NFL Draft: 3 breakout candidates ahead of the 2021 College Football season

Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor

Run and chase linebackers are all the rage in the NFL, and Terrel Bernard from Baylor fits that role to a T. At 6-1, 222-pounds, he is not the biggest linebacker there is, but he is quite a joy to watch. Bernard plays with top-tier aggressiveness but also knows when he needs to play with finesse. Bernard has the acceleration and top speed to be able to reach either sideline on any given play. His size is going to make some people hesitant, but this guy is a playmaker. Point blank.

What makes Bernard so special is his discipline. He always seems to be in the right place and is almost never fooled by misdirection. He has shown that he is capable of sifting through traffic to find the ball carrier, and one that ball carrier is within his tackle radius, the play is as good as blown dead. Bernard has next-level instincts that are made clear when you see him diagnose plays in a split second. He currently plays middle linebacker for Baylor, but his size profile most likely does not project itself to that same position in the NFL.

With his skill set and size profile, Bernard currently projects as a starting weakside linebacker in the NFL. Playing him as a WILL allows him to react quickly, trigger towards the ball carrier and work through offensive line traffic to get to him. Bernard has the skills to put up monster numbers and elite level tape in 2021 that will have evaluators clamoring to draft him.