LB T.J. Brunson
Back-to-back South Carolina Gamecocks make the list as a defensive leader and permanent team captain T.J. Brunson was also snubbed. Listed at 6’1”, 230 pounds, the Columbia, South Carolina native is a tone-setter in the front seven. He possesses the thumping power of many old school linebackers of previous eras, playing with exceptional energy from snap to snap. Brunson looks to be physically ahead of the curve, never slowing down and hardly out of position. His fitness is further supported by winning school awards for strength and conditioning, along with nutrition.
Even for someone who is slightly undersized for the linebacker position considering his lack of range in coverage, Brunson certainly deserved to be at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine after starting every game for the last two seasons in the SEC. With 283 career tackles, for an average of 94.3 tackles a season, Brunson is a stat sheet fiend with the leadership and work ethic to earn an NFL spot.
DB Levonta Taylor
The Florida State Seminoles have had a habit of putting out some quality defensive back talent in the last few NFL Drafts. That tradition doesn’t end with Levonta Taylor either. Unfortunately, though, his train gets slightly derailed by a snub from the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.
Taylor is a tremendous talent, though undersized, in the secondary. He plays much larger than his frame as if his head is on fire on every down. Taylor’s range and physicality despite his size are impressive, and he possesses solid ball skills too. Considering Taylor has an early day three grade on my board, I would think Taylor was a shoo-in for Indy.