It felt like Chase was in on every tackle on Friday night. He’s a physical linebacker with a nose for the football. It was difficult for blockers to get ahold of him in space, and even when they started to body him up, he was able to shed and make the play anyway. Between the tackles, Franklin largely struggled to get things going thanks to the way Chase was able to fill gaps, even getting guys in the backfield and dropping them for a loss. Northern Michigan is getting a huge addition to their linebacker room.

Chase has actually started to get some real attention recently, but I think he’s still largely underrated. He already has a great build at 6’3 and over 200 pounds. Great measurables with the frame to keep building. His film shows a ton of real upside, especially defensively., His instincts and quick first step are a lethal combo. He diagnoses the play quickly and is able to fight against the grain to get to the ball. He is also extremely solid in pass coverage, with some legit speed and ability to play the ball.

Biggest Strengths