Bryce Boettcher
Indianapolis ColtsOur College Grade
How good he was in college at what his position is supposed to do, out of 100. Scored against everyone else at his position, adjusted for the level he played at. This is not his NFL grade.
College Production
Oregon · Pac-12
| Season | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | Hur | PD | INT | Pos Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 37 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 371 | |
| 2024 | 87 | 7 | 2.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 38 |
| 2025 | 132 | 6 | 1.0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 43 |
The seasons in our college data. It does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Scouting Report
Oregon · 2026 draft class
Bryce Boettcher is one of the most compelling stories in the 2026 draft class as a walk-on turned Burlsworth Trophy winner and dual-sport star who was also drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. A former three-star quarterback recruit Boettcher walked on at Oregon after head coach Dan Lanning held an open tryout and converted to inside linebacker in 2023 while simultaneously playing four seasons of college baseball as a center fielder. He produced back-to-back 90-plus tackle seasons recording 104 tackles 4 TFL and 1 sack in 2025 after posting 94 tackles 8 TFL 2 sacks and an 89.8 PFF grade in 2024. His dual-sport background gives him rare ball-tracking ability that translates to batting passes and making plays on the ball in coverage. He is a quick trigger downhill defender who meets running backs in the hole with force firing as a human missile when shooting gaps. His coverage ability is strong with quick transitions from backpedal to forward drive and good eyes to tighten throwing windows in zone. Dan Lanning said he wished he had a million Bryce Boettchers reflecting his motor leadership and special teams versatility. However at 6-2 and 225-232 pounds with shorter arms he is undersized for an NFL linebacker. His block-shedding technique is underdeveloped and he struggles when larger blockers clamp down on his pads. He bites on play action too frequently and lacks the range to recover. His PFF grade dipped from 89.8 to 77.3 between 2024 and 2025. At 24 years old as a rookie his developmental ceiling is limited. Bleacher Report ranked him 167th overall and LB13 comparing him to Cole Holcomb.
Strengths
- Elite dual-sport athleticism as both an NFL linebacker prospect and MLB draft pick
- Strong coverage ability with quick backpedal-to-forward-drive transitions
- Exceptional ball-tracking skills from outfielder background translating to pass breakups
- Relentless high motor with leadership commanding the defense pre-snap
- Quick trigger downhill firing into gaps and meeting runners with force
- Screen and play recognition attacking quickly and disrupting behind the line
- Block shedding on initial contact with enough pop to separate from larger blockers
- Extensive special teams experience across all units providing immediate roster value
- Back-to-back seasons of 90-plus tackles showing consistent production
Concerns
- Undersized at 6-2 225-232 with shorter arms for an NFL linebacker
- Underdeveloped block-shedding technique struggling when blockers clamp down
- Takes steep pursuit angles that take him out of plays with limited recovery speed
- Lacks burst-and-twitch to mirror elite athletes in man coverage
- Bites on play action and misdirection too frequently lacking range to recover
- Will be 24-year-old rookie limiting developmental ceiling
- PFF grade dropped from 89.8 to 77.3 between 2024 and 2025
- Below-average upper body strength and limited extension getting stuck on blocks
Honors
Burlsworth Trophy winner (2024). Second-team All-Big Ten (2024 2025). 13th round MLB Draft pick Houston Astros (2024). ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove outfielder