A three-star prep prospect who cut his teeth at Lone Star High in Frisco, Texas (a hop and a skip away from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility and team headquarters), Bolton was heavily recruited, securing scholarship offers from a host of Power-5 programs including Boston College, Colorado, Utah, Purdue, Indiana, Washington (where he initially signed his letter of intent, only to de-commit months later), Kansas and of course Missouri, the school he would ultimately attend. The Tigers, with the exception of a semi-successful 2018, were an afterthought throughout his three years in Columbia (19-16 overall record), though luckily Mizzou’s mediocre results didn’t stop Bolton from exploding. Bolton immediately asserted himself as one of the country’s top off-ball linebackers, bolstering his NFL credentials by receiving all-conference honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons. After being named a second team All-American by the Associated Press in 2020, Bolton entered the draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.
Measurables: 5’11”/237
School: Missouri
2020 stats: 95 tackles (eight for loss), two sacks, one fumble recovery, five passes defended
Accolades: Second team AP All-American (2020), First team All-SEC (2019-20), Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist (2020), Butkus Award watchlist (2020)
Strengths: An instinctive, space-devouring tackler with a strong understanding of coverage schemes, Bolton was a versatile defender at Mizzou, contributing in a variety of roles. The 21-year-old packs a wallop, routinely subjecting opponents to bone-chilling hits that will make them think twice about challenging him again. A stout run defender with a savant-level football IQ (his in-game processing is off the charts), Bolton is as reliable as they come, an ultra-consistent middle-of-the-field havoc-wreaker with the look of a future every-down linebacker in the NFL and an immediate contributor on special teams. Playing in the SEC will make a man out of anyone and that level of elite competition should ease Bolton’s transition to the next level.
Weaknesses: Undersized for his position, Bolton is only an average athlete with subpar speed (4.65 forty) and short arms measuring in the 36th-percentile of linebackers (31 7/8” inches). Though it wasn’t a major deterrent in college, Bolton’s lack of length gives him a smaller tackle radius than most. While many would consider Bolton’s discipline a strength, his conservative approach may need to be revisited in the pros, where going off script is necessary to combat stronger, faster opponents and exotic schemes.
NFL comparison: Lavonte David
Like David, Bolton is a compact, downhill runner, able to offset his marginal athleticism through sound fundamentals and sheer determination. Both are intelligent overachievers with strong recognition skills.
What experts are saying
“Bolton is a solid off-the-ball linebacker with great instincts and a good motor. He is very good in coverage, has pop at the point of attack and plays faster than his straight-line speed would suggest because he locates the ball quickly.” – Todd McShay, ESPN
“He comes with size limitations and needs a free shot at the ball, but Bolton will flourish in the right system that protects him and allows him to make plays in pursuit.” – Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network
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