There is no doubting that UCLA linebacker Myles Jack is one of the most athletically gifted players in the 2016 NFL Draft. One NFL general manager has a ton of confidence in him, comparing him to one of the best linebackers of this generation.
The GM talked about Jack’s skills at the position and his ability to move all over the field. He even went so far as to call him a faster version of Baltimore Ravens’ great Ray Lewis.
“When I asked one NFL general manager if (Jack) compared favorably to former Baltimore Ravens great Ray Lewis, the general manager had this to say: ‘Yes, but Jack is faster,'” Pete Frisco of CBS Sports reported.
Myles Jack was speaking with Frisco and he said he was honored to hear him being compared to a player like Lewis. He then, however, went on to say that he has yet to earn that distinction.
“When I hear I am compared to him, I am kind of like, ‘slow down, put on the brakes,'” Jack said, per the report. “I have to earn that. I have to climb the ladder before I can be mentioned with him, my name and his name in the same breath. He’ll be remembered for generations. Everybody knows Ray Lewis. You can’t compare yourself to idols. You want to model your game after it, but comparing me to him is too fast. I want to get there, but slow down.”
When you look at the two players, they compare in many ways. They are about the same size with Lewis beginning his career at six-foot-one and 235 pounds, while Jack is just eight pounds lighter.
The only thing that Jack has over Lewis is that he played running back during his career at UCLA, which gives him an edge in speed. No matter what happens, it is hard to say there will ever be a player like Lewis in the league ever again, but Jack is sure close.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
