NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis

Kyle Louis is a good athlete for a linebacker prospect and shows impressive ball skills to be a plus coverage defender in the NFL. Additionally, he has decent instincts against the run to be an intriguing developmental option if a team feels confident it can add weight to his 6'0", 220-pound frame.

The Pittsburgh product's college career began as a 3-star recruit in the 2022 high school class. He didn't play much during his first two years on campus, redshirting and primarily serving as a special teamer. However, Louis became a full-time starter in 2024 and burst onto the scene.

He managed to collect 101 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four interceptions (one pick-six), three passes defended and a forced fumble that year. His effort was good enough to earn first-team All-ACC and All-American honors.

This past season, the former Panther's production dipped a bit with 81 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three sacks, two interceptions, three PDs and one FF while playing in two fewer games, missing one with a concussion and sitting out of the bowl game. Still, he managed to receive first-team All-ACC recognition.

Matt Holder has been a part of B/R's Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don't Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.

Where He Wins

David Madison/Getty Images

- Louis has an impressive athletic profile, showing very good speed, acceleration and change-of-direction skills to stay in-phase against tight ends and running backs in man-coverage.

- Movement skills also allow him to tighten throwing windows in zone coverage or click and close to minimize yards after the catch.

- Plenty of speed to carry the seam.

- Locates the ball in the air with impressive ball production for a linebacker. Six interceptions and six passes defended over the last two seasons.

- Against the run, he has decent instincts knowing when to shoot gaps and getting unblocked tackles near the line of scrimmage.

- Solid at using his quickness and a shoulder-dip move to slip blocks in the run game.

- Good sideline-to-sideline range with his combination of speed and angles in pursuit.

- When blitzing, he can use his quickness to get pressure, has the speed to close on quarterbacks and force the ball out or get a sack as a free-rusher.

Areas of Improvement

Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images

- Louis is undersized and light. He's built more like a safety and plays like one, too.

- Not very physical when taking on blocks in the run game. He looks to work around blocks rather than take them on.

- Struggles to hold ground as a run-defender. He will get pushed around by offensive linemen and tight ends.

- Doesn't have pop behind his pads when coming downhill.

- Lack of size shows up when tackling running backs. He isn't going to knock anyone backward and will give up extra yards after contact at the next level.

- Subpar awareness in coverage, especially when playing zone. He'll get caught staring into the backfield, is slow to recognize pick routes/rub concepts and has a habit of vacating his area.

- Bites hard on play-action, too.

Grade, Rank, and Pro Comparison

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

GRADE: 6.3 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri (6.1 in 2024), DeMarvion Overshown, Texas (6.2 in 2023), D'Marco Jackson, Appalachian State (6.1 in 2022)

OVERALL RANK: 188

POSITION RANK: LB14

PRO COMPARISON: Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Measurables and Testing Data

Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 220
Hand: 9½"
Arm: 31¼"
Wingspan: N/A

40-Yard Dash: 4.53
10-Yard Split: 1.58
3-Cone: 6.97
Shuttle: 4.26
Vertical: 39.5"
Broad: 10'9"