McGinn Draft Series- LB's
LINEBACKERS
1. ARVELL REESE, Ohio State (6-4, 244, 4.46, 1): Never made a tackle in 2023, played extensively in ’24 as a reserve and started 14 games in ’25. “Consider him like Jalon Walker last year,” one scout said. “They’re very similar in terms of positional fit. He is a very, very good athlete.”
Reese probably played more off the ball than on the line of scrimmage last year but some teams view his future as an edge rusher. “My thought is just get him on the edge and let him rush on tackles,” a second scout said. “He’s going to be a lot faster than most of the guys. I have him below (David) Bailey because I haven’t seen enough. With Reese, I’m betting on the future. There were some games you would say, absolutely, yes (he was dominant). Some games he just doesn’t flash for you.” Finished with 112 tackles (13 ½ for loss), seven sacks, no forced fumbles and two passes defensed. “They play him all over the place and he does everything kind of at a high level,” a third scout said. “He goes hard. He’s tough as ****. He is a vicious player. He blitzes and does that stuff but there’s no way he can play edge full-time. This guy might be 240. Micah Parsons is 260. He could bulk up to maybe do that but right now, to put him down on the edge full-time, I think it would hurt him. He reminds me of Jihaad Campbell from last year. Like almost exactly the same. He has some Leonard Floyd tendencies when he rushed. Devin Lloyd finally came on and he kind of reminds me of that where he did everything. What’s surprising is this guy might be the second pick in the draft and those two guys (Campbell, Lloyd) were bottom of the first. That just shows you where this (draft) class is.” Four-star recruit from Cleveland. Two-time All-Big Ten academic selection. “Guy’s a hell of a football player,” a fourth scout said. “He played anywhere Matt (Patricia, defensive coordinator) needed him to. Multifaceted guy. I don’t think he has Micah Parsons’ strength but I’d take Reese. He can cover. He can play in the middle. Likes to make collisions as a tackler. High motor.” Won’t turn 21 until late August. “He can be physical but he gets blocked a lot of times at the point,” a fifth scout said. “He doesn’t shed very quick. There’s something missing, and it’s production. He doesn’t jump off tape as a great player. He’s not in the league of Micah Parsons. A guy like Reese, he should have stayed in school. You’ve got to be careful of that guy now. The bottom line is he just doesn’t make as many plays as he should.” Arms were 32 ½ inches, hands were 9 1/2. Other than running a pair of 40’s, he declined the rest of the physical testing.
2. SONNY STYLES, Ohio State (6-5, 246, 4.41, 1): Played safety in 2022-’23, starting in ’23. Moved to linebacker in spring 2024 and started for two years. “Just his second year at linebacker,” said one scout. “I’d say he’d be the guy wearing the green dot over the other guy (Reese). He’s solid in shed (shedding blocks) and plays down in the A gap. I thought he was OK in coverage, not great. He reminded me of (DeMarvion) Overshown, who played at Texas a few years ago and was a former safety that became an inside linebacker. They got to him a little bit inside. People would block him. He also reminded me of Kenneth Murray but (Styles) is way more instinctive.” Dominated the combine with LB-bests in the 40, the vertical jump (43 ½) and the broad jump (11-2). “He was born and bred to have a combine like he did,” a second scout said. “He’s been running with a parachute on his back since he was 5 or 6 years old. People question his instincts. The bottom line is, he’s 6-5, 245 and ran super fast. That’s all I can say. Look. There’s a reason why he wasn’t top-10 or top-15 until the combine. Speed, toughness, instincts. He’s got the speed. The toughness is a question. The instincts are a question. So then you start having doubts about him. But with that body type someone will say ‘yes.’” His father, Lorenzo (6-1, 238, 4.82), was drafted in the third round by the Falcons in 1995 and started eight of 70 games as a linebacker in a six-year career. He tested positive for marijuana at the combine, then refused to weigh in or work out. Sonny’s brother, Lorenzo (6-0 ½, 197, 4.30), was a safety at Ohio State and might be a late-round draft choice this month. “He’s a big kid and obviously tested through the roof,” a third scout said. “Outstanding leader. It’s just for a big kid he doesn’t quite knock you back like you’d want, but there’s not many linebackers that do.” Arms were 32 7/8, hands were 10. “He didn’t play as good this year as he did last year,” a fourth scout said. “I didn’t think he was a first-rounder. He’s a real good cover guy because of his safety background. Everybody’s grading him on his reputation. He’s a grab and wrap-up tackler. I didn’t think he was physical at all. He slipped underneath blocks instead of taking on, and that created run lanes.” Finished with 244 tackles (22 ½ for loss), nine sacks, three forced fumbles and nine passes defensed. “He reminds me of Darron Lee that came out of there in (2016),” a fifth scout said. “He went to the Jets (as the No. 20 pick) and didn’t do anything. He could run but there was something off: toughness, physicality, grit. That’s what got him. It was odd seeing this guy because everybody else on that Ohio State defense played their *** off. This guy was just kind of hanging around. He doesn’t play like the rest of those dudes. When he’s in space he can run, which Darron Lee could do. But the instincts are off. The lack of physicality was off. He’s not a quick-trigger guy. Seeing him in person, he’s so damn big and he is very, very smooth and well-coordinated. Give him some more credit and love for that. You’re betting it all on the upside. With Reese, you see it, man. Styles, he made the occasional play.” Three-time All-Big Ten academic honoree. From Pickerington, Ohio.
