Ernest Hausmann

● Broad, athletic frame, with muscular, long arms ● Quick to key, read and drive in the run game, with speed downhill and to sideline ● Instinctive between the tackles to mirror, avoid blockers and stay ahead of action ● When he does take on contact, his hands are physical to disengage from blocks ● Zeroes on ball carrier with wrap technique to minimize missed tackles ● Flashes a closing burst to disrupt backfield operation as a blitzer ● Elected a senior captain and connects well with teammates ● Consistent tackle production past two seasons as a starter

● Doesn’t have ideal bulk; lighter than is ideal ● Hips get a little sticky when attempting to flip and redirect ● Lacks natural feel in coverage ● Struggles to maintain relationships with routes, in front and behind ● Can be baited out of position by deceptive keys ● Limited special teams experience, outside of field goal teams ● Fractured thumb (Nov. 2025) ● Teams need to better understand the end of his Michigan career and his bipolar disorder diagnosis before draft weekend

A two-year starter at Michigan, Hausmann played Mike linebacker in former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s scheme. The Nebraska transfer earned back-to-back All-Big Ten honors his junior and senior seasons, with 157 total tackles over 23 starts. Using his speed and decisiveness, Hausmann does a great job fitting the run and finishing tackles. He takes sharp angles and has a knack for working around, or off of, blockers with shed timing. However, his effectiveness versus the pass isn’t as reliable. He plays rigid in his drops and struggles to anticipate and make plays on the football. Overall, Hausmann plays with the physicality and tackling toughness that will translate to the pro level, although his inconsistencies in coverage could limit his ceiling. Teams will have a short period of time to better understand his mental health, as many of the details weren't revealed until mid-March.