Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher has outperformed expectations as a former walk-on turned All-Conference player. However, Boettcher is still developing his instincts and consistency. He currently projects as a mid-Day 3 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft who should make an immediate impact on special teams.
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Classification: Redshirt senior middle linebacker from Eugene, Ore.
Background: Boettcher was a recruit from South Eugene High School in Eugene, Ore. in the class of 2020. His lone rating was a three-star rating as a dual-threat quarterback from 247Sports. Boettcher did not receive a star rating or grade out of 100 from any of the other major recruiting outlets. He walked-on at Oregon in the fall of 2022. Boettcher played four seasons on Oregon’s baseball team, completing his senior campaign in the spring of 2024. In high school, he lettered in baseball and football four times and basketball three times. In baseball, he earned First Team All-Southwest Conference and honorable mention All-State honors as a junior. Boettcher was a First Team All-Southwest Conference and Second Team All-State selection as a sophomore. He received Second Team All-Southwest Conference honors as a freshman. In football, Boettcher earned First Team All-Midwestern League honors as a defensive back and was an honorable mention at quarterback during his senior season. He was a Second Team All-Midwestern League selection at quarterback as a junior. On the hardwood, Boettcher earned Second Team All-Southwestern League honors after averaging 9.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and two steals per game.
Injuries & Off-Field: N/A
Awards: 2024 Second Team All-Big Ten, 2024 Burlsworth Trophy, 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team Outfielder, Selected in the 13th Round in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, quick trigger, downhill human missile, motor runs hot, meets running backs in the hole with force, top speed should meet league thresholds, challenges climbing linemen, initial pop to separate from blocks, uses superior footspeed to escape o-line blocks, gap shooter with flashes of high level burst, lands some big time hits, reads the quarterback’s eyes, quick transition from backpedal to forward drive in coverage, enough speed to smother short to intermediate tight end crossing routes, mirrors and closes to limit YAC on passes to running back, quick to recognize and attack screens
Cons: Arm length appears average, size creates limitations against larger blockers when he doesn’t separate quickly, underdeveloped block shed technique, trouble countering or breaking clamps, lacks true sideline-to-sideline range, steep pursuit angles take him out of plays, lacks acceleration and speed to recover from poor angles, inconsistent mirroring elusive athletes in space, bites on misdirection and play action, range in coverage is limited, lacks combo of burst and twitch to mirror players in man coverage, coverage instincts remain a work in progress
Overview: Boettcher usually aligns as the MIKE or WILL for Oregon’s defense. He joined the team as a walk-on in 2022 and converted from defensive back to inside linebacker in 2023. His limited time spent as a full-time player at the position explains some of his deficiencies, including inconsistent processing. He should continue to grow in the NFL as he gets more time on task. Boettcher is an undersized off-ball linebacker, but his speed should meet NFL thresholds and keep the door open to him seeing playing time. His high motor reflects his background and effort as a former walk-on. Boettcher quickly triggers downhill against the run, turning into a human missile capable of providing an initial challenge for blockers or delivering big hits on running backs. He is a forceful hitter who, especially compared to his fellow linebackers in this class, is a reliable tackle finisher. Boettcher flashes moments of high-level burst when firing downhill to shoot gaps. He delivers enough pop on initial contact to separate from larger blockers and redirect to the football. Boettcher also showcases some ability to avoid climbing linemen thanks to his superior foot speed. His size creates some limitations defending the run. The Oregon native lacks the strength and polished block shedding technique to get off of blocks when he fails to separate on initial contact. He struggles to remove the offensive lineman’s hands once they clamp down on his pads. While Boettcher displays nice moments of speed and burst, he isn’t a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker. He consistently takes steep pursuit angles that don’t put him in positions to make plays on the ball carrier, and he lacks the athletic traits to recover from these poor initial angles. The former walk-on lacks the twitch to mirror some of the sport’s elusive athletes in space. Boettcher reads the quarterback’s eyes in zone coverage and quickly stops his backpedal and drives to contest catches or limit yards after the catch. He is quick enough to take away some short to intermediate routes over the middle of the field to running backs and tight ends. Boettcher quickly recognizes and attacks screens. He is too eager to take the bait on play action and misdirection and lacks the range in coverage to make up for mistakes early in the play. Boettcher is a poor fit for high doses of man coverage. His coverage profile has room to evolve, but he isn’t a playmaker in this area of the game yet.
Overall, Boettcher is a developing linebacker with a strong floor of competency that suggests he could become a role player at the NFL level. His work ethic, foundational athleticism, and special teams experience will help him get in the door and stick around while he irons out some of the inconsistencies in his game.
Role & Scheme Fit: MIKE in a 4-3 scheme
Round Projection: Fifth Round
Size: 6’2”, 225 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 12-17-24
Updated: 11-04-25