2021 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings select UNC Linebacker Chazz Surratt

The moment has arrived and the Minnesota Vikings have drafted Chazz Surratt in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 15th overall pick. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker has made a name for himself at North Carolina as a defensive leader, despite starting his career in Chapel Hill as a quarterback. Surratt will be a great addition to a rebuilding defensive team, and if you are not sure why just take a look at his career in Carolina.

Surratt signed with UNC in 2015 as a four-star, dual-threat quarterback with plans of being the successor of Mitch Trubisky. A few changes, including a head coaching change, while being sidelined due to an injury gave Surratt a tough decision, which was to change from quarterback to a linebacker.

That decision proved to be the best one as the next two years Surratt would rank 2nd with 115 tackles and 6th with 91 tackles in back-to-back years in the ACC.

Surratt was not only a sure tackle, but he could also read the field like a quarterback, leading to him catching two interceptions and breaking up five passes in the two seasons. Along with his ball-hawking ability, his hard hits forced two fumbles with one resulting in Surratt bringing the ball across the goal line for a score. Surratt also got to the quarterback like clockwork with 12.5 sacks in the two seasons.

Many are concerned about his size and 31.5 vertical leaps from his pro day, however, that day he did show some promise in speed, running a 4.59 in the 40. Another concern is experience at the linebacker position, yet, again that shouldn’t hold much weight seeing the quick turnaround from a quarterback to a back-to-back All-ACC first-team linebacker.

The Vikings defense got a whole lot richer with the versatility that comes with Surratt game from being able to rush the passer and defend in coverage effectively. I predict by the end of the season Surratt’s name will be in the running for defensive rookie of the year, making him the steal of this NFL draft.

Be sure to keep up with Keeping It Heel as we continue our coverage on UNC football players in the NFL Draft.