DRAFT PROSPECTS ANALYSIS: MIDDLE LINEBACKERS

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DRAFT PROSPECTS ANALYSIS: MIDDLE LINEBACKERS


The middle linebacking class is not very deep but it does have quality. Unlike many other positions on the defensive side of the ball, the MLB can take on a host of roles and often may find that the position might work in tandem with another linebacker to form a very good defensive center.

20 year old Valtteri Pernio could be the top backer taken but mostly due to his age and Star Development designations. At 6'2" 248 Lbs, the Texas Longhorn has the size to man the inside position. His 84 impact rating should help him versus the power blocking offensive linemen and he has enough speed (86) combined with an excellent acceleration rate (90) and agility score (88) to be an effective sideline to sideline defender as well as an inside tackler. Pernio will come ino the league with 74/71 man/zone coverage ratings, an 82 tackling number, and a solid 85 hit power stat. What will make him an even more attractive prospect is the fact he is just 1 of 5 inside backers who are rated as a Big Hitter and he is the lone MLB with a High Motor rating!

Tennessee Volunteer Nyabare Nyathi is among a small group of backers who could all be seen as equals to a degree. Nyathi is built more in the mode of a true 4-3 MLB or as more of a run support backer in a 3-4 system but has enough skills to be decent to good as a Bell Cow backer in a 3-4. He has the best man cover skills in the class (85) but his 85 speed is just a bit too slow to consistently matchup with speedy runners coming out of the backfield and he could even struggle against faster tightends. However, his 91 acceleration and 88 agility ratings in conjunction with 85 impact block, 84 hit power, 81 pursuit, and 80 tackling numbers could serve him extremely well as more of an interior weapon. Nyathi's 263 Lbs frame is impressive when combined with his other athletic numbers but expecting him to be an all-purpose run and pass defender might prove to be a bit too much of an expectation.

A little older (22) backer who might be the best equipped to step right in as a Swiss Army Knife type backer would be Notre Dame's Jackson Mutabuza. He may slip behind Pernio and Nyathi but that would only be due to his age because, otherwise, he is an excellent prospect. Mutabuza's 88 speed is tops in the class and all of his skills are very good across the board! He can pass defend (73 man/74 zone), hit (best in class 86), tackle (83), and pursue (83). His impact block (83) could be better but that can be improved upon over time. Listed as a Big Hitter, Mutabuza is the only player in this group that has all the ratings checked in the attributes department: Bull rush, strip ball, spin move, and swim move. At 6'4" 251 LBs Mutabuza possesses ideal size and will be able to fill the starter role in either a 3-4 or 4-3 set while also being a factor in the nickel.

A trio of 22 year olds will likely slide down in the draft but do offer a solid later round option for many teams. Ohio State's Reid Harris, Alabama's Deontae Okumuringa, and Duke's Henri Wyatt can all play. Harris is probably the best choice of the three with his superior pass coverage skills but his 84 speed does limit him a bit in that role. His overall ratings are not bad at all usually getting in the low 80s and he is listed as a Big Hitter. Still, the lower numbers, while not bad, are not quite good enough to warrant a high draft slot and he could struggle if seen as the main guy in the middle of the field. Harris seems a viable #2 ILB in a 3-4 scheme playing alongside a more athetic type player. Okumuringa and Wyatt are both way too slow to be lone backers in a 4-3 scheme and need improvement in a number of categories but still are worth being selected in a pinch. Okumuringa is slightly faster than Wyatt.

There are a few backers that some GMs might imagine as rush ends in nickel formations and specialty packages but, truthfully, will likely prove wasted picks. 20 year old Jaleni Cristian is one such player. His age is alluring and suggests his 6'4" 278 Lbs body has room to progress. However, his finesse (54) and power (59) moves are prohibitively too low and he is likely not going to reach the blockshed and pursuit numbers to ever be an impactful player. The one-time Virginia Cavalier is likely to drift deep into the draft and could even go untouched. 21 year old Oregon Duck Keith Viinanen lacks the athleticism to be a top backer but he is a still a viable choice as a solid #2 complimentary type. He has good size (6'1" 261 Lbs), is listed as a Big Hitte, and is in the low 80's in most key categories. His drawback is his 81/85 speed/acceleration profile which likely means he cannot cover much at all despite some decent coverage skills. The lack of acceleration with the slower speed also means he may not react to outside runs well and he might not even get into holes fast enough. Noinetheless, he does have enough gas in the tank to be a decent to good 3-4 backer.

PRE-DRAFT RATING: 1-Valterri Pernio-Texas

2-Nyabare Nyathi-tennessee

3-Jackson Mutabuza-Notre Dame

4-Reid Harris-Ohio State

5-Deontae Okumurunga-Alabama

6-Henri Wyatt-Duke

7-Keith Viianen-Oregon
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