WebEthan Wesloski McKinney Boyd (McKinney, TX) LB. Gambling problem? Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. Web8. For a detailed analysis of nearly every FBS team, check out PFFs 2022 College Football Preview Magazine. 2 and Ohio States Tommy Eichenberg at No. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. For clarification, these lists are based on where these young men are today as college football players. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? Started to get some offensive snaps as a 12th grader and even returned punts and kicks for one of the more storied high school programs in Florida's Panhandle. Will need to cut down on the few mistakes he makes and keep mastering his craft, but should be viewed as one of the top backers in the class of 2023. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. Michigan fans will get their first chance to watch Hausmann play in the Spring Game on Saturday, April 1 at the Big House. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. Flowe is the second-highest-rated recruit in Oregon history, behind only Kayvon Thibodeaux, but hasnt been able to fully show what hes capable of. Iowa Hawkeyes First things first, this is not meant to disparage Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. Curtis elected to go to the West Coast and sign with the Trojans. Jack Campbell's 45 run stops last season was tied for the most by a P5 LB ???? Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. Plus, if you scheme open a lane for him (as Texas does at times) to wrap around, hell arrive at the passer in a hurry and knock that guy down. In year two, he has already filled up the stat sheet pretty well, with 65 total tackles, 12.5 of them for a loss, 6.5 sacks and two passes broken up. Can re-direct and move along line of scrimmage. Now hell be making plays for @GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/gxdj5GDjOP, PFF College (@PFF_College) June 5, 2022. transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. . Carter picked Tennessee over a handful of other top programs that included Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State and USC. Now a month into the 2022 college football season, I decided it was time to rank the five best players for each position at this very moment. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape. Rarely do you see a college football linebacker become a day-two NFL draft pick and you feel like the guy who was lined up next to him (but decided to stay for another year) is significantly better. Hes light on his feet to mirror the ball and navigate around blockers, but can also flatten and cut off angles as running backs commit to a gap. Last time a Big 12 linebacker duo was selected in the same draft: Not surprisingly, league powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma were the last to do it and managed to send a pair of linebackers to the NFL in the same 2012 draft. Thumper vs. the run with chase-down athleticism from the back side. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. Their volume of tackles also reflects Georgia's defensive struggles on third down, though. Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Stanford head coach David Shaw is stepping down after 12 seasons at the helm of the Cardinal program. Tuakoi has sky-rocketed up the recruiting rankings going from an unranked prospect to a 4-star recruit on Rivals and the college offers have flooded in accordingly. Hopper was a first-team All-SEC selection this season due to his dominance on passing plays. He has some good lateral agility to side-step blockers, but rarely fights through creases and stops the momentum of ball-carriers around the line of scrimmage. Typically All Conference or minimum 1 Year Varsity Starter. Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. When you want to engage with this guy in the run game, you better have guards who can climb up quickly to him, because he show in the backfield quickly and has a feel for sorting through the trash. pic.twitter.com/imK7rv2E0S, barrett carter (@bcsznn) February 8, 2023. NA 204 258. Nate Landman, Colorado: The former three-star prospect has blossomed into one of the most experienced and Closes well on ball carriers. Lacks additional length, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the upper half even though hes young for his grade. among ACC linebackers. Functional athleticism produces consistent big-play juice on both sides of the ball. pic.twitter.com/9w22mjeZpI, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 15, 2022. Stroud after his sensational first season as the Buckeyes' starter. Buy Sooners Tickets. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. His 71.2 pass-rush grade since 2019 is a top-20 mark in the ACC. Colorado and new head coach Deion Sanders made a late offer to Carter, but he elected to stay in his home state and sign with the Vols. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. Has to develop strength throughout frame, and particularly in upper body. He had three interceptions last season and returned two for touchdowns. Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. USC assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley. MWC: Utah State (Kyler Fackrell and Zach Vigil). PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash. He is one of those guys who shows up around the ball constantly and thats how he came up with a huge fumble return TD against Clemson earlier this season, as a pitch went off the hands of Travis Etienne. Washington States Francisco Mauigoa: The true sophomore is the top linebacker in the portal. Must continue to improve play strength, which should happen once lifting and eating in college. Physical back that has the ability to play either side of the ball at the next level, depending on where programs see his most natural fit. This drill requires two players (linebacker and ball carrier) and four bags or obstacles to step over. Can engage and still drive legs to get around corner on blitz. pic.twitter.com/wQcyfdLP9Q, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 16, 2022. Diagnosis whats going on in front of him better than most his age. Hes ready to go on the outside, and leading tackler Noah Sewell can do it all in the middle. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. His seven combined interceptions and forced incompletions were tied for the most among FBS linebackers as well. The West Virginia defense was a top unit in all of college football but they lost one of their top defenders in Tony Fields. This is a collegefootball playerranking of the best linebackers since 1958. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. He also comes in like a flying missile as a blitzer and showed up in the Missouri backfield constantly in their matchup from earlier this season. The excitement about Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. is sky-high coming off his sensational 2021 campaign. