Joel Iyiegbuniwe

... A two-year starter at Western Kentucky, Iyiegbuniwe played outside linebacker in 2016 before moving inside in 2017 as the Hilltoppers transitioned to a 4-2-5 scheme. He was one of five players in Conference-USA with 110+ tackles in 2017, hitting double-digit tackles for loss for the second-straight season. Iyiegbuniwe plays with speed and pop and is routinely in the vicinity of the play. While athletic, his scatter-shot vision and disorganized break down skills dent his finishing skills, also lacking ideal experience as a coverage defender. BACKGROUND: A two-star linebacker recruit out of high school, Joel (Jo-EL) “Iggy” Iyiegbuniwe (Ee-Yay-Boo-Nee-Way) was a basketball-first athlete most of his life, using football to stay in shape in the off-season. His football career started to blossom as a sophomore at South Warren and played both ways as a running back and linebacker/safety. Iyiegbuniwe played in only four games as a senior in 2013 due to injury, finishing with 23 tackles on defense and five touchdowns on offense. He received minimal interest as a recruit, signing with Western Kentucky, his only FBS-level scholarship offer. Iyiegbuniwe played in three games as a freshman before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season, taking a redshirt year. He returned in 2015 and recorded 19 tackles as a back-up and special teamer. Iyiegbuniwe earned a starting linebacker role as a sophomore and recorded 64 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three passes defended, earning Second Team All-CUSA honors. He had a career-year as a junior with a team-best 116 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss, adding 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass break-up to earn First Team All-CUSA honors. Iyiegbuniwe decided to skip his senior season and enter the l2018 NFL Draft.

in our view

Iyiegbuniwe is a see-ball, get-ball athlete who is at his best in space where he can flow-and-hunt, projecting as a NFL back-up at outside linebacker who can be more if he cuts down on the mistakes.

strengths

Athletic, muscle-bound frame with adequate length…rangy and flows well with the action…balanced and doesn’t labor in his movements…pursuit speed to get on top of ballcarriers before they can make a moves…diagnoses quickly on outside runs to routinely be in the vicinity…comfortable in reverse, opening his hips to run…not shy getting physical downhill, using his shoulder and body to ram into blockers…swims through a sea of bodies to make plays on both sides of the formation…named a 2017 team captain…currently taking a biology lab to finish his undergraduate degree and plans to attend medical school after football…playing experience at both inside and outside linebacker…had a career-year as a junior in 2017.

weaknesses

Spotty backfield vision and a tick late reacting to inside runs…underdeveloped peripherals and blockers routinely surprised him from the side…too easily blocked and struggles to stay free…late to reset his eyes once his path to the ball is disrupted…below average footwork on the move and looks like he is on ice skates moving laterally, overpursuing and struggling to recover…flat-footed tackler and needs to better launch into ballcarriers instead of catching, especially in the hole…medical reports will be crucial after his 2013 and 2014 seasons were lost to injury – senior year in high school was cut short after he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (Sept. 2013), an infection in his pelvic bone that affected his bloodstream; missed most of his freshman season after suffering a torn patella tendon in his right knee (Sept. 2014), requiring surgery.

Iyiegbuniwe was the No. 12 prospect in the Bluegrass by 247Sports.com and came to WKU from South Warren High School under the coaching of Mark Nelson. Though his 2013 season was cut short, Iyiegbuniwe tallied 23 tackles, one interception and scored six touchdowns in four games. In 2012, he tallied 64 tackles, three interceptions and four touchdowns. Iyiegbuniwe was a two-star prospect by Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com.

2017

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
1.0	0.0	0.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
11.5	2.0	117.0	0.0	1.0	2.0	54.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
10.0	5.0	64.0	0.0	3.0	3.5	39.0