Shadarius Toodle

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 235 lbs. Taller than 71% and heavier than 97% of 2026 Linebacker prospects in the SEC Scouts database (207 with a listed size).

Play Style

Toodle plays as a sideline-to-sideline run-and-hit linebacker who is involved in almost every snap. His tackle totals reflect a player who reads flow, runs, and finishes. He plays with good balance through traffic and stays under control as a tackler instead of launching. In coverage, he uses his length to crowd throwing windows in hook/curl zones and gets his head around to play the ball, as his interceptions show. He is also a productive blitzer through the A/B gaps, and his length helps him finish once he gets free. His high school coaching staff also used him in the backfield, where he plays downhill with the same physical approach.

Strengths

• Tackle production at a volume few prospects reach: 492 career tackles and 73 through the first seven games of his senior year. He finds the football consistently, and it shows over four seasons, not one breakout year.
• Complete stat line from off the ball: 8 career interceptions and 12 career sacks show he can drop into zones, play the ball in the air and generate pressure on blitzes. That is the three-down skill set modern SEC defenses want at Mike/Will.
• Uncommon size-to-movement ratio: at 6-3/235 he has good balance and body control. That lets him sift through trash, stay square and redirect laterally without the stiffness typical of linebackers his size.
• Two-way versatility: he also scored 4 rushing touchdowns as a senior. The ball skills and competitive toughness carry over and add special-teams value early.
• Committed to his development: evaluators noted he was studying scheme before arriving on campus. His 11 visits to Auburn and his return to the school after the Georgia flip point to a settled, invested player, which lowers transfer risk early in his career.

Areas to Improve

• Processing speed and fit discipline against SEC run games: at the 3A level, his athleticism let him make up for false steps. Against gap schemes, pullers and RPO conflict reads, he needs faster key reads and cleaner fits to avoid getting washed out or caught flowing too fast.
• Taking on blocks: much of his high school production came from running around blocks. He needs to add upper-body strength and consistent hand use to stack and shed 300-pound guards climbing to the second level.
• Quality of competition: Class 3A Alabama football does not show how he handles SEC speed and size every week. His rankings vary widely by service (247 has him #24 LB/#14 AL with a 90 rating, while the stored #282/#41 LB/#21 AL does not match any source I found). That spread reflects real uncertainty about his floor.

College Projection

Year 1 (2026): he is on Auburn's roster as a true freshman wearing #24. Expect special-teams snaps (kickoff and punt coverage suit his length and range) and rotational/backup linebacker work while he adds strength and learns the defense. Year 2: with a full strength program behind him and more weight on his frame, he should compete for a starting Mike or Will job. Years 3-4: if his processing catches up to his athleticism, he projects as a multi-year starter and a high-tackle, three-down SEC linebacker. The main risk is a slower adjustment from 3A competition, which would push that timeline back about a year.

NFL Outlook

As a four-star with legitimate NFL size (6-3/235) and a real coverage résumé, Toodle has a Day 2-3 draft profile if he becomes a multi-year SEC starter. The NFL values off-ball linebackers who can cover and stay on the field for passing downs, and his length plus ball skills fit that type. His draft value will depend on showing he can take on blocks and play downhill against the run in the SEC. If he stays mostly a range-based player, his realistic path is a special-teams and depth role at the next level.

Best Fit

A multiple 4-2-5 or 3-4 defense that asks its Mike/Will to handle both run fits and zone or match coverage, and that uses simulated pressures to send the linebacker on blitzes. That fits Auburn's current defensive approach. He is best protected by a defensive line that keeps guards off him early in his career, so his range and coverage skills can make an impact while his ability to take on blocks develops.