OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Roquan Smith, Georgia
Game Film Evaluated:
Auburn (2017)
Missouri (2017)
Miss State (2017)
Analysis: Plus lateral speed. He plays light on his feet and fluid in space. He can cover effectively and has good hips to hold up well in coverage. He has good leaping ability to make a play on the ball in coverage. Struggles to take on blockers and get off blocks inside. He is not a fit to stay at middle linebacker at the next level. Struggles to make plays in traffic. He is capable of side stepping blockers but does not flash that ability consistently. He offers little on the pass rush nor able to beat a back in protection to get to the QB. However he can be deadly on delayed blitzes if he has a clear path to the ball. He has a top burst to close on the ball. He wraps up well and drives through the ballcarrier.
Summary: Roquan Smith is a super athletic in a compact frame that is ideally suited for a weakside backer in a 4-3 scheme. He has top notch quickness, burst to close on the ball and lateral quickness to makes plays on the perimeter. He can lay the wood but tackles effectively. He is not a fit to stay in the middle at the next level though, he struggles to take on blockers and disengage consistently. He flashes ability to side step blocks but more effectively in space vs in traffic. He can be an average defender in coverage and is an aggressive defender vulnerable to playaction. He consistently takes proper angles to the ball and finishes well. Not a threat on the pass rush, he cannot get off blocks in protection but he can fire into the backfield on delayed blitzes if he has a clear path. I don’t see an elite prospect with Smith but he should be a rookie impact defender as a weakside backer in a 4-3 defense in a conference that runs the ball often. 1st round grade but not elite.
Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
Game Film Evaluated:
Oklahoma (2017)
Alabama (2018)
Analysis: Tremendous athleticism. Struggles to get off blocks. Good burst and has plus speed. Leaping ability and used it to block FG during the Oklahoma game. He played as a nickel LB, outside LB and down defensive end. He rushed the QB consistently but could not get off blocks even against college TEs. Poor technique and has no pass rush moves. He has impressive length and able to keep blockers off his body. Finds the ball quickly and has elite athleticism to make plays all over the field.
Summary: Lorenzo Carter rushed the QB at Georgia but projects best as an OLB in either 3-4 or as a weakside LB in a 4-3. He has all the tools in the world to be a plus cover LB and once he improves his technique could offer a pass rushing element to his game. He is a high potential player but there is considerable risk. His ceiling could be an elite speed rushing OLB in a 3-4 with plus burst and length to give pro tackles trouble for years. However he may never be more than a speed nickel LB who can handle himself in coverage but needing protection from his line to allow him a clean path to the ball. He plays like a 3rd rounder but has legit 1st round talent. I settle on a final 2nd round grade with high potential and considerable risk if he doesn’t put the work in to develop his technique.
Josey Jewell, Iowa
Game Film Evaluated:
Penn State (2017)
Wisconsin (2017)
Ohio State (2017)
Analysis: Quick inside LB. Excellent awareness and finds the ball quickly. Finds himself in proper position consistently. He can side steps blocks effectively. Some tightness in his hips and will have trouble in man coverage. Gets good depth and follows the eyes of the QB in zone. He will shoot gaps and make plays behind the line and at the line. Lacks top level speed to get the outside and speed backs will run away from him. He missed badly vs the elite prospect Barkley at Penn State. Struggles to get off blocks when they get their hands on him. Not an explosive type LB capable of running down plays from behind and bringing down fast RBs from behind.
Summary: Josey Jewell is a solid LB prospect who is more quick than fast, makes a lot of plays although not game changing types. He reads the play quickly, finds the ball through traffic and will make the tackle when in position consistently. He is not a power hard hitter or someone who forces many fumbles. He has good awareness in zone coverage but is a liability vs man. He can side step blocks but does not do it consistently to suggest he can stay in the middle. He projects to be an ideal weakside LB in a 4-3 scheme. He will make plays behind the line when given a clear path to the ball. Solid player who can start as a rookie but definite separation when matched up against an elite prospect. Early 3rd round grade.
Malik Jefferson, Texas
Game Film Evaluated:
USC (2017)
Oklahoma State (2017)
Kansas State (2017)
Analysis: He can absolutely fly to the line and shoot gaps with the best of them. He cannot get off blocks in the run game. Poor tackler. He often just attempts to throw the shoulder at the ballcarrier and does not drive through the player. Does not play with good instincts, does not locate the ball quickly. Tight hips and struggles to change directions quickly. Needs to break down more in space so he can play under control. He flashes hard hitting potential. He blitzed a lot at Texas but does not have any pass rush moves or able to get off blocks once engaged. He is a liability in man coverage, the tight hips get exposed.
Summary: Malik Jefferson is a penetrating attacking type OLB who is at his best on the move. He is not a read and react type player. Struggles to locate the ball quickly. However when he has a clear path to the ball, he can let it rip and explode into the backfield and blow the play up. He excels at shooting gaps and needs to be in a system that blitzes a lot from the second level. He needs to move to the outside, either the Will or the Mike position next a thumper in a 3-4 scheme. He needs to be a more consistent tackler especially in space, looks to drop the shoulder and hit with authority but can come up empty too often. He came out a year early and although he had his best season in 2017, he should have returned and continued to improve. He is a 3rd round grade who can be a solid starter in the right scheme but he needs to keep working to fulfill his potential.
