Justin Strnad | LB | Wake Forest
Elevator Pitch
An athletic sideline-to-sideline linebacker with length and plenty of range as a tackler, Strnad is arguably one of the more underrated defenders in this year’s class. He will need to bulk up before stepping into a starting role, but his special teams experience indicates he’ll be able to contribute in some capacity early in his career.
Vitals
Height | 6-3
Weight | 238
Strengths
In an NFL where plus athleticism is basically required from the linebacker position, Strnad should be a good fit.
The Demon Deacon standout has fantastic range as a tackler, as he can change direction seamlessly and accelerate very well, regardless of whether he’s running downhill or is tackling on an angle. He plays with fluid hips, which helps him out when taking on outside-zone runs or when he drops back into coverage. He’s a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker, and his athletic ability is complemented by his form as a tackler and his consistency in wrapping up ball-carriers and bringing them down on a regular basis.
Strnad carries a lengthy frame that gives him plenty of physical upside as a rangy box defender in coverage, as well as when he’s tasked with dropping back into man. He also plays with determination against the run, as he has shown that he isn’t afraid of lowering his shoulder and laying down a thunderous hit on his opponents. His athleticism and his tackling abilities project him very well as a special teamer early on in his career, and he has experience in that role: he led Wake Forest with 10 special teams tackles in 2017.
Weaknesses
While a lengthy linebacker prospect, Strnad’s frame can afford to pack on a bit more muscle, and that affects his playing style a bit. He struggles with taking on blocks and disengaging from blockers, and he doesn’t have the strength in his frame to consistently eat up gaps when assigned to creep up towards the line of scrimmage. This also affects his abilities as a blitzer up the middle.
Strnad’s instincts could also stand to improve a bit. He occasionally is a split second slow to diagnose a play, and by the time he makes the read to position himself in the right place to make a play, the opportunity has already passed him by. He doesn’t have too great of a feel in zone coverage just yet, and he’s more reactive than instinctive at this stage in his development.
