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Tommy Eichenberg Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell
Strengths:
- Instinctive
- Tough run defender
- Quick to the sideline
- Good tackler
- Hard hitter
- Physical
- Will take on blocks
- Can shed blocks and make tackles
- Diagnosis skills
- Read-and-react skills
- Fits a 4-3 or 3-4 defense
- Stays around the ball
- Closing speed
- Rangy
- Capable pass-coverage linebacker
- Can help cover against tight ends and running backs
- Can drop into zone coverage
- Good vision in zone
- Disrupts passing lanes
- Strong, thick build
- Durable
Weaknesses:
- Quick, but not elite, speed
- Quality athlete, but not supremely athletic
Prospect Summary:
Over the past two seasons, Eichenberg was a steady defender and reliable interior presence for the Buckeyes. In 2022, Eichenberg totaled 120 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and three passes broken up. He then recorded 80 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in 2023.
Eichenberg is a well-rounded linebacker. He has very good instincts and is quick to read his keys to get in position to make plays. There is no doubt that Eichenberg is a tough box linebacker who shows the strength to take on blocks, shed offensive linemen, and make the tackle. He is smart to understand what offenses are trying to do, and he is disruptive when he isn’t making tackles. In the ground game, Eichenberg is very consistent and tough to help shut down rushing offenses. He is a very solid run defender and a dependable tackler.
In pass coverage, Eichenberg is a capable defender. He reads plays quickly and covers a lot of ground in zone. Eichenberg has enough athleticism and quickness to run down the middle seam, and he functions well as a Tampa 2 coverage linebacker. On dump-off passes to the flat, Eichenberg is quick enough to get to the ball-carrier and is good at making tackles in space. His size and athleticism allows him to have the potential to play some man coverage on tight ends and backs out of the backfield.
Eichenberg could turn into a solid three-down starter as a pro. In the 2024 NFL Draft, he could be a second-day pick.
Prospect Comparison:
Pete Werner. Eichenberg has a similar play style to Werner. Werner (6-3, 242) was a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2021, and Eichenberg could go on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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