Scout Report – Mykal Walker

• Position: Inside Linebacker – Off-ball, Adjuster, Edge
• College: Fresno State Bulldogs
• Gridiron Guy Position Rank: 9 of 21

Age: 22 | Height: 6’3 | Weight: 230 lbs
NFL Size Comparison: Fred Warner

LB at a Glance: Versatile player with experience at ILB, OLB, and Edge who can grow to be a productive defender

RESUME:

• 10th most total tackles in the Mountain West (96)
• 8th most solo tackles in the Mountain West (56)
• Best Game: v. Nevada (L 28-35)
  • 11 tackles (5 solo, 6 assists) | 1 sack | 1 FF | 2 pass def
• Worst Game: @ San Jose State (L 16-17)
  • 5 tackles (2 solo, 3 assists)
• First team All-Mountain West (2018, 2019)
• Defensive MVP of the 2018 Mountain West Championship (2018)
• First-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference (2017) *Azusa Pacific

Report:

_____ Physical ________________________________

_____ Mental __________________________________

+ Good consistency with production week in and week out

+ Great development from 2018 to 2019, and even week 1 to 12

+ Proactive player who moves around the field looking to make plays

+ Tenacious player

+ Mature demeanor that does not play recklessly

+ Quick play recognition

+ Good football IQ

– Only a 2-year starter at the FBS level

_____ Tackling _________________________________

+ Extension is promising, increasing his tackle range

+ Good pursuit angles

+ Aggressive against runners

+ Reliable tackler

+ Ok grip

– Little pop behind his pads

– Lacks on his tackling fundamentals, especially in regards to squaring up or establishing balance

– Poor footwork when attacking, does not establish strong base and can be caught running narrow

_____ Run Defense _____________________________

+ Shows good instincts to understand play design

+ Excellent play to flow

+ Shows good vision in seeing the field and being aware of his surroundings

+ Quick crashing downhill

+ Excellent pursuit speed to chase down runners from behind

+ Great at tracking the runner in the backfield

– Not as physically tough as you would like from a LB

– Poor ability to make plays in congestion

– Lacks the ability to reliably find the hole and plug it

– Bites on fakes more than you would like

_____ Pass Rush _______________________________

Pros

• Good initial burst off the snap
• Quick shooting the gap, can slip through and cause chaos
• Aware of his positioning in a block, and maintains the edge or positioning when playing a gap
• Use of hands can catch unsuspecting OL off guard when coming from the interior
• Better block shedding than other ILBs

Cons

• Poor initial impact when meeting a block
• Little power when shooting the gap sees him getting stalled early

_____ Coverage ________________________________

Pros

• Athleticism makes him an effective QB spy
• Keeps eyes on the QB, reading him to make plays
• Good closing speed to close the distance when the ball is in the air
• Quick backpedal can get him into his zone in a hurry

Cons

• Poor man coverage skills, will not be able to effectively stick to versatile RBs
• Does not pay attention to those around him when in coverage
• Little to no pressure on routes that cross him
• Little regard for positioning on the field when defending the pass

______________________________________________

Bold Predictions:

• Draft Placement: 4th – 6th Round
• Status: Short-Term Project Player
• Ceiling: NFL Starter
• Floor: Special Teams