UNLV Rebels linebacker Jackson Woodard has been one of the top defenders in the Mountian West for the last two seasons. A true leader under head coach Barry Odom, the former Arkansas transfer has put himself in draftable contention. Let’s look at how early Woodard could be picked in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jackson Woodard Scouting Report
Size: 6’3”, 230 pounds
Key Stat: Woodard became the first UNLV player to win Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 17 years.
Projected Role: Rotational strong-side linebacker
Strengths
- A fluid and agile mover who covers ground quickly, using his burst to close on plays and position himself effectively.
- Leadership. Incredible work ethic. Two-time captain.
- High football IQ with natural ability to read offenses.
- Awareness. He excels at reading the offenses before the snap, identifying potential threats, and making necessary adjustments.
- A force against the run, attacking the line of scrimmage with aggression, always in pursuit of the ball carrier.
- Slippery to escape blocks. Has the agility and quickness that allow him to evade blocks, maintain his path to the ball carrier, and disrupt plays.
Areas to Improve
- While he is reliable in most situations, he could still improve his tackling. His technique is solid; however, he had 19 missed tackles in 2024.
- Tackling technique can lead to him playing too upright.
- Below average lateral movement and lacks sharp change of direction.
- Lacks the instant explosive speed to cover speedier receivers in the passing game.
Jackson Woodard NFL Draft Outlook
A true leader and a two-year captain, Woodard has the strong leadership qualities, intelligence, and work ethic that NFL scouts and coaches will love.
On the field, the Rebels’ defensive leader excels in run defense, using his awareness and aggressive mindset to make plays at the line of scrimmage. His ability to quickly cover ground and diagnose pre-snap allows him to cover receivers in the passing game.
However, Woodard has areas that need refinement. His tackling consistency has room for improvement, as evidenced by a missed tackle rate of 14.4%. Meanwhile, The UNLV LB’s lateral agility can leave him in compromised positions, which will especially show up in wide zone schemes.
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Bottom Line: Woodard is an intriguing NFL prospect with strong leadership, football IQ, and versatile skills—particularly in run defense. However, his lack of twitchy movement, developing tackling technique, and stiff lateral mobility will naturally lower his draft ceiling.
For a hard-nosed team looking to add intelligent leaders who will set the tone, Woodard will be one of the best Day 3 options. His reliable work ethic will impress at the NFL level.
Draft Projection: Rounds 5-7
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