker
-very good in man coverage for a linebacker
-first-round 4-3 OLB in the 2019 draft
Zaven Collins, OLB (4-3), Tulsa #23
-Redshirt Junior
-three-year starter for the Golden Hurricanes
-6’4, 260lbs
-had 4 interceptions in 2020 which is high for a player of his position
-a good 2020 solidified him as a Day Two pick
-physical in man coverage
-needs better instincts against the run
-needs to get off blocks better against the run
-does fill the gaps in the running lanes
-decent pass rusher but more suited to be a 4-3 OLB
-excellent college production
Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia
-6’3, 240lbs
-Redshirt Sophomore
-3 years of production
-5.5 sacks in 2019 & 2020
-4-star recruit out of high school
-only 20 years old
-needs to off blocks better in the run game
-played DE in Georgia’s system
-not a great pass rusher from the edge
-decent awareness of the run
-excellent college production
Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
-6’2, 225lbs
-Senior
-converted QB
-3-star recruit out of high school
-has 4.5 speed as a linebacker
-I like how he is physical in space in the run game
-needs to be more physical holding the point of attack
-dropped into zone coverage for the Tar Heels defense
-I see him as an average tackler for a linebacker
-I think he needs better positioning in the run game as a linebacker
Charles Snowden, OLB, Virginia
-True Senior
-6’7, 240lbs
-4 years of production
-3-star recruit out of high school
-5 sacks in 2019 & 6 sacks in 2020
-gets off blocks decently well
-played on the edge (DE) for the Cavaliers
-good first step and athleticism to back up his size
-his speed to get to the other side of the backfield shows he could have very good range as a linebacker
-uses his elite length to win matchups and fill running lanes in the running game
Garret Wallow, OLB (4-3), TCU
-4 years of production
-Senior
-6’2, 230lbs
-1st team all-Big 12 in 2019
-3-star recruit out of high school
-needs to be a better open field tackler
-very good linebacker range
-solid in running back coverage
-high effort in getting off blocks in the run game
-I like that he is a hard hitter
Jamin Davis, OLB, Kentucky
-Junior
-6’4, 234lbs
-three years of production
-4.6 speed as a linebacker
-very good statistical season in 2020
-moves well to get off blocks in the screen game
-does fill the running lanes well in the run game
-good range as a linebacker
-very good instincts and see to do as a linebacker
-decent dropping back into zone coverage
Jabril Cox, OLB, LSU
-redshirt Senior
-transfer from North Dakota State
-All-American in the FCS
-2-star recruit out of high school
-strong in man coverage
-needs to have more of that killer instinct in the run game
-good coverage ability in zone coverage
-needs to get off blocks better
-has a good bullrush as a blitzer
Nick Bolton, OLB, Missouri
-6’0, 232lbs
-True Junior
-three years of production
-below average athlete, but good stats in the tackling department
-3-star recruit out of high school
-competent in covering running backs
-good side to side range as a tackler
-reads the play decently well but needs to be more of bully to get to the ballcarrier
-I like how he uses his strength to move blockers toward the ballcarrier to collapse the play
-savvy with the delayed blitz
JaCoby Stevens, OLB, LSU
-True Senior
-6’2, 230lbs
-three-years of production
-fits best as a WLB at the next level
-played Safety at LSU
-5-star recruit out of high school
-2nd team all-SEC in 2019
-good tracking speed
-well coached on the angles of playing safety
-too much spacing in man coverage in the slot
-average physicality in coverage
-decent tackler
Pete Werner, OLB, Ohio State
-Senior
-6’3, 242lbs
-4 years of production
-played will linebacker at Ohio State
-4-star recruit out of high school
-needs better instincts
-needs to get off blocks better
-asked to cover tight ends
-plays with some physicality
-good covering tight ends
-could see him as a SAM linebacker in the NFL
Grant Stuard, OLB, Houston
-True Senior
-6’1, 225lbs
-four years of production
-decent week at the Senior Bowl
-2nd team all-AAC in 2019
-2-star recruit out of high school
-does read and react instead of rely on his instincts
-seems to be out of place almost like he doesn’t know the playbook well enough
-needs better range as a linebacker
– little undersized getting off blocks
-asked to drop back into zone a lot in the Cougar’s defense
Amen Ogbongbemiga, OLB, Oklahoma State
