2025 NFL Draft: 3 issues to learn about Jalen McLeod

With the 2025 NFL Draft within the books, it’s time to mirror on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone ship a masterclass, or has he simply set the Jags again 5 years? Fact is, we in all probability received’t know that for a while. However we will get to know the latest members of the group a bit of bit higher. Within the newest of our mini-series of deep dives, listed below are three issues to learn about Jalen McLeod, LB, Auburn:

Ignored, however not for lengthy

One factor you’ll hear each time you examine Jalen McLeod is how he’s small for a soccer participant. A menace off the sting at highschool, McLeod starred for Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C., racking up 60 tackles, 10 sacks, 5 compelled fumbles, 4 interceptions and 15 QB hurries as a senior. McLeod was a key a part of a group that received again to again Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation state 2-A championships earlier than his time at highschool got here to an finish. And but regardless of the numbers and success, his recruiting expertise was not what most would have anticipated; McLeod obtained simply 4 provides to play soccer, and solely two of them from FBS applications. Not one Energy 5 faculty paid him any curiosity.

Opting to move to App State, McLeod spent three years in Boone. By his sophomore yr, he was terrorising offensive strains who couldn’t cope together with his go off the road of scrimmage. Regardless of not being as massive as his friends, McLeod posted 41 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, two compelled fumbles, one fumble restoration and eight QB hurries in 2022 – together with a powerful efficiency towards Texas A&M that noticed him have two sacks. That lastly acquired him the eye his sport deserved, and one other SEC group determined they might use his skillset on the highest degree of school soccer.

McLeod continued to flourish at Auburn, revelling within the ‘Jack’ function in DJ Durkin’s scheme. Basically an outdoor linebacker with important concentrate on entering into the backfield, McLeod managed 57 tackles and eight sacks final season, cementing himself as some of the harmful defensive weapons within the convention. Clocking in at 6’2” and 241 lbs on the NFL Mix, McLeod has proven he is ready to overcome any perceived bodily shortcomings with pace, tenacity and playmaking capability

Tigers & Jaguars

When he was chosen 194th general in April, Jalen McLeod turned the sixth Auburn Tiger in historical past to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. That pipeline from the Plains to Duval County ranks because the fifth-highest of any faculty within the Jags’ 30-year historical past, and the third-highest if you happen to low cost in-state applications Florida and Florida State that are clearly geographically simpler to scout.

Earlier than McLeod, the final Auburn Tiger to move to Jacksonville on draft weekend was Tank Bigsby in 2023. Previous to that, Daniel Thomas (2020), Dontavious Russell (2019), Quentin Groves (2008) and Jalen’s namesake Kevin McLeod (1998) make up the remainder of the cohort. As a second spherical decide, Groves was the best participant from Auburn chosen by the Jags, and sadly handed away in 2016 after struggling a coronary heart assault.

One other Tiger faculty, LSU, have despatched eight gamers to the Jaguars because the franchise was born. Coincidence? I’m certain the large cat similarities are nebulous, though I wouldn’t put something previous Trent Baalke and his determination making course of. McLeod represents the primary Tiger to grow to be a Jaguar within the James Gladstone period – let’s hope he’s extra profitable than most of those that have come earlier than him.

Secret weapon?

Once you look again at Jalen McLeod’s spectacular three years with the Mountaineers, it’s no marvel Auburn got here calling. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll be stunned to know that he solely really began three video games at App State. As alluded to, he has consistently battled notion concerning his dimension and needed to do twice as a lot as most to earn sport time consequently. However in his closing yr, his utilization was extra by design, to maximise the influence he had when he stepped on the sphere…

It’s uncertain how the Jaguars intend to make use of McLeod on protection, if in any respect; there aren’t any ensures for sixth spherical draft picks as we all know. That being stated, the Jags could be clever to notice how he was utilised at school, mainly reserved for apparent move speeding conditions the place they might let him off the leash. At his dimension McLeod is unlikely to have the ability to make a dwelling together with his hand within the grime, so sending him after the quarterback from outdoors linebacker in Anthony Campanile’s subpackage would make a number of sense.

The trick, then, is for McLeod to show his worth for a roster spot. Being on the sphere for a handful of performs isn’t a lot of an providing, and he might be anticipated to contribute on numerous particular groups items if he’s going to make the ultimate 53. It’s a troublesome ask based mostly on the Jaguars’ depth, however not unimaginable – and McLeod has confirmed again and again he is aware of learn how to beat the chances.