Baylor safety Chris Miller (3), defensive tackle James Lynch (93) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (26) tackle Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during an NCAA college football game, in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP)
The Buffalo Bills wrapped up the second night of the 2022 NFL Draft by selecting Baylor linebacker Terrel Bernard.
Bernard, a three-year starter with the Bears, was a tackling machine in his collegiate career. The linebacker averaged over eight tackles per game at Baylor and had a game for the ages in this year’s Sugar Bowl. Buffalo has a strong 1-2 punch at linebacker, but Bernard could be used in different packages on defense while earning his stripes on special teams.
Here are four things to know about Buffalo’s new linebacker.
Terrel Bernard may be a bit undersized, but he tested off the charts as a linebacker prospect leading into the 2022 NFL Draft. Bernard’s relative athletic score can be seen below.
Terrel Bernard was drafted with pick 89 of round 3 in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 8.88 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 271 out of 2419 LB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/ReNFlnG1hf #RAS #Bills pic.twitter.com/RmBprXRQ9o
It’s fair to say that Bernard had one of the most impressive defensive performances in the history of the Sugar Bowl. In Baylor’s 21-7 win over Ole Miss, Bernard racked up 17 total tackles, two sacks and a pass defensed. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the game and was the first defensive MVP in the game since 2008.
The Baylor Bears are Sugar Bowl champs and Terrel Bernard got his Tom Brady moment. pic.twitter.com/BBMSuzpS0P
Bernard will ultimately compete to serve as Matt Milano’s backup as a rookie while playing on special teams. The linebacker will have to prove himself on the field, but the former Baylor Bear has a similar build to Buffalo’s star linebacker.
Matt Milano is 6-0 1/2, 223 out of BC and ran 4.67. Terrell Bernard is 6-0 1/2, 224 and ran 4.59 at Baylor pro day.
Bernard would tell the media that Milano is one of his favorite linebackers to study on tape.
With the AFC East gaining more weapons and the conference as a whole improving by leaps and bounds, it’s important to have a linebacker who can cover backs and tight ends. At Baylor, Bernard did a great job in coverage and never allowed a touchdown.
The Buffalo Bills pick Baylor LB Terrell Bernard at No. 89 overall. ZERO touchdowns allowed in 983 career coverage snaps 🎉 pic.twitter.com/pOPLq2WWDu
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