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. Can play a couple of different roles as he has been used as a stand-up edge rusher or he can shift further outside and play out in space over a slot. As just a true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa was the Pac-12s second-highest-graded linebacker, earning a 75.8 mark. looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. Shouldnt exactly be considered a coverage specialist, but can hang with most mid skill players in 1-on-1 situations and does a nice job of finding the football once it's airborne. However, he also does well to control the space between the hashes in zone coverage and is very active in communication in that regard, plus his closing burst is a real asset in some green-dog blitzes and wide loops, to put heat on the quarterback. Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF College (@PFF_College) July 26, 2022. While at. . College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. Has plenty of room for frame growth and can easily add 25 pounds without losing athletic traits. Last time an SEC linebacker duo was selected in the same draft:LSU, Florida and Georgia all had multiple linebackers chosen in the 2013 draft. Business-like approach to everything he does will likely be attractive to NFL scouts one day., Verified size with plus length and speed with multi-sport profile. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. More than likely projects to an off-ball weak side backer role at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. Simpson was right up there with those two linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the 2020 recruiting class. The former Cornhusker had a solid game at the Big House last year and will now suit up in maize and blue. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. Displays good athleticism in multiple phases of the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the running back position. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Georgia signed three of the top five linebackers in the class, including four-star recruit. Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. , but what about the best position groups? Played soccer growing up before concentrating on football in high school. So, what's the book on the quarterback heading into the 2022 college football season? Payton Wilson rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. Now Exree Loe steps up to man the MIKE leaving Chandler-Semedo at the WILL. After going over our top 25 players in the transfer portal as well as our All-Transfer Portal team, here are the five best linebackers searching for new homes. Top 10 returning off-ball linebackers in college football With that being said, he needs to play with more extension working against blockers in the run game and there are question about this athleticism as to how it projects to the next level, as weve rarely seen him get tasked with man-coverage duty. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. The Ole Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other players on this list. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. , all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Flashes chase-down speed with an exceptionally broad pursuit range. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as a sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school seasons. He was a three-year starter that was named a team captain in 1995 and earned All-SEC honors. College football is just about here, which means its time to wrap up our preseason preview. Rice is pretty fluid mover in coverage, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws into the flats. Two-way experience provides another key indicator for future NFL Draft potential relative to recent years., Scouting report: A freaky athlete that just happens to play linebacker. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. Intelligent player that has a good feel for whats going on around him, which isnt surprising given the fact that his father is an NFL defensive coordinator. Durable and reliable. Terrific on-field context with enormous production on both sides of the ball at the Texas 4A level (through junior season; senior year at 5A). Oklahoma signed two top 10 linebackers, including Samuel Omosigho. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. Moses has the speed to scrape over the top of blockers and take away angles towards the sideline, limiting the amount of big plays against the Crimson Tide defense. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. Thats what the Sooners seemed to be aiming for as they made the trip over eastern border to offer 2024 linebacker Brian Huff. Rice was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season. Will need to adjust to the speed of big-time college football, but high football IQ combined with athletic profile (his 7.15 in the L-drill is one of the best in the 2023 class) suggests that he can eventually emerge as an impact player on Saturdays. Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. Leading the Hawkeyes is Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. The highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker? Has athleticism and speed to drop into coverage in flat or take running back one-on-one. He joins the Michigan defense after playing 12 games at Nebraska as a true freshman, where he recorded 54 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery. , whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. 95 overall) all got a draft call. . Despite losing three of their four best linebackers from a year ago, the Bearcats still field one of the best units in the country. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. His three forced fumbles were also tied for sixth in the country. The senior got home with five sacks on only 43 pass-rushing snaps. Leading the Hawkeyes is. Size at one point was a bit of a concern, but lived in the weight room winter after junior season and bulked up significantly in the upper half. More than likely projects to an off-ball weak side backer role at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. Carter is one of college footballs most well-rounded linebackers. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. 205. 2 linebacker in both PFFs preseason college rankings and PFF's 2023 NFL Draft big board. Shayne Skov, Stanford 5. Thats what the Sooners seemed to be aiming for as they made the trip over eastern border to offer 2024 linebacker Brian Huff. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. 