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Kentrell Brothers, ILB
School: Missouri | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 249 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd Round
NFL Comparison: Avery Williamson
College Statistics
Player Overview
Kentrell Brothers led the FBS in tackles this year with 152 of them, that's averaging 12.9 per game. He was snubbed in being named a semifinalist for Butkus Award given to the nation's top linebacker. Brothers acknowledged the snub bothered him a little bit he still thinks he has a lot to prove. Brothers won't be the strongest, fastest, tallest, or most athletic inside linebacker but it's clear he's one of the smartest, most instinctive, and has a non-stop motor. Brothers isn't going to run a 4.6 40 but he somehow will stick to his assignments at TE and even WR in coverage. Brothers won't bench 225 lbs 40 times but he will attack blockers, disengage, and get to the football. He's a good football player not flashy in his physical attributes but has out produced a few "body beautiful" (thanks Mayock) linebackers in college football in a lot of areas. He is solid in pass rushing, coverage, and run stopping and is physical in his play. He scored a 28 on the Wonderlic the average for linebackers is 19.
Strengths
- Diagnoses the run well he has good vision always has eyes on the ball and is always in pursuit of the ball carrier.
- Fundamentally sound in his tackling, there are no half-hearted efforts.
- Solid in coverage, don't expect him to go 1 on 1 with Odell Beckham but do expect him to hang with the majority of TEs and players that enter the middle of the field.
- Great instincts and patience, sticks to his gaps and assignments. Waits to get the best angle to chase down a runner instead of running into blocks
- Very smart and has a great football IQ.
Weaknesses
- Average athleticism and speed.
@matt_wells16 not sure who the big 3 are. Ragland, Smith and Jack? Give me Kentrell Brothers. So sound as a LB.
— Dan Kadar (@MockingTheDraft) January 25, 2016
What word would you use to describe Kentrell Brothers movements? Kind of glides robotically everywhere I think.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 22, 2016
Kentrell Brothers NFL Draft Profile https://t.co/27Dh1gt01D I'm going to start using "rhythm linebacker" pic.twitter.com/IrCaKBhvIy
— Oscar Gambler (@oscargambler) January 22, 2016
Top Graded SEC LBs this season (via PFF): 1. Reggie Ragland 2. Kentrell Brothers 3. Zach Cunningham 4. C.J. Johnson 5. Josh Forrest
— Vincent Ronca (@Vinnie_Ronca) January 22, 2016
ESPN ranked Kentrell Brothers as the 12th best player in the SEC in 2015. https://t.co/GV51NO6B2t pic.twitter.com/UZE09QqVlQ
— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) January 20, 2016
It'd be mildly humorous if #Redskins drafted ILB Kentrell Brothers. Then we'd have Brothers on defense and Cousins on offense.
— Paul Conner (@P_ConnerJr) January 20, 2016
Found a wardaddy! Little tiny Kentrell Brothers at Missouri looks like a gnome in the land of giants and can't be blocked!
— Jeff Cavanaugh (@JC1053) January 7, 2016
Two Mizzou prospects for #Redskins fans to keep an eye on: C Evan Boehm & ILB Kentrell Brothers. Both scream McCloughan
— Justin Byram (@Justin_Byram) December 15, 2015
Missouri's Kentrell Brothers 1st team AP All-SEC; Charles Harris 2nd team https://t.co/imGb0Cw7Bg
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) December 14, 2015
Mizzou LB Kentrell Brothers: 6-0 5/8, 249 pounds. Underrated player. Had big year for Tigers. #SeniorBowl
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 26, 2016
How He Would Fit on the Redskins
Brothers would most likely be a day one starter if drafted by the Redskins. I see no issue with him either being the MIKE or WILL linebacker in our 3-4 defense. If he doesn't automatically take the MIKE role (which is essentially the QB of the defense) I can see him being moved there eventually because of his intelligence and understanding of the game. Brothers would bring that innate instinctive ability that seems to be lacking with our ILB core and solid tackling that disappeared at times during the season.