UCLA Football: NFL Draft Profile - LB Jayon Brown

In Jayon Brown’s first two seasons in Westwood, he had primarily been a special teams player, but, when Myles Jack was lost in 2015 due to a knee injury, Jayon was the guy who was asked to step up.

As a result, Brown started nine games in 2015 and he made the most of the opportunity by leading the Bruins with 93 tackles. Brown followed his junior season with an even better senior season where he made 119 tackles, which is 16th most in a single season in UCLA history. Brown was in the top 15 nationwide in solo tackles per game and total tackles per game. That earned Brown a first team all-conference selection.

While one of the best attributes Jayon possesses is his overall positive attitude, let’s take a look at his strengths and weaknesses on the field.

Strengths

Brown’s biggest strength on the field is his nose for the ball. He’s very good at finding his way to the ball carrier to make a stop. He’s also good at finding the throwing lane in passing situations. His special teams experience could prove to be key if Brown is to earn a roster spot.

Weaknesses

Brown’s biggest weakness is his size. NFL.com says that he’s “[v]ery small. Built more like a strong safety.” His lack of size can make it difficult for him to bring bigger running backs down. The fact that he never forced a fumble at UCLA is also seen as one of Brown’s weaknesses as NFL teams look for defenders who can create turnovers.

Projection

NFL.com projects him as a sixth or seventh round selection.

That may prove to be the case, but, as we saw last year, the third day of the draft can get a little crazy. So, it’s possible Brown could be selected in the fourth or fifth round or he could end up as an undrafted free agent.


Go Bruins!!!