LA Rams rookie ILB Omar Speights' stock is rising rapidly to make 53-man roster

Powerful performance from a powerhouse player

Of course, sticking his face into the midst of an offensive play is not enough. To be NFL worthy, a football player has to not only show up, but he has to have the ability to disrupt opposing offenses. That was always the goal for Speights. He loved the challenges of football, and the constant battle of wits and wills required to diagnose offensive plays, and time his arrival to coincide with the arrival of the football.

And when he got there, he blew up the play. That was no surprise, because he is one of the most powerful college players to enter the NFL in 2024. His 30 repetitions on the bench press was absolutely an eye-popping achievement:

Not invited to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, Omar Speights had to settle for impressing scouts during LSU's Pro Day:

Omar Speights Pro Day Measurements

So how did LSU ILB Omar Speights do during his Pro Day?

• Height: 6-0.6
• Weight: 225
• Arm Length: 31.25 inches
• Hands: 9.25 inches
• 40-yard dash: 4.65 seconds
• 3-cone drill: 7.06 seconds
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.34 seconds
• Vertical: 31.25 inches
  
• Broad Jump: 10 feet
  
• Bench Press: 30 reps

Power without football IQ is just weight lifting. Football IQ without power is just coaching or analysis. But combining the two equates to a field general, a powerful enforcer who can glide like ice, hit like a thunderclap, and stop an offense like a cloudburst.

Speights may have hiccuped in his last season of college football by transfering to the SEC. But the long-term benefits to his football career are underestimated. He has the first-hand experience of taking over in a major defense on Day 1. While he is unlikely to claim the starting role from veteran ILB Ernest Jones, there are no such restrictions to his ability to claim the other starting inside linebacker role in this defense.

But, does he possess the right combination that this team is looking for?