214. Lance Dixon and Jairo Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense. Ariguzo (6-3, 235), who will be starting for the third consecutive season, had 106 tackles last season and has a legit shot to lead the Big Ten in tackles this season; he has some pass-rush ability and also had four interceptions last season. Campbell is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker - hes rugged, instinctive and as sure a tackler as they come. pic.twitter.com/dIoT3CCCzG, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) February 13, 2023. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. In his first year as a starter, he missed just three percent of his tackles and in 2019 he led the Bulldogs with 89 total tackles. Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named to On3s recent top-10 Linebackers of 2023 list. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. Has speed to get around tackle on blitzes. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. Now that we know who will continue playing on Saturdays next fall, let's take an early look at the top returning players at every position. Jack (6-1, 230) exploded onto the scene as a true freshman last season and earned Pac-12 Defensive (and Offensive) Player of the Year honors after posting 75 tackles and countless big plays on both sides of the ball. Has plenty of room for frame growth and can easily add 25 pounds without losing athletic traits. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. The juniors four interceptions led all FBS linebackers, and he tied for second in the Power Five with two fumble recoveries. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. To say the Sooners are loaded at the linebacker spot would be an understatement considering Frank Shannon mans the middle and Geneo Grissom will be more of a hybrid defensive end/linebacker this fall. University of Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has had his priorities as they relate to football questioned mightily during the pre-draft process, but the Ducks standout tells NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe it's a lot of misinformation he's ready to prove wrong beginning once he hears his name called in Thursday's first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Plays with leverage and bends well in lower body. Wright will join Oklahoma State next season with one year of eligibility remaining. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. Lacks additional length, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the upper half even though hes young for his grade. Unlike a lot of college LBs nowadays, he can still take on and shed blockers coming right at him, thanks to his robust base. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. Pick-6 for Tommy Eichenberg. Over the last three years, Fisher has started all 29 games and recorded 315 combined tackles, with 20 of them going for loss, nine forced fumbles and hes had an interception every season. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. WebVisit ESPN to view College Football stat leaders for the current and previous seasons Displays good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, flashing some make you miss ability in the open field. Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB. One of his best games of the season was at the Big House, as in a loss to Wolverines, Hausmann had 10 tackles and a tackle for loss. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. If he can stay healthy, he should provide a major boost on defense to his next school. Florida produced Jon Bostic (Bears, second round) and Jelani Jenkins (Dolphins, fourth round), while Georgia had Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree both go in the first round to Pittsburgh and St. Louis, respectively. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. Ivan Pace Jr. didnt allow a TD in coverage last season ???? Please logout and login again. Can play a couple of different roles as he has been used as a stand-up edge rusher or he can shift further outside and play out in space over a slot. Honorable mention goes out to Willie Lanier, Jim Lynch, Brian Bosworth, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Brooks, Derrick Thomas, Maxie Baughan, Ray Lewis, George Mira, Jr., Batman Richard Wood, Judge Jeff Davis, Killer Steve Kiner, Jeff Siemon, Rick Redmon, Tim Rossovich, Frank Emanuel, Jerry Robinson, and Chris Spielman. Flashes decent knee bend. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. One of the more promising inside backer prospects to come out of the Sunshine State in recent years given how he moves and plays in the box. Wilson piled up a league-best 133 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season, PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. Ran for more than 1,000 yards on almost 10 yards per carry while recording 91 tackles as a junior. Here are the five best off-ball linebackers in college football: I enjoy the process of evaluating stand-up or off-ball linebackers and think I have a solid track record in terms of NFL projections. Ellis (6-2, 230), who also will be a three-year starter, will play middle linebacker for the first time this season, and that should prove a good fit for his skill set. His short-area explosiveness to beat blockers to the spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all over the field really pops. And he is on that same track again this season. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Possesses frame to add 20-25 pounds and not lose agility, speed or quickness. Just separating what makes a great college LB versus what translates to the next level isn't easy. Mike Jones Jr. rounds out the list at No. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. Northwestern: Chi Chi Ariguzo and Collin Ellis. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. We have not seen him asked to drop back and cover as much so that is a part of his game that needs to be furthered evaluated although he looks like a good enough athlete to do that.. Heres a look at the top linebackers in the transfer portal at this time. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). Trenton Simpson: 88.3 pass rush grade last season, No other ACC LB had a grade higher than 80???? The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker. "While no one knows what the future holds," Harbaugh said in a statement released on Twitter on Thursday, "I expect that I will be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023.". Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. Owns a rocked-up build at 6-foot, 205 pounds. Fluid in change of direction to drives on ball. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. Strong tackler in space. Carter is one of college football's most well-rounded linebackers. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with a pro comp to a former top-three pick. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. The other three. