Jaden Dolphin is NIU’s steady, high-usage linebacker with splash-play upside
Dolphin is the kind of linebacker coaches trust: durable, assignment-sound, and productive, with 212 career tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups for NIU. He started every game in 2024 and was named to Phil Steele’s All-MAC fourth team after ranking second on the Huskies with 60 tackles, showing he can anchor a defense and handle a full workload. His best fit is a system that values smart, reliable run support and occasional coverage playmaking, not just raw speed.
