One of the biggest 2016 NFL Draft stories is the recovery of superstar UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. He was a natural force as a running back early on and as a linebacker his entire healthy career 
for the Bruins. In early reports from UCLA pro days, it seems Jack is getting back to form in time to make an impact in the 2016 NFL season. I reviewed three of his 2015 games against Virginia, BYU, and UNLV along with two of his 2014 games against USC, and Kansas State to get a good idea of what skills and attributes he brings to the next level. Here is what I saw:
LB-Myles Jack, UCLA, 6′ 1″ 245 lbs.
Cons: How soon will he be fully recovered from his serious knee injury? He might be at full strength by the start of the season or it could take until next summer. The former Bruin is a little short for an outside backer and isn’t know for being a hard hitter, especially against the run. Jack sometimes gets caught up in the wash near the line of scrimmage, and is unable to shed blockers leaving him weak at the point of attack. The line backer gets very handsy in coverage, so he will be forced to dial down his aggression in the NFL. Even when he over-pursued , the backer is has enough athletic gifts to make up for it; but that might not be the case in the NFL.
Pros: This extremely athletic linebacker has light feet and great fluidity. He is very instinctive, breaks down quickly, seeing and anticipating well. Jack is a solid wrap-up tackler even in the open field, but prefers in tight quarters to run around or hurdle over blockers to get to the ball carrier instead of taking them head on. When attacking the edge, the backer creates pressure forcing quarterbacks into ill-advised throws. His motor is constantly running and will give chase 20 to 50 yards down the field, never giving up.
In pass coverage, Jack could be mistaken for an over-sized safety with his ability to cover tight ends and slot receivers. He does a good job anticipating throws, uses his speed and agility to get into position, and has the soft hands combined with the return ability to make teams that test him pay. The backer also has a knack for causing more than a few pass deflections by reading quarterback’s eyes. He has the burst that helps him click and close in pass coverage
Overall thoughts: If fully healthy, Jack could wreak havoc on NFL offenses, scoring major fantasy points. Not at a J.J. Watt level, but enough to make a difference in balanced IDP leagues. I would consider him in the early second round of rookie drafts if he can run at full speed by the time your draft is held.
Thanks for reading!
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