Jake Golday wasn't recruited by Football Bowl Subdivision schools coming out of high school in Arlington, Tennessee. So his college career began at Central Arkansas in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Golday played in 26 games over three seasons and was used as a defensive end. In 2023 he led the team in tackles. Golday then transferred to the University of Cincinnati for the final two seasons of his college career.
In 2024 he was second on the Bearcats in tackles and tackles for loss while earning Honorable Mention All Big 12 status.
Last season the 6'4", 240 pounder was shifted to linebacker and started all 12 games. He recorded a career high 105 tackles to go along with six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Golday was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week two times and was one of 12 semi finalists for the Dick Butkus award.
Considered one of the most athletic linebackers in this draft, Golday put up some impressive numbers at the NFL Combine this past February. He ran a 4.62 40 yard dash, had a 39" vertical leap and 10'5" broad jump. The last two numbers are considered elite level for linebackers.
Joe Marino provides draft analysis for WGR. His website is thejoemarino.com. You can also subscribe to his Locked On Bills podcast. Joe shares his thoughts on Golday:
Positives:
This is one of the most interesting football players I've watched. I popped on the tape, and I'm watching a six-four, 240 pound freak athlete, playing mostly slot corner. It's something I've never seen before.
He's playing in the slot, and they're asking him to rush off the edge. You think about this new wave of football and the flavor for position less guys, this guy's really intriguing. He's got really easy movement skills. He's been tasked with a lot in coverage. You get these guys coming out of college, and their experience dropping into coverage can sometimes be none at all. A guy like Dorian Williams at Tulane, I don't know if he took a single step backwards in his entire career at Tulane. This guy's playing in the slot, regularly. He's just really unique. He's physical, he's urgent. There's a versatility here and a physical profile that is just tantalizing.
Negatives:
The weakness is rooted in what he was asked to do. What he was asked to do in college is unlikely to be anything like what he's going to be asked to do in the NFL. You wonder about the processing skills, the ability to truly be an off ball stack linebacker. How is he going to be taking on blocks and deconstructing blocks? Where are his instincts at, right? So there's a lot of projection with him, but certainly no physical limitations.
The NFL Draft will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
The Bills have needs on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker is one area they could address in the draft.