3. CJ ALLEN, Georgia (6-0 ½, 232, no 40, 1-2): Third-year junior. Started five games in 2023 and 25 the past two years. “He might get the Georgia defensive bump and end up going in the top 32,” said one scout. “He’s definitely top 50. He’s just your classic run-and-hit linebacker. He can stay on the field for all three downs.” Made the decision not to test at the combine, and then cited a knee injury for why he didn’t test at pro day. Arms were 31 ½, hands were 10 1/8. “He’s a leader,” said a second scout. “He’s always barking out stuff. Really instinctive. He tries hard. Just not a lot of natural talent. He tries to take on but he gets smothered up. In space, he’s limited in terms of change of direction. Old-school player. Completely different from (Quay) Walker. Similar to Nakobe (Dean).” Finished with 205 tackles (13 ½ for loss), 4 ½ sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed. Four-star recruit from Barnesville, Ga. In high school, he averaged 7.7 points as a junior on the basketball team and ran 100 meters in 11.16 seconds.
4. JACOB RODRIGUEZ, Texas Tech (6-1 ½, 232, 4.58, 2): Was at Virginia in 2021 as a quarterback but never attempted a pass. Did contribute as a wide receiver, running back and tight end (10 rushes, eight receptions). Walked on at Texas Tech in 2022 and played linebacker for the first time since middle school. Started 31 of 44 games for the Red Raiders and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2025, highest finish by a defensive player since Aidan Hutchinson in 2021. “He is a damn good player,” said one scout. “Instinctive as ****. He’s quick, he triggers. Tough as hell. He’s fast. His only issue is he’s got those short arms (30 7/8). It does show up in space when he can’t finish on tackles. He’ll make 10 and then miss two, something like that. He’s going to have some missed tackles but he’s going to make a ton, too.” His career statistics were phenomenal: 317 tackles (25 ½ for loss), six sacks, six interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, 12 passes defensed and five recovered fumbles. Became the first FBS player since 2005 to have 300-plus tackles, 10-plus forced fumbles and at least five interceptions and five recovered fumbles. Seven of his forced fumbles and four of his interceptions came last year. “A lot of that stuff (takeaways) isn’t really transferable,” the scout said. “Those kind of stats, especially for linebackers, some of it’s right place, right time. You’re counting on him running your defense and making a ******** of tackles. He’s top of the second round. He’s heads and shoulders above the rest of that crew besides Reese and Styles.” Married since July 2023. His wife is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. “His speed is probably a little better than people thought,” a second scout said. “I think people are intrigued by this guy’s instincts and his ability to take the ball away. I’d say third round.” Had a vertical jump of 38 ½. His short shuttle of 4.19 led the position. “What his superpower is is just the instincts,” a third scout said. “He has a knack for creating turnovers – whether it’s in the passing game getting his hands on balls for interceptions or punching the ball out. He has some Charles Tillman to him. Like it’s part of who he is as a tackler. He goes for the ball and it shows up. He’s a high-character dude.” Four-sport athlete in high school: football, basketball, baseball and track. Three-star recruit. “Very good diagnose, knows how to play the game and always finds himself right around the ball,” a fourth scout said. “I wasn’t a huge fan of him going into the week (at the Senior Bowl) but I found myself appreciating just how good of a football player he is by the end of the week.” From Wichita Falls, Texas.
