Kyle Louis A Fun Linebacker To Watch
April 3rd, 2026
Pitt LB Kyle Louis.
Lord knows the Bucs need a linebacker. And when Derrick Brooks’ name is invoked, Joe’s antennae are up.
And speaking of up, former Pitt defensive back, Bill Belicheat and Nick Saban protégé and former NFL personnel suit Louis Riddick of ESPN pitches a tent for Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis. So much so Riddick thinks he is the next Derrick Brooks.
The reference is to a guy who many NFL people may want — and wanted — to turn into a safety due to his size but is a gamewrecker with his speed as a linebacker.
And it seems Riddick’s ESPN colleague Ben Solak also is a big fan of Louis. Solak put together a list of his favorite tape of college palyers at each position. At linebacker is Louis.
You have to trust the tape on Louis, who tipped the scales in Indianapolis at 220 pounds. Only 11 linebackers have been lighter at the NFL combine since 1999.
That is not linebacker weight in the NFL, as the only guys playing at that size are safety converts like Ronnie Harrison Jr. and Jamien Sherwood.
To that point, Louis was often used by Pitt as an overhang defender — an alignment filled in the NFL by a variety of slot corners or box safeties. This allowed Louis to chase plays into the boundary unblocked, or chase down runs from the backside unimpeded. It tested him in coverage but Louis responded well to that ask, with the explosive change-of-direction skills of a true defensive back. …
Louis looks and plays and moves and acts like a supersize box safety. I think he can be a Joshua Metellus-like player — a “safety” who spends most of his time lined up on the edge, taking on tight ends in both the running and passing game. But that’s only if he lands in a Brian Flores-esque defense, which has that critical third safety role for him. In a Jim Schwartz-style system, he’d have to become Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the speedy pursuit ‘backer whose game is built on penetration.
Louis is a true tweener, and his landing spot will determine what position he plays in the NFL. He has the speed, open-field tackling and disposition to stick on special teams for a long time, which will help him grow into whatever unique NFL job awaits him.
Solak seems to think Louis is a Day 2 pick, maybe early Day 3. Riddick is a bit higher on Louis. Joe doesn’t know if that is Riddick’s eye for talent or his Pitt homerism, which is OK in Joe’s book.
The thing Joe learned a long time ago from famed baseball manager Whitey Herzog is that speed kills. You cannot coach it up. You cannot manufacture it. Either a guy has it or he doesn’t.
And if you don’t have speed to combat an opponent’s speed, you are SOL in a big way.
Kyle Louis – Nickel – Pittsburgh
Some game film of Louis to illustrate his recognition and burst downhill to get after the football. Louis is slotted as a Day 2 or 3 pick after a accomplished career at Pittsburgh that included 200 tackles, 25 TFL's, 10 Sacks and 6 INT's. pic.twitter.com/rCTZdWp5ue— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) March 25, 2026
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:13 am
Is there such a thing as a nickel LB?
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:20 am
Bucs said they wanted to get bigger, Louis doesn’t fit that mold. Speed kills, but size matters. When we’re talking about the NFL level, you should be able to find a player who has both.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:22 am
Please, no more small linebackers and edges. Please, no more position conversions. Draft what they play and not make them into something else.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:32 am
I said he was probably gonna start to move up, too!
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:36 am
He’s on my list of players I want the Bucs to avoid — along with DE Faulk and DT Woods.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 am
Mark Baron started as an oversized safety and wound up as a smallish linebacker. This guy will probably start as an undersized linebacker and wind up as a big safety.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:58 am
Bowles has had a player like Kyle Louis before, that same player was actually a Buc for a hot second and his name is Deone Buchannon. Also did the same with JJ Wilcox with the Jets.
What makes Louis different, is that he’s already an LB who just so happens to excel in coverage. I’d bet he’d be the stack backer if he were to join up, that’s the ILB that lines up behind the 3-tech opposite side of where the TE lines up.
That way, a tandem like he AND Anzalone could potential help improve our efforts securing the seams and taking all that BS that’s eaten us up the last few seasons.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:59 am
“Mark Baron started as an oversized safety and wound up as a smallish linebacker.”
Moneybacker/$LB
We kind of used Jordan Whitehead like that also, not full-time because we didn’t need to, but seeing Whitehead in the box you’d know the potential to hear pads pop went way up.
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:03 am
Didn’t see one tackle of a RB coming downhill on him. Lots of bad o line players from low level teams. I’d stay away unless you want a chess piece to move all over the place
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:27 am
nawl…hard pass…just not what we need right now…
the theme for this year is violence!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:23 am
We had no idea what to do with Mark Barron. Why draft his clone? Good player for college. NFL not so much. He would be good for a creative DC, which we lack. It’s a good year for LBs. Does it make any sense to draft a tweener? I guess it is a JL genius pick. Whoops, outsmarted myself again.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:40 am
Speed kills, so too does a tarp!
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:58 am
If they are going to take two linebackers, he would be a great 2nd choice. He’s a playmaker.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:03 am
Harold Perkins seems similar. Either would be great in the third. Hill would be tough to pass up in the second if he’s there, however.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:23 am
I see him as a ILB in a 3rd down sub package not an early down guy. For a third down coverage (RB and TE) guy, I’d rather go with a strong box safety like A.J. Haulcey from LSU. Both Louis and Halcey are graded as late 2nd, early 3rd round guys, so a little expensive for me as limited role players.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:46 am
Love Louis!
He would help solve the long lasting issue of coverage in the middle of the field. He can play LBer, but also in nickel situations they can kick Parrish outside and Louis can cover TEs, RBs and slot receivers.
The guy is the best cover LBer in the draft and it’s not close.
April 3rd, 2026 at 11:36 am
All the cut up showed was him rushing the passer. and he looked small doing it.
April 3rd, 2026 at 12:02 pm
The Bucs defense is famous for being coached to chase down receivers and running backs from behind, so he sounds like a great fit. Increase his tackle whiffing percentage and he’s perfect for the current scheme.
April 3rd, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Love the player, though think we need a more ‘traditional’ FT LB like Hill Jr, Rodriguez, Trotter, etc in round 2. Would be pleased to have Kyle Louis as a second LB pick in this deep class. Sadly though think we have more needs than picks.
April 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Kyle Louis is probably a better SS than Linebacker
But you can use him as a ILB in certain packages, schemes
Personally, l hope the Bucs draft him
April 3rd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
I like his skill set… i prefer speed over size at that position. It’s a spread game and you have to be able to diagnosis and move. I hope we draft at least two LBs. Plus I think this cat could be good on special teams.
April 3rd, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Anybody remember how Mark Baron from Alabama played out for us? No thanks.
April 3rd, 2026 at 6:43 pm
He’s my top pick at LB. The Bucs history with undersized, fast, coverage first LBs is pretty dang good.
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:14 pm
You almost won’t be able to see him under a 330lb. guard pancake. Already have part-time edge, might as well have part-time ILB. Nobody will know what we’re doing. Whoops, outsmarted ourselves again.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Scouting report…
“He is undersized, and he can struggle at times when lineman get their hands on him on run plays. If he is free he hits the gap hard, but once engaged he attempts to use his strong hands to fight away. He can cover in the long-term against tight ends but can also struggle in man against them at the line of scrimmage if they overpower him initially. Speed and savvy can often overshadow these size and strength hitches in his game, but they could be exposed more at the next level.”
Who is he? Lavonte David.
If you’re actually a Bucs fan, you know the Bucs record with undersized, fast, coverage first LBs – it’s pretty dang good.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:39 am
Pass unless he is BPA in later rounds. Cant trust Bowles and staff to develope anyone.