For Quinn Urwiler, uphill battles are nothing new.

When he first arrived at NIU as a transfer from North Dakota in 2022, Urwiler found himself near the bottom of a crowded linebacker depth chart. He was able to count the number of spring reps he got on one hand. After spring ball ended, Urwiler was told he wouldn’t make the cut for fall camp, though he’d remain on the roster.

In simple terms, he wasn’t going to play. He’d be a practice dummy more than anything else.

Instead of taking his fate lying down, Urwiler made his intentions known. He texted then-linebackers coach Robert Wimberly, vowing to prove the coaching staff wrong if they gave him a chance. He then took to Twitter, writing, “I would do anything to put the pads on and hit someone rn. Lol.”

Come fall camp, an opportunity arrived in the form of a phone call from then-head coach Thomas Hammock, who told Urwiler spots had opened due to transfers and to come back to DeKalb to show what he can do. That second chance turned into a role on special teams, which eventually grew into a starting job and one of the most productive seasons by an NIU linebacker in recent history.

In his lone season as a full-time starter in 2025, Urwiler led the FBS with 71 solo tackles and ranked fourth with 141 total tackles — the most by an NIU player since Tony Smith had 142 in 1992. Urwiler received All-Mid-American Conference second-team honors and also became just the fourth Huskie since 1990 to reach the 140-tackle mark in a single season.

Urwiler’s journey is why special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Cory Connolly has called him “one of the ultimate Huskies.” Now, that same journey features another uphill climb: the National Football League.

In just over two weeks, Urwiler will look to become the first NIU player drafted in seven years during the 2026 NFL Draft, held from April 23 to April 25 in Pittsburgh, and his dominant final season offers hope that the Huskies’ season-ending loss to Kent State on Nov. 28 won’t be the last time he steps onto the gridiron.

Testing and measurables

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 230 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.69 seconds

Vertical: 33.5 inches

Bench press: 36 reps

Urwiler didn’t get the opportunity to showcase his skills at this year’s NFL combine, but his performance at NIU’s Pro Day on March 12 showed he warranted an invitation. Though he posted a slower 40-yard dash and a shorter vertical jump, his 6.86-second three-cone drill would’ve been the fastest among linebackers in Indianapolis, and his 4.27-second 20-yard shuttle would’ve ranked sixth.

But it was Urwiler’s eye-popping 36 reps on the bench press that really stood out. That mark would’ve been second among all combine participants, only behind Kentucky defensive tackle David Gusta’s 37 reps. More importantly, it underscores his ability to shed blocks, deliver big hits and finish tackles.

In terms of athleticism, Urwiler ranks in the 64th percentile of all linebacker prospects, earning a 6.42 Relative Athletic Score. Developed by Kent Lee Platte, RAS is a composite metric that combines a player’s testing data into a single 0-10 score, comparing their results to other players at the same position dating back to 1987. Urwiler’s score puts him in good company with fellow NIU product and two-time All-American linebacker Sutton Smith (6.15 RAS). Smith is the school’s most recent draftee — going to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.

Meanwhile, the biggest knock against Urwiler is his size — 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds. The average NFL linebacker checks in at around 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds. But what he lacks in frame, he makes up for with his instincts, football intelligence and relentless motor.

Strengths

Connolly has called Urwiler one of the best tacklers he’s been around — and statistically, it shows. According to Pro Football Focus, Urwiler had the 10th-highest tackling grade (87.8) among all defenders to play at least 700 snaps in 2025. He missed just 11 of his 143 attempts for a 7.7% miss rate, one of the lowest in the Group of Six.

Urwiler consistently wraps up with sound tackling form in space and through contact, limiting leaky yardage, and shows great strength to bring down ball carriers of different sizes. Simply put, he’s a knock-back tackler. They stop where he hits them.

Despite a modest 40-yard dash, Urwiler plays faster than he times, showing strong lateral quickness and the ability to get out of breaks and fit downhill at a high level. His compact frame creates natural leverage that allows him to get underneath longer blockers and control contact points.

NFL scouts should be equally, if not more, intrigued by his intangibles. Urwiler demonstrates strong leadership qualities with clear command of the defense and the team as a whole. The coaching staff entrusted him to wear the green dot this past season, a reflection of his communication skills and high football IQ.

“I know all 10 guys out there with him this past fall,” Connolly said, “there was no one else that they would have rather had out there at Mike ‘backer and lead them.”