5. JAKE GOLDAY, Cincinnati (6-4 ½, 237, 4.58, 2-3): Redshirted at FCS Central Arkansas in 2021, backed up in ’22 and started in ’23. Became a Bearcat in 2024 and started 20 of 24 games the past two years. “He’s kind of interesting,” said one scout. “Now he can run and he’s got an impressive build. Some people might be just sitting on him. He might go a little higher than people expect. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him going second round, third at the latest.” Vertical jump of 39, and his 40 matched Rodriguez’. “I think he’ll be a starter,” another scout said. “He’s tall and long and runs well straight line. He gets off blocks. Second round.” Finished with 289 tackles (26 for loss), 11 sacks and five forced fumbles. “He used to be a defensive end and they (the Bearcats) stand him up more now,” a third scout said. “That’s what he is. He’s got to be coming forward. When he drops you can tell there’s limitations in his movement and there’s stiffness. Decent football intelligence. He’s physical at the point. It’s kind of hit or miss whether he can get off the blocks athletically and make plays. You get him out in space and he’ll miss because he’s just too limited. He’s got to be a linebacker. Third round.” Arms were 31 7/8, hands were 9 ½. “Kind of an old-fashioned sam (strong-side linebacker),” a fourth scout said. “He’s just not athletic in space. Definitely a backup. He’ll play, but his space skills are so limited.” From Arlington, Tenn.
6. JOSIAH TROTTER, Missouri (6-2, 239, no 40, 3): Started 12 games at Missouri last year. Began his collegiate career in 2023 at West Virginia but sat out the entire season because of a lower-leg injury. Started 11 games for the Mountaineers in 2024. “A lot of people like him,” one scout said. “They think he’s better than the brother that came out a few years ago. He’s had a couple injuries that could be a hangup so that’s why I think he’ll be a second-round pick.” His father, Jeremiah, made four Pro Bowls and 914 tackles as a middle linebacker for the Eagles and two other teams from 1998-’09. In 1998, as a third-round pick from Stephen F. Austin, he was 6-0 ½, 261 and ran 4.67. His Josiah’s brother, Jeremiah (6-0, 226, 4.81), was drafted in the fifth round by the Eagles in 2024 from Clemson. In two seasons he has started two of 34 games and made 57 tackles. Josiah, his father and his brother all entered the draft after three years of college. “He’s not as good as his brother, and his brother doesn’t even (start),” said a second scout. “He’s very, very similar to his brother. He’s a tough guy and he’s physical. Just gets beat up at the point of attack because he’s a smaller guy. Not much range or change of direction or athletic ability. His coverage isn’t good at all. Fifth round.” Three-star recruit from Philadelphia. Arms were 32 ¼, hands (10 ¼) were the largest of the top 10 at the position. “He’s a strong second-round pick,” a third scout said.
7. KYLE LOUIS, Pittsburgh (6-0, 222, 4.57, 3): Compiled seven of his 10 career sacks in 2024. “He has been used effectively as a blitzer,” one scout said. “You’d have to scheme him because he’s not big enough or strong enough to get through any kind of contact. But he’s got timing and close. He can run: that’s one thing that is clear. Plays hard. He’s a good zone cover guy but you wish he was a better man cover guy. Little bit of an awkward athlete. There are teams that see him as a safety. I do not.” Impressed at the combine with a fast 40, a vertical jump of 39 ½ and a broad jump of 10-9. “He made some of the better plays during the entire week of practice (at the Senior Bowl),” a second scout said. “He is small, which is going to hurt his cause.” Redshirted in 2022, played sparingly in ’23, started at will linebacker in ’24 and at middle linebacker in ’25. “People are intrigued by his athleticism and speed,” said a third scout. “The character, the mental, the work ethic have been highly questioned. He showed up at the Senior Bowl and stood out in practices.” Finished with 201 tackles (25 ½ for loss), the 10 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and six passes defensed. Arms were 31 ¼, hands were 9 ½. “He’s a tweener,” said a fourth scout. “With Kyle Hamilton now everybody can do this tweener thing. Now (Nick) Emmanwori from last year. They’re trying to find other guys to do this. I can’t see him hanging in there full-time at linebacker. He’s more of a jump-on-the-pile kind of guy. He’s crafty and nifty. But size-wise, can he hold up in there taking on? Space-wise, he’s not a safety athlete. He could cover tight ends but no receivers, and the better tight ends will wear him out. Fourth round.” From East Orange, N.J.
