NFL Draft Profile: Yasir Abdullah, Linebacker, Louisville Cardinals
Yasir Abdullah
Louisville Cardinals
#22
Pos: LB
Ht: 6010
Wt: 237
Hand: 0928
Arm: 3238
Wing: 7918
40: 4.47
DOB: 4/12/2000
Hometown: Miramar, FL
High School: Carol City
Eligibility: 2023
One-Liner:
An overhang who can rush the passer, play the run and drop into coverage efficiently.
Evaluation:
Solid musculature with room to add mass in his lower half. Not a pure edge defender, shows the ability to drop into boundary coverage and maintain the edge along with his pass rush responsibility. A sure tackler when it comes to run defense. Able to deploy him in zone coverage with confidence thanks to his functional athleticism. Spot drops into sight lines and can break up passes or even intercept the passers. Best when allowed to get out of his two-point stance and burst upfield. Shows the propensity to generate pressure as a designed looper, using closing speed to collapse pocket width. Can run the arc and flatten down the line en route to the quarterback. Timely hands that will bat down the ball at the line of scrimmage. Very little threat as a pass rusher when he can't win with get-off. Doesn't work many moves and will seldom convert speed to power or win with a bull rush. Tends to lag in his awareness, can be slow to react or get downfield on big runs. Tweener in every sense. A multidimensional player who thrives in head-down rushes or boundary zone coverage. Abdullah has some solid traits but is sort of a tweener in both build and skillset, with the need to add power and rush moves as a pass rusher in order to take the next step.
Grade:
5th Round
Background:
Originally from Miramar, Florida. Attended Carol City High School, and was rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. Committed to Louisville. During his freshman year, played in eleven games and had eight tackles. Had an outstanding sophomore season, playing in all thirteen games and had forty-five tackles. During his junior year, started seven games, and had thirty-three tackles and three sacks. Had a very strong redshirt junior year, leading the team with ten sacks. Was a part of the second-team All-ACC. Decided to use his extra year of eligibility. Had a strong season, finishing with fifty-seven tackles and eight sacks. Declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was projected as a fifth-round pick.
