2020 NFL Draft: 5 linebackers who will be instant impact players

Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech

It seems like it should be impossible that two linebackers from the Big 12 — a conference known way more for putting up a ton of points than preventing them — would be on this list, yet here we are.

Jordyn Brooks took over a bigger role in the Red Raiders’ defense this year despite already having three productive seasons, and he somehow exceeded what anyone could have imagined.

Brooks racked up 108 total tackles this past season with a whopping 20 tackles for loss — a number more commonly seen in defensive linemen — and three sacks.

Among those on this list, Brooks has the look and play style of a more traditional linebacker at a rocked-up 6-foot-1, 245 pounds.

His level of productivity — 360 career tackles — is impossible to achieve without a high level of instincts at the position. 360 tackles over the course of 46 games is an indicator of being around the football constantly, and that’s what we see from Brooks.

This guy works in the middle with a fearlessness that will not only endear him to defensive coordinators but will also help him make an instant impact at the next level.

All three of his sacks came in one game this past season, so that’s an area that can be developed as well as his coverage abilities.

If this guy goes unblocked in the running game, he’s going to diagnose and blow the play up, and he’s going to do it regardless if it’s going right up the gut or if you’re trying to stretch it to the outside.