The NFL draft is just over two weeks away, and our coverage here at NFL Trade Rumors rolls on. Over the next week, I’ll continue releasing my final position rankings as we get closer and closer to one of the best weekends of the entire year. Stretching all the way back to last summer, I’ve been poring over tape, monitoring pro day and Combine performances, and getting my eyes on the All-Star circuit, all to deliver the most accurate and informative draft coverage I can.

Next up we have linebackers, and this is a truly elite class. Two of these prospects are almost guaranteed top-five picks, with a strong collection of first-round and Day 2 talent behind them. These backers come in all shapes and sizes, too, with prospects available who fit every scheme and role you can imagine. It’s a loaded draft on defense, and linebacker is no exception.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be finishing out my final position rankings and much more. We have a lot of content planned on the draft side coming up soon, so stay tuned!

• Top 150 Big Board
• 2026 NFL Draft Visit Tracker
• Final Position Rankings: Quarterbacks
• Final Position Rankings: Offensive Tackles
• Final Position Rankings: Interior Offensive Linemen
• Final Position Rankings: Safeties
• Final Position Rankings: Cornerbacks

1: Sonny Styles, Ohio State

A reclassified five-star recruit who stayed in his home state of Ohio, Styles started out as a safety for the Buckeyes, beginning as a backup in 2022 as a 17-year-old true freshman. He became a starter in 2023, with 53 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed on the year. His junior season in 2024 changed his career trajectory, moving to linebacker with great success. Styles had 100 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble and five passes defensed, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. As a senior, Styles cemented himself as one of the league’s best, totaling 81 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and three passes defensed on his way to first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten recognition.

Measuring at 6-5, 244 pounds, Styles is arguably the most athletic linebacker in Combine history, running a ridiculous 4.46-second 40-yard dash and posting vertical and broad jumps in the 100th percentile. He’s massive for a converted safety but still moves like one, silky-smooth when changing direction and with incredible short-area burst. Violent in his run fits and capable of plowing through blockers, he plays like an old-school linebacker against the run, blowing up plays with some highlight-reel hits. Styles has true sideline-to-sideline range and can make absurd plays on the opposite side of the field from where he started. He didn’t miss a single tackle in 2025.

In coverage, Styles excels, showing off his safety background with a nuanced understanding of how to play zones. He uses his long arms to deflect passes and close throwing lanes, taking up a massive amount of space in the middle of the field. Styles can close on the ball in an instant, rarely yielding yards after the catch and keeping things in front of him. In man coverage, he shows off his mirroring ability and can stay with backs, tight ends, and slot receivers with equal effectiveness, using his size/speed combo to his advantage in each matchup. He can even rush the passer off the edge — he’s not limited to just being a blitzer.

Styles only has two years at the linebacker position, and he’s still learning how to play it. He plays the wrong gap at times, ceding unnecessary yards, and he’s occasionally out of position. Other than that, there isn’t much to criticize with his game.

If your team needs a traditional off-ball linebacker, Styles is your guy, and it’s not close. He’s the best traditional linebacker I’ve scouted in years, and in a class without many certified blue-chip players at the top, he’s basically a lock for the top five. He’s the kind of linebacker who completely changes what your defense can do, defying traditional wisdom about positional value. Guys with the fluidity and short-area quickness of Styles just don’t usually exist at his size.

2: Arvell Reese, Ohio State

A four-star recruit from Cleveland, Reese was exclusively a special teamer as a true freshman in 2023 before playing backup minutes in 2024, racking up 43 tackles and a sack. With Cody Simon’s departure to the NFL, Reese stepped into a full-time starting role as a junior, and with that move, his production exploded. He had 62 tackles, seven sacks and two passes defensed in 2025, shooting his name up draft boards and earning all kinds of postseason accolades. Reese was named a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten member as one of the most dynamic defenders in the country.

At 6-4, 241 pounds, Reese is a physical monster, with prototypical size and strength, something that’s a little rarer in the modern game. What makes him special is his truly ridiculous speed and athleticism at that size — he flies around the football field, making plays sideline to sideline and routinely outrunning running backs and receivers to do it. His play speed is sensational, with quick processing and diagnosing of play designs and the reaction times to put his immense physical tools to use. At the point of attack, Reese plays with impressive strength, holding up against linemen in space and working through them to make plays.

