NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings 2021: From The College Perspective

Which linebackers will matter in the 2021 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?

2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

Size: 6-2, 221

The Good: It’s all going to depend on how you want to use him. He’s not big enough to be a regular on the inside, but throw him outside, let him roam, and he’ll be the ideal weakside linebacker who can do absolutely everything right.

The guy has a second sense for knowing where the ball is going to be, making 142 tackles with seven broken up passes in his two years. The burst is there to live behind the line with seven sacks and 24 tackles for loss, he’ll hang in pass coverage with just about anyone, and he’s tough enough to at least be willing to mix it up.

However …

The Not-So-Good: 6-2, 221. He’s a true tweener type who’ll get erased by NFL blockers and won’t be the type to mix it up for a defense that doesn’t have a whole lot of size around to protect him.

For all he can do, and for all of the forced fumbles, he’s not the biggest of poppers. He’ll tackle and be functional, but considering he’s a big guy with speed, he’s not an intimidating force.

NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’ll take some work to figure out how a team is going to use him, but in the modern day NFL with so much quick-hitting passes and with speed at a premium more than ever, take the safety in a 221-pound body and let him be one of the best playmakers on your D.

Projected Round: First

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