Dion Crawford LB Michigan State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #18 PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.67 seconds (62%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 05/06/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #18 | |
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.67 seconds (62%*) | |
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 05/06/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
65.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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77% |
| Pass Rush: |
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80% |
| Run Defense: |
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81% |
| Coverage: |
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53% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#1003
Position rank:
#64 (LB)
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| College Games: 40 College Snaps: 1933 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sam M'Pemba - Texas A&M |
|
75% |
| Kivon Bennett - Arkansas State |
|
68% |
| George Tarlas - Boise State |
|
63% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Dion Crawford earned first-team all-state honors twice as a linebacker at Georgia's Collins Hill High School, and he was a teammate of Travis Hunter on the 2021 state championship team. He recorded 13.5 sacks as a junior and 123 tackles in his senior year, and recruiting services rated him three stars.Crawford made 21 starts in 35 games at Buffalo. In 2024 he had 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks and earned third-team All-MAC honors, and in 2025 he moved from outside to inside linebacker and made 81 tackles in seven starts.
Crawford committed to Michigan State on 11 January 2026, to use his final year of eligibility. Toledo came first on the schedule, and he sat out that game for a reason the team did not give, but he has since made 44 tackles and 19 stops. He made 10 tackles and six stops against Northwestern and nine tackles with six stops at Wisconsin.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Made 10 tackles and six stops against Northwestern
- Nine tackles and six stops in the road game at Wisconsin
- Productive pass rusher who had 8.5 sacks at Buffalo in 2024
- Experienced starter at both inside and outside linebacker
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Opponents have caught 11 of 12 passes thrown at him this season
- Missed the opener against Toledo for an unexplained reason
- Illinois scored a touchdown against him in coverage
- Built most of his resume against MAC competition at Buffalo
- Only three pressures this season after moving inside full time
Scouting Report: Summary
Crawford is a tough, productive linebacker who has been a tackling machine since moving to Michigan State. He pursues well and has 19 stops this season, and he was a disruptive pass rusher at Buffalo.However, he struggles in coverage, with 11 catches allowed on 12 targets, and his pass rush has faded since moving inside. Much of his tape also comes from the MAC.
Overall, Crawford is a dependable run-stopping linebacker with coverage limits. He projects as a priority free agent with special teams value.
How other scouting services rate Dion Crawford (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
702.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
79.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.