The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is fast approaching. With the Senior Bowl officially in our rearview mirror, the NFL Combine represents the next opportunity for prospects to improve their pre-draft stock ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Every year, outstanding athletic testers elevate themselves a full round or two due to exiting the NFL Combine as a point of conversation.
With that in mind, we've identified five linebackers who could raise their draft stock at the NFL Combine.
TREVIN WALLACE, KENTUCKY
Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Trevin Wallace is among the most underrated defenders in the 2024 NFL Draft. Wallace is extremely rangy with sideline-to-sideline abilities. Some of that athleticism, paired with upside in coverage, was on display in Mobile.
Wallace is going to test incredibly well in Indianapolis. He's a former high school track star who once long jumped 23 feet, 4.25 inches to shatter a 44-year-old school record, per Bruce Feldman. Wallace has also vertical-jumped 38.5 inches, which would have tied for the position lead at last year's combine. Wallace is still reaching 22 MPH on the GPS despite adding weight.
PAYTON WILSON, NC STATE
Payton Wilson would arguably be the unquestioned LB1 if not for some previous medical red flags. Wilson was completely healthy throughout the 2023 campaign and reached his potential, totaling 138 tackles and 6.0 sacks. Wilson could answer medical and athletic-related questions at the NFL Combine.
Wilson previously ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds, per Feldman. That speedy result would have finished fourth place among all participating linebackers at the 2023 NFL Combine. Wilson can also match any linebacker in the bench press and has broad-jumped 9 feet, 8.5 inches. A healthy Wilson possesses All-Pro potential.
TYRICE KNIGHT, UTEP
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight is today's off-ball linebacker. In 2023, he accumulated career-highs in sacks (4.5) and passes defensed (6) along with his massive tackle totals. Knight was also involved in three fumbles, forcing one and recovering two.
Knight anticipates running the 40 between 4.49 and 4.57 seconds, according to reports. That would place in the 96th percentile among off-ball linebackers. Knight's pre-draft stock could explode in Indianapolis.
JUNIOR COLSON, MICHIGAN
Junior Colson may be the best coverage 'backer in the 2024 Draft. A National Championship winner, Colson was a key cog on the nation's most dominant defense. Colson triggers downhill violently, proven by his 196 tackles across the previous two combined seasons.
Colson is an absolute alien at the position that will post otherworldly testing numbers. Colson is extremely twitchy and a smooth operator in space. In addition to the numeric-based results, Colson will showcase oily hips and elite change of direction ability during the fieldwork portion.
EDGERRIN COOPER, TEXAS A&M
This linebacker class is perceived to be a weaker one by traditional standards. If there's a linebacker selected in the first round, it'll probably be because Edgerrin Cooper blew up the combine. Cooper is already teetering on the brink of first-round status, so explosive testing results could get him over the hump.
Cooper is a twitched-up second-level defender with outstanding range and length. He is a verified 6-foot-2, 227 pounds (Shrine Bowl measurements) with a wingspan greater than 80 inches.
