Bryce Boettcher

NFL Draft Profile: Bryce Boettcher

Position: Inside Linebacker | School: Oregon | Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 232 lbs | Archetype: Hybrid (Coverage / Run Stopper)

College Career Summary

Bryce Boettcher’s path is one of the most remarkable "hometown hero" stories in modern college football. A Eugene native and former walk-on, Boettcher excelled as a two-sport star at Oregon, serving as a standout center fielder for the baseball team while simultaneously ascending the football depth chart. In 2024, he won the Burlsworth Trophy (nation's best former walk-on) and led the Ducks in tackles (94). Despite being drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Boettcher elected to return for a final football season in 2025. His senior year was a statistical masterclass, finishing with over 100 tackles and earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive year. His "center fielder" instincts translate seamlessly to the gridiron, where his range and ball-tracking ability make him a rare coverage asset at the linebacker position.

Highlight Career Stats:

• Games Played: 50+

• Total Tackles: 235+ (113 in 2025)

• Tackles For Loss (TFL): 14.5 (4.0 in 2025)

• Sacks: 4.0 (1.0 in 2025)

• Interceptions: 2 (1 in 2025)

• Forced Fumbles: 3 (1 in 2025)

• Pass Breakups: 8 (4 in 2025)

2025 Season Game-by-Game Grades

Opponent	Stats	Grade	Key Performance Note
vs. Montana St.	3 Tkl	C+	Low volume; played primarily in standard base sets.
vs. Oklahoma St.	9 Tkl	B	Solid pursuit; limited Ollie Gordon's explosive runs.
@ Northwestern	5 Tkl, 1 INT	A-	Coverage clinic; 31-yard INT return showed speed.
vs. Oregon St.	10 Tkl	B+	Rivalry Impact. High-effort pursuit in the Civil War.
@ Past State	13 Tkl, 0.5 TFL	A-	Stamina was on display; co-led team in stops.
vs. Indiana	11 Tkl	B	Reliable in the middle; directed the front.
@ Rutgers	7 Tkl	B-	Standard high-motor game; efficient tackling.
vs. Wisconsin	6 Tkl, 1.0 TFL, 1 FF	A	Star impact. Huge forced fumble in a tight game.
@ Iowa	8 Tkl, 1.0 Sk, 1.0 TFL	A	High Motor. First sack of the season in a physical win.
vs. Minnesota	9 Tkl	B+	Cleaned up the second level; sound technique.
vs. USC	13 Tkl, 1.0 TFL, 1 PD	A+	Season Best. Total dominance; co-led team in tackles.
@ Washington	10 Tkl, 2 QBH	A-	Leadership. Kept the unit poised in a hostile road environment.

Scouting Report

Strengths

• Elite Tracking/Ball Skills: His baseball background is his superpower. He tracks the ball in the air like a center fielder, leading to high PBU and INT numbers for an ILB.

• The "Green Dot" Leader: As a Burlsworth winner, his Leadership is unquestioned. He is the vocal heart of the defense and a master of pre-snap adjustments.

• Sideline-to-Sideline Range: Boettcher possesses high-end Pursuit speed. He rarely gets beat to the corner and has the Stamina to play every defensive snap plus special teams.

• Technique and Discipline: He plays a "greedy" but disciplined style, using refined Footwork to navigate through traffic without getting caught on blocks.

Weaknesses

• Frame Density: At 232 lbs, he is slightly leaner than the traditional "thumper" MIKE. Physical NFL guards can occasionally move him if they climb to the second level.

• Functional Strength: While he added 10 lbs of muscle for the 2025 season, he still relies more on Agility than raw power to shed blocks.

• Age/Wear: As a redshirt senior with a heavy multi-sport workload, he enters the draft as an older prospect, which may cap his perceived "ceiling" for some teams.

Scheme Fit: Ideal WILL Linebacker in a 4-3 or a Hybrid Sub-package Specialist who stays on the field for all three downs.

NFL Comparison: Logan Wilson (Bengals) / Troy Dye (Oregon/Vikings)

Scout’s Final Word & Projection

Intangibles: 20/20 | Physical Tools: 16/20 | Attributes: 18/20 | Athleticism: 17/20 | IQ: 19/20

Final Grade: 90/100

Bryce Boettcher is the definition of a "floor" prospect. You know exactly what you are getting: a high-IQ, ultra-competitive leader who will immediately become a captain on special teams and challenge for a starting role by Year 2. His ability to drop into coverage—a direct result of his elite baseball instincts—gives him massive value in a league that is increasingly pass-heavy. While he lacks the "freakish" size of some top-10 prospects, his 2024 and 2025 tape against top-tier Big Ten competition proves he belongs in the NFL.

Draft Projection: 4th - 5th Round