JJ Russell Draft Scouting Report: 2022 NFL Draft Profile

Linebacker, Memphis Tigers #23

JJ Russell Measurements

6’1” / 225 lbs

40 time: 4.85 (estimate)

JJ Russell NFL Draft Player Profile

Coming out of Grenada High School in Mississippi, Russell was rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports. During his high school career, he collected 242 total tackles, 30 for loss, and 10 sacks. Of those, 123 tackles, 14 for loss, and five sacks came during his senior season alone! With numbers like that, it’s easy to see why he was named to the Clarion-Ledger MSPreps All-State second team. JJ also picked up a Class 5A All-State first team nomination, as well as an invite to the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game. A consensus top-75 linebacker, Russell originally committed to Mississippi State prior to his senior season. However, he would decommit a few months later and later signed with the Memphis Tigers. JJ also had offers from Cal, Cincinnati, Kansas, and Missouri.

While he didn’t record a start his freshman season, Russell still saw playing time in 10 of the Tigers’ 13 contests. During this limited playing time, he would record nine total tackles (eight solo), a QB hurry, as well as a blocked kick. JJ would earn a starting role during his sophomore season with Memphis. Over the next four seasons he would play in all 51 of the Tigers’ games, making 50 starts. After three straight seasons tallying 58 total tackles, Russell ended his senior campaign with 123 tackles (78 solo), one sack, and an interception.

That increase in production on the field in his final season could be attributed to a change off the field prior to the season starting. JJ admits that he wasn’t finding much joy on the field, regardless of what his appearance showed on it. After digging more into his own faith, Russell finally found some of the joy and purpose that he’d be looking for. Read the full story here.

JJ Russell Strengths

Quickly Reads Play

One of the first things I noticed about JJ was how quickly he was able to diagnose the offensive play. I’m not sure if this was due to pure instincts, film study, or a little of both. Regardless, it was fun watching him quickly break on a wide receiver screen or running back trying to sneak out of the backfield. He could close pretty quickly and stop the play before it ever got a real chance to develop.

Zone Coverage

Russell showed good zone coverage skills. At the snap, he was smooth and fluid dropping into is zone. If he was covering the flats, he was quick getting over to cover that was well. When it came to tracking receivers through the zone, once again he was solid. From time to time, he could get caught looking into the backfield a little too much and would be fooled by the quarterbacks eyes. But this wasn’t something that happened too often.

Good Motor

If watched any of Memphis’ games this season, even just as a fan, you couldn’t help but see #23 on your screen. This is because there was a high chance that even if Russell didn’t make the tackle himself, he was at least around the pile. Combined with his overall athleticism, this makes JJ a true sideline to sideline player.

JJ Russell Weaknesses

Struggles Getting Off Blocks

Russell was primarily used in coverage for Memphis. I was confused at first because watching him run around the field making tackles, I figured he’d be really good getting after the quarterback. Sadly, after watching him rush a few times I started to understand. While he does a great job of getting penetration if he’s able to split the gap, it doesn’t go near as well if the lineman get a hold of him. Every now and then he’d be able to rip free, but for the most part he was easily taken out of the play. The bigger lineman would just ride him right out of the play.

Takes Bad Angles

Because of his issues getting off the blocks, I feel like he tried to take different routes to get a free run at the ball carrier. This caused him to take bad angles and let the runner get around him. While he’s pretty athletic, he doesn’t have the top end speed to chase down ball carriers. I do feel like this was something that he improved on as the year progressed. Still, he’ll need to continue this improvement to allow himself to make an impact with a team at the next level.

Open Field Tackling

I want to start by saying that JJ’s open field tackling isn’t awful. You don’t lead your team with 123 tackles being a poor tackler. It’s just inconsistent. When he was able to break down, get his feet set, and make a solid attempt at tackling he was hard hitting and could stop anyone in their tracks. The trouble came when the runner kept him from getting set. Here he’d end up trying to arm tackle more, or just completely whiffing. Much like the angles he takes, this is something that I see as being correctable by solid coaching.

JJ Russell Draft Stock

Russell isn’t a name that is really going around many scouting or mock draft circles at the moment. I wasn’t able to find anything on him getting an invite to any of the post season collegiate All-Star games either. The same goes for the NFL Combine, although the amount of announced invites are extremely limited at the moment.

Final Thoughts on JJ Russell Scouting Report

Overall I think that Russell is a solid player. I think that most of his weaknesses can be either corrected, or at least can be improved. At the moment, I would say that JJ’s ceiling in the draft is a late day 3 pick. The more likely scenario, in my opinion, is a priority undrafted free agent. For his first season or two, I think he’ll stick around a team’s practice squad while maybe getting a chance to help out on special teams. He is a sleeper in the 2022 NFL Draft.

JJ Russell NFL Comparison

Mack Wilson

JJ Russell Scouting Report by Brandon Claburn