Tegray Scales, Indiana
Game Film Evaluated:
Penn State (2017)
Wisconsin (2017)
Michigan (2017)
Analysis: Very aggressive player and prefers to play on the offenses side of the line of scrimmage. He wants to penetrate and get upfield. He takes false steps often and can really get himself out of position mostly in the passing game. He needs to play more under control, does not break down effectively in space and can be easily juked out of a tackle in space. He can read the play and get into position quickly to make the play at the line or even behind the line. Underrated blitzer who can take on a back and use proper technique to disengage and make the play. He has an impressive burst to close on the ball especially when in a spy role. Not a powerful or strong player, he can be sealed off by a college blocker without too much trouble. He was repeatedly stiff armed and struggles with tackling in space. Vulnerable to playfakes and will allow his man to get behind him too often in coverage. Better in zone than man coverage despite his speed. He can find the ball in traffic.
Summary: Tegray Scales is a weakside LB that projects best to a 4-3 scheme that prefers speed over size. Scales has good speed but also some stiffness in his hips that will hurt his ability to handle man coverage at the next level. He is an underrated blitzer who can find the gap and close on the ball with speed and even used effective arm over moves to get off blocks on the pass rush. He is an aggressive LB who lacks power and strength to hit with authority or knock blockers on their heels. He attacks with speed and looks to shoot the gaps. He needs to work on his ability to attack the ballcarrier under control to be a better player in space. He is not without flaws but he can be a starter in a scheme that wants speed and aggressiveness from their LBs and willing to sacrifice size to do it. Late 3rd round grade.
Darius Leonard, South Carolina State
Game Film Evaluated:
NC Central (2017)
Central Florida (2016)
Senior Bowl (2018)
Analysis: Very quick and athletic. Tall and has room to add weight. Solid tackler who isn’t a big hitter but consistently is able to bring down the ballcarrier. Not an explosive or super aggressive type defender who shoots the gaps or penetrate. He is a read and react type defender who makes most of his plays downfield and few splash plays. He is fluid in space and projects well to be a coverage LB and able to stay on the field in passing situations. Struggles to take on blockers, stack and shed blockers to find the ball. Not overly powerful at the POA and not able to defeat blocks in the run or pass rush.
Summary: Darius Leonard is a better athlete than football player at this point but there is definite potential that projects well to a weakside LB and nickel LB. He has the look of a poor mans Deion Jones coming out of LSU but he needs to attack the offense and look to penetrate to add that splash element to his game. He cannot stay in the middle since blockers will eat him up at the next level. If he can become a more aggressive defender in base defense then he is a 3 down LB and projects well to handle backs and TEs in coverage. 4th round grade.
Fred Warner, BYU
Game Film Evaluated:
UNLV (2017)
Wisconsin (2017)
Arizona (2016)
Analysis: Good athlete, has frame to add weight. He has excellent short area burst. Wildly inconsistent motor and effort level is questionable. Poor run defender. He allows college TEs to handle him easily in the run game. Good tackler. He plays OLB in BYU 3-4 scheme. Comfortable playing in a 2 point stance and dropping into coverage. Above average defender in zone, he gets proper depth on his drops. He will follow the eyes to the ball and moves extremely well in space. He has fluid hips to project well into coverage. He plays his assignments well and flashes ability to force runs back inside when coming his side.
Summary: Fred Warner is an athletic LB who is best in space and coverage. He is below average as a run defender and flashed little pass rush potential. He projects best as a nickel LB who can be good in zone coverage brought in obvious passing situations. He is a OLB who needs to make it on special teams and work his tail off to become a more well rounded player to compete for a starting job. He could get some looks from 3-4 teams but his pass rushing is no where close to where it needs to be. I project him to a weakside LB in a 4-3 that can stay on the field in passing situations. 5th round grade.
Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern
Game Film Evaluated:
Maryland (2017)
Bowling Green (2017)
Duke (2017)
Analysis: Compact and looks like a small LB playing safety. Tight hips and struggles to move laterally. He will allow receivers to get behind him in coverage. He gives top effort and will pursue plays outside his area. He can make the open field tackle and also looks to lay the wood. Struggles to turn and run effectively without slowing down.
Summary: Godwin Igwebuike has the look of a small LB that is trying to play safety. He needs to change positions for him to have any chance making in the pros. He is tight hipped and struggles to keep plays in front him when in coverage. NFL offenses will target him if he’s ever on the field in a passing situation. The offenses are too good now to prevent a liability from being exposed. He needs to become a LB rover type who plays underneath and defend the run effectively. He isn’t a striker nor someone light on his feet. He needs to make a name for himself on special teams and become more comfortable getting off blocks and through traffic to make it as a LB. He is not a safety at the next level without cutting weight and even then may not be enough. 6th round grade.
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