A 6-foot-7 linebacker with rare length and coverage range, Eric Gentry signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent after four seasons at USC.
Eric Gentry looks unlike almost any linebacker in football at 6-foot-7 with a wingspan north of seven feet, a frame USC used all over the field, from off-ball linebacker to slot coverage to the edge. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with the Bengals, betting his athletic upside can translate to a roster spot.
Path to the league
Gentry grew up in Philadelphia and attended Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School, missing his senior season of football due to COVID-19 restrictions. He began his college career at Arizona State in 2021, starting the final three games of his true freshman season, before transferring to USC in 2022.
Career highlights
Over four seasons with the Trojans, Gentry totaled 271 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two interceptions, 13 passes defended and nine forced fumbles. He missed most of the 2024 season due to concussion concerns but returned to full action in 2025.
2025 season recap
Gentry's 2025 season at USC was his best statistically, with career highs of 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and three sacks. Questions about his weight and play strength kept him from being drafted in 2026, but he signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent and made the Bengals' active roster as a rookie.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Eric Gentry
- ESPN: Eric Gentry
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- USC
- Hometown
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
