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, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
No. 3 Kaleb Elarms-Orr/LB TCU – 6020, 234 pounds (Fifth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Kaleb Elarms-Orr 6020/234 9″ 31 1/2 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.47 1.59 4.41 N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’4″ 40″ N/A
The Good
– High-end straight line speed
– Explosive lower-body power that allows him to cover sideline-to-sideline
– Shows a good understanding of route concepts and zone integrity
– Rarely gets caught with his eyes in the backfield or fooled by eye-candy
– Quick trigger as a blitzer who gets downhill without hesitation
– Has a bag of pass rush moves (primarily dip and rip) as a linebacker
– Sound and reliable tackler
– Takes good angles when dropping into his zone assignments
– Arrives unbalanced at the point of attack, which makes him susceptible to cutbacks
– Plays with a violent and attacking mindset
The Bad
– Displays tunnel vision at the point of attack
– Prone to being over-aggressive against the run and committing prematurely to a lane
– Struggles disengaging from blocks due to sporadic hand placement
– Lacks the strength to take on bigger linemen at the second level
– Limited tackle radius due to shorter arms
– Stiff in his lower body, which can limit his change of direction
– Struggles with getting his hands on shiftier ball carriers
– Slightly delayed when flipping his hips to carry vertical routes or getting to a short flat drop
Stats
– 2025 stats: 130 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 8 missed tackles, 13 games played
– Career stats: 276 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 7 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 25 missed tackles, 47 games played
– TCU Career stats: 184 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 13 missed tackles, 26 games played
– Cal Career stats: 92 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 5 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 12 missed tackles, 21 games played
– 6.4 missed tackle percentage (2025)
– 9.0 missed tackle percentage (Career)
Injury History
– Suffered a torn ACL during his senior year of high school, which required surgery and forced him to redshirt his freshman season of college (2021)
– Missed one game vs. Oregon due to an undisclosed injury (2023)
Background
– Born August 29th, 2003 (22 years old)
– Spent the last two collegiate seasons at TCU after committing to Cal for his first three years
– Four-star recruit after being named first team All-League in his junior season
– Primarily played defensive end and recorded 121 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks as a junior
– Sparingly played tight end and wide receiver, catching two touchdowns during his junior season
– Competed in basketball and track and field
– Started playing football as a freshman in high school
– First team All-Big 12 after leading conference in tackles (130) (2025)
– Named Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP vs. USC (2025)
– Second team All-PAC 12 and named to Butkus Award watch list (nation’s best linebacker) (2023)
– Recognized as the “Jonathan & Judy Hoff Scholar-Athlete of the Week (exemplary work inside and outside of the classroom) (April 2023)
– Served as a Student-Athlete Brand Ambassador for Ignite the Mind Tutoring
– Primarily played baseball before high school
– Shined as a designated hitter and center fielder, and had hopes of playing in the major leagues
– Part of his commitment to Cal was due to his mother graduating from there
– She was a master’s student while he was an infant, and he walked the stage with her when she graduated
– Has a green thumb and is an avid caretaker of house plants with a passion for nature
– Enjoys shopping in his free time
– Eats the exact same meals every day during the season to eliminate variables
– Worked as a head coach and referee for Next Level Sports
Tape Breakdown
After exploding at the combine with one of the better performances of the week, Elarms-Orr confirmed what the tape already showed: he’s fast, and he gets to his spot in a hurry. Following an ACL tear before his senior year of high school, his first couple of collegiate seasons started slowly, but he eventually developed into one of the more productive linebackers in college football.
His raw speed directly correlates with his ability to chase down ball carriers sideline to sideline. He’s also effective at erasing angles on outside-zone concepts and closing distance in backside pursuit. When he correctly diagnoses a play, he uses his lower-body explosiveness to plant, redirect, and accelerate into his gap. That speed enables him to beat pulling linemen to the spot before they can respond.
When he’s in a groove, he’s tough to contain against the run. He plays with a violent mindset and fires downhill in a hurry when he reads his keys correctly. The challenge is getting him into that groove consistently.
Elarms-Orr has a bad habit of playing with “tunnel vision.” He becomes so locked in on what’s happening in the backfield — and so worried about fitting the wrong gap — that his initial steps are highly delayed. In college, his speed often allowed him to compensate. In the NFL, that same hesitation can cause him to be washed out of the play.
The clips below highlight his high-end athleticism and ability to still finish the rep, but they also show that he doesn’t truly trigger until the ball carrier is already pressing the line of scrimmage.
The most underrated aspect of his game — and arguably the trait that could translate the fastest — is his ability to pressure the quarterback. A former high school edge defender, Elarms-Orr still knows how to get after the passer. When he’s sent on a blitz, there’s zero hesitation in his trigger.
When he times the snap, he generates enough explosiveness to get downhill in a hurry and create immediate penetration before the offensive line can slide its protection. His edge-rushing background also gives him a feel for manipulating a blocker’s shoulders, often using a dip-and-rip move to slip past his man.
Elarms-Orr would fit like a glove with an aggressive coordinator who leans on simulated pressures to manufacture chaos in the backfield.
In the modern NFL, it’s hard for a linebacker to see consistent playing time without being an asset in coverage. For Elarms-Orr, that part of his game is a mixed bag.
In zone coverage, he’s very good. Out of his drops, he processes quickly and picks up routes entering his area. While many defenders end up covering empty grass, he shows a disciplined bail-and-read technique. With his athleticism, he can open his hips and gain depth in a hurry while still keying the quarterback and anticipating where the ball is going.
He also shows a natural feel for passing off crossers. He doesn’t get lost when routes enter and exit his zone. Instead, he passes off the receiver, leaving his area, and quickly identifies the next nearest threat.
In man coverage, his athleticism does a lot of the heavy lifting. There’s some stiffness in his lower half, which can delay his sudden changes of direction. His linear speed helped him recover in college, but at the next level, he’ll struggle more against shifty route runners. He often plays from a trail position, relying on his long speed to stay attached to his assignment.
Conclusion
Overall, Elarms-Orr is an explosive, athletic defender with considerable upside. He should be able to step into the league and contribute on special teams right away, thanks to his nose for the football and top-tier straight-line speed. With the right coordinator, his impact on defense could quickly grow.
There’s plenty to like beyond the testing numbers. He’s been highly productive and isn’t afraid to drive on the football when it’s in his vicinity. He’s a menace as a pressure player and offers legitimate coverage upside as well.
Most of his current issues stem from delays in processing. There’s a noticeable lag when reading his run keys, which often causes him to be late filling his gaps and could limit his effectiveness on early downs at the NFL level.
His best path to success on defense is as a Will linebacker in a 4–3 front. That alignment maximizes his greatest strength — his speed. By keeping him away from the strong side, a coordinator can help keep him clean from climbing linemen and double-teams, allowing him to focus on backside pursuit and chase plays down.
A strong ceiling comparison for Elarms-Orr is Willie Gay Jr. The two are nearly identical in size and speed. Both are at their best as chasers rather than stack-and-shed enforcers, and both are highly effective when turned loose as blitzers. Gay has developed greater consistency in coverage, but Elarms-Orr has more than enough athletic potential to reach a similar level if his processing and discipline catch up.
NFL Draft Projection: Early – Mid Day Three
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 6.8 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 6.3 – 7.4
Games Watched: vs. SMU (2025), @ Arizona State (2025), @ BYU (2025), vs. USC (2025)
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