2025 CouchScouts All-22 Series: Linebacker Prospects
Ahead of the NFL Combine, here's a look at the linebacker prospects to have on your radar for IDP leagues.
The NFL Scouting Combine invites have been sent and we’re looking ahead to the Underwear Olympics as we wrap up the All-22 series with the linebackers. While there’s no Luke Kuechly in this class, there are a lot of good football players with high IQs. I’ll be interested to see how the LBs who wore the dot are treated.
These are the LBs who you should have on your radar ahead of the NFL Combine and dynasty league rookie drafts. These aren’t rankings, but guys I’ve watched who caught my attention. I’ll be publishing my pre-draft IDP rookie rankings soon enough.
(Note: All-22 clips from CouchScouts unless otherwise captioned.)
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Bryce Boettcher, according to PFF, was the highest-graded Oregon defender.
He recently declared for the draft after putting together a solid 2024 season, and overall solid career for being a walk-on. The scrappy off-ball LB is a dual-threat athlete and converted DB. One of the first things I noticed was his fluid hips and quick change of direction when dropping into coverage.
On this play, he has good positioning and hits his gap with urgency, appearing to read the play correctly. He doesn’t shed the block but is able to maneuver around it. Although it appears he’s in line to make the tackle, the RB makes a quick shift that gets Boettcher just slightly out of position, and he slips down his legs. He’s able to slow him down, though:
I really like this play, as it shows Boettcher’s ability to cover receivers out of the backfield. He’s got a good, balanced stance allowing him to change directions. He doesn’t fall for the fake pitch and recognizes the ball is going to the motion man. He has a good burst and angle to make the tackle:
On this play, he’s in a good stance and ready for the play. He has good footwork, as they are active. He’s able to get low and slip under the block to get the leg tackle on Ashton Jeanty:
I think this play highlights his coverage ability as a converted DB. He has good vision on the target and QB. He has a controlled backpedal and no wasted motion on the break. He closes in on the ball with solid hand placement, getting the PBU:
Bryce Boettcher is a high-motor/effort off-ball LB. The guy is a football player. He has good lateral movement, and thanks to his experience at DB, shows good change of movement and fluidity in space. He takes good angles to the ball, especially when attacking downhill. He has enough quickness to disrupt plays out of the backfield.
Boettcher isn’t afraid of contact but sometimes will fail to extend his arms to create separation. He needs to be a bit lower in pad level and bend at the knees to keep his balance and power. A low center of gravity will keep him from being stalled and locked up. He needs to stop getting into chest-to-chest battles. He’ll need to develop some rip or push/pull moves to get off blocks faster and lock out blockers with better extension.
I think his coverage abilities will allow him to see the field as a rookie. I think he starts as a special-teamer but can develop into a three-down LB. He has the smarts and communication to wear the dot and can play in nickel. Tampa Bay, Seattle, and Las Vegas would make solid landing spots, as they have quite a few vacated snaps to fill and would fit in their scheme.
Update 3/10/2025: Bryce is headed back to Eugene for the 2025 season.
Jay Higgins, Iowa
When I think of Jay Higgins, I think “tackle machine.” He’s going to get comps to Jack Campbell just because they both went to Iowa. But I think he reminds me of another former Hawkeye. More on that later.
Higgins is a high IQ, physical off-ball LB with strong play recognition who just needs a bit more refinement. He’s one of my favorite LBs of the class.
Jay Higgins is really good at stacking and shedding on this play. He uses his hands effectively with good placement and pad level. He absorbs the contact and deconstructs the block, freeing himself to contribute to the play:
Higgins has sneaky sideline-to-sideline range and speed. He comes over from the opposite side of the field, making up ground in about four seconds, and forcing the fumble:
This rep displays Higgins’ instincts and sideline-to-sideline range. He keeps his head up and eyes on the QB at all times. He doesn’t bite on the fake, maintains his base, and uses his closing speed to get the tackle (sack) on Will Howard. He is lucky Howard missed his wide-open WR:
Here’s another example of Higgins’ ability to stack and shed. He takes on the block and remains square in his stance with his arms on the blocker’s shoulders. He uses his hands to break off the block and swipes to avoid any additional blocking, allowing him to get involved in the tackle:
I like the physicality he displays here. He’s a “get your nose dirty” off-ball LB. He gets a good burst off the snap and just follows the ball, preventing a score:
Nothing has dissuaded me from designating Jay Higgins my IDP rookie LB1. Higgins is the prototypical off-ball LB. He’s smart, physical, and can lead a defense. He’s relentless in pursuit and can process and diagnose plays quickly. He also shows well above average awareness in short to intermediate zones.
