Taven Epps

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 225 lbs. Taller than 82% and heavier than 85% of 2027 Linebacker prospects in the SEC Scouts database (34 with a listed size).

Play Style

Epps plays downhill and aggressively, and his tackle-for-loss and hurry numbers show he is often in the backfield. He is most effective blitzing from depth or lining up on the edge, where his length and closing speed disrupt the quarterback before the ball comes out. In coverage he uses his length and receiver hands to contest passes in zones rather than just making the tackle after the catch. As a two-way player who scored in the Delta League title game, he is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has natural spatial awareness. His play style relies on athleticism and range more than a physically dominant run defender taking on blocks.

Strengths

• Pass-rush production from the second level: 13 QB hurries and 3 sacks as a junior, plus 2 sacks in one game against Damien (9/10/2026) as a senior. He can be used as a blitzer or an edge rusher on passing downs, which fits Venables' pressure-heavy defense
• Plays in the backfield: 12 tackles for loss and 72 total tackles as a junior show he diagnoses quickly and closes on the ball rather than piling up tackles downfield
• Coverage and ball skills: 8 pass breakups as a junior, and receiver-level hands (4 TD catches) that show up when he drops into zones or carries tight ends and backs
• Versatility: 247Sports singled out his versatility as the defining trait, and he projects to play inside linebacker, a hybrid role and a pass-rush role, making him hard for offenses to read
• Competitive makeup and leadership: he was the defensive leader of a Tustin team that went 28-5 over three seasons with back-to-back Delta League titles, and he is actively recruiting other prospects to Oklahoma

Areas to Improve

• Adding weight and play strength: at about 220 pounds he needs 15-20 more to take on pulling guards and hold up in the A and B gaps against SEC offensive lines without getting washed out
• Settling on a home position: being used everywhere can slow technical development, so he needs to sharpen one set of skills (reading run fits and fitting his gap as an inside linebacker, or hand use and a counter move as a rusher) instead of winning on athleticism alone
• Level of competition and finishing in the playoffs: Tustin lost in the first round of the playoffs three years running, so his tape against elite competition is thinner than some peers' and should be weighed with his Long Beach Poly and Damien games in 2026

College Projection

In Oklahoma's defense he projects first as a special-teams contributor and situational pass-rush linebacker as a true freshman in 2027, used on third downs and in blitz packages while he adds weight. A redshirt-style development year is realistic if the linebacker room is deep. By his second or third season (2028–29), at around 235 pounds, he should compete for a starting spot at weakside linebacker or the hybrid role, where his range, blitzing and coverage are most useful. A multi-year starter projection is reasonable given his ranking and production.

NFL Outlook

Epps fits what the NFL wants in a linebacker: length, pass-rush value from off the ball, and the ability to cover backs and tight ends. If he adds weight without losing range and becomes a steady run defender, he projects as a Day 2 draft pick with first-round upside if his production as a blitzer carries over to the SEC. The biggest variable is whether he proves he can play every down; if not, he profiles as a sub-package and special-teams player at the next level.

Best Fit

An aggressive, multiple defense that moves linebackers around and blitzes from different spots, which is exactly Brent Venables' system at Oklahoma. Schemes with a weakside or hybrid linebacker role who both blitzes and drops into coverage get the most from his skills. A conservative two-gap system that asks linebackers mainly to take on blocks would waste his range and pass-rush value.