There’s also the versatility he brings to the table. Urwiler offers significant value in the game’s third phase: special teams. In his first season with the Huskies in 2022, Urwiler led the team with seven special teams tackles and was named NIU’s Special Teams Player of the Year. He remained a key member of the Huskies’ kickoff, kickoff return and punt return units throughout his four seasons in the program. Urwiler also has experience playing in multiple defensive schemes. He lined up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in high school and during his two seasons at North Dakota before transitioning to middle linebacker in NIU’s 4-2-5 structure.

Overall, there’s a lot for linebacker-needy teams to like about Urwiler, and he has the potential to be a steal in the seventh round or as an undrafted free agent. That said, there are aspects of his game he’ll need to work on if he hopes to stick at the next level.

Areas for improvement

Urwiler was a great tackler in college, but so was every other NFL linebacker during their collegiate careers. As the league becomes more pass-happy, teams are looking for players at the position who can also be dependable in coverage — one of his glaring weaknesses. In 2025, Urwiler allowed 20 catches on 30 targets for 135 yards but did not give up a touchdown, per PFF.

He’s better at man coverage than most would give him credit for, but zone coverage remains a clear area for improvement. Urwiler has been liable to drift out of position or not have his eyes where they need to be, allowing passing windows to open. To earn significant reps in the NFL, he’ll need to tighten those up and show he can stay on assignment, especially as running backs become increasingly involved in the passing game.

There’s also the matter of his pass-rushing ability. Urwiler wasn’t asked to do much of that in college, and while he’s effective at attacking the interior, playing on the edge will present a different challenge. His lack of length will make it difficult to get past the athletic, technically sound tackles anchoring today’s offensive lines — unless he can find creative ways to maximize that aforementioned natural leverage.

That said, Urwiler faces long odds of hearing his name called in Pittsburgh. His undersized frame has almost certainly worked against him in the pre-draft process and may ultimately be what keeps him from being selected. Fortunately, he wouldn’t be the first undersized linebacker to go undrafted and still become a key contributor on an NFL roster.

NFL comparison

Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings

Urwiler doesn’t have the same buzz surrounding him that Pace had coming out of college. Before signing with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Pace was a unanimous All-American and the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his lone season at Cincinnati in 2022. However, the two linebackers put up strikingly similar numbers in their final college seasons. Urwiler ranked fourth in the FBS with 141 total tackles in 2025, while Pace finished sixth with 137 in 2022. Urwiler actually proved to be the more effective finisher, leading the country with 71 solo tackles.

What really spurs this comparison, though, is their nearly identical builds. Pace entered the league at 5-foot-10 1/2 and 231 pounds and, like Urwiler, faced concerns about his size translating to the NFL. But those concerns haven’t kept him from producing at the next level.

Pace has appeared in 45 games and made 27 starts over three seasons in Minnesota. His best season came as a rookie in 2023, when he finished fourth on the team with 102 tackles and third in solo stops (63) while adding 2.5 sacks and an interception. In a best-case scenario, Urwiler could match — and potentially surpass — that production thanks to his sound tackling technique.

Draft prediction

Undrafted, Indianapolis Colts

Linebacker is arguably the Colts’ single most urgent need after trading Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers and letting Germaine Pratt hit free agency. Outside of new signee Akeem Davis-Gaither, the most experienced linebacker on the roster is Jaylon Carlies, a third-year player with 244 career snaps — 242 of which came in 2024.

Indianapolis heads into this month’s draft with seven selections, and it’ll almost certainly address the position in the early rounds. But if Urwiler is still available after the final pick, the Colts would be wise to take a flyer on the NIU product. His penchant for bringing down the ball carrier should be a welcome addition to a defense that’s struggled with missed tackles in recent seasons.

If Indianapolis doesn’t come calling, keep an eye on the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions. Both teams have been in talks with Urwiler, are in need of linebacker depth and haven’t shied away from adding former Huskies to their rosters. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi and linebacker DaRon Gilbert signed with the Bengals and Lions, respectively, following the 2024 draft.

Bottom line

Urwiler does a lot more right than he does wrong. He’s a productive tackler and a high-effort player with a real nose for the football. Though Urwiler is undersized compared to the typical NFL linebacker, he makes up for it with his high football IQ and versatility. He has the potential to be a steal in undrafted free agency, just as Shaun Dolac was for the Los Angeles Rams a season ago.

All he needs is a chance.