Chris Cole LB Georgia |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #9 PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.55 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #9 | |
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.55 seconds (88%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
87.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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88% |
| Pass Rush: |
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86% |
| Run Defense: |
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96% |
| Coverage: |
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77% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#23
Position rank:
#5 (LB)
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| College Games: 31 College Snaps: 886 | ||
ESPN RATING: 90/100
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jihaad Campbell - Alabama |
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87% |
| Nolan Smith - Georgia |
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86% |
| Edgerrin Cooper - Texas A&M |
|
82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Chris Cole was the top-rated player in Virginia and a five-star recruit at Salem High School, where he moved from defensive back to linebacker as a junior and was a first-team all-state pick and a Butkus Award semifinalist. He played in the Under Armour All-America Game, won a state track title as a freshman and set his school's record in the 60-meter hurdles. He chose Georgia over Miami, Penn State and Tennessee.Cole played in all 14 games as a freshman in 2024, making 16 tackles, tying for the team lead with two fumble recoveries and earning SEC All-Freshman honors. In 2025 he made one start in 14 games but finished with 59 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a team-high 4.5 sacks, tying his career high with seven tackles in the Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss.
Cole has become one of the best defenders in the country in 2026. Against Oklahoma he sacked the quarterback and returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown, adding a second fumble recovery in a 41-13 win, and at Alabama he made eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups to earn Bednarik Award national player of the week honors. He made double-digit tackles against Auburn and a sack and a fumble recovery against Florida, and he was a first-team midseason All-American. In February he was arrested in Athens on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and speeding; no team discipline was reported.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for an off-ball linebacker, carrying seams and matching backs in space
- Returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown against Oklahoma
- Eight tackles, a sack and two breakups in the win at Alabama
- Generated 24 pressures this season as a blitzer from off the ball
- Versatile hybrid who lines up off the ball, in the slot and on the edge
- First-team midseason All-American in his first year as a full-time starter
- Reliable finisher, with five missed tackles in eight games
- Reroutes tight ends and backs at the line with physical hands
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Block-shedding can be tested by climbing guards at the second level
- Lighter frame than most every-down inside linebackers, so guards can wash him out
- Arrested in February for reckless driving and speeding
Scouting Report: Summary
Cole is a fast, versatile linebacker who has gone from part-time player to one of the most disruptive defenders in the country in a single season. He carries seams, matches backs in space and blitzes with timing, and he lines up off the ball, in the slot and on the edge for one of the sport's best defenses.The 2026 tape is loud. He sacked the Oklahoma quarterback and returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown, made eight tackles and a sack in the win at Alabama to earn national player of the week honors and had double-digit tackles against Auburn. He has 24 pressures and four sacks in eight games and has allowed only nine catches on 13 targets. Kirby Smart has called him the hardest worker on the team, and the effort shows on tape when he chases plays down from the back side. Those big days came against SEC opponents Oklahoma, Alabama and Auburn.
However, there are a few questions. He plays with a lighter frame than most every-down inside linebackers, so climbing guards can get into his body and wash him out of run fits, and he wins with speed more than point-of-attack power. His run defense is good rather than great when he has to take on blocks head-on. He was also arrested in February on misdemeanor reckless driving and speeding charges, and while no team discipline was reported, teams will ask about it.
Overall, Cole is a modern three-down linebacker who covers, rushes the passer and moves around the formation, the profile NFL defenses want against spread offenses. He projects as a first-round linebacker and a day-one starter whose ceiling is a defensive centerpiece if he adds strength at the point of attack. Producing 24 pressures while allowing only nine catches in coverage shows the range NFL teams pay for at the position.
How other scouting services rate Chris Cole (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
24.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.