Fran Duffy’s NFL Scouting Combine position preview, LB: Buckeyes tandem of Sonny Styles & Arvell Reese could steal the show

I find the NFL Scouting Combine to be a test of expectations. Fast players should look fast. Slow players should look slow. When the results don’t match the expectations, that is when more work must be done. 

Below you’ll find my expectations for this position group this week in Indianapolis. Who do I expect to stand out? Who does this week mean the most for? What are the drills I prioritize most? Here are my thoughts on all of that and more!

Full Scouting Reports on all of these players can be found in the DieHard Draft Guide!

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Workout Warriors

These are the players I expect to perform best in the athletic testing portion of the workout.

Arvell Reese (Ohio State)

I (and others) have Reese listed with my edge rushers in this class, but he will be working with the linebacker group on Thursday night. At a listed 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, he’ll be one of the bigger ‘backers at the event and, if he tests, should test like a freak show. His explosiveness is evident the moment you watch him play. This one is a no-brainer, as long as he actually goes through a full workout.

Sonny Styles (Ohio State)

If Reese doesn’t go, then all eyes will be on his teammate for the Buckeye defense in Styles, who also boasts an eye-popping combo of height-weight-speed. Styles has outrageous range for a guy his size (listed 6-foot-4, 235 pounds) and his overall athleticism is a huge strength at that size. It’s important to note that he does not sacrifice toughness or instincts with these traits; this former safety has really developed into the total package as a linebacker prospect. 

Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh)

Louis is built opposite of Styles in that he’s extremely short and slight, but he has outstanding athletic traits. Louis spent a ton of time playing in space in that Pitt defensive scheme, and while he needs to do a better job of playing through contact and defeating blocks, his abilities in coverage and as a blitzer should not be discounted. He was one of the best players at the Senior Bowl and should continue that positive momentum here in Indy.

Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma)

Daniels has a similar skillset to Louis, but he’s built more like Styles. Listed 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, he has good size and, like Styles, is a former safety who played the ‘Cheetah’ position in the Oklahoma defense (making his usage similar to Isaiah Simmons’ in that same scheme at Clemson). I don’t think he’s as refined as Styles, and I think Louis is a better football player right now, but Daniels’ ceiling may be higher than Louis’ because of his frame. He should test well this week, as long as he’s able to go (he pulled out of the Senior Bowl late in the process). 

Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)

When I first watched Rodriguez, I saw a player with decent size across the board who flashes solid athleticism. I didn’t think the combination was enough to move the needle. After seeing him up close, I feel a bit different about that assessment. I think Rodriguez tests a bit better than I previously anticipated, and after some conversations on the road during the All-Star circuit I think he could really impress with the athletic testing portion of the workout (especially with the jumps).

The Drill To Watch

I am a big proponent of studying the position work at this event. That is my focus when I’m inside Lucas Oil Stadium – not the athletic tests! Here’s the drill I weigh the heaviest and who I expect to shine when it’s that time of the night.

Like most positions in football, teams want to find linebackers who can impact the passing game. If you’re not going to rush the quarterback, that means you have to be viable in coverage. Can you efficiently flip your hips in space, turn and run, and find the football? Some of the coverage drills we’ll see will put that to the test. Some things to notice while watching these drills:

• You want to see the defenders flip their hips without losing much speed, if any. Want an easy way to look for this? Watch their head. If their head pops up, that typically is a sign of some lateral stiffness when they’re asked to execute that kind of athletic maneuver. 
• After the linebacker flips his hips, you want to see a strong burst to the catch point. Can they change gears, or are they a one-speed kind of player? 
• Lastly, can they finish at the catch point? You don’t need a true ballhawk underneath, but any production on the ball is good production in the passing game. 

Here are the players who have a chance to shine in these drills.

Jake Golday (Cincinnati)

A former pass rusher at Central Arkansas, Golday has legit size at 6-foot-4, 237 pounds, but surprisingly spent a ton of time at Cincinnati playing out in the slot. His versatile usage at the college level could be very attractive for teams, and to see a guy with his size looking natural dropping in reverse, a lot of teams will have their interests piqued. 

Kaleb Elarms-Orr (TCU)

Elarms-Orr is built like a prototypical ‘WILL’ linebacker and showed off good coverage chops at the Senior Bowl, making a handful of plays in 1-on-1 drills against running backs in space. I would expect that fluidity to continue in these drops. 