He uses his hands well, and plays with good leverage, but sometimes plays too high when engaged with blockers. He’ll also need to refine his hand techniques against elite OLs. His coverage skills are serviceable, but his lateral movement in man coverage is below average.
He reminds me a bit of Josey Jewell, Nick Bolton, and Alex Anzalone (God, I hope he doesn’t land with Detroit). He’s a three-down LB and can wear the dot, which he did with Iowa. I think he’s being underrated. I don’t think he’s a first-round pick, but I do think he should be considered on Day 2. Realistically, he probably goes in the 3rd.
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Campbell refined his game in 2024 by playing on the edge and earning a decent PFF pass-rush grade. I think he has the tools and traits needed for the NFL.
Campbell displays good eye discipline and ball tracking. On this play, he’s able to react quickly to avoid any blockers and maintains his angle to the ball. He doesn’t overcommit and there’s no escape lane. He makes a good, controlled tackle:
Campbell is decisive in his attack. On the snap, he explodes, takes advantage of the center’s lack of awareness, and just hits the gap to force the fumble on the sack:
He has the length to consistently defend and bat down passes. He’s always keeping his head up and getting his arms to disrupt a pass. Here, he does a good job of reading the QB and stretches his arm to defend the pass:
Campbell’s quick diagnosis is on display here. Pre-snap, he comes up on the LOS and sees the RB go in motion. He’s quick to get in position and takes a decisive first step toward the back. He shows his closing speed and lateral agility to make the tackle:
Here’s another example of Campbell’s side-to-sideline speed. He had no business even being close to the QB. If he doesn’t hesitate, he actually might have made the tackle:
Campbell displays instincts in diagnosing run versus pass and is quick to read the action in the backfield. He’s above average at recognizing pass pro assignments and can exploit gaps. He could improve his pass rush timing to be more disruptive. He shows strong gap discipline but can be too eager to make plays, resulting in over-pursuit.
He’s fluid in transitioning between coverage and run support and knows down and distance. He has plus range and has the gas to chase down plays from behind. Overall, he shows good hand usage and lateral agility. He’s strong in short-area zone and can keep up with shifty backs and TEs. Campbell is good enough to match up on a WR in short routes. He’s sometimes delayed in reaction to misdirections/RPOs and needs to add some muscle to tangle with bigger OLs and hold his ground against power runners.
He has starting caliber upside and will be an asset in an aggressive scheme. If the Eagles don’t bring back Zack Baun, I could see him fitting in Vic Fangio’s defense. He could be an option for Tampa Bay if they move on from Lavonte David.
Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Here’s another off-ball LB with great instincts, and another tackle machine, as he led the Big 10 in tackles with 136. I especially loved Schwesinger’s near 2:1 solo-to-assist ratio, plus the fact that he wore the dot for the Bruins in 2024.
He walked on and redshirted his freshman season before being a reserve and special teams contributor in 2022. His only knock is experience: he has just one season as a full-time player, but if you’ve watched him, the kid can play.
I loved this play. He explodes off the edge and blows up the blocking RB on his way to the sack:
Here’s the difference between Jalon Walker and Schwesinger. In a similar play, Walker pulled up, assuming the tackle. Schwesinger gets a good jump off the snap, controls his footwork, and displays his lateral agility. Even though his teammate is there, Schwesinger continues to go full speed and gets the tackle:
On this play, Schwesinger just slices through the blocker with a low pad level—the blocker doesn’t even have a chance to engage. In one fluid motion, he gets in on the stop:
Schwesinger shows good instincts here. He reacts off the snap and takes a good angle to close the gap without getting caught up in any blocks. He gets low and gets the tackle around his legs:
Schwesinger’s change of direction is on display here. He follows the flow of the play and sees the QB roll out to the TE. He stops on a dime and uses his closing speed to finish off the tackle:
Schwesinger won’t stack and shed, but I don’t think it’s necessary. He has elite instincts and play recognition, meaning he’s able to slice, knife, and work his way through contact. He’s a good downhill and a gap shooter.
He opens up his hips well in coverage and is more than serviceable in short zones. He does a good job keeping his eyes on the target and QB. He’s inconsistent in man coverage but has shown the ability to keep up with slot-type receivers.
Schwesinger will get caught in blocks by being too aggressive. The results are missed tackles and getting taken out of plays. If he does get caught up in blocks, he’ll struggle to shed off bigger linemen.