Pass rushing is Reese’s true strength, however, and he’s very good at it. He has an explosive first step that puts tackles in recovery mode immediately, with superb speed to power moves to take advantage of the momentum he generates. His hands are violent and constantly working, using his length to keep the tackle at bay and working back to the quarterback. Reese can work through blockers or dart around them in an instant, and that multifaceted threat keeps tackles guessing snap to snap.

Right now, Reese struggles in coverage. As a bigger linebacker, he can get outworked by some smaller slot receivers and backs in space. He also doesn’t have the experience yet in zone coverage to be comfortable, giving up too soft a cushion on a number of reps and being a step slow to the ball in others. As a pass rusher, he’s still learning actual pass rush moves and is currently winning off athleticism and instinct. It’s a good start, but he needs to continue to work on that part of his game.

Micah Parsons changed how linebackers are evaluated moving from college to the NFL. Now, someone with Reese’s combination of size, athleticism, and pass rush production is viewed through an edge rusher lens as well, not just a linebacker one. Reese’s potential as a pass rusher is immense, but I actually like him more as an off-ball linebacker. He has a ton of positional flexibility and with more experience in coverage could be an excellent fit there. But pass rushers are more valuable, and his ceiling on the edge is why he’s a top-five player in this class for many.

3: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

A consensus five-star high school recruit from Texas, Hill started right away as a true freshman and put up 67 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defensed, earning freshman All-American status and being named the Big 12’s Defensive Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore, he was even more impressive, totaling 113 tackles, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and a pass defensed. Hill was named first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American for his efforts that year, and entered 2025 with quite a bit of hype. He wasn’t quite able to hit the statistical highs of his sophomore season, but as a junior, he still had 70 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and a pass defensed in just 10 games, earning him first-team All-SEC status.

An old-school thumper of a linebacker at 6-2, 238 pounds, Hill is a downhill playmaker. He reads the field incredibly well, putting his foot in the ground and making for the ball-carrier like he was shot out of a cannon. Combined with his impressive lateral quickness and agility, he can make insane plays against the run, covering sideline to sideline and making plays in the backfield. When Hill makes contact with someone, he makes them feel it, delivering bone-crushing hits to ball-carriers and blockers alike that set a physical tone for the game.

Hill is solid in coverage, with great zone instincts and fluid movement skills in space. He plays with good awareness, keeping shallow receivers in front of him and rallying to make the tackle. Despite his reputation, Hill can get deep quickly and break up passes down the seam or on in-breaking routes from his underneath position. As a pass rusher, he is relentless, flying through gaps as a blitzer and utilizing some real pass rush moves to win on the edge.

While he has the ability to improve, Hill struggles in man coverage right now. It’s more a technique than an athleticism issue, but he’s often a step behind his man and can get a little grabby, which will draw flags in the NFL. For all his aggressiveness, he can occasionally overrun plays, and savvy backs at the next level will punish him for it. Playing a little more under control moving forward will be important for him.

I have a late first-round grade on Hill. He’s so fluid for his skillset and plays with a violent aggression that’s infectious to those around him. If he can get more comfortable in man coverage, he’ll be that much better — but I don’t think he’s a liability even as it stands. Hill is a good zone defender so he won’t automatically be played off the field in passing situations, and he has tremendous growth potential.

4: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

A four-star high school quarterback from Texas, Rodriguez committed to Virginia and played all across the offense before transferring to the Red Raiders after the season. He switched to defense while in Lubbock, mainly playing special teams in 2022 and losing almost the entire 2023 season to a foot injury. In 2024, he came back with a vengeance, putting up 127 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and four passes defensed, being named consensus first-team All-Big 12 in the process. As a fifth-year senior, he once again posted a monster stat line of 117 tackles, a sack, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and six passes defensed. Rodriguez was named a consensus first-team All-American after the season and won countless awards, including the Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Dick Butkus awards.

