Bryce Boettcher

● Square-framed with adequate build in his chest and thighs ● Plays fast, with enough speed to make stops outside the numbers ● Fearless filling downhill and prides himself on being the most physical player on the field (permanent chip on his shoulder) ● Closes in a hurry and runs through his target as a tackler ● Solid key-and-diagnose defender who can read and drive without hesitation ● His eyes take him to passing lanes in zone coverage ● Brings same energy and mental toughness every day — has a passion for the work ● Leads like a team captain and sets a great example (NFL scout: “In terms of his makeup, I’ll push all my chips in the center. Big-time competitor. All he does is show up and work. Not super vocal, but his teammates gravitate to him.”) ● Core-four special teamer most of his Oregon career; amassed 584 special teams snaps (nine tackles) ● Collected a combined 230 tackles over his junior and senior seasons

● Slightly undersized in terms of height, length and strength ● Reacts too fast downhill at times and can be manipulated by backfield action ● Can give blockers the slip, but his shorter arms are noticeable when he squares climbers ● Shows some stiffness when scraping laterally over the top ● Smaller hands — will slide off his tackle attempts when off balance ● Needs to continue developing discipline as a tackler (missed-tackle rate increased in 2025) ● Can run the seam but body rigidity shows versus dynamic athletes in coverage ● Has baseball career waiting for him, if he wants to pursue one 470 Back to table of contents -- 474 of 629 --

A two-year starter at Oregon, Boettcher was the Mike linebacker in former defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi’s 4-2-5 base scheme (started wearing the green dot in 2025). Originally at Oregon on a baseball scholarship, he walked on to the football team in 2022 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. He practiced with both the baseball and football teams (and bypassed a baseball career with the Houston Astros) before going football-only as a senior. Last year, he became the first Oregon player to surpass 135 tackles in a season since the 1970s and led the Ducks in tackles 11 times in 15 games. Boettcher plays fast and physical on every snap. The same range and awareness that made him a Gold Glove center fielder shows on the football field, with his opportunistic eyes to read and drive without hesitation. However, he can get nosy at times and lose his run fit, and he lacks the stack-and-shed skills to easily escape blocks. His background as a self-starter will endear him to NFL coaches (Lanning: “He’s earned every opportunity … nothing has been handed to that guy.”). Overall, Boettcher is a classic “see-ball, get-ball” defender, with the speed and play personality that will make him a natural fit in an NFL linebacker room. Although he will need the right situation to become a starter, he will be an immediate and impactful special teamer.