The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl is about to get underway, with another exciting crop of players heading to Mobile, Alabama.
Traditionally, it has been hard for linebackers to stand out at all-star events, with 1-on-1s not being observed as closely as some of the more exciting options. However, in a class lacking clarity, the Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for someone to put their stamp on this 2024 NFL Draft class.
Senior Bowl LB Rankings
The 2024 linebacker class needs someone to step up. Currently, a cluster of players is viewed as late Day 2 to early Day 3 prospects, with no one separating themselves from the pack.
Who will take their opportunity at the 2024 Senior Bowl?
1) Payton Wilson, NC State
There is very little left for Payton Wilson to prove on the football field. He is exactly what teams want in a modern linebacker. Wilson has the size, instincts, and awareness, but he also possesses the mobility. He can cover on passing downs and crash downhill to stop the run.
The biggest thing for Wilson in the pre-draft process is his medicals. The NC State linebacker has rarely been healthy, having already suffered two torn ACLs and a season-ending shoulder injury in 2021. He will be one of the first linebackers drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft if designated a clean bill of health.
2) Cedric Gray, North Carolina
One of the most impressive aspects of Cedric Gray’s game is his strength. It allows him to shed blocks and wrap up tackles in the run game. Meanwhile, his burst gives him adequate short-area quickness.
Gray does have athletic sticking points that he will need to clean up, which he will get an opportunity to showcase at the Senior Bowl. They mostly show up in coverage, where his lack of twitch can lead him astray. While he can recognize and anticipate, he can get caught flat-footed.
3) Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
The key to Ty’Ron Hopper’s game is speed. An absolute blazer, it is comfortably the Missouri linebacker’s most substantial asset. That speed gives him immense range. Paired with his toughness, he’s a menace coming downhill to defend the run. His endless motor sees him chase down runners, and his overall change of direction ability means he can go sideline-to-sideline swiftly.
MORE: Top QBs at the 2024 Senior Bowl
While Hopper’s game has much to like, his size is likely to be a sticking point in evaluations. At 221 pounds, he is tough and physical but not overpowerfully strong. He can also get misled by quarterbacks’ eyes, and he could anticipate the pass better, but his speed makes up for some of that lack of reaction.
4) Jaylan Ford, Texas
Jaylan Ford has been productive in his four-year career with the Texas Longhorns, totaling 287 tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, four forced fumbles, and four passes defended. His stat sheet is long, which isn’t surprising as he is a high-effort player.
With a never-give-in attitude, Ford aggressively attacks the run and violently sheds blocks. That feisty demeanor makes him perfect as a linebacker who drops into the box, which is where you want him because his coverage skills are still developing.
5) Marist Liufau, Notre Dame
Marist Liufau is an intelligent playmaking linebacker who uses his anticipation, awareness, and football IQ to get after the ball. His physicality is off the charts, and his toughness translates into his explosiveness.
He is a thunderous runner who plays hard and hits even harder. If teams want a pail-to-work mentality and a player who attacks the game with violence, Liufau will be right up their street.
Other LBs to Watch at the Senior Bowl
- Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
- J.D. Bertrand, Notre Dame
- Trevin Wallace, Kentucky
- Tyrice Knight, UTEP
- Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
- Michael Barrett, Michigan
- Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State
- Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!