He just plays with high energy and effort. He’s a leader and communicator and he wore the dot as a first-year starter. I think he can develop into a three-down player with the right landing spot. At this point, he looks to be a solid pick in the 3rd.
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
Shaun Dolac is one of my sleepers in the class and is another walk-on-to-star at his position with Buffalo. He also graded out as the top LB of the 2025 class according to PFF. I wish he wasn’t snubbed from the Combine. I would have liked to have seen his measurables.
If I could sum up his play in two words, they would be “tackle machine.”
On this play, there’s a bit of hesitation, but he’s quick to see the ball carrier, and has a quick first step, using a good angle and burst to the ball to make the tackle:
On this play, Dolac is balanced and reacts quickly post-snap. He maintains a direct and controlled angle and uses quick, choppy steps without overcommitting. He stays low, maintains leverage, and gets low, tripping up the ball carrier:
Here, Dolac reacts to the hand-off and uses a good burst, allowing him to glide past the blocker. He takes a good angle to the ball carrier, and the carrier is almost surprised that Dolac got to him. He gets a good, clean leg tackle:
Dolac displays a good first step and reacts early to the play. He shows a disciplined pursuit angle and no wasted motion in tracking the ball carrier. He anticipates blocks and adjusts without losing track of where the carrier is going. He gets to the carrier, wraps him up, and takes him down:
Once again, we see really good play recognition as he gets a good jump off the snap. He displays good lateral movement and takes a good angle and path to the ball. He meets the ball carrier through the gap and delivers a good tackle:
Overall, Dolac has really good vision. He’s a football player and shows good instincts and football smarts—especially in run defense. He’s a sneaky physical player and doesn’t care how big you are. He can be a bit inconsistent with pad level but uses his hands well to stay clean.
He has above-average (not elite) sideline-to-sideline range, but his angles can make up the deficit. He’s a good short-range zone defender, but you’ll want to keep him out of man-to-man coverage. He does show above-average change of direction and gets going running downhill.
He can be flat-footed and caught out of position. He sometimes comes in too high on tackles, can get run over, and fall off the tackle. He’ll get caught low in traffic and lose sight of the ball carrier.
He’s probably going to be a Day 3 pick, but with the way he’s been snubbed, he’ll probably be an UDFA. I think he can be a contributor in a few years if given the chance.
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Danny Stutsman is a high-energy linebacker with the size, athleticism, and production to intrigue NFL teams seeking a plug-and-play contributor. His standout trait is his run-stopping prowess, and he thrives when allowed to play downhill, attack gaps, or blitz, using his speed and aggression to disrupt plays.
On this play, Stutsman shows he’s willing to get physical to make tackles. He meets the FB and uses his hands to create some separation and disengage from the block. He keeps his eyes on the ball carrier and makes the stop:
Stutsman does a good job of reading where blocks are coming from. He sees where the guard is coming from, maintains a good base, and swipes away, which prevents the guard from getting a clean block. He lowers his pad level, keeps his angle intact, and drives toward the ball carrier for the tackle:
I like what Stutsman does here. He’s positioned as an overhang LB. He remains still, without any pre-snap movement. He explodes off the snap without any wasted motion, which allows him to blow right past any potential blockers. This results in an incomplete pass and a QB hit for Stutsman:
Here’s another example of Stutsman recognizing where pulling guard or blocker is coming from. He sees the guard and positions himself, ready to take on the block. He makes contact, maintains a decent pad level, and extends his arms. He works to shed the block, but he’s still able to make the tackle:
Stutsman is a smart instinctive off-ball LB who plays more physically than he appears. He has a motor and uses his IQ to cover up his shortcomings athletically. He can take in and process information and is proactive. He covers ground well with efficient angles.
As far as coverage abilities, he’s best to have drop into short zones than trust him man-to-man. He’ll struggle in space against quicker route runners.
Sometimes, Stutman’s eyes deceive him in play-action/RPO and he’ll get caught flat-footed. When it comes to tackling, Stutsman needs to avoid the arm tackle and just make the fundamental wrap-up or go low on the runner; sometimes he won’t fully break down and dive to make tackles.
He reminds me of Logan Wilson—not someone who stands out athletically, but a smart, high-effort football player. He’ll play well behind a strong defensive line that allows him to roam freely. I think he might fit well in New England—a physical, structured defense.
Cody Simon, Ohio State
In the clips, focus on #0, Cody Simon (I used Jack Sawyer’s All-22 clips here).
Simon is a smart, high-energy linebacker with above-average range and strong processing skills. His PFF grades were well above average over the last three seasons, and he’s had strong showings in big games, including the CFP.
