The 2022 NFL Draft has depth at just about every position except quarterback, and the NFL Combine only reinforced that notion, especially after watching the linebackers test. Who among the linebackers at the NFL Combine put up the best results? Here’s a look at whose stock is on the rise after the weekend event.
5 Linebackers who boosted their draft stock at the NFL Combine
18 linebackers at the 2022 NFL Combine ran faster than a 4.7, 20 linebackers had a broad jump over 10 feet, and 14 had a vertical jump over 36 inches, with four coming in at or over the 40-inch mark. If you’re looking for linebackers with athletic upside, the NFL Combine results this year proved that this group is the one to draw from.
Troy Andersen, Montana State
Humans shouldn’t be able to move as fast as Troy Andersen does at 6’3 1/2″, 243 pounds.
Per Jim Nagy, Andersen had the third-fastest max acceleration at the Senior Bowl. And his tape is littered with jaw-dropping feats of athleticism in the open field. The NFL Combine was merely an exercise of confirmation for Andersen.
The Montana State standout turned in the fastest 40-yard dash time among linebackers at 4.42, despite being one of the biggest linebackers in attendance. He also tacked on solid explosiveness figures, with a 36-inch vertical and a 128-inch broad jump.
Andersen is a high-character player and former star quarterback who’s now dominated two offseason events — the Senior Bowl and the Combine. Versatile and hyper-athletic, Andersen could have legitimate Round 1 upside.
Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State
If there was one linebacker who lifted himself from quasi-obscurity and announced himself on the NFL Draft stage with his NFL Combine performance, it was Oklahoma State’s Malcolm Rodriguez. The former Cowboy was quietly incredibly productive in college. In his five-year career, Rodriguez accumulated 408 tackles, 32 tackles for loss (16 of which came in 2021), 7.5 sacks, 2 picks, 11 pass deflections, and 13 forced fumbles.
A former safety, Rodriguez has now grown to be around 5’11”, 232 pounds. He’s also carried over plenty of that athleticism from his previous position. Rodriguez turned heads with his NFL Combine results and challenged the top linebackers in a few areas. He ran a searing 4.52 40-yard dash, had a 39.5-inch vertical, and came in with a strong 120-inch broad jump. A high-motor player and a team captain, Rodriguez likely has big fans in the NFL and could go much higher than expected.
Chad Muma, Wyoming
Few linebackers put together more universally well-rounded test results than Wyoming’s Chad Muma at the 2022 NFL Combine. A Senior Bowl standout, Muma came in as one of the top linebackers in the class. Now, however, he could be due for some fringe-Round 1 talk. He certainly has the athletic upside and mental makeup to warrant it.
Muma came in around 6’3″, 239 pounds. He then compounded that size with stellar testing numbers. He wasn’t quite as fast as other top linebackers, but he still ran a solid 4.63 40-yard dash. And then in the explosiveness drills, Muma blew the doors off with an elite 40-inch vertical and 129-inch broad jump. Sweetening the pot further for Muma was a position-leading 27 bench reps — proving he has the torso strength to stack and shed.
Christian Harris, Alabama
Christian Harris‘ stock is already higher than most of the linebackers posting results at the NFL Combine. But Harris did fall down the board a bit as a prospect over the course of the 2021 season. He can still be more consistent, particularly with his processing. But Harris needed an opportunity to remind people of his potential more than anyone, and he used it to his advantage.
Measuring in at 6’ 1/2″ and 226 pounds and arms over 32″, Harris ran a blazing 4.44 40-yard dash while also logging a solid 34.5-inch vertical and an astounding 132-inch broad jump. Watching Harris run stride-for-stride with Texas A&M speed demon Devon Achane on tape — we knew he was fast. But his testing results did well to reinforce that fact. He’s tailor-made to be a dynamic, reactive outside linebacker in the NFL.
Chance Campbell, Ole Miss
Another relatively underrated linebacker who put himself on the radar with his NFL Combine performance was Ole Miss’ Chance Campbell. Primarily a run-and-chase linebacker and blitzing threat for the Rebels this past season, Campbell logged 109 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Campbell came into the NFL Combine with relatively little buzz, but he’ll certainly leave with more interest. The Ole Miss product measured in around 6’2″, 232 pounds. And at that size, he put up a 4.57 40-yard dash, a 39.5-inch vertical, and a 127-inch broad jump. Those explosiveness numbers, in particular, shed a light on Campbell’s upside.
Honorable Mentions
D’Marco Jackson, Appalachian State; Channing Tindall, Georgia; Leo Chenal, Wisconsin; Damone Clark, LSU; Jeremiah Moon, Florida