Lander Barton (Utah)

Barton stands at nearly 6-foot-4 and over 230 pounds, so he’s another tall, rangy athlete with length and fluidity. There are a handful of those guys in this class! The senior with NFL bloodlines also saw some time as a tight end this past year, catching passes for the Utes on offense. His athleticism and natural comfort in space should stand out here at this event.

Jimmy Rolder (Michigan)

Rolder was slated to head to the Shrine Bowl but pulled out of the event late, and in the flashes I’ve seen from him he looks competent dropping back in coverage and making plays on the ball. I’m really interested to see this kid up close this week.

Trust The Tape

These are the players I don’t expect to test off the charts athletically, but don’t panic! The tape shows a prospect who is a better football player than he is an athlete. With that in mind, don’t drop him down the board with a subpar workout!

CJ Allen (Georgia)

In terms of pure, throwback ‘MIKE’ linebackers, my favorite in this class is Allen. At a listed 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, he’s not the biggest and I don’t think he’ll be the fastest one at the event either. I don’t see an explosive athlete on tape, and it’s one of the reasons why I struggle seeing him crack the first round in April. That said, my expectations are set there, so if he doesn’t impress as a tester this week, I won’t be dropping him at all. 

Keyshaun Elliott (Arizona State)

Elliott is another guy who has a winning skillset predicated on toughness and instincts at the position. I don’t think he’s going to test well; in fact, I think it will be a concern as to whether or not he cracks certain thresholds at the position to be viewed as draftable for some teams. If he can get into the 4.6s range in the 40-yard dash, I think that will be a win for him. Does that make me dislike him as a player? Absolutely not. I think he can play starter-level football in the league despite those limitations. 

Anthony Hill (Texas)

Like Allen, Hill is a player who has received first-round buzz over the last year from those in the media and, frankly, I just don’t see that level of athletic upside from him. He’s young and has been productive in the SEC. He was the signal-caller of that defense as a sophomore. There is a lot to like in the profile. I just don’t see a high-end athlete, especially when it comes to chasing things down from sideline to sideline. I’m hoping he proves me wrong, because if he does I do think the Top 40 is within his sights.

Most To Prove

Some players make this trip with a big question (or three!) at this stage of the process. How well does he run? Will he pass the medical check? What is he like off the field in the interview room? These are the prospects with the most notable question marks on their resume at this stage of the process.

Josiah Trotter (Missouri)

Trotter’s game is based on instincts, technique and physicality. Knowing his bloodlines, there’s no shock that he’s a throwback player. The level of athleticism is going to be the big question. He doesn’t need to be a speed demon, but can he at least check the box? If he can get into the 4.65-range, that will be enough, in my opinion.

Taurean York (Texas A&M)

I’d put York in the same bucket. I love his film. He’s got a quick processor. He’s always square to the line of scrimmage. He presses holes well and can navigate traffic. He’s a field-general type. But I don’t see a good athlete on tape. Testing will prove crucial for York. 

Eric Gentry (USC)

Gentry is basically the opposite of Trotter and York. He’s tall, long and rail thin with good athleticism on film. For that reason, with such a unique body type, he NEEDS to test like a great athlete. He can’t just check the box, because he’s such an outlier physically he has to make up for it. If he can get evaluators and coaches’ creative juices flowing thanks to a unique athletic profile, it will be a long way towards him getting drafted earlier than currently projected. 

The Rest Of The Pack

Everyone else who will take part in the events in Indianapolis (in alphabetical order).

Wesley Bissainthe (Miami), Aiden Fisher (Indiana), Owen Heinecke (Oklahoma), Justin Jefferson (Alabama), Jack Kelly (BYU), Deontae Lwson (Alabama), Red Murdock (Buffalo), Namdi Obiazor (TCU), Karson Sharar (Iowa), Xavian Sorey (Arkansas), Scooby Williams (Texas A&M), Wade Woodaz (Clemson)

Mr. Average

We get to read all about the measurements for all these players over the next few weeks … but wouldn’t it be nice to have some context? What is considered a ‘good’ 40-yard dash time for this position? What about arm length? The broad jump? Here’s what the average player drafted at each position has looked like over the last decade (by my records).

Height: 6014 (6’1 1/4’’’)

Weight: 234

Hand Size: 948 (9 1/2’’)

Arm Length: 3218 (32 1/8’’)

Wingspan: 7738 (77 3/8’’)

40-Time: 4.60

10-Yard Split: 1.59

3-Cone Drill: 7.06

Short Shuttle: 4.29

Broad Jump: 121’’

Vertical Jump: 35’’