Our rookie scouting reports combine film and analytics to provide the best possible predictions for player performance. With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a month away, let’s take a look at the scouting report for Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu.
Marte Mapu NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Linebacker
- School: Sacramento State
- Year: Sixth-Year Senior
Mapu was a zero-star recruit out of Hawthorne High School in Hawthorne, California. In the absence of interest from any FBS schools, Mapu chose to play college football at Sacramento State, an FCS program.
Mapu redshirted his entire freshman season in 2017. He saw his first action in 2018, appearing in just five games due to injury. He played linebacker and recorded just six total tackles.
2019 marked Mapu’s third year at Sacramento State. While his games played shot up to 11, his production did not follow suit. He recorded just 18 tackles and one interception.
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In what should’ve been his senior season, Mapu did not play football due to COVID causing the season to be canceled. Because he redshirted as a freshman and the new COVID eligibility rules, Mapu entered 2021 with two years of eligibility remaining. He chose to use both of them.
In 2021, Mapu had his best season yet, registering 65 total tackles and four interceptions in 12 games. As a sixth-year senior in 2022, Mapu played in 13 games, totaling 76 tackles, one sack, two INTs, and one forced fumble.
Overall, Mapu finished his college career with 94 solo tackles, 71 assisted tackles, 13 TFLs, one sack, seven INTs, and 22 passes defended.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Marte Mapu
Strengths: Small-school defensive back who projects to outside linebacker in the NFL. Disciplined, keeps the action in front of him, and takes good angles to plays. Instinctive, quick to diagnose, and plays smart football.
Fires upfield defending the run and wraps up tackling. Moves well laterally and uses his hands to protect himself. Does a solid job in coverage between the numbers, tracking the ball in the air, then getting vertical to defend the pass or make the interception.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t show a burst in his game. Not forceful on the blitz. Doesn’t cover a lot of area and lacks the speed to recover.
Overall: Mapu was productive the past two seasons as a run defender and in pass coverage, but he has limitations. He projects as a one-gap LB with average size and marginal speed. Mapu must stand out on special teams to get out of camp this summer.
Marte Mapu Senior Bowl Measurements and Results
- Height: 6’2 1/2″
- Weight: 217 pounds
- Arm Length: 33 3/8″
- Hand Size: 9 3/8″
- Bench Press: N/A
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu Current Draft Projection
On Tony Pauline’s Big Board, Mapu ranked 216th overall and is projected to be drafted in the sixth round. With a 3.34 grade, he is Pauline’s OLB18 in this class.
Mapu’s measurements all come from the Senior Bowl because he did not earn a Combine invite. While players who don’t attend the Combine typically work out at their pro day, Mapu, unfortunately, tore his pectoral while training shortly before Sacramento State’s event.
College production is the most predictive indicator of NFL success. Mapu was quite productive during his final two seasons, but it’s difficult to know how much stock to put in it. Linebacker is very much a position where size and athleticism matter. It is no surprise that Mapu was able to dominate younger, smaller opponents in his fifth and sixth seasons.
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With that said, Mapu did earn Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. While he definitely had a leg up due to being older than everyone, he still had to play extremely well, which he did.
Mapu will turn 24 years old before his rookie season ends. That is quite old for an NFL player in his first campaign. Nevertheless, even as a Day 3 pick, Mapu should be able to make an NFL roster.
However, he is still fighting an uphill battle to have a sustained career. He will almost certainly be drafted and have the opportunity to prove himself at rookie minicamp and training camp, but simply earning a spot on an active roster would be a success for Mapu.