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LINEBACKERS
SCOUTING REPORTS
"I already believe I am the best linebacker in the game. Now, I have to show one more thing ? that I am the most dominating, influential person in the game and the best football player to ever put on a pair of cleats."
-Ray Lewis
LB ARCHETYPES
Here at NFL Scout 247 we break down the LB Position into 3 Archetypes:
1. COVERAGE: Ability to drop in coverage and shadow RBs and TEs
2. RUN STOPPER: Box player that fit the run gap soundly
3. BLITZ: Effective pass rush or pressure specialist ​
4. HYBRID: A jack of all trades LB
2025 NFL LB PROSPECTS
LB 1 JALON WALKER/ GEORGIA/ 6"2/ 245 LBS/ Mid 1st
Pros: Athlete, versatility, tackler
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Cons: coverage, block shred,
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Archetype: Blitzer
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Comparison: Hassan Reddick
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Scouting Report: Jalon Walker is a great athlete hybrid Linebacker. His strengths include blitzing, wrapping up ball carriers and recognizing the play. He has the measurable size and no durability concerns. His stamina is high as well with over 600 defensive snaps. His weaknesses include coverage, getting off run blocks. The biggest question is he is an off the ball linebacker or does he project better as a coming of the edge prospect. I like Jalon Walker. I think he compares well to other
prospects and have him as my 1st rated LB and would have him as my 2nd best EDGE player if I graded and labelled him solely as an edge.
LB 2 JIHAAD CAMPBELL/ BAMA/ 6"3/ 244 LBS/ MID 1ST
Pros: Athlete, Versatility, Reliable tackler
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Cons: Play recognition, Block Shred
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​Archetype: Hybrid
​Comparison: Quay Walker
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Scouting Report: Jihaad Campbell is a versatile LB that can play all over the field. He plays in the box, off the edge and even snaps on the Dline in nickel packages. He has good speed and acceleration to fly around the field in short bursts. He is a sure tackler, wrapping up ball carriers at an impressive rate. He also shows good coverage skills, especially in zone. The biggest concern is his slow reaction to plays, understanding where the ball is, being able to avoid and get off blocks. He is a hybrid LB that projects well as a off the ball LB on early downs and can be used as a blitzer or coverage depending on the defense. I like Jihaad Campbell, but his lower football IQ pushed him down to the late 1st round
LB 3 CARSON SCHWESINGER/ 6"2/ 225 LBS/ LATE 1ST
Pros: Aggressive, Volume Tackler, high motor
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Cons: footwork, less experience, speed?
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Archetype: Run Stopper
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Comparison: Josey Jewell
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Scouting Report: A little late recognizing play action passes (get’s sucked in then bails out). Footwork is sloppy at times. Hard nose, aggressive, downhill, slips through blockers. I think he isn’t the most athletic player, but he plays with a high motor every play. A high volume tackle guy that can be leader on the defense or a special teams ace. I like him as a late 1st or early day two pick.
LB 4 JACK KISER/ NOTRE DAME/ 6"2/ 231 LBS/ MID 2ND
Pros: Leadership, Durability, Tackling
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Cons: Weight, Footwork, Block Shred
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Archetype: Balanced
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Comparison: Drue Tranquil
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Scouting Report: As a team captain and leader of the defense, Jack Kiser had a good season with the Fighting Irish. He has a lot of intangible qualities teams look for in a player. He is an efficient tackler, understands coverage drops, and has sound technique in his ability to spill or lever plays. I think he is on the lighter side, but modern LBs tend to be smaller and quicker. He isn’t a speedster which worries you about being able to track quicker backs or tight ends pressing vertically, but he is quick enough to react and make plays in the box. I like Jack Kiser as a system nickel linebacker or weak side backer that could see early action on special teams, but also in defensive snaps as well.
LB 5 DANNY STUTSMAN/ OKLAHOMA/ 6"4/ 241 LBS/ MID 2ND
Pros: Height and Length, coverage skills, pursuit
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Cons: Stiff, block shred, agility
Archetype: Balanced
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Comparison: Leo Chenal ​
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Scouting Report: Danny Stutsman has a traditional downhill linebacker playstyle with the modern ability to drop back and cover as well. He has good sixe, strength and speed to track down ball carriers. He struggles with footwork, stiffness in his hips, and getting off blocks. I actually really like Stutsman as a mike linebacker in a 3-4 style defense and think he has what it takes to be a green dot kind of player at the next level.
