The Chicago Bears enter training camp with two of the three starting linebacker positions filled in. T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds are expected to lead the unit and play nearly every defensive snap, leaving one vacancy remaining. The Bears have a competition between three players for the number-three linebacker spot to replace Jack Sanborn, including a rookie.
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Chicago Bears drafted a Big 10 star
Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Ruben Hyppolite II
Sep 21, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (4) pictured before a game against the Villanova Wildcats at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears drafted middle linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II 132nd overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He had a strong five-year tenure with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, recording 236 tackles, 13 TFLs, three sacks, one interception, six pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 51 games and 46 starts. Hyppolite had a great senior season, recording 66 tackles, seven TFLs, one interception, and two pass deflections in 12 games.
Hyppolite is known for his speed and athleticism, having run a 4.39 40-yard dash and scoring an impressive 8.23 RAS. However, the Scarlet Knights’ standout is considered undersized at 5-foot-11 and needs to improve in tackling and coverage.
Chicago Bears’ late-round steal is in line to start in 2025
Chicago Bears, Ruben Hyppolite II
May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (47) warms up during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Ruben Hyppolite II has filled in as the starting weakside linebacker during the spring with T.J. Edwards sidelined due to a soft tissue injury. According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, the fourth-round pick has impressed the coaching staff and is the frontrunner for the starting number-three linebacker spot.
“Ben Johnson singled out Hyppolite as the player that Bears coaches saw the most improvement from this spring. With veteran T.J. Edwards sidelined with a soft tissue injury, Hyppolite got a lot of run with the starting defense at a position he doesn’t have much experience at (weakside linebacker) after playing middle linebacker throughout his career at Maryland,” Cronin said.
“While the search for Chicago’s No. 3 linebacker isn’t the sexiest of position battles, Hyppolite—a fourth-rounder with a 4.39 second 40 time—made early impressions on the coaching staff. ‘He’s done a great job adjusting to that speed as we’ve gone through, and that’s going to have to show up once we do get the pads on,’ Johnson said. ‘But I think he’s been improving every single day, and really, we’re hoping that course continues.'”
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