At 6-1, 231 pounds, Rodriguez plays bigger than his listed size. He is a devastating run defender, covering sideline to sideline with ease and making smart reads to fill the right gaps. You will never catch Rodriguez out of position, and he is a master of knifing through small gaps in the blocking scheme to blow up a play and make a critical tackle. Even when offensive linemen get their hands on him, he uses his strong hands to free himself to make plays. When given the opportunity, he’s not afraid to lay the boom, delivering bone-rattling hits with the precision to knock the football loose.

Turnovers are something Rodriguez prides himself on, and he has great ball skills to go with a nose for the football. In coverage, he plays his zones with impressive discipline, using his range to lock down multiple throwing lanes and timing his breaks to get his hands on the football. In man coverage, Rodriguez plays with clean hands and has the movement skills to stick with his man in space. He’s also a smart pass rusher, timing his blitzes well and causing havoc in the backfield.

Rodriguez struggles sometimes when matched up in coverage against slot receivers one-on-one, something he’d do best to avoid in the NFL. Texas Tech gave him a lot of freedom to do what he wanted in that defense, which led to him making aggressive moves to force turnovers that would cause an NFL defensive coordinator to pull their hair out. In a more traditional scheme, that shouldn’t be as much of an issue.

A fan favorite in college football over the last two years, Rodriguez has monster production at this level. He tested as an above-average athlete at the Combine, making his stock skyrocket — he went from a likely third-round pick to a top practical lock for the top 50, with the chance to sneak into the back end of Round 1. I have a late first-round grade on Rodriguez and he’ll undoubtedly endear himself to his new fanbase quickly.

5: Jake Golday, Cincinnati

A zero-star recruit from Tennessee, Golday committed to Central Arkansas in 2021 and redshirted initially before playing a rotational role as an edge rusher in 2022. He broke out at linebacker in 2023, making second-team All-UAC and transferring to Cincinnati after the season. Golday earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition with 58 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed in 2024. Last season, he took the league by storm, racking up 104 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and three passes defensed, being named to the first-team All-Big 12.

Standing at 6-4 and a half, 239 pounds, Golday is a massive presence in the middle of the defense. He’s incredibly athletic at that size, with great explosiveness and straight-line speed. A lot of his film is textbook teach tape against the run: he knows how to use his length to keep blockers away from his chest, stacking and shedding like a pro to make tackles. His size/speed combination gives him true sideline-to-sideline range, covering ground quickly and closing on the ball carrier.

Golday is one of the better and more reliable tacklers in the class, consistently wrapping up and bringing the ball carrier down. His background as an edge rusher translates to his blitzes, as he has good timing and a few tricks up his sleeve against blockers. In coverage, he has excellent range and fluidity in space, mirroring receivers through routes and playing physical at the catch point. Despite his lack of experience at off-ball linebacker, he has solid zone instincts and gets good depth before playing downhill.

With only one season of consistent play at the position he’ll occupy in the NFL, there’s some rawness to Golday’s game that will need to get cleaned up. This shows up most often in coverage, as he sometimes misses assignments or finds himself in the wrong place. Despite lining up in the slot a lot, he’s not twitchy enough to mirror quick slot receivers consistently, something the Bearcats asked him to do frequently.

I have an early second-round grade on Golday and I wouldn’t hate it at all if a team took him late in the first round. He’s an immediate starter at the next level and he can play mike, sam, or whip linebacker in the league. Cincinnati used him as an overhang defender in the slot and that’s not his position — getting him matched up with the right offensive players will minimize his weakness and maximize his impact. Golday is as strong as they come against the run with some real upside in coverage, and he can even moonlight as a nickel defender at times at 240 pounds. The fact that he’s my LB5 in this class just goes to show how crazy deep this position group is.

6: CJ Allen, Georgia

A four-star recruit from Georgia, Allen played rotationally for the Bulldogs as a true freshman in 2023, stepping into a regular starting role in 2024. That year, he had 76 tackles, four passes defensed and an interception, cementing himself as a key piece of Georgia’s defense. But his true breakout came as a junior when he had 85 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defensed, earning first-team All-American and consensus first-team All-SEC recognition.

At 6-1, 230 pounds, Allen is a premier run stuffer. He flies around the field, bringing the boom as a tackler from sideline to sideline. He reads the field well, making his run fits with both speed and precision to bring the ball carrier down. Even when offensive linemen get their hands on him, he works through their blocks, with great hand usage and the power necessary to free himself to make plays. Allen is rarely washed out of the action, utilizing quick movements and great discard techniques to make sure he stays connected to the play.

