NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott

Matt HolderApr 16, 2026

Keyshaun Elliott is an athletic linebacker with good instincts against the run. Those traits make the 6'2", 231-pound Arizona State product a draftable prospect and a player NFL coaching staffs will likely be interested in molding into a quality defender and special teams contributor.

As part of the 2022 high school class, Elliott was a 3-star recruit and began his college career at New Mexico State. He was a rotational player as a true freshman and became a starter in Year 2 with the Aggies, collecting 138 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, six passes defended and a forced fumble in 27 games.

The 2023 second-team All-Conference USA performer then transferred to ASU and started the majority of the last two seasons. He ended up recording 168 tackles, 18.0 TFLs, nine sacks, an interception and four PDs over 25 games in Tempe, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors this past fall.

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

1 of 4

2024 Big 12 Championship - Iowa State v Arizona State

Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

- Elliott has good instincts as a run defender to quickly key and diagnose play designs, and has solid speed to capitalize by beating blockers to the spot and making unblocked tackles near the line of scrimmage.

- Also recognizes when he can shoot gaps against the run.

- Speed helps him close on ball-carriers (against the run and in coverage) and presents decent sideline-to-sideline range.

- Uses his hands to take on blocks, allowing him to occasionally use an offensive lineman's momentum against them to escape when mirroring running backs on zone runs.

- Has some power when blitzing to run through running backs in pass protection and get sacks as a pass-rusher.

- High-effort player, who is constantly pursuing the football.

Areas of Improvement

2 of 4

2024 Big 12 Championship - Iowa v Arizona State

Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

- Elliott has short arms for an NFL linebacker, limiting how much extension he can get on blocks and making it difficult to stack and shed.

- Will get pushed around when taking on blocks from offensive linemen or good blocking tight ends.

- Awareness in zone coverage is poor; he has bad eye-discipline to locate threats and will lose his man, resulting in mental lapses and giving up explosive plays. Covers grass too often.

- Isn't consistent about getting to his landmarks and will drift out of his area.

- Quick to leave his man and collapse on scrambling quarterbacks.

- Doesn't bring his feet with him when tackling, leading to misses or extra yards after contact.