From now until the 2019 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#42 Otaro Alaka/LB/Texas A&M/6’3”239
The Good
-Big, physical linebacker that plays downhill with major force
-Great size and arm length for the position
-Noticeable improvement year-to-year when it comes to processing/reading keys
-Very good motor; plays until the final whistle and attempts to track down every play regardless of where he is on
the field
-Power blitzer that works through blocks well with speed to power
-Has shown the ability to slip blocks and clamp up running backs in space
-One of the more physical linebackers in this class; drops the hammer throughout film
The Bad
-Too aggressive at times flying downhill when attacking blockers, which can take him out of plays
-Lacks ideal range for an inside linebacker; looks slow on tape at times, and testing numbers back that up
-Appears uncomfortable in coverage; has to get eyes on receivers in zone, which causes him to get moved out of position by routes; doesn’t have much of a feel for spot drops
-Inconsistent tackler because he’s constantly looking for the highlight-reel pop
-Slow to locate football on boundary runs when playing in the box
Bio
-Redshirt season who played in 47 career games at Texas A&M; started 5 of 8 games played in true freshman year in 2014
-Finished TAMU career with 260 career tackles, 36.