LB 6 JEFFEREY BASSA/ OREGON/ 6"2/ 235 LBS/ MID 2ND
Pros: Good mover, High IQ
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Cons: Short arms
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Archetype: Coverage
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Comparison: Troy Dye
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Scouting Report: Jefferey Basa is a former Safety turned linebacker and he definitely plays like it with his coverage skills. He is a fluid mover, has a high awareness of what is happening on the field and is a strong tackler. He lacks the fast twitch you would like to see in a modern day lineback, especially given the fact that he is undersized. He is a leader, a good teammate, and shows talent to be a 3rd down/pass covering linebacker in the league.
LB 7 CHRIS PAUL JR/ OLE MISS/ 6"1/ 235 LBS/ LATE 2ND
Pros: Coverage, Play recognition,
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Cons: tackling in space, block shred, size
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Archetype: Coverage
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Comparison: CJ Mosley
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Scouting Report: Chris Paul Jr…not related to NBA Hall of Famer Chris Paul Sr, is a draft prospect that plays like a NFL player. He is a good mover, patient as he breaks down the play and reacts once he recognizes what the offense is doing. He has good durability to go along with plenty of college snaps (over 1500!) He is a really good coverage player and has a very low missed tackle rate. He is on the smaller side, but modern LBs tend to be smaller and faster. He has solid speed, but relies more on quick bursts rather than long speed. He can be more aggressive in the box, work on block shredding technique and not over pursue ball carriers in space. I think he can be a rotational linebacker and a potential special teams guy, a high floor low ceiling kind of player that should be drafted on day two.
LB 8 DEMETRIUS KNIGHT JR/ SOUTH CAR/ 6"2/ 245 LBS/ LATE 2ND
Pros: Leadership, experience, pursuit, acceleration
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Cons: Speed? Durability, age
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Archetype: Run Stopper
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Comparison: Thomas Davis Sr
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Scouting Report: Demetrius Knight Jr is a veteran linebacker who does a little bit of everything. He plays primarily in the box, but can line up in the slot a series if need be. He has high character qualities, has a solid weight on his frame and moves well for his size with a 4.58 40. The biggest concern I have is his age (25), he misses a lot of tackles on tape, and he isn’t the best coverage guy in space. Given these factors I graded Demetrius Knight as a late 2nd Rounder, but I could see his draft floor being lower than that with the age and durability concerns that come with being an older prospect.
LB 9 BARRETT CARTER/ CLEMSON/ 6"1/ 230 LBS/ EARLY 3RD
Pros: Leadership, pursuit, coverage
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Cons: Size, speed, footwork
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Archetype: Coverage
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Comparison: Jeremiah Trotter Jr
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Scouting Report: Barrett Carter is a leader, plays with good effort, and understands zone coverage concepts. Other than that I wasn’t impressed with his physicality or athleticism. I think he can be a special teams player or practice squad type that has the potential to see defensive reps in a year or two. He is undersized and slow and can’t tackle in space. He does have experience and a clean bill of health going for him though. I have him graded as a late day two prospect, but I could see him slipping into the later rounds due to his average linebacker qualities and the value of the position as a whole.
LB 10 KOBE KING/ PENN STATE/ 6"1/ 248 LBS/ LATE 3RD
Pros: Leader, Blitizing, weight
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Cons: Play recognition , slow, coverage
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Archetype: Blitzer
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Comparison: Danny Trevathan
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Scouting Report: Kobe King is a heavy weight linebacker who plays like a early 2000s player. He is thick and has good durability throughout his career, making him a dependable player. He is a good blitzer and leader on the defense. Unfortunately, he is an extremely slow mover, not a secure tackler, and doesn’t demonstrate good coverage. I think he might have a chance as a special teams player or depth middle linebacker, but his limitations will keep him from being a quality starter at the NFL level.
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