Riley Pettijohn

An athletic defender who can play on all three downs, Pettijohn has been the heart of McKinney's defense since moving to inside linebacker in his junior year. At roughly 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Pettijohn's frame should have the capacity to play closer to 230 pounds at the college level.

A highly-instinctive linebacker who triggers quickly on the run and shoots gaps well, Pettijohn is an exceptional open-field tackler. He takes good angles of pursuit and fits the run well. Having previously played safety, Pettijohn is capable in coverage as well.

Pettijohn is solid when taking on contact at the point of attack, but he can be inconsistent at times with technique there. His physicality should improve once he gets into a college strength program.

His testing numbers indicate a high ceiling for development and he has a strong pedigree as the son of a former two-time All-Big East defensive lineman.

A production machine that averages double-digit tackles per game, Pettijohn should be viewed as a future centerpiece of an elite college football defense.