Linebackers
National Team
- Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
- Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
- Garret Wallow, LB, TCU
American Team
- Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
- Charles Snowden, LB, Virginia
- Monty Rice, LB, Georgia
Baron Browning from Ohio State reminds me a lot of Willie Gay, Jr. as a prospect. Browning has elite size and athleticism, but he never put it all together while at Ohio State and really dominate. The former Buckeye is at his best when he is allowed to run and chase. Browning may not be a great initial fit in Kansas City, but his raw tools make him an intriguing prospect.
Chazz Surratt came to North Carolina as a quarterback but made the switch to linebacker. You can see the quarterback background as Surratt plays with great instincts and a high football IQ. Surratt is still relatively new to the position, but has taken to the role and has shown steady development. The high instincts and IQ are important to Steve Spagnuolo, so the Chiefs will certainly keep an eye on the Tarheel linebacker during the Senior Bowl.
Garret Wallow is a convert from safety for TCU and has an intriguing athletic profile. Wallow will need to continue to grow into his frame to play linebacker at the next level, but his physical demeanor and instincts should help him as he develops. Likely a day-three prospect, Wallow could be a valuable investment if he fulfills his potential.
Jabril Cox was a force for North Dakota State before transferring to LSU for his final college season. Cox was lost in the shuffle a bit but had a productive season for the LSU Tigers. The Kansas City native has a good athletic profile and size, but still has room to grow in terms of his ability to process, read, and react. It would be an exciting homecoming for Cox if Kansas City were able to draft him, and he could pair nicely with Gay.
Snowden is a different build than everyone else on this list and is worth watching out of pure curiosity alone. At 6’7″ and 240 pounds with great length, he utilizes his frame well as a pass rusher. The Virginia prospect is developmental in nature but could be a piece for Spagnuolo to utilize as a linebacker who can come off the edge to provide some pass rush. Despite the athletic potential, Snowden is a day three pick and likely will not contribute immediately.
Monty Rice from Georgia is undersized and might be underrated for all that he offers. A plus athlete who shows the ability to cover and blitz, Rice has the tools to start in the NFL. The mental processing is not always as clean and Rice may need extra time learning a new scheme. The Senior Bowl will be a chance for Rice to show he can adapt and learn on the fly. A productive week could have Rice securing his position as a day two prospect.