NFL Draft Profile: Arnold Ebiketie, Outside Linebacker, Penn State Nittany Lions
#17
Pos: OLB
Ht: 6023
Wt: 250
Hand: 1028
Arm: 3418
Wing: 8218
40: N/A
Bench: 21
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vert: 38
Broad: 1008
DOB: 1/24/_
Eligible: 2022
Silver Spring, MD
Albert Einstein High School
Arnold Ebiketie
Penn State Nittany Lions
One-Liners
Arnold Ebiketie is a potential 3-4 outside linebacker who can rush from the outside track with bend and speed and cover the flat with speed and intelligence. He can win as an edge setter and use his elite ability to track down runners.
Pros:
Ebiketie lines up in a plethora of ways at the line of scrimmage including in a stand-up two-point stance, three-point stance and four-point stance. He is really quick out of the blocks, no matter what his starting stance is. Arms look to be long for his frame, good indicator of being able to maintain leverage on the edge. Uses his explosiveness well to convert speed to power when rushing the passer. Good body contortion to manipulate his feet and shoulder angle to attack the inside shoulder from a wide seven or nine-technique position. Demonstrates an impressive motor to win with effort and stay involved to the whistle. He has strong hands to aid his lack of technical ability as a pass rusher. Strong hands at the point of attack as well in the run game. He was a strong finisher in a vertical manner, where he could use his upper body strength to be physical.
Cons:
He plays a bit like a chicken with its head cut off. He needs to be more controlled by reading and reacting to the plays with his eyes. Better body control will also help him finish plays off in the backfield. Currently doesn’t have the grip strength to disengage from blocks in the run game consistently. Flexibility in the lower-third is lacking to get any sort of clean bend around the edge. Struggles to anchor in the run game, gets washed out against power vertical running attacks. Not as good of a finisher on his tackles when the ball-carrier was outside his frame.
Summary:
Arnold Ebiketie is primarily a stand-up rusher for the Nittany Lions. He is a former Temple transfer. Ebiketie is an explosive edge defender who provides power and length. As a pass rusher, he converts speed to power well both to the inside and outside shoulders of the opposing offensive tackle. He struggles, though, with bend because of stiff ankles that don’t allow him to drop his hips and get a lower center of gravity. He shows flashes as a run defender because of his strength to effectively set the edge or shoot gaps, but his lack of a strong base hinders his efforts at putting an anchor down against physical run blockers.
Background:
Originally born in Yaounde, Cameroon. Grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. Attended Albert Einstein HS. Played at Temple from 2017 to 2020 before transferring to Penn State for final season. Rated as a three-star outside linebacker prospect by 247Sports Composite. Was the 138th ranked player at his position and 33rd overall player out of Maryland in the 2017 class. 2016 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. First-Team All-Sentinel honors. Three-year letterwinner. Multi-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and track and field. Parents are Jean Marie Ebiketie and Guy Susanne. Two sisters, Nancy and Nelly, and one brother, Yvan. Majoring in recreation, park and tourism management as a graduate student, having already earned his degree in sport & recreation management.
Floor/Ceiling: Developmental / 3rd Down Specialist
Scheme Fit: 3-4 OLB/4-3 DE
Grade: Late 2nd Round
Injury History: Undisclosed injury against Wisconsin, left the game.
Character Notes: AAC All-Academic Team selection
Quotable
“I just knew as a running back, you just get the ball and run and try not to get tackled, as a safety, I was just out there trying to tackle anybody who had the ball. It wasn’t until I got to my junior year when I actually started learning the game and trying to figure out all the rules.” -- Arnold Ebiketie on his raw development learning the game of football
“He was an incredible athlete, very strong, very fast. You see the person, the player that he is now and I can’t wait to see what he’s going to turn into as he continues to mature.” -- High School coach Justin Taylor on Arnold Ebiketie
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