NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for USC LB Eric Gentry

Matt HolderApr 16, 2026

Eric Gentry made waves in the NFL draft community for his impressive frame and excellent length. He's also a good athlete to pique the league's interest. But it's fair to question if that's enough to deserve even being drafted because the tape is rather underwhelming.

The 6'7", 221-pound linebacker was a 3-star recruit in the 2021 high school class and originally attended Arizona State. He spent one season with the Sun Devils, playing in 12 games (four starts) and racking up 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and two passes defended.

Gentry transferred to USC the following year, where he spent the last four seasons. He participated in 40 games with 26 starts, collecting 226 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, eight sacks, two interceptions, 11 PDs and nine FF for the Trojans.

He missed the majority of the 2024 campaign with a "series of concussions", but earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2025.

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

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- Gentry has a great frame with very long arms and plenty of room to add weight.

- Good overall athlete, who moves well to develop as a coverage defender down the line.

- Long strides increase his sideline-to-sideline range, with the speed to carry the seam in Tampa 2.

- Uses a decent shoulder-dip move to make offensive linemen miss occasionally on the second level.

- Arm length helps increase his tackle radius.

- Good at punching the ball out on tackle attempts. He led the Big Ten with five forced fumbles in 2025.

- USC used him in a variety of ways, from an off-ball linebacker to covering the slot and working off the edge. As such, Gentry brings some position and scheme versatility.

Areas of Improvement

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- Gentry is far too lean, especially for his stature, to be on the field during early downs in the NFL. He's built more like a basketball player, with the need to add build and strength.

- Instincts are lacking in both phases of the game. He often covers grass and is slow to key and diagnose run plays.

- Doesn't use his hands to take on blocks, preventing him from taking advantage of his long arms and getting extension.

- Has a habit of lunging and leaving his feet to make tackles, leading to misses.

- Lacks physicality in general.

- Potential injury concerns, with a concussion history and missed three games in 2022 due to ankle surgery.