Prospect Watch list - Danny Stutsman
As the College Football season draws to a close, its time to start focusing on the players who are potentially going to go Pro in 2024. We try to identify those with the talents that translate well from college to Pro, with the potential to reach elite heights in the NFL.
For the next couple of weeks, we will be putting a spotlight on prospects we consider to have the potential to be the future All Pros and Hall of Famers if it all falls right.
Today, our spotlight shines on...
Danny Stutsman
Position: Line-backer
Team: Oklahoma
HT/WT: 6’4” , 241lbs
Pro Comp: Blake Martinez – Green Bay Packers & New York Giants.
Scouting Report
• Ferocious tackling machine
• Plays every snap like his roster spot is on the line
• Supreme defender against the run; sets the edge well and can shed blocks with ease
• Decisive and elite playing speed when moving both side-line to side-line and vertically into the backfield
• Quick play recognition that allows him to track and tackle decisively
Stutsman was named one of 12 semi-finalists for the Lombardi Award in 2023. Exudes discipline and character off the field and on field is an outstanding performer with his all action play style that’s characterised by controlled aggression and has been a key cog in Brett Venables’ defence. He has shown tangible improvements from year 1 to year 2 in the defensive system which shows his ability to learn, process and then develop his game.
He might fall down to the later rounds of the draft due to analytics leaning teams devaluing the “Off-Ball” Line-backer position but he’s a worthy first rounder who’ll be an intense tone-setter and standard raiser for a defensive unit for years to come.