Overview
Position: Inside Linebacker
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 245 lbs
School: Arizona Wildcats
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.90 seconds
Bench Press: 22
Vertical Jump: 31 inches
Broad Jump: 9 feet, 5 inches
20-yard cone drill: 4.47 seconds
Scooby Wright 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Regarded as only a two-star recruit after a four-year career as starter coming out of Cardinal Newman High School, Wright broke out as a true freshman for the Wildcats in 2013. He would start 12 of 13 games at Sam/Strong side linebacker, recording 83 tackles and an interception.
Wright would continue his success the next season and would emerge as one of the best linebackers in college football. After recording 163 tackles and 14 sacks, Wright would bring home multiple defensive player awards including the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski, Rotary Lombardi, Jack Lambert, and Chuck Bednarik trophies, all but cementing himself as the best defensive player in the country in 2014.
Unfortunately, Wright’s 2015 season would not start off as well as his first two after suffering a meniscus tear in the Wildcats’ season opener. He would return two games later, but would suffer another injury after spraining his right foot. He would make his final appearance in a Wildcats’ jersey in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl against the New Mexico Lobos were he would register 15 tackles and two sacks. After the game, he announced that he would declare for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Strengths
- High hustle and competitive drive.
- Plays faster than workout times would have you believe.
- Can disrupt running lanes with his quick first step and flow to the ball.
- Ability to make plays at the line of scrimmage makes him an ideal run stopper and pass rusher from the inside.
Weaknesses
- Needs to improve on getting leverage when making tackles.
- Limited range for the position, made most of his tackles down field.
- Size concerns and a skill set that may limit him to only playing in 3-4 schemes.
- Not much of a threat in pass coverage.
- Injury plagued 2015 season raises questions about his durability.
NFL Comparison: Chris Borland, former San Francisco 49ers linebacker. Like Borland, Wright is slightly undersized for his position, but makes up for it in high motor and football instincts.
Teams with need at position: Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons
Projection: Mid to late second round.
Bottom Line
Wright has relied heavily on his instincts and motor to carry him throughout his football career. In order for him to make the next step in his football career, he will have to overcome the odds once again. He will get a chance to see the field at the next level, but will need to improve his athletic ability to match the level of his instincts to have a productive NFL career.
