Jared Norris, LB, Utah: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jared Norris, a 2011 three-star recruit, started 32 of 42 career games for the Utah Utes. He finished second on the team with 87 tackles as a senior after leading the team with 116 stops as a junior.
Noris missed the USC game in 2015 due to an undisclosed injury.
Played both the Rover and Mac positions in Utah’s 4-3 scheme. He possesses solid height and weight with a thick build and adequate athletic ability.
Measureables
Height: 6’1″ 1/4
Weight: 241 lbs
Arm Length: 31-1/2 inches
Hand Size: 10-1/8 inches
Combine Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.80 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.64 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 29.5″
Broad Jump: 9’6″
Three Cone: N/A
Short Shuttle: 4.52 seconds
Games Watched
2015: California, Colorado, Michigan
2014: Colorado State, Washington State
Strengths
Good mental processing skills with the instincts and football intelligence to identify plays quickly and get into position to make a play… Solid play speed as he takes aggressive angles to the ball and has the lateral quickness to make plays down the line of scrimmage… Displays solid closing speed before wrapping up and bringing down the ball carrier… Very good tackler who makes sure to finish plays once he gets his hands on the ball carrier.
Against the pass, he quickly reads the play and either locates his responsibility in man or drops back into his zone depending on the coverage. In man, displays solid coverage skills as he mirrors routes and forces the quarterback to throw into tight windows. He’s even better in zone coverage where he can read the QB while protecting his area of the field.
As you can see in the clip below, not only does Jared Norris read the QB and locate the receiver entering his zone, but he makes sure that the receiver thinks twice before running over the middle with a bone-jarring hit.
As demonstrated in the play above, Norris has solid closing speed to break up passes and limit yards after the catch. In addition to being one of the hardest hitting players on the Utah defense, he’s also the most reliable tackler.
More from Scouting Reports
- 17 Breakout Players From The 2024 NFL Draft
- 2024 NFL Draft: Cam Ward Possesses Franchise QB Potential
- Will Anderson Jr. Should Be First Defensive Player Taken in 2023 NFL Draft
- Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College: 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson: A 2023 NFL Draft Sleeper QB To Watch
Weaknesses
The first and foremost weakness that shows up on tape is his athletic ability. Whether it’s his lack of explosive first step to track down outside runs, or his poor flexibility when rushing off the edge, Jared Norris only has marginal athletic ability. It’s not just about plays outside the tackles either.
In the play below, Norris is lined up as the left outside linebacker. The counter play is designed for the running back to run through the B gap between the right guard and right tackle. Norris is unblocked and is the only Utah defender who can prevent a big gain.
He takes an aggressive angle and winds up over pursuing the play.
The issue here is the inability of Norris to quickly change directions. Once he gets his momentum going one way, it takes too long for him to stop, gather himself and change directions. This concern was confirmed at the Scouting Combine when Norris tied for 17th out of 20 linebackers in the short shuttle. Along with the three-cone drill, which Norris did not participate in, the shuttle is the best measurement of a player’s agility.
In addition to athletic ability, play strength is also a concern. He allows blockers into his chest and struggles to shed as a result of marginal play strength. Once a blocker latches on, Norris is taken out of the play.
Overall
Overall, Jared Norris is a backup inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme who wins with instincts and coverage skills. Does not possess the range to play in a 4-3. Whether or not Norris is drafted, he’ll have to excel on special teams in order to make an NFL roster.