Film Don't Lie | Jaylen Sneed
“We’re going to recruit really well. I’m going to try and outwork you in recruiting, so that over time, we step on the field and have an advantage. That’s a belief of mine. We’re going to out-recruit the guys we are going against.”
It turns out Marcus Freeman is about substance and not just talk when it comes to one of his core philosophies. He wants to have an advantage with players better than his opponent and he just added another one in linebacker Jaylen Sneed.
Sneed is one of the top linebacker prospects in the country and adding him an already impressive group just took Notre Dame’s 2022 class up a level.
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 215
Projected Position: Linebacker
ISD Grade: 94 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 94.7 (4-star)
What he does best:
He’s an elite athlete. That shows up with everything he does on the field. He can run plays down from the backside that many would have no shot at and his speed makes him a lethal blitzer.
His twitch is outstanding. Sneed played with his hand in the dirt as a junior and the snap anticipation he displayed was exceptional.
He has an incredibly high upside as a pass rusher. He can line up on the ball and be a difficult matchup for tackles.
Sneed can thrive in space. He has the length and physicality to match up with tight ends and his ability to change directions so fluidly allows him to mirror backs. This play where he is running full speed and has to pivot and explode to chase down the cutback is as good as any play he might make behind the line of scrimmage.
This probably would have been six points if he wasn’t a freak athlete.
What he needs to improve:
He needs to become more physical with block destruction. His lateral agility and speed helps him slip blocks, but he has to become better with his hands when he gets locked up.
He’s such a great athlete that he’s more reactive than instinctive. If he can improve his recognition, he can take his game up another level.
What’s his ceiling?
Sneed could develop into one of the top linebackers in the country. He has plus potential in every aspect of his game and is versatile enough to be successful in just about any scheme.
He’s absolutely an elite prospect that is athletic enough to succeed at Rover and Will linebacker.
Who he could be:
Former Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds