Originally Posted by :
Bolton played in all 13 games as a true freshman (22 tackles, one sack) after earning Dallas Morning News first-team all-state honors at Lone Star High School (130 tackles, 16 for loss, five interceptions). He went from promising youngster to SEC star in 2019, earning first-team all-conference honors after leading the league with 8.9 tackles per game (107 total, 7.5 for loss), intercepting two passes and breaking up eight others in 12 starts. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC and a Butkus Award finalist in 2020, leading his defense with 95 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks), while breaking up five passes in 10 starts. Bolton's father, Carlos, played football at Louisiana Tech. -- by Chad Reuter
Overview
When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter. Strengths
Very tough with a physical edge.
Plays with demeanor teams look for in the middle.
Field-savvy with instincts to diagnose misdirection.
Identifies and communicates.
Heavy hands with good pop to take on blocks.
Pursues ball-carrier with patience and leverage.
Fluid alterations to his pursuit angles.
Excellent feel for attack timing downhill.
Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole.
Strikes like he's trying to send a message.
Great awareness and ballhawking as spot dropper.
Has enough man-cover talent to play on all three downs.
Thrived on kick- and punt-cover teams early in his career.
Weaknesses
Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
Top-end speed appears below average.
Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.
Originally Posted by kccrow:
Bolton was considered a borderline 1st round player by just about everyone throughout the offseason. In no way do I consider it a bad pick. A+ pickup.
Late first round talent. Great value at a huge position of need. What's not to love? Dude hits like a truck and has great short window speed with good instincts. [Reply]
I think the unconvinced haven't stopped to look at the highlights.
When your LB plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage and tears anuses it's kind of good. [Reply]
Originally Posted by flinchfree:
I think the unconvinced haven't stopped to look at the highlights.
When your LB plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage and tears anuses it's kind of good.
One of the biggest complaints i've had about our defense is how soft we've been at LB since DJ left. We need someone who will lay the wood on dudes.
Bolton ain't running away from people or arm tackling. He's gonna blow people up. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
The way I look at it is that the Orlando Brown jr acquisition and the Creed Humphrey selection made it so the Chiefs crushed the 2021 draft.
Those two guys alone are really more than I expected in one offseason. Add in Jarran Reed and Veach gets an A+++.
If Bolton and any other selection can make an impact in 2021 and beyond, even better.
Hell yeah. Plus Thuney, McKinnon, and Blake Bell (who is a JAG but a better JAG than Keizer) [Reply]
As a former MLB, my thought is always more LBs, more better. But this told me all I need to know--Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole. Strikes like he's trying to send a message. Oldman approves this pick. [Reply]
