long, lean Rhode Island linebacker with high-upside frame and special-teams value
Alex Villa enters the 2026 season as a 6-foot-4, 215-pound sophomore linebacker for Rhode Island, giving the Rams a rangy defender with an NFL-style frame for the level and a profile that fits both stacked runs and space defense.[2][4] His background includes two-time First Team All-State honors in high school, which points to clear instincts and production traits before college, while his listed development path suggests he still has room to add strength and polish.[2] If you want a linebacker who can grow into a disruptive, high-motor piece rather than a finished product, Villa is exactly the kind of bet worth making.[2][10]