On this play, while not a perfect stack and shed, he engages with the blocker and takes advantage of his hand placement, and is a bit off balance. Simon kind of shoves off of him and gets in on the tackle:
Simon is locked in here. He takes a quick hop and has the read on the running back. It's a decisive move as if he already knew where the ball was going. He takes an efficient angle to the ball and doesn’t overrun the play. Simon has a good pad level and makes the tackle:
Here’s another example of Simon’s balance and being in position relative to the formation, allowing him to effectively read the play. He displays good pad level, ensuring leverage, and wraps up the ball carrier:
On this play, Simon is responsible for the tight end. He gives him some cushion but doesn’t give up any more separation on his break. Simon does a good job in his break toward the TE, and closes in on him for the tackle:
Simon gets a good jump off the snap, is able to shift, and uses his hands to prevent the guard from locking in him. JT Tuimoloau takes out his blocker, and Simon lowers his head and makes a strong tackle:
Cody Simon has good awareness of formations, recognizes the run/pass quickly, and reacts quickly to blocking schemes. He will overcommit, which can be exploited in misdirection. He’s a good zone LB but can improve his anticipation against quicker route runners.
He’s aggressive at the point of attack and is willing to engage with force. He uses his hands well but has a habit of getting swallowed up in traffic. His lower body allows him to maintain leverage and he’s always in a good, balanced stance.
He’s fluid in space and uses a good burst to close gaps. He’ll chase down the ball with direct angles. He can still be in lateral movement. He’s good in zone coverage, but his stiffness is a concern in man.
His traits and skill set remind me of Drue Tranquill. Strong instincts, good pursuit, and is good enough in coverage to be a three-down LB.
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Carter looks the part of an off-ball LB. He bulked up and it didn’t seem to impact his speed.
Carter looks like he’s going after the RB, but changes direction and is anticipating the block. He takes a slight side step and stays low under the potential blocker, using his hands to avoid being locked in on. He takes a good angle and gets to the WR for the tackle:
Carter has a good, balanced stance. He immediately reacts to the RB out of the backfield and begins his pursuit post-snap with no wasted motion. He anticipates the throw and he’s already in his face, ready to make the tackle:
Carter is good in short zone and is aware of what’s going on around him in space. It looks like Clemson is in a two-high look, with the one safety playing a bit closer to the LBs. Carter is showing good posture. He drops into his area of responsibility and is reading the QB’s eyes. Most importantly, he doesn’t overcommit. He sees the RB out of the backfield is the target and makes the play on the back:
Carter is good in run support. On this play, he keeps his head up and eyes on the QB/hand-off exchange. He keeps balanced and his feet keep him ready to go. He has good lateral movement to the running lane and drives through the ball carrier:
Carter is an instinctive off-ball LB, does well reading offensive line movements, and reacts quickly to blocking schemes. When blitzing, he does a good job of timing his rush to get through gaps effectively and efficiently. He shows above-average range and sideline-to-sideline speed. He’s willing to be physical but sometimes will lose the battle of strength to stronger linemen.
He does have a good in his lower body and maintains a decent pad while using his hands effectively. He needs to be a bit more consistent with placement. He can run with tight ends in man coverage but sometimes will drift out of position in zone. He has average ball skills and can disrupt the pass, but isn’t a playmaker in coverage. He can also be an effective QB spy.
He has a high football IQ, as he was entrusted with the dot. He reminds me of Demario Davis—an off-ball LB who can make plays, cover ground, and get to the QB. Carter has the trait and I think can develop into a three-down LB. He may not be as fast as Simpson, but his instincts and feel for the game cover that up.
Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
Chris Paul Jr., no relation to the NBA star, is a bit undersized, but he reminds of me Ivan Pace Jr. a bit, as he plays bigger than his size. He doesn’t mind mixing things up at the LOS, as he had a solid 2.6 average depth of run tackle and recorded 11 TFLs.
In this clip, he’s patient, processes post-snap quickly, and trusts his instincts. He moves well, keeps his balance, and maintains a strong base with decent footwork. He wraps up well:
Paul displays good lateral movement and change of direction. He uses his hands to keep the blocker off him and makes a good tackle:
When he sees the RB isn’t the target, he engages with the TE and uses his hands and leverage to break off the block to help get the stop on the QB:
On this play, Paul shows good sideline-to-sideline speed and keeps his eyes up and focused on the ball, all while not losing track of where the play is flowing. He works through the traffic and takes a good route to the ball to get the tackle:
He might be one of the more underrated off-ball LBs, mostly because of his size. He has plus processing ability and reacts with conviction. He shows good awareness when diagnosing run versus pass but can be a step or two late on complex routes and formations.
