2026 NFL Draft Prospects: ILB

1/8/26: In 2025, Reese had 69 tackles with 6.5 sacks, two passes broken up, zero forced fumbles, and zero interceptions. Team sources feel that Reese is a special player as they like his instincts in combination with being big and athletic. At 6-foot-4. 238 pounds, Reese is a large linebacker with a versatile skill set. In 2024, Reese had 43 tackles with .5 sacks as a rotational backup.

1/8/26: In 2025, Styles had 81 tackles, three passes defended, one interception, .5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Styles has a lot of talent and started to play up to his potential during the 2024 season. He finished with 100 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble, and five passes broken up. In 2023, he recorded 53 tackles, two sacks, and one pass batted, plus he has been very good in pass coverage. Styles started out as a safety, but was eventually moved to linebacker. Given his size, he fits best as a linebacker in the NFL. Styles is fast, athletic, and versatile. He could be a valuable zone coverage linebacker who is also a sideline-to-sideline run defender.

1/8/26: In 2025, Allen had 88 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes broken up. He was superb for Georgia and is an instinctive defender. He is fast and physical against the run while showing pass defense ability, dropping into coverage, and blitzing the quarterback. Allen is having a superb junior season. Allen came on for the Bulldogs during the 2024 season and showed improvement throughout the season. In 2024, he totaled 76 tackles with an interception and four passes broken up. As a freshman in 2023, Allen had 41 tackles with two breakups.

1/8/26: Hill has 70 tackles with three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a pass defended. Hill was impressive as a true freshman in 2023, and it looked like he was scratching the surface of his ability. He totaled 67 tackles with five sacks, one forced fumble, and two passes defended. In 2024, Hill had 113 tackles with eight sacks, one pass broken up, and an interception. He was all over the field for the Longhorns, showing blitzing and pass-rushing ability, along with being a tough run defender. He is fast, strong, physical, and instinctive.

1/8/26: In 2025, Rodriguez was one of the best defensive players in college football as he had a ton of big plays for the Red Raiders’ defense. Rodriguez totaled 128 tackles with seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, one sack, and six passes broken up. Rodriguez was a fantastic college player, but he could have some skill set limitations for the NFL. However, he is an instinctive playmaker, so those instincts could lead to him overcoming deficiencies in physical talent.

1/8/26: After playing three seasons at Central Arkansas, Golday had a strong season with the Bearcats in 2025. He totaled 104 tackles with 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three passes defended. With versatile height and weight, Golday has good size for the NFL to be a starting Mike (middle) or Sam (strongside) linebacker. If he works out well leading up to the draft, Golday could solidify himself as a potential day-two pick and potential starter as a pro.

1/8/26: Elliott was a dangerous blitzer and showed some natural ability to hunt the quarterback as a senior. As a senior and in previous seasons, Elliott was a solid run defender as well. In 2025, he had 98 tackles with seven sacks. He had 111 tackles in 2023 with 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and six passes broken up. Elliott is a sleeper who could rise during the draft process.

6/25/25: Barham had 32 tackles, four sacks, and four passes batted. In 2024, Barham (6-3, 248) had 66 tackles with one sack and two passes defended. In 2023, he had 37 tackles with three sacks, an interception, and one pass batted. His best season was his freshman campaign, when he had 59 tackles with four sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass broken up.

1/8/26: In 2025, Barton has 51 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a pass batted, an interception, and a fumble recovery. In 2024, Barton had 72 tackles with four passes broken up, two sacks, and two interceptions. Barton was on his way to an impressive 2023 season before a right foot injury ended his season after seven games. In those seven contests, he totaled 34 tackles with two interceptions, one forced fumble, and two passes broken up. In 2022, he had 46 tackles with 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass broken up. The NFL advance scouts gave Barton a high projection on their preseason watch list.

1/8/26: In 2025, Sorey was a quality linebacker for the Razorbacks. He had 81 tackles with 2.5 sacks, one interception, and three passes defended. Sorey could rise with a strong postseason performance. In 2024, he had 99 tackles with two sacks and an interception.

1/8/26: In 2025, Kelly had 55 tackles with two forced fumbles and one pass broken up. Kelly is a tough linebacker at the point of attack, and he plays hard. He could be a backup and special teams contributor to start out his career.

1/8/26: In 2025, Lawson had 80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes broken up. Team sources say they have significant medical concerns regarding Lawson. Lawson was a tough defender for the Crimson Tide in 2024, making a lot of plays in the ground game and contributing some plays in pass defense. He had 76 tackles with two sacks, one forced fumble, an interception, and four passes defended. In 2023, he had 67 tackles with three sacks and four passes defended after recording 51 tackles and four passes broken up.

1/8/26: In 2025, Toure has 69 tackles, one sack, and five passes defended. In 2024, Toure went down in training camp with a torn ACL, the same injury that cost him the 2022 season. During the spring of 2025, Toure left Rutgers to transfer to Miami. Toure was a solid defender in 2023, recording 92 tackles with 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and two passes defended. He missed the 2022 season and had a big jump from 2021, when he had 51 tackles with 4.5 sacks. Toure has to stay healthy and productive to rise.