2015 was supposed to be the season that Jack firmly took over the top rung on the 2016 linebacker draft board. A knee injury during practice prior to the Bruins’ third game on the 2015 schedule sidelined the versatile performer for the rest of the season. Then, to the surprise of the coaching staff, he became the first underclassman to toss his hat into the 2016 draft pool when he announced at mid-season that he would prefer to play pro ball in 2016.

In three 2015 appearances, he had one interception, three break-ups, and fifteen tackles. He was second on the team with 88 tackles as a full-time linebacker starter in 2014. He also scored three times as a ball carrier that year, a role that earned him Paul Hornung Award (nation’s most versatile player) finalist recognition as a freshman. That year, he delivered 75 tackles through eleven starts on defense and rushed for 120 yards and a score on just six carries in 2013.

Jack has good upper body muscle development and room on his frame to carry more bulk, if a team decides to keep him on the defensive line. With his quickness, range and change of direction agility, he is more than capable of playing as a weakside linebacker, but he has the raw power to handle multiple blockers at either the “Mike” or “Sam” positions. He has good arm and chest muscle thickness, along with exceptional leg drive when asked to tote the ball as a running back, good bubble and thick thighs and calves. As his frame continues to develop, he knows how to use his strength efficiently to compensate playing against the larger blockers.

Third Round – Yannick Ngakoue, DE/OLB (Maryland, No. 69 overall)
Sixth Round – Tyrone Holmes, OLB (Montana, No. 181 overall)

Perhaps to hedge their bet in case Jack or Dante Fowler continue to have injury issues, the team continued adding to their suspect pass rushing game. In Maryland’s Ngakoue, the hybrid defensive end will be asked to play linebacker for the Jags, but he’s also penciled in behind Fowler at right end. He’s the Terps’ single-season sack record-holder with 13.5 in 2015, breaking a record set by Mark Duda (1982) and Bruce Palmer (1978). Based on that total, he ranked second nationally in sacks/g (1.13), closing out his career tied for fourth in school history in sacks (21.5).

In order to have a successful 4-3 or 3-4 alignment, one of the outside ‘backers need to be big and physical. Often called the “Elephant,” made popular by the Packers, that athlete is usually relied upon to serve as a primary pass rusher. Depending on the scheme, the Elephant can be on either side of the defensive formation. Strength is crucial, as the Elephant will often be challenged by double-team action from the right tackle and tight end, or having to fend off the cat-quick left tackles to get into the backfield successfully from the edge. More often than not, you will see teams try to convert rush ends to this position.

Ngakoue is another possibility, if the rush end can improve his overall speed, but scouts feel that he was just another junior taking a risk entering the draft. There is no doubting his skills as a pass rusher, but he has never been one to grasp the playbook. A move to linebacker at the next level could be stalled by his limitations as an edge rusher.

The same might be said for FCS standout Tyrone Holmes, who lined up with his hand down for the Grizzlies. A small-town kid, he turned down scholarship offers from Pac-12 schools (most notably Washington State) to enroll at Montana. He showed flashes as a sophomore, posting four sacks before tallying 66 tackles and fourteen stops-for- loss as a junior. Named the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year, he amassed eighteen sacks, 24.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 87 tackles last season.

Holmes can simply explode off the ball and into the backfield. He has very good body control and hand usage to avoid blocks and work around them to put pressure on the pocket. He has developed an array of moves and can be effective with all of them. He is fluid with his above average redirect ability and has more than enough quickness to pressure the pocket regularly.

One area Holmes has made marked improvement in is flushing out the quarterback and pressuring the pocket. He is strong enough to play off blocks when working inside and can deliver a “knockout blow” on the quarterback when coming off the edge. He has sudden moves to close and his initial step will generally beat the slower blockers off the snap.

With all those hybrid additions, there are only so many roster spots to dole out. If Jack, Ngakoue and Holmes all make the team, if could come at the expense of others. If you toss in Colts castoff Bjoern Werner into the roster discussion, you can see why Skuta, Hayes Pullaerd, Chris Smith and Jared Odrick might want to have the Mayflower Moving Company on speed dial.

Fourth Round – Sheldon Day, DT (Notre Dame, No. 103 overall)

Defensive tackles Tyson Alualu and Sen’Derrick Marks both have starting experience, but unless they “amp up” their overall game, they could eventually be challenged by fourth round find, Notre Dame’s Sheldon Day. Day played on the edge last season, making a triumphant return from 2014 knee woes. He led the team in quarterback pressures (13) and his 15.5 stops-for-loss were the most by a Notre Dame player since Derek Landri in 2006 (no Irish player has had more than 15.5 TFLs since Brandon Hoyte in 2005, 16.5). Where he dominated was near the goal-line, ranking second in this draft class by making nine touchdown-saving tackles. He also showed excellent pass defense skills, as just 4-of- 18 passes targeted into his area were completed. As a pass rusher, six of his nine pressures came on the final play during those possessions.

Dave-Te Thomas owns and operates The NFL Draft Report, a service which has provided insight to league scouting departments for over 40 years. All year round, can read Thomas’ in-depth reviews of both blue chip prospects and diamonds in the rough by visiting the NFL Draft Report blog. 

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.