2022 Raiders Draft Profile: LB Jeremiah Gemmel

Embed from Getty Images

2022 Raiders Draft Prospect
Name: Jeremiah Gemmel
Position: Linebacker
School: University of North Carolina
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 225 pounds
Stats

Tackling

Despite tipping the scales 225 pounds, Gemmel lowers the boom. With an explosive first step towards the target, the former Tarheel stays behind his pads. Next, he wraps quickly and decisively, securing the stop. Lastly, the feet are the final gravity point. Once he secures the grasp, the downward force helps. In space, Gemmel squares up and presents a vast tackle radius. With pop and active hands, the prospect takes the liberty of trying to dislodge the ball, forcing five fumbles during his time in Chapel Hill.

Coverage

From tape, the prospect will drop into deeper coverage, facing tight ends, backs, and the occasional wideout. Gemmel will stick close to the target, even jabbing a hand in to knock the ball away. At the next level, Gemmel could operate on passing downs and not cost the defense any sort of dropoff.

Athleticism

Gemmel makes plays at both and the libe of scrimmage. He closes well and possesses enough flexibility to turn and run with opponents. While he should time well, the prospect flashes good burst and gamespeed, which should trump anything a stopwatch shows. At the same time, Gemmel needs to improve the strength aspect of his game. When playing the run, he must start using stronger shedding tactics and rely less on quickness.

Around FPC

NFL: NFL Rumors: Brady/Arians Rift, Robby Anderson, Combine Boycott

Offseason NFL: Quarterback Carousel: Who Plays Where In 2022?

NFL DRAFT: NFL Draft Profile: Linebacker Nakobe Dean

NFL DRAFT: 2022 NFL Draft Profile: DE Aidan Hutchinson

NHL: NHL Insights: Tyler Toffoli Trade, Jack Eichel’s Return and Wild West

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 33: Super Bowl LVI Reaction; Rams Clinch Second Title

Intangibles

To a man on the Tarheels, Gemmel was their undisputed leader. With a strong voice in the huddle and mixing fiery speech and technical knowledge, the North Carolina defense depended on Gemmel to lead them. Although aspects of the unit struggled, you didn’t hear a negative word about the leadership that Gemmel provided. Mack Brown praised Gemmel for being one of the better leaders he’s coached.

Raiders Fit

When the Raiders signed Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski, they thought the long-standing problems at linebacker ended. However, these two served as further footnotes that the organization appears snakebit in their selections. In Littleton, the Raiders envisioned a linebacker that could excel in coverage, with no apprehension. What they received was a player that took poor angles and missed twenty-five tackles during his two seasons. Often late to the play, Littleton’s tackle attempts result in way too many misses. Meanwhile, Kwiatkoski could not field the field in 2021. A misfit for Gus Bradley’s scheme, Kwiatkoski did not start one game last year, despite landing a lucrative contract to play in Nevada. On the other hand, Gemmel could step in and replace either one immediately with a combination of abilities that could see the Raiders end the tenure of one or both. As detailed, in coverage, Gemmel will never let the moment get to him. That is to say, the comfort level in the proverbial deepwater suits him. Additionally, playing alongside a veteran presence in Denzel Perryman will do nothing but help in Gemmel’s growth.