-plus special teams’ player
-from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
-6’1, 235lbs
-Redshirt Senior
-Second-team all-Big 12
-3-star recruit out of high school
-decent at getting off blocks in the run game
-below average instincts against the run
-needs to be a better open field tackler
-below average range as a linebacker
-needs to be a more physical tackler
Derrick Barnes, OLB (4-3), Purdue
-6’1, 245lbs
-Senior
-4 years of production for the Boilermakers
-4.7 speed
-plenty of starting experience
-I like his acceleration once he knows where the ball is going
-decent at covering running backs
-I like the physicality he plays with
-excellent pass rusher for a 4-3 OLB in college
-gets off blocks well in the run game
Cameron McGrone, OLB, Michigan
-True Junior
-6’1, 236lbs
-two years of playing time in 2019 & 2020
-all Big 10 Honorable Mention in 2019
-4-star recruit out of high school
-instincts are still a little raw
-average pass rusher
-needs to get off blocks better in the run game
-played MLB for the wolverines
-isn’t great at reading the run direction
-has a quick first step for a MLB
ILB
Monty Rice, ILB, Georgia
-True Senior
-6’1, 235lbs
-4 years of college production
-shows the ability to cover as an inside linebacker
-4-star recruit out of high school
-I like the aggressiveness he shows to push the pile
-decent pass rusher as a linebacker
-average linebacker range
-needs to get off blocks better in the run game
-capable tackler
-played MLB for the Bulldogs
Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama
-True Senior
-6’3, 240lbs
-three-years of production
-tore his ACL in 2019 in Pre-Season
-five-star recruit out of high school
-played MLB for Alabama
-has to be careful of not playing too aggressive
-below average instincts
-decent in coverage
-average run defender
-average tackler for a linebacker
KJ Britt, ILB, Auburn
– True Senior
-6’0, 243lbs
-4 years of production
-did well at the Senior Bowl
-2nd team all-SEC in 2019
-4-star recruit out of high school
-good see to do in the run game
-good at shedding blocks in the run game
-much stronger against the run when they play him in the middle and key in on the RB
-not a great cover linebacker
-needs to hustle more when the play is a pass
Baron Browning, ILB, Ohio State
-True Senior
-6’3, 240lbs
-four years of production
-was a part-time MLB for the Buckeyes
-definitely a thumper
-5-star recruit out of high school
-sometimes needs better see to do against the run
-played MLB at Ohio State
-decent tackler
-can be good in run support
-not great in zone coverage
-looks good tackling in space against the screen
Tony Fields II, ILB, West Virginia
-Senior
-6’1, 220lbs
-four years of production as a tackle machine for the Mountaineers
-Senior Bowl Participant
-three-star recruit out of high school
-needs better instincts in zone coverage
-aggressive shedding blocks in the run game
-I like his see to do in the run game
-I like the way he outmuscles blockers in the run game
-I like his persistence in run support
Dorian Etheridge, ILB, Louisville
-6’3, 230lbs
-True Senior
-four years of production for the Cardinals
-3-star recruit out of high school
-could be a better run stopper
-below average see to do
-below average tackler
-misses too many tackles for an inside linebacker
-needs better instincts
-below average in zone coverage
Paddy Fisher, ILB, Northwestern
-Senior
-6’4, 240lbs
-4 years of production
-downhill linebacker
-3-star recruit out of high school
-3rd team all-Big 10 in 2019
-good in zone coverage
-decent instincts against the run
-I like that he gives contact to receivers running their routes in his lane
-decent tackler
-does a good job in man coverage
-needs to get off blocks a bit better
Tuf Borland, ILB, Ohio State
-Redshirt Senior
-6’1, 234lbs
-played 5 years, four years of good production
-4-star recruit out of high school
-more of a downhill linebacker
-I like the strength he shows rushing the passer. Elite for a MLB
-holds the point of attack really well for a linebacker
-good tackler
-good see to do in run support
-very average dropping into zone coverage
Erroll Thompson, ILB, Mississippi State
-Redshirt Senior
-6’1, 250lbs
-4 years of production
-downhill linebacker
-3-star recruit out of high school
-very good blitzer
-I like the physicality he plays with
-average see to do in run support
-below average instincts
-sometimes over pursues on a misread against the run
-played mostly MLB for Miss State
