Top 2025 NFL Draft linebacker prospects and handful of sleeper talents showed off at the NFL Combine
The 2025 NFL Combine was hugely surprising overall for the incoming linebacker class. There were a few of strong off-ball linebackers worth early round selections prior to the Combine, but more than a half dozen just helped out their stocks immensely.Yes, it's not a surprise that Jihaad Campbell tested like an alien. After Carson Schwesinger […]
The 2025 NFL Combine was hugely surprising overall for the incoming linebacker class. There were a few of strong off-ball linebackers worth early round selections prior to the Combine, but more than a half dozen just helped out their stocks immensely.
Yes, it's not a surprise that Jihaad Campbell tested like an alien. After Carson Schwesinger put up the 2024 season he did some thought he may test well. But there were far more impressive performances that should help linebacker prospects rise up NFL Draft boards collectively.
Let's take a dive into all the major NFL Combine winners who all tested above the 75th percentile in the A to Z Sports Athletic Composite among the linebackers in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
Jihaad Campbell put up the most complete and impressive NFL Combine showing by far. He measured in at 6'3", 235 pounds with arms nearly as long as some offensive tackles prospects. Then he ran a 4.52-second forty-yard dash and leaped nearly 11 feet in the broad jump. As a player who wins from the edge just as well as he can cover and run-fit off the ball Campbell is almost certainly now a first round pick. It wouldn't surprise if he was the first linebacker off the board, ahead of Jalon Walker now too.
Carson Schwesinger, LB UCLA
No linebacker prospect had been rising faster than Carson Schwesinger since about the midpoint of last season. He racked up over 130 tackles for UCLA last year and showcased far more impressive balance to his game than in prior years. After coming in over 240 pounds and leaping nearly 40 inches in the vertical jump, Schwesinger should be the clear cut LB3 or LB4 in the class.
Kain Medrano, LB UCLA
Schwesinger's teammate Kain Medrano was perhaps the biggest winner of the NFL Combine because he was completely off the draft-worthy radar for many analysts in the community prior to the all-star game cycle. The player tracking data from the Shrine Bowl hinted at Medrano's athleticism, but running a verified 4.46-forty-yard dash (90th percentile speed score for his weight) and jump out of the building will send him soaring towards the early portion of Day 3 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Eugene Asante, LB Auburn
When Eugene Asante struggled terribly in coverage at the Senior Bowl many analysts I spoke to struggled projecting strong athletic testing, but a 4.48-second forty time was a huge win for him. He's still quite a bit undersized and lacking in a few areas, but teams will likely be impressed by his testing.
Nick Martin, LB Oklahoma State
Nick Martin is even slightly smaller than Asante, but the burst he showed off at the NFL Combine to go with his impressive speed will certainly help make a case that he deserves a spot on a pro roster. His 81st percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite score ranked him sixth in the class, despite the mixed bag of on-field results in college.
Teddye Buchanan, LB California
Teddye Buchanan tested exactly how he plays football. His long speed wasn't elite, but his burst was phenomenal as he leaped 40 inches in the vertical and nearly ten and a half feet in the broad jump. The lower body strength and quick twitch in tight spaces showed up when watching him play for California.
Danny Stutsman, LB Oklahoma
There were some who even after watching Danny Stutsman play extremely well for three straight years had questions on his athleticism. Not anymore. Running a 4.52-second forty at 233 pounds was good for an 88th percentile speed score and he posted some average jumps to go along with that, demonstrating his lower body strength. He had been dropping in recent mock draft data. That likely reverses now as he potentially gets round three capital in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Smael Mondon, LB Georgia
When I met with Smael Mondon at the NFL Combine he just wanted to prove to teams that he was healthy and every bit the athlete that he flashed he could be early in his career at Georgia. He certainly did that. His 4.58-second forty-yard dash won't blow anyone away, but his board jump near 11 feet certainly will. His explosion that seemed a bit lost last fall as he was battling injuries is completely back and he's ready to be selected somewhere early on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft.
We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to see why Jihaad Campbell might actually be the LB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft class just check out his 2024 season highlights in the video below!
