I love hard numbers and data, but there’s just something about avarsity-ready freshman linebacker that’s hard to quantify. Nkembeng has “it.” His sideline-to-sideline speed, especially against the run, was impressive last season, and it’s unsurprising that he racked up 58 tackles while playing both inside and outside. He flashed as a blitzer, and we think there’s some pass-coverage upside here, as well.

Nkembeng has excellent size and gets downhill in a hurry, making him an excellent blitzer off the edge. I’m not sure whether I like him more as an outside linebacker or a middle-of-the-field guy, but he’s got some positional versatility that makes me think he could play both at a high level. His flashes are the best in the linebacker class, as he has a few instant tackles for loss on tape that are impressive.

Cuthbertson is doing a great job of getting Nkemberg on the field and playing to his strengths, even at a position he’s unlikely to play long-term. Because of his length and get off, Nkemberg is likely destined to be an edge rusher. But at his current size, he’s playing off-ball linebacker, and he’s at his best while moving towards the line of scrimmage. He’s making a huge impact already, and we’re excited to see how he develops.