NFL Draft Profile: Jacoby Windmon, Linebacker, Michigan State Spartans
Jacoby Windmon
Michigan State Spartans
#4
Pos: LB
Ht: 6000
Wt: 241
Hand: 968
Arm: 3218
Wing: 7718
40: 4.90
DOB: 8/20/2001
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
High School: John Ehret
Eligibility: 2023
One-Liner:
With snaps all over the front seven, Windmon is a multidimensional chess piece.
Evaluation:
Brawny stature is more reminiscent of an inside, stacked backer. Plays off the ball primarily but was an edge defender early in the season, aligning in a four-point stance as a designated pass rusher. Plenty of impressive traits when deployed as such, with excellent get-off, notable bend, and the ability to set up tackles. Speed threatens pocket width and causes oversetting, leading him to counter with an inside rush. Does so with a quick spin move or easy rip-through, displaying excellent hand usage. Awareness to get his arms up and bat passes in the screen/quick game. Read and react player as a stacked linebacker. Can stay clean on his path to the ball, arriving with solid form tackling. Good in underneath coverage, can hold the hook to curl, and man-matching tight ends. Carries routes with awareness, finding the ball and leveraging his instincts to interceptions. While he plays both positions with some desirable traits, uncertainty surrounds his ideal fit. Lacks some of the fluidity to be a three-down, off-ball linebacker while being undersized for an edge player. Can lose at the point of attack, proving incapable of setting a hard edge when on the line of scrimmage. Takes questionable pursuit angles in the open field. Windman shows the propensity to play multiple positions with authority. As an edge rusher, he menaces pass pro with speed and bend. As a stacked backer, he can diagnose and trigger with awareness and instincts, having a consistent nose for the football. Being a versatile turnover machine would correlate to a high draft positioning if not for his recent involvement in post-game antics. Windmon’s suspension following the Michigan game may have an impact on his standing as it relates to all-star game availability and thus makes his projection murky for the time being.
Grade:
3rd Round
Background
Impact linebacker transfer from UNLV joined the Spartans in January 2022 and participated in spring practice. Was named third-team preseason All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele. Windmon is tied as No. 1 for active FBS players for career forced fumbles (9), in addition to No. 4 for active FBS players for career forced fumbles/game (0.24). In addition, Windmon has 206 career tackles with 25.0 TFLs (139 yards), 17.5 sacks (116 yards), six pass break-ups, nine forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 36 career games with 26 career starts. Two-time UNLV Dean’s Honor List selection, in fall 2020 and spring 2021, majoring in human services, human development, and family studies major.
