Clev Lubin

The Player

Lubin is in his fifth collegiate season and second at Louisville after an unconventional path that included Army, Iowa Western, and Coastal Carolina. He redshirted at Army in 2022, then earned first-team NJCAA All-America honors while helping Iowa Western win the 2023 national title. 

He has a shorter, tightly packed frame, very good straight-line speed, and good takeoff burst, and he’s an efficient pass rusher. He does not have Dylan Stewart–level first-step explosiveness, but he gets off the ball well, shaves a tight edge with little wasted motion, and consistently attacks half of the offensive tackle. His dip move is effective, and while he lacks elite torso flexibility, he has enough bend to keep advancing through contact. His legs never stop moving.

Lubin also flashes suddenness with his hands, particularly with his swat, club, and arm-over moves, but he needs to diversify his rush plan and develop better counters when his initial move stalls.

Against the run, Lubin is physical and powerful. He plays with good leverage, can snap blockers backward with his initial strike, and locates the football quickly. He works off blocks with strength, plays with outstanding effort, and will fight through multiple bodies to get involved in the play. Once he gets pointed downhill, he closes with authority and brings real thump as a tackler.

His versatility is adequate, but his NFL fit seems fairly clear. Lubin can line up on either side and play from a two- or three-point stance, but his natural home is as a stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker in the mold of those old-school Ravens and Steelers edges: They rush the passer, set a physical edge, and chase the football. He has not shown much value dropping into coverage and can get upright and tight when asked to stop and change direction.