2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ventrell Miller (LB – Florida)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Ventrell Miller.

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Ventrell Miller (LB – Florida)

6’0” – 221 lbs.

Background:

Suspended for 2017 after being charged with felony fraud, then rotated into the defense for 48 snaps this following year before taking over a starting role in 2019, playing mostly in the middle and going 55-5.5-3.0. Saw his output expand to 86-7.5-3.5 as a junior, then ended up redshirting 2021 after tearing his bicep two games into the year. Rebounded this past year and put together a line of 74-8.5-0.0.

Positives:

Productive three-year starter for a major program. Has the athleticism to play sideline-to-sideline. Flows well horizontally to defend stretches and tosses, doing a pretty good job of keeping his shoulders square. Able to get out to the boundary and make tackles on screens and swings. Explodes into tackles and generates some pop on contact; can help set the tone when he’s able to line up a ball carrier between the tackles. Fast and fluid enough to make deeper drops in zone coverage. Effective blitzer on stunts/twists; closes fast when he finds a lane and was actually asked to rush the passer pretty often.

Negatives:

On the smaller side for a pro linebacker. College stat-line production was better than his metrics. Struggles to hold up when taking on blocks between the tackles. Tends to stay on the outside of congestion instead of knifing through to reach the ball carrier. Balance issues both in space and on contact. Metrics in zone coverage have gotten worse each season; still doesn’t have a great feel. Gets stuck on blocks when he’s not able to find a clear lane as a pass-rusher. Character will be scrutinized following 2017 arrest.

Summary:

An experienced, athletic linebacker who often played in the middle for the Gators but can line up on the weak side as well. His ability to play sideline-to-sideline and range in coverage should draw some interest from pro teams with even defensive fronts or as a potential sub-package defender, but is probably going to be limited to a reserve/special-teams role unless he can continue to add functional strength and improve his ability to work through congestion between the tackles as well as his awareness in zone coverage. Consequently, will probably be more of a mid-round developmental option.

Projection: Round 5