The next installment of the 2016 draft prospect series is Inside Linebacker. Inside Linebacker is a position that is devalued in the NFL but is very obvious and important if you lack an average player at the position. Let’s take a look at the prospects.
Reggie Ragland: Alabama
Ragland has the potential to be a first round pick after several strong years with the Crimson Tide. Reggie is 6’1 and 247 pounds. Ragland is a slower LB and ran only a 4.72 at the combine. However, Ragland is faster on tape and could be a three down LB in the NFL. Ragland is instinctive and a great tackler. He is the embodiment of old school LB. He must work on his angles and his man coverage but should be strong in zone. Ragland is a thumper LB and should be a good run stuffer in the league with potential in coverage.
Scooby Wright III: Arizona
Wright had great tape in 2014 with strong instincts and agility. He ran a 4.90 at the combine which was very slow. Wright was productive and can shed blocks and shoot the gaps in the run game. Scooby is a below average athlete that plays with poor leverage. He is a great leader and has a very good motor. Scooby is 5’11 and 239 pounds. Wright had an injury plagued 2015 season but could be a day 2 pick.
Kentrell Brothers: Missouri
Kentrell Brothers is 6’0 and 245 pounds and may be undersized to play ILB. He has good vision and instincts in his gaps. Brothers was sound in coverage for the Tigers and a solid tackler. He is an average athlete and must work on his angles. Brother is a late day 2 or early day 3 pick.
Joshua Perry: Ohio State
Perry is 6’4 and 254 pounds with good size for the inside spot. He is a great tackler and was a leader for the Buckeyes. He wasn’t a game changer and didn’t shed blocks very well. He may only be a two down LB in the league. Perry should be an early day 3 pick with good college coaching.
Other ILBs
Nick Vigil (Utah State), Jared Norris (Utah), Blake Martinez (Stanford) and Dominique Alexander (Oklahoma) have a chance to be drafted on day 3.
The ILB class is a little weak other than Ragland. There are some two down players and stud OLB Myles Jack could slide inside on the next level too. We’ll discuss Jack in the next installment of this series. ILB needy teams probably won’t find a great player unless they take Ragland in Round 1.