Allen is a weapon when running down the ball carrier or coming in on a blitz, thanks to his impeccable timing. He has great blitz production, overwhelming running backs trying to pick him up. Rarely overplaying his hand, Allen almost never lets himself be caught off-guard, staying disciplined against play action and quickly falling into his coverage assignments. You won’t find a more dutiful student of the game in this class.

Where Allen struggles is in space. He’s often outworked when in man coverage, lacking the short-area agility to stay with backs and tight ends and often a step behind his man. Offenses were able to repeatedly exploit him in coverage to great success, and he lacks the burst to break on the ball, even if he properly reads the play. Allen has a tendency to overrun plays, leading to ample cutback opportunities, and he needs to stay disciplined with his run fits despite the window dressing an offense presents.

I have a third-round grade on Allen, which is well below consensus. I have major concerns with his coverage abilities and I don’t trust that he’ll automatically fix them in the NFL. He’s not overly athletic and he’s undersized, too — a bad combination. There’s no doubt that Allen is one of the smartest players in this class, but I have far fewer concerns with the prospects I ranked above him. I’m out on Allen in the top 50, I’d let someone else draft him and live with the consequences.

7: Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

A three-star recruit from New Jersey, Louis redshirted in 2022 before playing in a reserve role the following year. His breakout season came in 2024, when he racked up 100 tackles, four interceptions, seven sacks, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble, earning first-team All-ACC recognition. Louis maintained his production in 2025, with 79 tackles, two interceptions, three sacks, three passes defensed and a forced fumble, this time being named to the second-team All-ACC.

Checking in at 6-0, 220 pounds, Louis will have a unique role on an NFL field. He checks every box you could want in a smaller linebacker — fast, fluid, and explosive. He can close on the ball carrier in an instant, shutting off cutback lanes and utilizing a reliable tackling form. His ability to follow the action in traffic is impressive, and he uses his smaller frame to his advantage, knifing into the backfield to make plays. Though he doesn’t do it often, Louis has good timing and instincts as a blitzer, blowing up running backs trying to stop him and causing havoc in the backfield.

But coverage is where Louis truly shines. He’s got the man coverage abilities of a safety, with smooth hips and the type of twitchy athleticism that allows him to mirror even slot receivers through their routes. He might be small for a linebacker, but he’s big for a defensive back, yet that doesn’t stop him: his change of direction skills at that size are silly. In zone, he’s a fan of jumping routes, using good timing and rarely giving up big plays behind him when he does take risks.

Louis bites on fakes too often, opening up throwing lanes behind him on play-action and RPO schemes. At times, he’s too passive, giving up a soft cushion underneath and allowing the offense to get into and stay in rhythm. When blockers get their hands on him, it’s over — he doesn’t have the strength to disengage from blockers effectively and is often washed out of the play.

10 years ago, Louis would have been seen as a talented player without a home: too big for a safety, too small for a linebacker. At best, he would have been drafted as a sub-package linebacker. The game has changed, however, and I think Louis can find a real role. His Senior Bowl performance was impressive and he’s athletic enough to make a real name for himself. He can be a defensive matchup solution for bigger slot players and can stay on the field in base formation. That’s very valuable, and I like Louis in the third round for that reason.

8: Harold Perkins Jr., LSU

A top 10 overall recruit in the class of 2022 from Houston, Perkins made a huge splash as a true freshman for the Tigers. Playing a combination of off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, he had 72 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and four passes defensed, being named first-team All-SEC. As a sophomore, he transitioned to an off-ball role full-time, but still put up 74 tackles, six sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and four passes defensed. He earned second-team All-SEC despite his struggles with the position change. Perkins tore his ACL early in the 2024 season but came back strong in 2025 playing the “star” role in LSU’s defense as a safety/linebacker hybrid. He posted 55 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, three interceptions and three passes defensed, being named third-team All-SEC.

