Every year there is a player that Bill Belichick seems to draft out of nowhere and it leaves people confused and wondering why. I think I may have found this year's player and his name is Dele Harding.

For some background, Harding is a 4 year linebacker out of Illinois. Now he doesn't have a ton of starting experience except for 2019 but he made the most of it. Look at his numbers once he was given the chance to start, they absolutely skyrocketed.

He averaged 12.3 tackles per game which was 2nd in the nation and he also ended up with 14.5 tackles for a loss. To say he was a playmaker against the run would be an understatement. He also commanded the middle of Lovie Smith's Illinois Cover 2 defense. A very strong resume.

Now to get into some tape. Wisconsin is a run heavy team and they want to pound the ball. Dele Harding stopped them from doing this multiple times this game. Here he is in the middle of the defense and he gets a free road to Taylor. He wraps him up for a short gain.

Here Harding stays strong at the point of attack against a lineman that has 70 pounds on him and helps to bring down Taylor to make it 3rd Down.

Harding's in the middle of the defense here and recognizes the run play and immediately attacks. He manages to stay up after a block and help bring Taylor down.

Harding has a great play here. He doesn't allow the guard to disengage and climb the defense, he stays strong and doesn't get pancaked, and him staying up clogs this running lane allowing his teammates to swarm to the ball and tackle Taylor.

Harding instantly reads this as a run and reacts. He's like a human heat seeking missile. He hits the hole hard and brings Taylor down at the line of scrimmage setting up a 3rd Down instead of the likely 1st Down if Harding doesn't make this play.

Harding reads run correctly again and shoots the gap right away. The guard gets an arm around Harding but that isn't nearly enough. He fights through that and with the help of his teammate stuffs Jonathan Taylor.

Harding is lined up in the A Gap here faking a blitz. Right when the ball is snapped he drops back into coverage but he sees the handoff and forces Taylor to bounce this run outside. Even though he doesn't get the tackle, Harding does just enough to stop Taylor.

Here Harding is commanding the middle of the defense again. He recognizes the run and goes to fill his gap and no one picks him up. He gets a free rush to Taylor and shuts down this play before Taylor can even think about getting loose.

This is probably my favorite Dele Harding play. The guard pulls to take him out of the play and Harding POPS him. This play slows down Taylor immensely and he should have been tackled short of the 1st. Harding is not afraid to bang with people that have 50+ pounds on him.

Harding is lined up a few yards over the B Gap here and does a great job. The guard climbs to the 2nd level to block Harding but Harding gets off this block instantly. This makes the FB pick up Harding and it gives an Illinois defender a free shot to bring down Taylor.

Harding gets a free path to Taylor bc the lineman that was supposed to block him falls. Harding absolutely stonewalls Taylor here and Illinois would end up winning this game. Harding's massive game was a massive reason for this upset.

This is such an exceptional play by Harding here. He takes likely first round pick Tristan Wirfs and throws him to the ground. Wirfs has 90 pounds on Harding too! Not only does he throw him down but he also tackles the ball carrier. He is a very good player.

This was a good play by Harding too this time in the Shrine Bowl. He completely takes away Eli Wolf in the flat. Unfortunately the pass gets completed down the field but still a good job by Harding here.

Harding also has some serious pop to his game. Watch the hit he lays on Adrian Killins Jr. Absolutely buries him.

All in all, I think Dele Harding is the perfect Belichick linebacker. A starting linebacker that is very good against the run and someone with a lot of special teams experience. He's only going to get better with more playing time and could be a solid player here in New England.