For someone his size, he plays more physically and always delivers strong hits, which catches the carrier off guard. He’s going to lose leverage against bigger offensive linemen. He’s got good short-range closing speed but needs to maintain speed throughout the play.
There’s no doubt he’s a high-effort player. With a lot of these rookie LBs, he’ll need coverage refinement and study the complexities of the NFL. I’ll be keeping an eye on his Combine numbers. They’ll help determine his draft position, but I still think he can play and develop into a full-time player over the next few years.
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Cody Lindenberg is another green dot linebacker you should have on your radar in the later rounds of rookie drafts.
I really like Lindenberg, as he has the makeup of a three-down dot LB in the NFL. Depending on the landing spot, he could see work as a two-down run thumper while he develops his coverage abilities.
Lindenberg has a good feel for developing running lanes and takes good angles to the ball carrier. Here, he works well through traffic, has a good angle in pursuit, and stops the RB in his tracks:
He’s quick off the snap and a gap-shooter. Here, he displays a good get off the snap, hits the gap, and works through contact to get the stuff at the LOS:
Lindenberg gets a good jump off the snap and hits the gap before any blockers can clog the running lanes. He gets to the RB before the first-down mark:
When Lindenberg gets going downhill, he strikes with violence. He hits the lane and drives through the tackle, taking down the RB:
He has plus pre-snap recognition and communicates well to lead the defense, which is probably why he was entrusted with the dot. He has straight-line speed and shows awareness in open space. He’s a violent but fundamental tackler.
Lindenberg does come with some injury history, as he missed several games in 2021 and 2023. He’s a good short zone off-ball LB, but needs refinement in man coverage and he’ll need to improve in that aspect, especially against speedier backs.
The Combine is going to be important for Lindenberg’s draft stock. He’s an athletic off-ball LB, and I see him going on Day 3. An impressive Combine could land him in the late 3rd.
Jalon Walker, Georgia
Jalon Walker is a good football player—just not special enough to warrant a top-10 pick like I’ve seen him mocked at. He’s worth being written up just because of his potential draft capital, but I’m not spending an early-round rookie pick on him, and will probably be lower than the consensus.
Walker can go when he wants to. He’s a bit of a tweener, but I focused on him as an off-ball LB.
Here’s a good example of Walker’s stack and shed ability. He extends his arms and stays square to LOS. He’s able to maintain his balance and looks to use a push-pull and rips away. Walker gets the QB around the waist and gets him down:
If he made plays like this consistently, I’d be higher on him. He’s balanced with a clean look at the formation. He keeps his eyes up, takes advantage of the path created for him, and uses his closing speed to get the tackle on the RB:
On this play, Walker is ready to go, displaying good balance and stance. He gets a good jump off the snap and uses his footwork and low pad level to stack and shed off the block. He uses his hands well to disengage and make the tackle:
Here’s another example of Walker’s reaction and diagnosis. He reads the QB’s eyes and as soon as he sees him look to the left, he reacts, gets a burst, and closes in on the receiver:
This is an example of his inconsistency. On this play, he kind of loafs over to the play, assuming the tackle will be made. When he sees it won’t be, he closes in. I want to see him give all-out effort to the ball:
Overall, he’s a good football player. He can diagnose well and identify the run versus pass. He can be a step or two off in pre-snap motion and misdirections. He has a good swim move off the edge and is quicker off the snap to keep tackles and guards off balance. He uses his hands well. He’s not strong enough to disengage stronger tackles and has average bend.
He has good lateral movement and above-average closing speed—when he wants it. He does display good instincts as a QB spy. He shows patience and watches the QB intently.
Post-snap, Walker sometimes hesitates, leaving himself open to getting locked in on blocks. If he gets a break on the ball and establishes leverage, he could make more plays.
Remember the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry wasn’t gaga for Pam? That’s where I’m at. I’m not gaga for Walker. I’ve tried, but I can’t get gaga. I’ve seen him mocked between 7-8 overall. That’s Luke Kuechly territory. I mean, that’s crazy talk.
I’m not going to let the Combine sway me. He’s an early-down player who can rush on the edge or on the inside in pass-rush situations. I see him more as a late 1st round/early 2nd round pick. I could see him developing into a Nolan Smith-type player rather than an elite off-ball LB. Which is fine, as Smith went 30th overall.
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