Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia, 6-0, 225, 4.50, JR … Very athletic 3rd year junior won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top LB in both high school and college this year when he led the Bulldogs’ defense with 72 tackles, including 6 sacks, 5.5 other tackles for loss, 2 picks, 8 pass break-ups and 2 forced fumbles. He’s not all that big at a listed 6-0, 225, although he’s likely going to officially measure in at under 6 feet at the combine. What he is, is the fastest LB in this year’s draft with sideline-to-sideline range; he’s also got excellent instincts and the quickness and nimble feet to slide through the traffic and find the ball. And while he’s not all that big, he plays with excellent leverage and really explodes into tackles. Can also contribute in defending the pass as both a blitzer who can shoot the gap as well as in coverage, although he will struggle at times to deal with taller, longer TEs when manned up. For good measure, he’s also a great character kid and an outstanding student in the classroom who is majoring in mechanical engineering. Bottom line: Dean is an outstanding all-around LB with the speed and range to get some top ten consideration, but there will be concerns about the lack of size.
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah, 6-2, 235, 4.65, SR … Disruptive 5th year senior was actually recruited as a safety, but developed into one of the country’s most productive interior LBs. In 2021, for example, he posted 110 tackles, including 8 sacks, 14 other tackles for loss, 4 interceptions (including a couple of pick 6s), and 6 other pass breakups, although his production did decline somewhat in the latter part of the year. Long, lean LB with good, though, not necessarily elite speed. Still has sideline-to-sideline range as he reads the field so well and has great instincts and anticipation. Also very quick to read interior run plays and consistently beats the blockers to the point of attack; also one of the best in college football shooting the gap and getting into the backfield. Solid enough wrap-up tackler, although he’s not real physical and will slide off on occasion. As a long-legged guy also has some issues taking on and shedding blockers when he doesn’t beat them to the point of attack. As a former DB, has always been a very good coverage LB who matches up well with RBs and TEs. Also quick and instinctive in zone and features excellent ball skills for a backer. Also emerged as a gap-jumping pass rusher this fall with those 8 sacks, but needs a clean seam as he doesn’t have much in the way of natural pass rush moves. Bottom line: Arguably the most productive LB in college football, Lloyd figures to be one of the first two ILBs off the board this coming April along with Georgia’s Nakobe Dean, although top 10-15 might be just a little early given the questions about his overall physicality.
