Cody Simon LB Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Cody Simon LB Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/03/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (94%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 03/03/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (94%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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78% |
| Pass Rush: |
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92% |
| Run Defense: |
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95% |
| Coverage: |
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80% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#126
Position rank:
#10
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| College Games: 52 College Snaps: 1725 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#138
Pos Rank:
#12
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 95/100
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| Ovr Rank: #98 Pos Rank: #6 | ||
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Edgerrin Cooper - Texas A&M |
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89% |
| Channing Tindall - Georgia |
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79% |
| Nolan Smith - Georgia |
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75% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Cody Simon came out of high school as the 9th-ranked outside linebacker nationally and New Jersey's 3rd-ranked prospect. Simon arrived with the pedigree you'd expect from an Ohio State linebacker. His collegiate career spanned five seasons with the Buckeyes, playing in 44 games while starting just 15.After cutting his teeth on special teams as a freshman in 2020, Simon broke through in 2021 with 10 starts and 54 tackles before an injury sidelined him for the Rose Bowl. The next season saw him take a step back in the rotation, but the resilient linebacker never disappeared from the equation. He bounced back in 2023, recording career-highs with 57 tackles (24 solo) and delivering a statement performance with 12 tackles in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri. His fifth year proved to be his finest, culminating in a Rose Bowl Defensive MVP performance against Oregon where he racked up 11 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 2 sacks on the biggest stage.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Moves like a safety in a linebacker's body – his 4.5 forty time translates to sideline-to-sideline range that jumps off the screen when he's hunting down ball carriers.
- Natural run defender with instinctive gap recognition – consistently takes proper angles and arrives with bad intentions when filling against inside zone schemes.
- Blitzes with controlled violence – times his rushes masterfully and converts speed to power, as evidenced by his two-sack demolition of Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
- Disruptive force when attacking downhill – triggers without hesitation once he diagnoses the play and shows some nasty when he shoots gaps.
- Brings the hammer as a tackler in tight spaces – closes with explosive burst and drives his hips through contact rather than lunging like many undersized 'backers.
- Possesses rare comfort in coverage for a run-first defender – fluid in zone drops with natural feel for passing windows and leveraging routes appropriately.
- Special teams demon who thrives in chaos – consistently first man downfield on punt coverage with the mentality of a heat-seeking missile in open space.
- Instincts shines on critical downs – consistently makes pre-snap adjustments and communicates with secondary, putting teammates in position to succeed.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized frame at 229 pounds shows up against offensive linemen – gets engulfed by climbing guards and struggles to maintain his anchor when directly challenged.
- Needs significant refinement in stack-and-shed technique – still learning to use his hands to disengage rather than trying to sidestep blocks with pure athleticism.
- Occasional overaggression leads to vulnerability against misdirection – his downhill trigger works against him when offenses design counters or draw plays his way.
- Limited starting experience (only 15 starts in 44 games) raises legitimate questions about his readiness for consistent three-down responsibilities.
- Tackling can be feast or famine – arrives with excellent positioning but occasionally fails to wrap up, leading to missed opportunities in space that won't fly at the next level.
Scouting Report: Summary
Simon brings a skill set tailor-made for specific roles rather than three-down dominance. His film reveals a linebacker with two clear calling cards – attacking downhill against the run and bringing heat as a blitzer. These attributes provide a foundation to build upon while he earns his stripes on special teams, where his combination of intelligence and athleticism should make him an immediate contributor.The tape tells a story of a player whose impact fluctuates dramatically depending on what he's asked to do. When deployed as a run-stopper or blitzer, Simon shows flashes of brilliance, like his standout Rose Bowl performance against Oregon. When forced to play in space or take on blocks directly, the limitations become apparent. This inconsistency explains why he never fully claimed a permanent starting role at Ohio State despite his athletic tools and playmaking ability.
At the next level, Simon projects as a core special teamer who will need time to develop into a defensive contributor. Defensive coordinators who employ aggressive, multiple-front schemes could find situational roles for him early in his career on obvious running downs or as a blitz specialist. His ceiling appears to be as a rotational linebacker who excels in specific packages while contributing on special teams. With proper coaching focused on his block-shedding and coverage consistency, Simon could develop into a valuable defensive piece within his first contract, but patience will be required.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Cody Simon percentiles vs other Linebackers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Cody Simon (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
134.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*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.