6-4 | 245 POUNDS
Christian Alliegro may not be at the top of my linebacker rankings, but the more I watch him, the more I like what he could bring to an NFL defense.
Alliegro has excellent size for the position at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds. He is a physical, downhill linebacker who plays with intensity and does not hesitate when he sees an opening. He attacks the line of scrimmage, takes on contact and has enough power to finish tackles in traffic.
One of his strongest traits is his versatility. Ohio State can use him as a traditional off-ball linebacker, bring him through an interior gap or walk him toward the line of scrimmage as an additional pass rusher. He has shown a real feel for timing his pressures, and his combination of size, length and strength can create problems for running backs attempting to block him.
He is also an experienced player who understands Big Ten football. Alliegro transferred to Ohio State after producing 124 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks at Wisconsin. That experience shows in the way he diagnoses running plays, communicates before the snap and handles his responsibilities within the defense.
There are still some limitations. I do not see the same lateral quickness or coverage range that the top linebackers in this class possess. He can become too aggressive working downhill and leave himself vulnerable to misdirection. NFL teams will also want to see how well he handles faster running backs and tight ends in space.
Those concerns probably keep him out of the first two rounds, but they do not keep him off my board.
Alliegro has the size, physical temperament and pass-rushing ability to become an immediate contributor on special teams and work his way into a defensive rotation. In the right system, I could see him developing into a starting strong-side linebacker who also contributes in pressure packages.
MY PROJECTION: THIRD TO FIFTH ROUND
I believe Alliegro is definitely a mid-round draft pick, and I would not be surprised to see him come off the board in the third round. He may never be viewed as the most athletic linebacker in this class, but he is tough, experienced, versatile and knows how to play football.
Those are the kinds of players who often remain in the league longer than people expect.
#nfldraft #christianallegro #ohioststebuckeyes
