Chicago Bears’ Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen has shed light on what impressed him about linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, whom the team drafted in the fourth round with the 132nd overall pick.
When the Chicago Bears drafted linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II with the 132nd overall pick in the fourth-round, a lot of people around the sports world raised their eyebrow.
The former Maryland linebacker was the first non-Combine invite selected in the 2025 NFL Draft and missing out on the top scouting event never deterred his drive to prove himself and stand out ahead of April’s draft.
“The only thing I did was just decide what I’m going to do and that was just capitalize on my Pro Day,” Hyppolite said. “Make the best of that opportunity and then just kill it on the visits and on the Zoom calls, and I feel I did that.”
On March 28th, Maryland hosted their Pro Day with multiple team representatives from around the league in attendance. And at that event, Hyppolite capitalized on the opportunity to turn some heads in a major way.
Hyppolite’s blazing 4.42 40-yard-dash time at 5’11, 236 pounds would have led all linebackers had he been invited to the Combine, and that same speed shows up on the tape in coverage and when he’s moving downhill.
After seeing him shine at the Pro Day, multiple teams realized they needed to take another look at this guy and began lining up Top-30 visits to further get to know him. Of those many visits, Hyppolite noted his trip to Chicago was the “highlight” out of them all.
I just wanted to get across to them that obviously I have the speed to play this position, and I have the ability to play this position,” Hyppolite said about his visit. “Just really talking to them as far as my scheme, how I can fit into their scheme… Meeting with the coaches, all the front office people, all the staff. It was just great meetings all around. I loved the visit.”
The feeling was mutual from the front office and coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen specifically noted Hyppolite’s professionalism and mentality as two traits that shined during his visit to Chicago.
“You spend some time with these guys and you kind of get a feel for what their personality is going to be like,” Allen said via ChicagoBears.com. “He’s got a serious personality and he’s kind of got a pro’s mentality already, and that’s a good starting point.”
As for the on-the-field traits, Hyppolite totaled 236 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss in 50 games patrolling the middle of the field. While the stats aren’t that eye popping, Hyppolite has physical tools to develop while being one of the top leaders of the entire Maryland program, a trait that fits with each of the other Bears’ selections.
“He’s mature, he’s self-aware about who he is as a football player,” Allen added. “We went into the draft saying we have to try to increase our athleticism and speed, and he certainly does that at the linebacker position.”
