Welcome to the thick of the pre-draft process. With a little over a week until practices kick off in Mobile, Alabama, I’ll be providing a layered look into each positional group set to compete at the 2024 Senior Bowl.
The draft cycle’s premier showcase that presents prospects the opportunity to don their respective college helmets just one final time, let’s get rolling with a peek into the headlining ballplayers set to compete at linebacker.
Senior Bowl 2024 LB Primer
Payton Wilson, NC State
My LB2 in the class, Wilson is a blend of downhill pop and ability in space to serve as the green dot of an NFL defense. His range is sensational, his tackling ability is amongst the best in the class, and is someone that should play at the game’s highest level for a decade or more. Medicals will be big with Wilson after suffering two torn ACLs in the past, but he’s a home run plug-and-play talent at 100% health.
James Williams, Miami
A hybrid defender during his time in Miami, Williams has an All-Pro ceiling as a primary box defender. Like many Hurricanes of yesteryear, Williams plays with a ton of pop behind his pads and more than looks the part at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds. He’s a sensational football player that I’m excited to see work in coverage drills against more agile running backs—something he rarely encountered as a safety.
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
He won’t be the most athletic LB in Mobile, but what Eichenberg lacks in twitch and pure athleticism he makes up for with instincts, pursuit angles, and an always-hot motor. He’s an excellent rotational piece at the second level that could annually flirt with 100 tackles should the snaps present themselves.
Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Gray was everywhere for the Tar Heels in 2023, amassing 121 tackles (11 for loss) and five sacks. He trusts his eyes working downhill and has no issue flipping and running to carry a TE up the seam. His ball skills popped on tape (5 INTs and 8 PBUs in four seasons).
Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State
Hunter is a high-level athlete who was utilized as the QB spy in Georgia State’s play-up game against LSU this fall. He’s showcased good instincts when dropping in space and the stack/shed ability to get off blocks and wrangle down ball-carriers in space.
Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Watson has a ton of Ivan Pace Jr. (Minnesota Vikings) to his game: Thick upper half, runs with an extra hot motor, and is always in a spot to make a play on the football. He enters Mobile with more than 2,400 snaps of experience in the SEC (six seasons).
Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
Hopper is a name I have bolded headed into Mobile. At times, he looks like the best athlete on the field. Other times, there’s a lack of consistency and overpursuing the football. All in all, he has a modern build to the position with the skill set to play on all three downs.
Michael Barrett, Michigan
Barrett is one of the top coverage linebackers in the class. An uber-experienced defender with time spent at the ‘Reaper’ position (a specialized spot that preaches playmaking) at Michigan, Barrett’s stock could see a substantial rise due to his comfortability in space.
Tyrice Knight, UTEP
The step up in competition will be an excellent test for Knight. While the 2022 tape popped a little more than this fall for me, he’s an athletic defender who should challenge for snaps in multiple phases.
Marist Liufau, Notre Dame
Don’t be shocked when Liufau has the first crack of practice down in Mobile. Defenses that pride themselves on being physical will prioritize the game of Liufau.
JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
An extremely intelligent linebacker, I expect Bertrand to lead his defense similar to what we saw from Sydney Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) last winter. Bertrand plays with a high level of instincts and also has some pop as a coverage man, as well. He’s a multi-phase contributor.
Jaylan Ford, Texas
The glue man for a talented Longhorns defense this fall, Ford has a violent trigger downhill. Some work is needed technically in coverage, but he plays fast and is always around the football (six INTs last two seasons).
Trevin Wallace, Kentucky
An underrated LB in the class, I expect Wallace to generate some buzz after the week. He’s excellent in one-on-one opportunities and a heck of a twister when activated through the A and B-gaps. I like his game.
Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian
Hunt enters Mobile as one of the players to watch of the week. A dominant player at the FCS level, Hunt’s athleticism was evident in every single game of his tape. A former Cornell transfer, I’m excited to see him compete.
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
Built like a Mack truck at 235 pounds, Ulofoshio has a nice blend of physicality and flexibility to consistently square up ball-carriers in space. He had one of his better years in coverage this fall, also, and I think he’s got the frame and strength to also offer some versatility as a wide-nine rusher in exotic blitz packages.
