Trenton Simpson

Clemson LB

Games Watched: Wake Forest, NC State, Syracuse

Summary: Trenton Simpson is an incredibly fast linebacker who is best suited to play as a will linebacker. He flies around the field using his quick trigger and amazing closing burst to make plays. In coverage he has the agility to match anyone in man and does a good job covering space in zone. He has tools to become a good pass rusher and is already a great QB spy. His size creates concerns attempting to shed defenders, and he is slow to identify when he should disengage. As a pass rusher his potential is mostly untapped due to technique concerns, and poor angles of pursuit take him out of quite a few plays.

Pros

  • Phenomenal acceleration and long speed allowing him to cover a lot of ground quickly
  • Elite closing burst to finish plays
  • Has the quickness and change of direction ability to mirror pass catchers in man coverage
  • Has the explosion and bend to be feared as a pass rusher
  • Has the traits and experience to be a used as a spy against mobile quarterbacks

Cons

  • Struggles to stack and shed blockers
  • Can be a late to diagnose when it’s time to disengage and go for the tackle
  • Will need to develop his speed to power and counters to be more effective as a pass rusher
  • Needs to take better angles of pursuit

Grade: Trenton Simpson gets an early 3rd round grade. He is an athletic freak but will need to develop his feel of the game.