Scouting Profile: Danny Stutsman - LB - Oklahoma
Sales Pitch: Experienced linebacker with good pursuit speed and effort. Is a solid run defender but lacks the size or coverage ability to be an impact player.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Danny Stutsman is a former 4-Star recruit from the state of Florida. The senior linebacker was a multi-year contributor for the Sooners, starting 37 consecutive games to finish out his career. Stutsman was consistent and productive during his time at Oklahoma, finishing as a 3x All-Big 12 honoree and 2x All-American.
Stutsman is a tall linebacker with good straight-line burst and speed. He is at his best moving sideline to sideline where he can weaponize his athletic ability. Stutsman does a good job tracking ball carriers and will flow with the play and fill the proper gap when left clean. He displays the pursuit motor and angles to cut off outside runs and limit gains. He is a solid tackler with the strength to grab and drag down runners in space. Stutsman has below average size for the position but does not shy away from contact. He is willing to step up and stick his nose in the hole to stop short yardage runs. As a coverage player Stutsman has the athletic ability to quickly get depth on his zone drops. He takes good angles to take away easy access throws and is adept at denying crossing patterns behind him off play-action.
Stutsman has a funky built for an off-ball linebacker, he is very tall with short arms and below average mass. He struggles to maintain a low pad level as a point of attack run defender and will get driven off the ball when filling the hole. His taller frame creates stiffness in his core which limits his ability to slide around blocks in traffic. Once he gets caught up on linemen he struggles to disengage and leverage his gap. Stutsman needs to be kept clean to be a productive run defender due to below average play strength and block deconstruction skills. The stiffness in his hips and core also limit him as a coverage player. He is sluggish when asked to quickly redirect and match receivers across his face in zone , and he should not be asked to take on TEs or RBs in man coverage. Stutsman relies on instincts over movement skills in coverage and its forces him to guess at times. He is easily moved side to side by QBs eyes when in underneath coverage. He is also overly aggressive to fit the run which opens up throwing lanes behind him off play-action.
Stutsman profiles best as a WILL backer in a gapped up defense. If he is to succeed at the next level it will be on the back of his pursuit speed and motor. Stutsman projects as an early Day-3 pick who will be a fantastic special teamer with low end starter upside.