Leighton
Vander Esch.
Leighton
Vander Esch.
Boise State· 6'4"· 256 lb· 4.65s 40
Fangio two-high schemes that emphasize zone coverage and require versatile linebackers who can cover ground.
Year 1 starter as a Will linebacker, with the ceiling to be a Pro Bowl caliber, all-around middle linebacker.
Man-heavy defensive schemes that routinely ask linebackers to cover slot receivers or tight ends in isolated man coverage.
A high-motor, instinctive linebacker whose size and athleticism are best utilized in a system that allows him to read and react in space rather than consistently engage blockers head-on.
Selected #19 overall in Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft by Dallas Cowboys out of Boise State.
Relative Athletic Score (Kent Lee Platte) benchmarks combine/pro-day numbers against every measured prospect at the position since 1987. 10.00 is elite; 5.00 is average.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.65sp50
- Vertical
- 39.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 124inp50
- Three-cone
- 6.88sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.15sp50
- Bench
- 20repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Boise State | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | Boise State | — | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | Boise State | — | 141 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Career | — | — | 168 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Had a breakout rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, earning a Pro Bowl selection, but his career was later impacted by neck injuries. He retired after the 2023 season.