At 6-1, 223 pounds, Perkins really is a tweener in the NFL. He is exceptionally athletic, with true sideline-to-sideline range and the play speed of a man with his hair on fire. Never taking a play off or slowing down for a moment, Perkins is always looking to deliver the next big hit or come up with the next big turnover. And he’s great at producing both, with a nose for the football and a mentality to hit harder and harder on each play. As a pass rusher, he plays with superb timing and footwork, using his speed to bend the corner in an instant and flatten back to the quarterback. Pass rushing really is his calling card and what he’s most comfortable doing, and it’s easy to see why. He’s so gifted at it.

Perkins’ athleticism shows up in coverage, too. He has incredible range on the back end and can erase entire sides of the field. Combined with his ball skills and instincts, it makes throwing in his direction a risky proposition. He can close on the ball to make plays from absurd ranges, and he’s getting better and more comfortable reading the offense and being in the right position. Against the run, Perkins can arrive at the football before the blockers do, blowing up plays through his diagnostic skills and play speed alone.

In high school, Perkins played edge rusher. He’s still learning to play off-ball positions, and this shows up in a few areas. He gets lost in coverage a little too often, being out of position and missing his basic assignments. In man coverage, he’s often a step slow, lacking the confidence and short-area quickness to stay sticky in tight coverage. Given his undersized frame, he can get washed out of plays when linemen get their hands on him, and he sometimes takes himself out of the play by overpursuing.

I really don’t know what to do with Perkins. At his best, he could be like Derwin James or a prime Jamal Adams — a jack of all trades who found a home position and thrived in part because of their versatility. At his worst, he would be the next Isaiah Simmons, someone who didn’t really have a natural position in the NFL and got washed out of the league as a result. If the right coaching staff gets their hands on him, he could be an incredibly dangerous defensive weapon. But if he’s asked to play a traditional position straight-up, he’ll likely struggle. Depending on your plan for him, I wouldn’t hate seeing him go in the third round, and he’s definitely worth a fourth-round pick.

9: Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

A three-sport high school athlete from Eugene who originally came to Oregon as a baseball player, Boettcher played one year of baseball for the Ducks before walking onto the football team in 2022, continuing his baseball career at the same time. In 2024, he had 94 tackles, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and four passes defensed, being named second-team All-Big Ten. He was drafted into the MLB by the Astros after the season, but decided to forgo baseball and focus exclusively on football. As a senior, Boettcher had 104 tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and three passes defensed, once again earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition.

Boettcher is a bit undersized at just 6-1, 230 pounds, but he’s put on good weight over the last few years as he’s turned his attention to football. Despite his relative lack of experience at linebacker, he plays with great instincts, reading the field well and diagnosing plays as they develop. He’s clearly a student of the game, putting in work in the film room and it pays off on game days. He plugs the gaps in run defense well, making his fits and is a sure tackler when he gets his hands on the ball carrier.

An exceptional coverage defender, Boettcher has a great blend of range and short-area quickness. He can stick with tight ends and backs in man coverage, but he’s especially dangerous in zone, when he can keep his eyes on the quarterback and exploit his knowledge of the game to pick off passes and bother throwing lanes. You never have to question his motor, either, as he embraces the defensive motto of “play through the whistle.”

I do question Boettcher’s functional athleticism at the next level. He already gets caught in traffic too much, struggling to free himself from blocks to make plays. I wouldn’t categorize him as having sideline-to-sideline speed, and as a result, he can get outflanked in the run game. As a coverage defender, he struggles with smaller, shiftier players, and his blitz production isn’t great. Right now, Boettcher mostly just tries to run through a gap on a blitz, often getting picked up and neutralized.

As a mid-round pick, Boettcher has a lot of upside. His success in baseball showcases his athletic versatility, and he plays an appealing brand of disciplined football. Even if he’s exposed a little bit in certain situations in the NFL, he’s a long-time special teamer at worst. Depth linebackers are increasingly important in today’s game and Boettcher can be that and more.

10: Josiah Trotter, Missouri

Son of NFL All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Josiah was a four-star recruit from Philadelphia who originally committed to West Virginia. He ended up redshirting after suffering a season-ending leg injury that summer, coming back in 2024 to post 93 tackles, a sack, an interception and two passes defensed. That performance earned him Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and he transferred to Missouri after the season. In one year with the Tigers, Trotter tallied 84 tackles, two sacks and a pass defensed, garnering first-team All-SEC recognition.

