2020 NFL Draft: 3 linebackers who could be the next Fred Warner
Justin Strnad, Wake Forest
Listed at an almost identical 6-foot-3, 235 pounds compared to Warner (listed 236 pounds), Justin Strnad of Wake Forest is likely a name you haven’t heard unless you’re a huge Wake Forest fan.
It’s time to become familiar with him.
He was on his way to a career year with Wake Forest prior to suffering a ruptured biceps tendon against Florida State, limiting him to seven games. He averaged nearly 10 tackles per game in that span, and has a couple of years of intriguing productivity prior to 2019 to hang onto as well.
Over the last three years, Strnad had 22.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions. He hits hard and plays with excellent instincts and range.
Had he played at Alabama, we might be talking about an early second-round guy.
Such is life…
Strnad’s athletic testing will determine exactly how accurate this comparison between he and Fred Warner is, but he’s a three-down linebacker at the NFL level if he reaches his potential and stays healthy. He had the highest coverage grade of any ACC linebacker in 2018:
Justin Strnad was excellent in coverage for Wake Forest a season ago. pic.twitter.com/xjXxkTg8Vm
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 2, 2019
His game-sealing interception this season off of potential first-round quarterback prospect Jordan Love is one of the top plays of his career and certainly he’s got enough on tape that, if he can test well, he can convince NFL teams to bump him up to a day two grade.