2020 NFL Draft Profile: What Michigan linebacker Jordan Glasgow brings to the Colts

Glasgow. A last name with a history at the University of Michigan with three Glasgow brothers suiting up for the Maize n Brew the last decade. The youngest of the trio, Jordan Glasgow, is aiming to join Ryan (Cincinnati Bengals) and Graham (Denver Broncos) in the NFL shortly.

Here’s what Glasgow can bring to an NFL team.

Info

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 226 pounds

School: Michigan

Position: Linebacker

Projected: Undrafted

Combine Results: N/A

Strengths

• Standout special teams contributor. Had a huge punt block vs. Illinois in 2019, stopped a fake punt run vs. Ohio State in 2016.

• Hard worker who went from a walk-on to a Butkus Award semi-finalist.
• Considered an elite tackler by Pro Football Focus. Glasgow was ranked first by PFF at the linebacker position with a tackling grade of 90.4.
• High football IQ that allows him to get to the ball carrier quickly. Glasgow had 7 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 2019.
• Good downhill speed and adequate in coverage. Can play multiple positions. Could be used as a Tyrann Mathieu type player in terms of slotting him in different spots within a defensive scheme. His downhill abilities allow Glasgow to get around offensive tackles and sack the quarterback.

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve in one-one-one battles against offensive linemen.
• Not a lot of experience as a starter. Played a ton of special teams but most of his starting experience came last season.
• When Glasgow is able to run downhill he is at his most effective, but he doesn’t have quick diagonal and lateral acceleration and will lost a fair share of foot races.
• A bit of a tweener. Potentially undersized as a true linebacker, remains to be seen if he has the coverage skills to stick at safety.

Overview

There are NFL long-snappers that have decade long careers solely because they have one skill no one else really has. The same can be said for special teams contributors. Each NFL team has at least a couple players on the roster that play exclusively on special teams. They’re aces, they’re valued, but if you’re not paying attention to that facet of football you may never know their name. For Glasgow, his chances of sticking with an NFL team might hinge specifically on his ability to contribute on special teams as a rookie. Sure, the hope Glasgow has is to be a starter on defense, too, but his ticket onto a practice squad is improved based on his willingness to play special teams.

Glasgow has been counted out plenty in his career, and he’s proved a lot of naysayers wrong. Being a Butkus Award semi-finalist and graded as the No. 1 tackling linebacker by Pro Football Focus are notable positives that lead to acknowledging the merits of his game film. NFL teams have told Glasgow that they have enjoyed his film on special teams and on defense. Without a pro day or NFL Combine invite, Glasgow’s film becomes even more important for NFL teams.