8. ANTHONY HILL, Texas (6-2, 239, 4.55, 3-4): Third-year junior started 32 of 40 games. “He got a lot of hype,” one scout said. “Off the body and the athletic ability he was a 5-star, and you could probably say that about him now,” said one scout. “But as an inside backer there isn’t great take-on. As an outside backer, not just a pure edge rusher. He’s sort of caught between and not really great at either one. He isn’t super instinctive. Reading plays and the key and diagnose wasn’t natural for him. He’s built like a pro, but when you start to dig into him you definitely have question marks.” Ran fast and had a 37-inch vertical jump. Arms were 32 3/8, hands were 9 5/8. “He’s not a first-rounder,” said a second scout. “He’s a little soft at the point. He doesn’t have that linebacker mentality. I don’t want to ding him too bad.” Finished with 249 tackles (31 ½ for loss), 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles. “He’s tricky,” a third scout said. “He’s got some biomechanical issues that he might not ever be a good tackler in space.” From Denton, Texas. “I couldn’t get excited about this guy,” a fourth scout said. “They moved him all over the place but he doesn’t play physical. He doesn’t really trigger and get to the ball. He floats around and it kind of gets him to the play. You’ll hear he’s a great athlete but I don’t see that at all. Just an average athlete. Best thing he does is zone coverage. Has a good feel for that. Third round.”
9. BRYCE BOETTCHER, Oregon (6-1, 231, 4.73, 3-4): Followed his first love, baseball, to Oregon where he walked on and played four years, primarily as a centerfielder, and was drafted in the 13th round by the Astros in 2024. In all, he hit .242 with 14 home runs and 27 stolen bases. Joined the football team as a walk-on in spring 2022 and played four seasons, earning a starting berth in 2024-’25. “I think he’ll be the real find in this group,” said one scout. “Sort of a sawed-off guy, doesn’t have long arms. Team leader. Got all the intangibles. I bet he could go in the 90’s, before the end of that third round. He’s going to play on special teams and, at worst, be a backup.” Finished with 269 tackles (16 for loss), four sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed. “He’s a much better athlete than you think,” said a second scout. “He’s able to play a step faster than his pure timed speed would allow because of how smart and instinctive he is. Good tackler. He can play well in coverage. The biggest concern is he’s not very big and he’s not long enough to shed blocks inside the box so he can get covered up a ton. If you get him in the fifth round you’re going to be pumped. He’ll make the team better, the locker room better.” Won the Burlsworth Trophy in 2024 as the nation’s leading walk-on. “Played centerfield, so if somebody tells you he can’t run tell them they’re full of ****,” a third scout said. “He reminds me of Carson Schwesinger, and that’s a lot. Boettcher will be a starter sometime in his first or second year and will play a long time. He’s just put together. He’s super instinctive.” Arms were 30 ¾, hands were 9. “He’ll be a ***** on special teams, one of those guys,” a fourth scout said. “He’s gonna make it as a will. Not great in coverage but he’s a good run defender and a good leader. Will he be on the field on third down? I don’t know. That’s a problem.” From Eugene, Ore., where he won 11 letters in three sports.
10. JIMMY ROLDER, Michigan (6-2 ½, 238, no 40, 4): Fourth-year junior didn’t start a game until last year. Hardly played in 2022-’23 and saw considerable action in ’24 as part of a rotation. “I don’t see him necessarily walking in as a starter,” said one scout. “He’s got size and length. His instincts are good. He’s not a throwaway as a cover player but you’re not putting him against a mismatch-type player. He’s a good player. I don’t think he’s anything special. He’s a bigger version probably of Micah McFadden, guys like that. I think in some drafts he’s a fourth-round pick. I think there’s enough backers that this year he’s more fifth.” Finished with 118 tackles (nine for loss), two sacks, no forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one interception. “He’s early Day 3,” said a second scout. “Not elite in any area but could play three positions in the traditional 4-3. There’s nothing special about him.” Shortest arms (30 ½) of the top 12 linebackers. Hands were 9 ¾. “This guy’s gonna go high,” a third scout said. “Good athlete, good frame, makes big plays. High-quality starter. He’ll be second or third round.” Three-time All-Big Ten academic choice. Fielded basketball offers from Division I schools. Four-star recruit from Orland Park, Ill.
