by The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine kicked off as the linebackers, along with defensive linemen, opened the action on the first day of practices. The linebacker position has arguably the best pass rusher coming out of college (Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr.) through at least 2022, Nick Bosa (second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft) and the NFL’s 2022 rookie defensive back. year Chase Youg.
There are also a couple of other projected first-round picks in Arkansas’ Drew Sanders and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson. Aside from that trio, there could be a few others who could generate some first or second round buzz after today’s performance.
Below are all the official measurements for linebackers at the combine, in alphabetical order.
LB measurements
| Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) | 6′ 3 1/2” | 253 | 9 7/8” | 33 7/8” | 4.60 |
|
Yasir Abdullah (Louisville) |
6’1 |
237 |
9 1/4″ |
32 3/8″ |
4.47 |
|
Jeremy Banks (Tennessee) |
6’1 |
232 |
9 1/2″ |
32 |
4.53 |
| Micah Baskerville (LSU) | 6’0 1/2″ | 221 | 9 5/8″ | 31 1/4″ | |
| Jack Campbell (Iowa) | 6’5 | 249 | 10 1/4″ | 10 1/4″ | 4.65 |
|
Andre Carter II (Army) |
6’6 1/2″ |
256 |
9 3/8″ |
9 3/8″ |
|
|
SirVocea Dennis (Pittsburgh) |
6’0 1/2″ |
226 |
10 5/8″ |
32 7/8″ |
|
|
Jalen Graham (Purdue) |
6’2 |
220 |
9 7/8″ |
33″ |
4.64 |
|
Derick Hall (Auburn) |
6’3 |
254 |
10″ |
34 1/2″ |
4.55 |
| Daiyan Henley (Washington State) | 6’2 | 225 | 9 1/2″ | 33″ | 4.54 |
|
Nick Herbig (Wisconsin) |
6’2 |
240 |
9 1/4″ |
31 1/4″ |
4.65 |
| Shaka Heyward (Duke) | 6’3 | 235 | 9 1/2″ | 34″ | 4.53 |
|
DJ Johnson (Oregon) |
6’4 |
260 |
9″ |
33 1/4″ |
4.49 |
| Andre Jones Jr. (Louisiana) | 6’4 1/2″ | 248 | 10″ | 34 1/4″ | |
| Cam Jones (Indiana) | 6’1 | 226 | 9 1/2″ | 31 1/4″ | 4.69 |
| Eku Leota (Auburn) | 6’3 | 244 | 9 1/2″ | 33 1/2″ | |
|
Ochaun Mathis (Nebraska) |
6’5 |
250 |
10 3/4″ |
35 1/4″ |
4.74 |
| Ventrell Miller (Florida) | 6′ | 232 | 9 1/8″ | 32 1/2″ | |
| Isaiah Moore (NC State) | 6’2 | 233 | 9 1/8″ | 31 3/4″ | |
|
BJ Ojulari (LSU) |
6’2 |
248 |
10 1/2″ |
34 1/4″ |
|
| Anfernee Orji (Vanderbilt) | 6’1 | 230 | 10 1/4″ | 32″ | 4.53 |
| DeMarvion Overshown (Texas) | 6’3 | 229 | 9 1/2″ | 32 1/4″ | 4.56 |
| Ivan Pace Jr. (Cincinnati) | 5’10 1/2″ | 231 | 9 1/2″ | 30 1/4″ | |
| Owen Pappoe (Auburn) | 6′ | 225 | 9 1/8″ | 31 3/4″ | 4.39 |
|
Lonnie Phelps (Kansas) |
6’2 |
244 |
9 1/4″ |
9 1/4″ |
4.55 |
|
Drew Sanders (Arkansas) |
6’4 |
235 |
9 3/4″ |
32 1/8″ |
|
| Noah Sewell (Oregon) | 6’1 1/2″ | 246 | 10″ | 31 5/8″ | 4.64 |
| Trenton Simpson (Clemson) | 6’2 | 235 | 10 1/4″ | 32 3/8″ | 4.43 |
|
Noah Taylor (North Carolina) |
6’4 |
238 |
8 5/8″ |
32 5/8″ |
|
|
Charlie Thomas (Georgia Tech) |
6’3 |
216 |
8 1/2″ |
31 1/2″ |
4.52 |
|
Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) |
6’1 |
227 |
10 1/4″ |
32 3/4″ |
4.62 |
|
Tyrus Wheat (Mississippi State) |
6’2 |
263 |
9″ |
32 7/8″ |
4.65 |
|
Dorian Williams (Tulane) |
6’1 |
228 |
10 1/4″ |
33 3/4″ |
4.49 |
|
Dee Winters (TCU) |
5’11 |
227 |
8 5/8″ |
31 5/8″ |
4.49 |
Linebacker winners
Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr: Surprisingly, the nation’s leader in sacks (34.5), tackles for loss (58.5), quarterback hits (71) and quarterback pressures (207) from 2020-22 had a strong day at the combine. All he did was match up with Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack, the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the 2010 Hall of Fame All-Decade Team. Mack went fifth overall in the Draft 2014 and, like him, Anderson will also be a top-five option.
Iowa LB Jack Campbell: The 2022 Dick Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top defensive lineman put in a lot of film playing Big Ten football. However, his combine solidified his status as no less than a potential second-round pick and a fringe first-round pick. Campbell measured in at 6-foot-5, 249 pounds and then showed incredible explosiveness with a 37.5″ vertical jump and a 10’8″ broad jump. Not bad at all.
Army LB Andre Carter II: Only Anderson Jr. (17.5) had more sacks than Carter II (15.5) in 2021, and Carter stood up well to Anderson on Thursday. Coming in at 6-foot-6 1/2 at 256 pounds, the Army linebacker displayed a decent amount of athleticism for his size, posting a 30″ vertical jump and a 9’1″ broad jump. Carter II is attempting to become the first service academy player to go in the first three rounds in the Common Draft era (since 1967). Nothing he did today hurt his cause.
Washington State LB Daiyan Henley: The former Nevada wide receiver came in at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds — decent size for the position considering linebackers are essentially like safeties in some of their coverage responsibilities in 2022. His unofficial draft of 4, 54 40-yard dash highlighted an ability to move smoothly. Its stock continues to climb amid the possibility that it’s just scratching the surface at the position.
The losers of the line
TCU LB Dee Winters: The defensive MVP in TCU’s Fiesta Bowl win over the previously undefeated Big Ten Champion Michigan Wolverines had one of the more disappointing measurements at his position, falling noticeably short of what he was listed as a member of the Horned Frogs. TCU said it listed him at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, but when he went through tryouts in Indianapolis on Thursday, he came in at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds. Winters will likely be a Day 3 pick (Rounds 4-7), but could play a role in the NFL if the right team can develop him as a linebacker-safety hybrid.
Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr.: Like Winters, Pace had a clear discrepancy between his collective measurables as a member of the Bearcats and what he was listed at when going through tryouts at the combine. Cincinnati listed Pace at 6-foot-0 and 235 pounds, but at the combine he measured in at 5-foot-10 1/2 and 231 pounds. He still has a Senior Bowl Defensive MVP performance to lean on in which he totaled 10 tackles, but Pace Jr. didn’t boost its stock Thursday the way many had hoped.
Georgia Tech LB Charlie Thomas: The starter of the Yellow Jackets does not lack athleticism. Running a 4.52 40 yard dash is a pretty good time. However, he weighed in the win at a minute 216 pounds, which is concerning for an NFL linebacker. Thomas stood at 6-foot-3, so maybe he has a future as a taller, bigger hybrid linebacker, but even to fill that role he’ll need to bulk up at least 10-20 pounds.