Standing at 6-2, 237 pounds, Trotter is an old-school linebacker. He’s an eraser against the run, sealing lanes and punishing anyone in his path. Powerful at the point of attack, he’s both willing and able to engage blockers, using his plus length and stretch to hold his position and stack and shed when it’s time to make a tackle. With the burst to close in an instant, Trotter erases action from his position, jolting opponents on contact and single-handedly blowing up plays. He’s a reliable tackler who delivers big hits routinely.

It’s not just physical with Trotter, either. His processing of the game is at another level, and it’s easy to understand why, given that he’s the son of a former NFL linebacker. He diagnoses the action in record time, finding his responsibilities and firing to the ball. Misdirection and play action are wasted on him, and he doesn’t overcommit to initial action until he knows what’s happening. Don’t confuse that patience for hesitance, though, as Trotter wastes no time getting to his spots and making plays. Offenses simply won’t catch him flat-footed often.

It would be an understatement to say that Trotter is a liability in coverage. Right now, he’s almost unplayable in coverage at the NFL level. In sharp contrast to his run defense skills, his zone instincts are lacking, leaving him guessing more than reading and giving up way too much cushion to backs and receivers who don’t deserve it. In man coverage, Trotter is hopelessly outmatched, lacking the short-area quickness and flexibility to stick with his man.

It wasn’t too long ago that Trotter would have been viewed as one of the top prospects in the entire draft. Unfortunately, linebackers who struggle in coverage are a liability in the modern NFL. As a two-down, run-stuffing off-ball linebacker, Trotter definitely has a role in the league. But it’s going to be hard to get consistent run when he can be picked on by tight ends and running backs on every passing snap. As a fifth-round pick, he has some upside, but I wouldn’t touch him in the range he’s currently projected to go.

The Next Ten

11 — Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU: A 6-2, 234-pound transfer from California, Elarms-Orr developed into a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker. He’s an explosive athlete with impressive closing speed and is never afraid to deliver the hit stick.

12 — Taurean York, Texas A&M: An undersized 5-11, 226-pound linebacker, York is one of the most skilled prospects in this group. His smaller frame and lack of athleticism cap his ceiling, but he’s such a cerebral player with great timing and instincts in coverage.

13 — Deontae Lawson, Alabama: A 6-3, 226-pound former five-star recruit, Lawson struggles as an undersized backer sometimes. But he’s quick and smart, diagnosing the action and covering an impressive range to make plays.

14 — Eric Gentry, USC: A 6-7, 221-pound Arizona State transfer, Gentry has an unusual build and skillset. He’s a force off the edge, with impressive range as an off-ball backer, and he takes on blocks well for someone who struggles with natural leverage.

15 — Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma: A 6-1 and a half, 227-pound lacrosse recruit for Ohio State, Heinecke later transferred to the Sooners for football. Despite his smaller frame, he’s a good athlete, with great ball skills and natural feel in zone coverage. Heinecke’s status is up in the air, as he’s currently suing the NCAA for eligibility after they counted his three lacrosse games against him.

16 — Aiden Fisher, Indiana: A 6-1, 232-pound former walk-on at James Madison, Fisher is the epitome of consistency at the linebacker position. Though he’s not overly athletic, he plays with solid fundamentals in all areas of the game.

17 — Red Murdock, Buffalo: A 6-2, 232-pound All-American, Murdock could certainly outperform this ranking. His read-and-react abilities are among the best in the class, with a strong tackling form and solid zone coverage instincts.

18 — Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State: A 6-2, 231-pound transfer from New Mexico State, Elliott is an explosive downhill athlete. He punishes blockers for engaging him and has a knack for weaving through traffic to make plays in the backfield.

19 — Lander Barton, Utah: A 6-5, 233-pound linebacker, Barton has NFL bloodlines and good length for the position. He attacks blocks with a fury, sticking his nose in the action and busting up plays as they develop.

20 — Jack Kelly, BYU: A 6-2, 240-pound Weber State transfer, Kelly projects as a solid special teamer. He’s an impressive pass rusher at his size, with some real moves in his bag and a powerful punch on contact.