CJ Sanna

Physical Profile

Sanna has a prototype modern second-level frame at 6-2, 230 with the length and mass to take on blocks in the box. His athleticism is verified beyond film: he won the Ohio state discus title (194-11) and earned back-to-back All-Metro track honors, indicating elite rotational power, explosive hip torque and functional strength that show up as a hammering, momentum-generating tackler. That power-athlete build fits a stack/MIKE role; the open question is short-area change-of-direction and hip fluidity in coverage, which discus/throws athleticism does not directly confirm.

Play Style

Sanna plays fast and physical between the tackles. He reads run keys, fills downhill and arrives with bad intentions, using length to navigate and shed blocks before delivering power at the point of attack. On film he's at his best as a blitzer and run defender — pressing the line, spying the QB, and chasing plays sideline-to-sideline. He's more of a see-ball-get-ball striker right now than a finished coverage linebacker, so his impact concentrates near the line of scrimmage.

Strengths

• Downhill run-stopper with the strength to stack-and-shed and 'truck' ballcarriers at contact — 11 TFLs and 7 sacks as a junior show he finishes plays in the backfield
• Diagnoses and triggers quickly; scouts credit his eyes, instincts and football IQ, and he was used as a QB spy, reflecting trust in his processing
• Rare lower-body explosion and core strength for the position (state discus champ), translating to violent, momentum-shifting hits and pursuit power

Areas to Improve

• Tackling consistency — flashes the pop but must wrap and finish more reliably against bigger, faster college backs rather than relying on collision force
• Coverage refinement and overall positional polish — only two years at LB after converting from DE means zone drops, man matchups vs. backs/TEs, and pass-rush technique all need development

College Projection

Multi-year developmental MIKE who should redshirt or play special teams early while adding functional strength and refining coverage. The internal Tommy Eichenberg comparison is apt — a high-effort, high-IQ run-defender who needs time but can grow into a defensive signal-caller. Realistic timeline to meaningful snaps is Year 3, with All-Conference upside if the coverage and tackling refinement land under an experienced LB coach.

NFL Outlook

Day 3 / priority free-agent ceiling at this stage, with mid-round upside if development hits. His translatable traits — length, explosive power, run-game instincts and special-teams demeanor — are exactly what NFL teams covet in a backup/core-four linebacker. To climb the board he'll need to prove he can cover and tackle in space against pro athletes; the rare lower-body explosion gives him a higher physical ceiling than his current ranking suggests.

Best Fit

A downhill, attacking defense that lets him play forward — a one-gap 4-3 MIKE or a 3-4 inside backer in a scheme that blitzes him and asks him to defend the run first while coverage develops. Ohio State, with a structure that protects two-level linebackers and elite strength/development resources plus a former-NFL LB coach, is an ideal landing spot to maximize his raw tools.