From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder.
No. 30 JIMMY ROLDER/LB Michigan – 6024, 238 pounds (Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Jimmy Rolder 6024/238 9 3/4 30 1/2 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A 7.00
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’11” 36 N/A
THE GOOD
– Plays with good football intelligence to diagnose plays quickly and get into the right spots against run and short-intermediate passing situations
– Compact, fast-flow linebacker who can cover a lot of ground
– Shows good pursuit angles and motor to close space quickly
– Consistently wraps up and finishes tackles
– Magnetized to finding the ball
– Exceptional run recognition to come downhill in a hurry with closing speed
– Comfortable in close quarters and isn’t afraid to deliver big hits
– Able to shed blocks and play with leverage when engaged by bigger blockers
– Play speed shows up more than timed speed
– Drops into hook/curl zones to cut off passing lanes
– Can spy on mobile QB’s with above average lateral quickness
– Effective delayed blitzer
– Better working over the top than trying to stack against guards
– Can carry running backs vertically
– Made big plays in big games, causing turnovers
– Still very young and has a lot of room for growth
– Coaches and teammates rave about his studying habits and work ethic
THE BAD
– Average burst and agility for the position
– Below-average speed to cover tight ends and receivers
– Quickness in tight spaces and transition to coverage can be inconsistent
– Has shorter arms, which can cause him to lose the first contact battle at the LOS
– Will be tested by NFL teams on how well he can turn his hips and run with receivers
– Needs to work on block deconstruction to disengage more quickly
– Plays with tight ankles and below-average bend to move in space
– Run fits can feel random at times due to prolonged processing
– Can play too tall at times when trying to fit in gaps
– One-year production with only 11 career starts
– Previous injury concerns
STATS
– 11 career starts played in a total of 42 games (7 were special-teams only) in 4 years at Michigan
– Career: 909 total snaps
– 310 total special teams snaps (125 kick coverage, 68 punt return, 53 kick return, 51 FG block, 13 punt coverage)
– 118 total tackles (70 solo), 9 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 PDs, 1 INT, 0 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 75.5 completion percentage against, 91.8 passer rating against, 0 penalties, 1 TD allowed, 48 run stops, 8 missed tackles
– 2025: Started 11 games
– 73 total tackles (47 solo), 7 TFLs, 13 pressures, 2 sacks, 2 PDs, 0 INT, 80.6 completion percentage against, 93.4 passer rating against, 0 penalties, 1 TD allowed, 31 run stops, 4 missed tackles
– PFF: 80.0 run defense grade, 88.8 tackle grade, 60.5 pass rush grade, 48.7 coverage grade per PFF
INJURY HISTORY
– 2024: Missed the Washington game due to an undisclosed injury
– 2023: Limited to playing in six games due to injuries; extent or specifics of the injuries are unknown
BACKGROUND
– DOB: 2/9/2004 (22 years old)
– Went to Marist H.S. in Orland Park, IL
– 2025 2nd Team All-Big Ten selection
– Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2023-25)
– 2022 shared Special Teams Freshman of the Year honors
– Four-star recruit according to 247Sports
– Semifinalist for the Dick Buktus Award presented to the nation’s top H.S. linebacker
– 1st-Team All-State as a senior
– During his sophomore year, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and with uncertainty around his future football seasons, Rolder committed to play baseball at Illinois
– Stepfather (Scott) played at Illinois University and with the Miami Dolphins
– Enrolled in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business
– Completed multiple summer internships in wealth management and real estate and has become particularly interested in real estate investments
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Jimmy Rolder had an interesting journey at Michigan, finally getting the chance to start in his senior year, and he made the most of it, having a stellar season as the classic middle linebacker in their defense. He made his reputation as a special-teams ace for his first three seasons there and was the tone-setting depth piece who could help on run downs. This year, he put it all together and made huge improvements in important areas of his game. Rolder won’t ever be confused with the elite sideline-to-sideline freak athletes that exist at the position, but he’s a decent athlete that’s not a complete liability in coverage and wins with intelligence, strength, and technique.
He is an excellent run defender, able to sniff out plays and assignments as the green-dot communicator, and also to deconstruct blocks to get away from offensive linemen much bigger than he is.
pic.twitter.com/qd6OZhgeob
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 3, 2026
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— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 3, 2026
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— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 3, 2026
You can see that he is an effective blitzer with his short-area quickness and “hair-on-fire” mentality when coming downhill. Also, what was noticeable about him in general was that he’s pretty agile and slippery through any block to get around guys.
pic.twitter.com/yzVb2Ff5Ub
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 3, 2026
pic.twitter.com/hR6wzNwDgl
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 3, 2026
Rolder wasn’t asked to perform a lot of man coverage responsibilities at Michigan, but when he did, it was noticeable that he just doesn’t have great lateral quickness to keep up with speedier guys. He does much better when he can read and react, or when he’s in a zone he can hover in.
pic.twitter.com/jD1x99qsEa
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 3, 2026
CONCLUSION
Jimmy Rolder is a hardworking, instinctive linebacker with great production and technique as a run defender this past year with some optimistic playmaking ability. His toughness and football intelligence give him a high floor.
His average athleticism traits and learning curve for understanding coverage situations show he’ll need some developmental time to learn the speed of the game as a pass defender and how he can be utilized as a blitzer.
He has a clear fit as a buck linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has almost all the traits they look for in that position and is still young, with room to grow. The past injuries need clarity to avoid long-term concern. Rolder showed enough upside as a coverage defender to be a potential three-down linebacker, but he could come in and be a base/rotation linebacker on early downs with special teams value.
I can’t help but see, and it’s not just because he played at Michigan and for the Steelers, a modern-day Larry Foote when I watched Rolder. A guy who’s a tackling machine, a very smart football player, is reliable against the run, and can be solid but not great in coverage.
NFL Projection: Early-Mid Day 2
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.8 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.5 – 8.5
Games Watched: vs Ohio State (2025), at Michigan State (2025), vs Oregon (2024), vs Oregon (2024)
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