The ‘On The Clock’ crew of Matt Williamson, Mike Prisuta and Max Starks take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, which will probably be held in Pittsburgh in April. Today, they take a second look at the inside linebacker place.
Note: The opinions expressed listed below are their very own and never these of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State, 6-5, 244 lbs.
2. Jacob Rodriquez, Texas Tech, 6-1, 231 lbs.
3. CJ Allen, Georgia, 6-1, 230 lbs.
4. Anthony Hill, Texas, 6-2, 238 lbs.
5. Jake Golday, Cincinnati, 6-4 1/2, 239 lbs.
My rankings at this place have not modified. Styles goes to get drafted very early and has a case to being certainly one of the top three or 4 general prospects in this class. He is an ideal match for right this moment’s NFL. But after Styles comes off the board, we would have to attend effectively into the second day of the draft earlier than the subsequent linebacker is chosen. That being stated, the second, third, and fourth rounds may very well be an actual candy spot for drafting linebackers in a category with superb depth right here…Arizona State’s Keyshaun Elliott (6-2, 233 lbs.) had a case to crack my top 5 linebacker ranks. While Elliott stays a piece in progress in protection, he’s an skilled participant with an important head for the recreation and taking part in temperament. Prospects like Elliott typically go on to have lengthy profitable careers as workforce leaders and quarterbacks of an NFL protection…Pitt’s Kyle Louis (6-0, 220 lbs.) can also be very intriguing. Louis just isn’t a tackle linebacker and shouldn’t be used in a standard style at the subsequent stage. But he’s a big-time athlete that flies round the soccer area and actually shines taking part in in house. This is a leap, however each workforce in the league is now on the lookout for their model of Nick Emmanwori and Louis does have a few of these traits. At a minimal, the former Pitt Panther must be an A+ particular groups contributor and a possible dime linebacker…Aiden Fisher (6-1, 230 lbs.) adopted Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana and was the Hoosiers unquestioned defensive chief throughout their National Title run. Fisher is productive, at all times round the soccer, and performs quick. Fisher is somewhat undersized, however typically makes up for it along with his bodily nature. NFL coaches will love this man.
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State, 6-5, 244 lbs.
2. CJ Allen, Georgia, 6-1, 230 lbs.
3. Jacob Rodriquez, Texas Tech, 6-1, 231 lbs.
4. Jake Golday, Cincinnati, 6-4 1/2, 239 lbs.
5. Anthony Hill, Texas, 6-2, 238 lbs.
No cause to change the preliminary stack right here, or to get off the bandwagon of Utah’s Lander Barton (6-4, 233) as a “sleeper” candidate … Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher (6-1, 230) has already been drafted (by Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros in the thirteenth spherical in 2024) and attended Oregon initially as a baseball participant earlier than turning into a walk-on in soccer. He received the Burlsworth Trophy (top former walk-on) in 2024 and obtained right into a scrap with a teammate after an inadvertent hit throughout a Senior Bowl follow this yr. “I kinda liked it,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah admitted. That’s not all Jeremiah likes a couple of prospect he considers “an excellent football player.” … TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr had some questions on his velocity to reply, then answered them emphatically by working a 4.47 40-yard sprint at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He’s efficient on the rush or in protection towards tight ends … Indiana’s Aiden Fisher (6-1, 232) was certainly one of Curt Cignetti’s transfers from James Madison to Indiana on the method to successful the nationwide championship. Fisher was an Associated Press Third-Team All-America choice in 2025 and was additionally the “nerve center” of the IU protection, Jeremiah contended. Added NFL Network analyst Charles Davis: “He’s going to be in the right place and he’s going to tackle you.” … Oklahoma’s Owen Heinecke went to the Combine nonetheless preventing a authorized battle to acquire a further yr of eligibility with the Sooners. He’s a former tight finish and a former lacrosse participant at Ohio State who drew “ooohs” and “ahhhs” from his group mates throughout on-field drills in Indy. Heinecke reportedly wished to return to Oklahoma to finish his grasp’s diploma and function a workforce captain for the Sooners. Jeremiah stated Heinecke performed for “zero dollars and zero cents last year, didn’t make a penny.” … Alabama’s Justin Jefferson (6-03/8, 223) posted a 4.57 40 in Indy, eighth amongst linebackers, however seemed like “the fastest guy on the field when watching Alabama play,” in Jeremiah’s estimation … BYU’s Jack Kelly (6-15/8, 240) was a First-Team All-Big XII choice in 2025 and carried out effectively at the Senior Bowl. Kelly had 15 sacks in two seasons at BYU and a mixed 31.5 in his final 4 school campaigns, together with his final two at Weber State … Alabama’s Deontae Lawson (6-3, 226) was a Second-Team All-SEC choice in 2025 and a two-time captain for the Crimson Tide … Pitt’s Kyle Louis (5-117/8, 220) is perhaps a security and he is perhaps a linebacker. Either means, “He’s just a really good football player,” Jeremiah maintained. Louis is “disruptive against the run,” Jeremiah famous, and in addition had a mixed 10 sacks and 6 interceptions over the remaining two of his 4 seasons at Pitt. His inventory was seemingly rising at the Senior Bowl and once more at the Combine … Xavian Sorey Jr. (6-2,228) of Arkansas can cowl tight ends or rush off the edge, and he is a two-time workforce chief in tackles (2024, 2025). Sorey performed three seasons at Georgia earlier than taking part in two at Arkansas and intercepted three passes over his five-year profession.
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State, 6-5, 244 lbs.
2. Jacob Rodriquez, Texas Tech, 6-1, 231 lbs.
3. CJ Allen, Georgia, 6-1, 230 lbs.
4. Jake Golday, Cincinnati, 6-4 1/2, 239 lbs.
5. Anthony Hill, Texas, 6-2, 238 lbs.
The prospects in this inside linebacker group is finest outlined by their vary tenacity and their physicality. This group affords quite a lot of physique varieties and ability units to match whether or not you are in sub package deal or base defenses, center of the area quarterbacks or taking part in the robust or weak facet 2nd stage in conventional 4-3 defenses. I actually like the means that my board is about up for my top 5 however I feel there will be some tweaks. CJ Allen is a man I feel that strikes somewhat bit in entrance of Jacob Rodriguez due to his measurement and his potential to fill the hole in run schemes. Anthony Hill Junior possesses the expertise essential to be a brilliant athletic choice at the inside linebacker place due to his blitz capabilities and his protection capabilities off the edges of offenses. Golday is a mind at the center linebacker place and has the athleticism to cowl sideline to sideline and a number of schemes. My sleeper continues to be Perkins from LSU, however the query goes to be. Where do you fit him? Is he a security? Is he a bandit or star linebacker? Whoever drafts him must have a transparent function for him or else he may find yourself like an Isaiah Simmons.
