TJ Dottery LB LSU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #6 PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.63 seconds (73%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #6 | |
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.63 seconds (73%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
79.8 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
|
76% |
| Pass Rush: |
|
74% |
| Run Defense: |
|
71% |
| Coverage: |
|
87% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#249
Position rank:
#31 (LB)
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| College Games: 38 College Snaps: 2109 | ||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Bassa - Oregon |
|
87% |
| Marist Liufau - Notre Dame |
|
86% |
| Dallas Gant - Toledo |
|
85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Formerly known as TJ Dudley, TJ Dottery made 381 career tackles at Montgomery Catholic High School in Alabama, earning all-state honors three times, and was a four-star recruit. He also played basketball, reaching the 2021 state final.He redshirted at Clemson in 2022 and was dismissed in 2023 after what Dabo Swinney described as a violation of team rules. Dottery moved to Ole Miss, played in the Peach Bowl that season, then started 12 games in 2024 and all 15 in 2025, leading the SEC with 98 tackles.
Dottery moved on to LSU for his last season and has been the starting middle linebacker. He forced two fumbles against Louisiana Tech and made double-digit tackles in both the 35-34 loss at Kentucky on 10 October and the 31-0 win over Mississippi State a week later. He has also produced 14 pressures as a blitzer.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Much improved in coverage, allowing 13 catches on 22 targets for 120 yards
- Forced two fumbles in a single game against Louisiana Tech
- Effective blitzer who timed his rush well for five pressures against Clemson
- Productive tackler who led the SEC in tackles in 2025
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Very light for an off-ball linebacker, and blockers can engulf him
- Missed six tackles this season, including two in the game at Auburn
- Coverage struggled for two years at Ole Miss before this season's jump
- Dismissal from Clemson in 2023 will draw questions from teams
- Gets caught on blocks against power run games, as Texas A&M showed
Scouting Report: Summary
Dottery is a productive, experienced linebacker who has taken a real step in coverage at LSU. He reads routes better than he did at Ole Miss, has the speed to carry backs and tight ends, and adds value as a blitzer, with five pressures against Clemson in the opener.However, he is light for the position and can get swallowed by blockers, especially against power runs. His tackling has slipped at times, and teams will want to understand his dismissal from Clemson in 2023.
Overall, Dottery brings production, experience and improving coverage skills. He projects as a priority free agent linebacker who can help on special teams as he gets stronger.
How other scouting services rate TJ Dottery (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
263.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
33.0
*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.