Mohamed Toure, LB, Rutgers
Size:
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 236 lbs
Accomplishments:
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2023) • Team captain (2023) • Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist (2023)
“Mohamed Toure is a disruptive linebacker prospect. He is a versatile, physical, and athletic second-level playmaker with an impactful three-down skill set.”
Strengths:
Muscular and dense NFL-ready frame
Downhill explosiveness
Plus-level blitzer and creator of pressure on QB
Violent and physical tackler
Concerns:
Hip tightness/stiffness
Overaggressiveness pursuing ball-carrier/missed tackles
Mirroring receiving threats and locating the ball down the field in man coverage
Film Analysis:
Mohamed Toure is one of the best defenders in Greg Schiano’s Rutgers defensive front. Toure is one of their trusted leaders—his teammates voted him as a team captain last season. He brings strong run instincts and zone coverage ability. One of the more violent hitters in college football, he will set the tone for the game when a clean hit becomes available.
Toure is a versatile defender who impacts the game in multiple ways. Against the run, Toure is a patient reader and processor of information packed with explosive bursts to get into action quickly. Toure’s shoulders remain square and parallel to the line of scrimmage as he flows laterally to meet the ball-carrier in the lane. Toure fills running lanes with physicality and a pop behind his pads a short-area tackler. He displays good eyes reading the OL to the ball-carrier and any action unfolding in the backfield before attacking downhill.
Toure is a heavy-hitting tackler with a runway. Once he’s geared up, he can deliver jarring hits to the ball-carrier or receiver. He acts as a pressure defender on passing plays. Toure aligns as a standup edge rusher, walks up into the A-gaps, and blitzes from his off-ball position to pressure the QB. He has a good closing burst to the football. Toure plays with good urgency after diagnosing plays.
Toure possesses solid upside as a coverage defender. He can play and make an impact on all three downs. He is a good spot dropper with zone eyes that can read the quarterback. With his athleticism, Toure triggers to throwing spots and makes a play on the receiver or the football.
Despite his athletic ability, Toure has tightness in his hips that limits how quickly he can change directions. He can struggle on certain routes in man coverage because of this problem. Whenever he does stay in phase in man coverage, the vertical route tests his ability to stay close to his opponent and turn to look for the pass. Improving and being more comfortable can increase his probability of forcing turnovers. Toure is an aggressive player but he attacks the football or ball-carrier without full control. He will overrun or pass the ball and miss his tackle opportunities. If Toure can become more controlled and break down to make a sound tackle or sack, he will become a more impactful defender.
In all, Toure projects as a starting WILL linebacker in an attacking-style defense. His downhill explosiveness as a run defender and blitzer. Simulated pressures and mugging the A-gaps with snaps rushing off the edges will allow Toure to be at his best.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Virginia Tech (2023), Wisconsin (2023), Ohio State (2023), Michigan (2023)
