2017 NFL Draft: 5 Fastest Rising 2017 NFL Prospects
By Jon Dove
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee
Tennessee’s Jalen Reeves-Maybin has had an extremely productive college career and is finally starting to get the NFL draft hype he deserves. Reeves-Maybin is a slightly undersized but extremely explosive linebacker.
He plays with a non-stop motor which allows him to make tackles all over the field. His athleticism also helps in coverage. Reeves-Maybin is quick enough to run with wide receivers and the faster tight ends.
Tennessee shows their trust in Reeves-Maybin by lining him up in the slot from time to time. He not just someone who holds his own but also flashes the ability to limit separation. His overall versatility is one his best attributes.
Reeves-Maybin is a reliable tackler who has a knack for delivering big hits. A good amount of those tackles come behind the line of scrimmage. It’s his combination of instincts and burst that helps him disrupt the timing of the offense.
Ten years ago someone like Reeves-Maybin would be criticized for his lack of size and bulk. However, the NFL has changed, and the smaller/quicker linebackers are what teams are targeting. This is one of the reasons why we could see Reeves-Maybin come off the board in the first round of the 2017 Draft.