Karson Sharar

● Solid mass and bubble on his frame ● Straight-line explosiveness to make a beeline to ball carrier ● Good feel and closing burst as a spy (see reps against Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia) ● Creates tackling force at contact using his drive speed ● Flashes second gear to chase down runners or keep them from accessing sideline ● Appreciate his fight to hold his ground and battle versus blockers ● Raw but effective blitzing talent to blow up plays in backfield (see 2025 Michigan State tape) ● Described as a “true Hawkeye” who hates idea of letting down his teammates ● Productive on special teams (571 career snaps, 16 tackles)

● Mediocre overall frame and wingspan — and it shows near the line ● Needs a beat to sort through blocking scheme when attacking downhill ● Drifts into traffic; late to react to backside runs ● Inconsistent using take-on hands to leverage gaps ● Charged-up tackler — teams will have to be okay with aggressive misses ● Half-second delays in zone drops lead to completions in front of him ● Lower-body tightness limits ability to match up in man and get his hands into catch windows ● Only one season as full-time starter

A one-year starter at Iowa, Sharar played the Will linebacker position in defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s 4-2-5 scheme. An unheralded high school recruit, he entered the program on the lowest rung of the ladder and patiently worked his way up the depth chart. He finally broke into the starting lineup as a senior and earned All-Big Ten honors, leading the team in tackles and tackles for loss. Sharar wasn’t even a blip on the NFL radar over the summer, but he emerged in 2025. With his downhill appetite, he tilts the field, unlocks his hips and races to the football. His closing speed is represented in the stat sheet (12 tackles for loss), but so are his overaggressive tendencies and lack of length (18 missed tackles). Overall, Sharar needs to prove himself trustworthy in his eye discipline and coverage recognition, but his speed and toughness are enough to make an impact on special teams. He has the upside for a Cole Holcomb-type of career.