Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
Size:
Height: 6032
Weight: 233
Arm: 32 ¼”
Hand: 9”
Accomplishments:
Third-Team AP All-American (2023) • First-Team All-Big 12 (2023) • All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2022)
“Danny Stutsman is an intelligent, athletic coverage linebacker who flashes instinctual tackle-for-loss ability with a quick downhill trigger.”
Strengths:
Coverage ability
Athleticism
Click-and-close
Form tackling
Concerns:
Eyes against the run
Gap discipline
Play strength
Film Analysis:
Danny Stutsman has lined up at all three linebacker spots at Oklahoma. With his nose for the football, he racked up 16 tackles for loss in 2023, which tied for eighth most across the college football landscape. He’s a comfortable coverage linebacker who plays to the whistle and can deliver big hits.
Stutsman plays with naturally bouncy and quick feet that allow him to engage downhill quickly to get underneath blocks and into the backfield when timed right. He consistently attempts to form tackle and put his head on the side of the football but can lower his head, leading to missed tackles. He’s most comfortable in space reading out a passing concept, picking up and passing off the proper receivers as they come in and out of his zone. He also has the speed to carry running backs and tight ends in man coverage, showing an all-around coverage linebacker skill set.
Trusting what he sees in the backfield is another story for Stutsman. The use of motion, play-action, and misdirection makes him play a step behind and hesitant. He loses track of the football and finds himself far behind the play. Adding to that a tendency to overpursue and struggle to disengage run blocks, he can be a liability fitting the run. His lack of play strength shows up when tacking on blocks and as a pass rusher, where he gets moved easily by offensive linemen. Playing with better leverage in both aspects will help him in the long run.
Stutsman can find his way into a linebacker rotation with his coverage skills and athletic ability, but unless he develops as a run-stopper and improves his play strength, his upside as an impact three-down linebacker is capped.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Daniel Harms
