2021 Season Countdown: #74 Tyler McLaurin

2021 Season Countdown: #74 Tyler McLaurin


July 3, 2021
Tyler McLaurin (image via Rivals)

Name: Tyler McLaurin
Height:
6’2″
Weight:
220 lbs.
High school:
Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook
Position:
Linebacker
Class:
Freshman
Jersey number:
#27
Last year:
McLaurin was a senior in high school (LINK). His senior year was canceled due to COVID.
TTB Rating:
75

McLaurin had the unfortunate luck of seeing his senior season canceled due to the pandemic, and he was one of the players in the class I was most looking forward to seeing. I was not a big fan of his game when he committed because he pledged to the Wolverines’ Don Brown-led defense, a scheme that didn’t seem to match McLaurin’s skills.

Fast forward to 2021, and I think McLaurin is in a better place. I always thought he was pegged for SAM in Brown’s 4-3 packages, but now I think McLaurin can play inside linebacker in Mike Macdonald’s 3-4 look. The 3-4 tends to prioritize bigger linebackers, and at 6’2″ – with a frame to get significantly heavier than 220 – this suddenly looks like a better personnel match. McLaurin could still end up at outside linebacker because of his length, but I believe he should start out inside due to a relative lack of depth there. Either way, he will probably redshirt this year unless injuries deplete the depth chart.

Prediction: Redshirt

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