Tackle-collecting anchor of the Big 12 champion defense — 105 stops as a freshman, 279 over three years, and a genuine ball-skills leap in 2025 with four interceptions and five pass breakups from the second level. He has manned the middle at Texas Tech since day one, diagnoses run schemes quickly, and just added the coverage production missing from his first two seasons. A fourth year as the defense's centerpiece is exactly what Day 3 linebacker success stories look like. However, the pass-rush column is close to empty: half a sack in three seasons, which means he offers nothing yet as a blitzer and will have to win NFL rooms purely on run fits and zone instincts. That's a narrow path, even at 6-3, 245. Day 3 track with a special-teams-plus-backer floor; a repeat of the 2025 takeaway spike would firm up the draftable case considerably.