11. JACK KELLY, Brigham Young (6-1 ½, 239, 4.55, 4): Redshirted at Weber State in 2021, then started 22 games in 2022-’23. Moved up to BYU and started 25 games in 2024-’25. “He’s only been playing stack linebacker for two or three seasons,” one scout said. “He’s still learning the position, which is scary because he plays it so well. The work ethic, the intangibles, everything is off the charts. On third down you can actually put him on the edge. He knows exactly how to use his hands as an edge rusher. He might not ever reach the solid-starter grade that some teams will give him but he will be a very, very good pro.” For the FCS Wildcats, he totaled 84 tackles (20 for loss), 16 ½ sacks and five forced fumbles. For the Cougars, he finished with 106 tackles (23 ½ for loss), 15 sacks and four forced fumbles. “BYU moved him to the edge and blitzed him or blitzed him through the A gap,” said a second scout. “He’s going to be a liability in coverage on third down so I don’t know if he can play all three downs. BYU had a bunch of really nasty, good, tough players.” Ran fast, had a 37-inch vertical jump and shared the fastest time in the short shuttle (4.19). “He’s an outside linebacker that can zone drop if you want but he’s better rushing the passer,” said a third scout. “Not very good taking on blocks. He’s more of a step-around guy. He misses a lot of tackles. He’s a 3-4 outside backer and athletic enough to be a will. I could see fifth or sixth round.” Compared by another scout to Rodriguez based on the way he always was around the ball at the Senior Bowl. Grew up competing in BMX dirt-track racing. From Kearns, Utah.
12. DEONTAE LAWSON, Alabama (6-3, 225, no 40, 4-5): Two-time captain, one of 16 in Crimson Tide history. “Great guy,” one scout said. “He’s no CJ Mosley or Reuben Foster. He’s not explosive. I don’t see him going that high. He’ll be a fourth- or fifth-rounder. I don’t think he’s gonna run. His medical’s not gonna be great.” Redshirted in 2021 before becoming a part-time starter in 2022 and a full-time starter in 2023-’25. Finished with 283 tackles (19 for loss), 6 ½ sacks, three forced fumbles and 16 passes defensed. Suffered a torn ACL in late November 2024 but was able to play all 15 games in ’25. “He’s a classic Alabama guy that’s been really beat up,” said a second scout. “He’s a solid player but more of a backup than a potential starter.” Unable to test this spring beyond putting up 20 reps on the bench press. Arms were 31 7/8, hands were 9 ¼. Four-star recruit from Mobile, Ala.
THE NEXT FIVE
Xavian Sorey, Arkansas (6-2, 228, 4.63)
Said one scout: “Super athletic and blazing fast. He’ll be a core special-teams guy. He’s not very instinctive but he can cover. Really good range. Fast, undersized. I’d take him over Boettcher.”
Aiden Fisher, Indiana (6-1, 231, 4.77)
Said one scout: “People are going to ding him on athleticism and whether he’s strong enough, but he’s put together. Smart and instinctive. The key-and-diagnose is great. He’ll get out-bigged at times but he’ll be a starter. I could see third or fourth round.”
Harold Perkins, Louisiana State (6-1, 221, 4.47)
Said one scout: “He looks like a will linebacker that you’ll blitz on third down. He’s just not that big but he is a really good athlete and he is really instinctive. He had production. He doesn’t quite have an every-down position. In Brian Flores’ defense he could just kind of have him float around and then blitz at the snap. He might be a Viking.”
Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State (6-1 ½, 232, 4.58)
Said one scout: “He’s 6-1, 230 and can run, which is kind of prototype now for linebackers in the NFL. He’s kind of the new-age linebacker. He’s not a big hitter. If I was playing against him I’d try to run right at him instead of away from him. But running to the outside making plays, dropping back in coverage making plays, those types of things, he can do. He’s probably fourth or fifth round.”
Eric Gentry, Southern Cal (6-6 ½, 228, 4.59)
Said one scout: “He’s long (35-inch arms), athletic and very rangy. Real good cover player, too. Little bit of an anomaly. There are not many human being that look like him that are linebackers. The issue is, when you’re that high-cut and that light, guards can eat you up when you’re trying to play the run. If you can keep offensive linemen off him, he’s got the ability to play sideline to sideline. He’d be a great special-teams player. He plays tough. Plays hurt, too. He’s so lean that durability is a concern.”
