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Inside linebacker was once again viewed as one of the Los Angeles Rams’ primary needs this offseason, even despite the emergence of Omar Speights in 2024. After losing Christian Rozeboom and Jake Hummel in free agency, it became an even bigger hole on the roster.
They finally addressed the position this week when they agreed to a one-year deal with Nate Landman, a starting linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons the last two seasons. Landman isn’t a household name by any means, but the Rams rarely have those at linebacker. That doesn’t mean Landman can’t play.
Here are six things to know about the Rams’ newest inside linebacker.
Landman was born in Zimbabwe, Africa in 1998 where his dad was playing international rugby at the time. His family then moved to Danville, Calif., in 2002 and later attended Monte Vista High School. He didn’t become a U.S. citizen until his sophomore year of college. He’s the only active NFL player with Zimbabwe roots; Stansly Maponga, who played from 2013-2015, was also born in Zimbabwe.
"It means a lot," Landman told the Falcons’ official site in 2023. "I have a tremendous amount of pride being born in Zimbabwe. … Nobody ever believes me when I say I was born in Africa. Just being different and being able to be proud of something else, I think that's the biggest takeaway. I'm representing something bigger than myself, too. My family that's in Zimbabwe. The country."
Landman was a two-way player at Monte Vista, playing linebacker and wide receiver. As a senior, he caught 38 passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns, while also throwing two touchdown passes and recording 32 tackles for a loss. His team beat Najee Harris’ school, Antioch, in the CIF-North Coast Section Division I championship game where he caught three passes for 31 yards and forced a fumble on defense.
He left Monte Vista as a three-star recruit and the No. 5 linebacker in the state of California, according to Scout.com. He had offers from Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State and other Division I programs.
At Colorado, Landman played five seasons and racked up 349 total tackles, 42 tackles for a loss, 14 passes defensed, 10 sacks and three interceptions. He was named a first-team All-Pac-12 selection twice in 2019 and 2020, while earning second-team honors in 2021. He was also a team captain for the 2021 season.
Landman led the team in tackles three years in a row but came up short in 2021 after suffering a season-ending injury seven games into the campaign. He would’ve been the first player in program history to lead the team in tackles for four seasons.
Landman went undrafted out of Colorado but he signed with the Falcons following the 2022 draft. He earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster that year and wound up playing seven games, primarily on special teams. He was cut in December of that year but signed to the practice squad and inked a reserve/futures contract the following offseason to remain in Atlanta.
Landman broke out in 2023, playing 16 games and making 14 starts for the Falcons. He finished that season with 110 tackles and seven tackles for a loss, emerging as a key contributor on defense.
According to Pro Football Focus, he had the second-best run-stop rate in the NFL among qualified linebackers that year (12.6%), behind only Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He also ranked third among all qualified linebackers with 46 run stops in 2023.
Since the start of the 2023 season, Landman has forced a total of six fumbles – three in each season. There are only seven players in the NFL who have forced more than him in that span and only three of them are inside linebackers: Fred Warner, Zaire Franklin and Bobby Okereke.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL free agency: 6 things to know about new Rams LB Nate Landman
Continue reading...
They finally addressed the position this week when they agreed to a one-year deal with Nate Landman, a starting linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons the last two seasons. Landman isn’t a household name by any means, but the Rams rarely have those at linebacker. That doesn’t mean Landman can’t play.
Here are six things to know about the Rams’ newest inside linebacker.
He’s the only active NFL player born in Zimbabwe
Landman was born in Zimbabwe, Africa in 1998 where his dad was playing international rugby at the time. His family then moved to Danville, Calif., in 2002 and later attended Monte Vista High School. He didn’t become a U.S. citizen until his sophomore year of college. He’s the only active NFL player with Zimbabwe roots; Stansly Maponga, who played from 2013-2015, was also born in Zimbabwe.
"It means a lot," Landman told the Falcons’ official site in 2023. "I have a tremendous amount of pride being born in Zimbabwe. … Nobody ever believes me when I say I was born in Africa. Just being different and being able to be proud of something else, I think that's the biggest takeaway. I'm representing something bigger than myself, too. My family that's in Zimbabwe. The country."
He was a top-5 LB recruit in California
Landman was a two-way player at Monte Vista, playing linebacker and wide receiver. As a senior, he caught 38 passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns, while also throwing two touchdown passes and recording 32 tackles for a loss. His team beat Najee Harris’ school, Antioch, in the CIF-North Coast Section Division I championship game where he caught three passes for 31 yards and forced a fumble on defense.
He left Monte Vista as a three-star recruit and the No. 5 linebacker in the state of California, according to Scout.com. He had offers from Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State and other Division I programs.
He was a 3-time All-Pac-12 selection at Colorado
At Colorado, Landman played five seasons and racked up 349 total tackles, 42 tackles for a loss, 14 passes defensed, 10 sacks and three interceptions. He was named a first-team All-Pac-12 selection twice in 2019 and 2020, while earning second-team honors in 2021. He was also a team captain for the 2021 season.
Landman led the team in tackles three years in a row but came up short in 2021 after suffering a season-ending injury seven games into the campaign. He would’ve been the first player in program history to lead the team in tackles for four seasons.
He went undrafted in 2022 but made the Falcons’ 53-man roster
Landman went undrafted out of Colorado but he signed with the Falcons following the 2022 draft. He earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster that year and wound up playing seven games, primarily on special teams. He was cut in December of that year but signed to the practice squad and inked a reserve/futures contract the following offseason to remain in Atlanta.
He had the 2nd-highest run-stop rate by a LB in 2023
Landman broke out in 2023, playing 16 games and making 14 starts for the Falcons. He finished that season with 110 tackles and seven tackles for a loss, emerging as a key contributor on defense.
According to Pro Football Focus, he had the second-best run-stop rate in the NFL among qualified linebackers that year (12.6%), behind only Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He also ranked third among all qualified linebackers with 46 run stops in 2023.
Only 7 players have forced more fumbles than him in the last 2 seasons
Since the start of the 2023 season, Landman has forced a total of six fumbles – three in each season. There are only seven players in the NFL who have forced more than him in that span and only three of them are inside linebackers: Fred Warner, Zaire Franklin and Bobby Okereke.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL free agency: 6 things to know about new Rams LB Nate Landman
Continue reading...
