Taven Epps

Physical Profile

Epps already carries near-prototype length at just under 6-foot-4, 235 entering his junior year, with the kind of high-cut, angular build that projects 20-25 more pounds without sacrificing range. His frame is the headline trait: long arms and a broad skeleton give him stack-and-shed leverage at the line and the wingspan to disrupt throwing lanes. The size-to-movement ratio is what pushes the grade — he plays at 235 but moves like a lighter player in chase mode, which is why evaluators flag legitimate two-way flex between off-ball linebacker and hand-in-the-dirt edge.

Play Style

Epps is at his best playing downhill and in space as a chase-and-finish defender. Film and evaluations emphasize a player who closes gaps in a hurry, attacks the cleat line, and tracks ball-carriers to the boundary — a range-and-burst linebacker rather than a thumper who lives in the box. His length lets him keep blockers off his frame and convert speed-to-power when rushing. The current profile is more 'run-and-hit athlete with positional flex' than refined coverage 'backer, which is why his ceiling conversation centers on whether his best long-term home is roaming as an off-ball linebacker or growing into a full-time edge rusher.

Strengths

• Elite gap-closing burst in pursuit — 247's Andrew Ivins specifically praised his ability to 'run the cleat line' and make stops out by the numbers, showing the lateral range to chase plays sideline-to-sideline and finish at the perimeter
• Rare positional versatility for the age — true on-ball/off-ball flex means a defensive coordinator can stand him up at MIKE/WILL, walk him out over the slot, or put his hand down as a rush end, making him a chess piece rather than a one-role fit
• High-major frame with clear projectable mass — a sub-6-4, 235 junior with room to add weight gives a staff a developmental edge profile that's already physically ahead of most 2027 LBs

Areas to Improve

• Functional play strength and point-of-attack anchor — like most long, still-filling-out prospects, he needs to add lower-body and core strength to consistently take on and shed blocks from larger interior linemen rather than relying on athleticism to run around them
• Coverage refinement and instinct vs. play-action — if he stays at off-ball LB, he must prove he can drop into zones, mirror tight ends/backs in man, and not be a step late diagnosing RPOs; the projection toward edge partly reflects that coverage is the less-proven phase of his game

College Projection

A foundational, scheme-defining recruit for Oklahoma's 2027 defense — the first and headlining linebacker of the class. Expect a redshirt or rotational true-freshman year used on special teams and in obvious-pursuit/sub packages while he adds the functional strength to hold up against SEC interior blocking. With his frame and the staff's stated willingness to flex him, a realistic timeline is a multi-year starter by his sophomore/junior season, with his exact alignment (off-ball LB vs. edge) settled by how his body fills out.

NFL Outlook

Legitimate early-round developmental upside for a 2027 prospect. The combination of length, two-way positional flex and gap-closing burst is exactly the modern hybrid linebacker/edge archetype NFL teams covet. If he proves he can either cover at an off-ball spot or convert his length into a productive pass rush off the edge, he has Day 1-2 potential; the swing variable is whether the added mass enhances or erodes the elite range that defines him now. Years from draft eligibility, but the traits floor is high.

Best Fit

A multiple, hybrid front that refuses to label him early — exactly what Oklahoma's defense offers. He maximizes in a scheme that lets him play in space and attack downhill (a WILL/rush-flex role in an odd front, or a stand-up edge in a multiple 3-4) rather than a static two-gap MIKE that asks him to stack blocks every snap. A staff with a strong strength-and-conditioning track record for building edge/LB tweeners will get the most out of the projectable frame.