Teddye Buchanan LB California | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Teddye Buchanan LB California
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/15/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (59%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 02/15/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (59%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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84% |
| Pass Rush: |
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78% |
| Run Defense: |
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75% |
| Coverage: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#222
Position rank:
#20
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| College Games: 48 College Snaps: 2458 | ||
247 RATING: 81/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.2 (85%)
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Draft Profile: Bio
From the competitive West Catholic Athletic League to the bright lights of Power 5 football, Teddye Buchanan's path to the NFL draft showcases a relentless pursuit of growth. The Palo Alto native dominated both sides of the ball at St. Ignatius High School, where he earned Player of the Year honors in both the Central Coast Section and WCAL.After choosing UC Davis, Buchanan quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Aggies' defense. His trajectory accelerated from making his collegiate debut with five tackles against Idaho to earning the Mike Wise Award as Most Outstanding Freshman. By 2023, he had developed into one of the Big Sky Conference's premier defenders, anchoring the defense with 71 tackles while displaying a knack for creating turnovers that would become his trademark. His selection to the Big Sky U leadership series in the "Aspiring Administrators and Coaches" track highlighted his growing influence within the program.
The decision to transfer to California for his final season opened a new chapter in Buchanan's football journey. His impact was immediate, starting with a nine-tackle performance in the season opener against his former team. As the season progressed, Buchanan's presence in the middle of Cal's defense became increasingly vital, culminating in First Team All-ACC recognition. His versatility showed through in several statement games, including a career-high 15 tackles against NC State and a dominant showing at Auburn where he registered 11 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and forced a fumble that shifted the game's momentum.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Processes quickly in zone coverage - watch how he anticipates the throw and jumps the seam route against Sacramento State for his second INT of the game
- Shows surprising juice as a blitzer when given clear lanes - timed up multiple pressures against Miami's protection schemes
- Takes efficient angles to the football - consistently puts himself in position to make plays on the perimeter
- Rarely fooled by misdirection or play-action
- Reliable wrap-up tackler who drives through contact - showed up repeatedly on crucial third downs against NC State
- Plays with good discipline against the run - maintains gap integrity and doesn't often overrun his fits
- Natural feel for underneath coverage zones - understands how to relate to multiple receivers in his area
- Special teams experience and mentality - projects as an immediate four-phase contributor
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Limited ability to stack and shed - offensive linemen at Auburn and FSU consistently overwhelmed him at the point of attack
- Average lateral movement skills show up in space - struggled to match more dynamic backs in man coverage
- Lacks ideal size and length for the position - will face challenges against NFL tight ends
- Takes the occasional false step in coverage - that wheel route against FSU exposed his diagnostic limitations
- Can get caught in the wash against power run schemes - needs to improve block destruction technique
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape shows a player who understands his limitations and plays within himself. His success at Cal wasn't flashy, but rather built on consistent execution and football intelligence. In the NFL, he projects best as a backup who can contribute immediately on special teams while developing into a situational defender.Teams running heavy zone coverage schemes might see more immediate value, as Buchanan's processing speed and reliable tackling could make him serviceable in subordinate packages. The athleticism constraints will likely prevent him from becoming a full-time starter, but his film shows enough awareness and technical soundness to contribute in a specific role.
Bottom line - Buchanan is a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect who could stick around the league for several years as a core special teamer and defensive depth piece. His transition from FCS to Power 5 football demonstrated both his capacity to adapt and his athletic limitations. Smart defensive coordinators will find ways to utilize his football IQ while protecting him from unfavorable matchups.
How other scouting services rate Teddye Buchanan (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
247.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
31.0
*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.