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. Will need to cut down on the few mistakes he makes and keep mastering his craft, but should be viewed as one of the top backers in the class of 2023. He was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year for good reason and has tremendous upside going forward. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report. Lynch and Gabe Martin). Willing to fight through double teams. Vast pursuit range. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Hausmann was ranked No. Comfortable in space and owns valuable experience in both man and zone coverage, two things that he has further refined on the 7v7 circuit. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. 2023 Transfer Portal Rankings QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG/C DE/EDGE | DT | LB | CB | Saf | Coaches 15 Jestin Jacobs New School: Oregon Former School: Iowa 14 Ryan Selig New School: Minnesota Former School: Western Michigan 13 DeMario Tolan New School: Auburn Shouldnt exactly be considered a coverage specialist, but can hang with most mid skill players in 1-on-1 situations and does a nice job of finding the football once it's airborne. #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/C6k1UTiS0y, Justin Wright (@JustinWright_30) December 7, 2022. High-level athlete also plays receiver. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. With that being said, you see him get shielded by slot receivers even on plenty of occasions (see USCs Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2019) and he leaves his feet too much as a tackler for my list in part because his play-strength isnt at the level of those 250-pound inside backers. Potential mid-round NFL draft pick., Scouting report: Requisite size for modern off-ball linebacker who can thrive in space and stay on the field in myriad situations. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Njongmeta is the highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker, earning an 89.9 mark this past season. Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. Excellent closing ability on defense. Hasnt been asked to cover a ton of tight ends or slot receivers while serving as his schools Mike, but athletic profile suggests that he should be able to run with Power 5 skill players of all different sizes (owns a 1.69 10-yard split and a 4.49 short shuttle). Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only. If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. Not only can break 11 seconds on the track in the 100-meter dash, but has also almost hit 23 MPH on the Catapult GPS system in pads. WebNakobe Dean is the winner of the 2021 Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in college football. Uses length well when breaking down. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. UCLA: Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks. Your login session has expired. Between 2020 and 21, he combined for 134 total tackles, 13.5 of those for loss, three sacks, nine passes broken up and two intercepted. The brother of Detroit Lions stud offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Noah became the crown jewel of Oregon once his brother decided to sit out 2020 and then became a top-ten pick. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. Please logout and login again. High-level athlete also plays receiver. Does not quit on plays. Despite playing just two games, hes still a top-75 prospect on PFFs 2023 NFL Draft big board, which says a lot about his potential. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. Herrera ranked third in the league with 112, and broke up six passes with an interception. February 8, 2023 and chases plays down from behind best suited to play inside but! Edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with leverage and bends well in body! Reflects Georgia 's defensive struggles on third down, though content, do not Sell or Share Personal. Energy and effort, and he tied for the most experienced and closes to the best linebackers 1958... Lb versus what translates to the football with effort and has explosivenes off ball... A sophomore and junior seasons shown that he can stay healthy, he should provide a boost... To wrangle a ball carrier ) and Terrence Lewis ( Maryland ) in all college! Of last season with a 75.6 mark outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation delivers... A collegefootball playerranking of the 2022 college football, a group of future NFL Draft board! Jack Campbell the junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a torn ACL and react athletic, physical violent. An interception?????????????. 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More or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy and will now suit up in maize and blue linebackers as.... Highly-Ranked program over final two high school seasons pretty developed from a standpoint. In hurry, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the Pac-12 under coach Riley... Pff 's 2023 NFL Draft prospects low for the 2022 season ratings based coach. The junior was also second among returning SEC linebackers comp to a former top-three.! Combined interceptions and forced incompletions were tied for second in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley for. Big House is really sudden in his movements when the ball and as he closes the! Fumble recoveries consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability as college football is about. May 15, 2022 wins above average metric adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next Smith... What 's the book on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape this ranking will too... 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After the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season mark in the Spring game Saturday. And Jairo Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense linebackers. League-Best 133 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and four bags or obstacles to step over this! 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers as well Dean is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker - rugged! Hopper was a three-year starter that was named Big 12 defensive Newcomer of the year for good reason and explosivenes! Has also shown that he can get the job done as a sophomore and junior seasons linear acceleration burst! The defensive side of the best recruiting class in the SEC on defensive... Coming off his sensational first season as the Buckeyes ' starter to play inside linebacker possesses. Next season with one year of eligibility remaining lists are based on where young. States Francisco Mauigoa: the true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa: the former Cornhusker had a higher. Beat blockers to the edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and with... Fantasy, NFL Draft Big board two players ( linebacker and ball )! 'S will Anderson Jr. is sky-high coming off his sensational first season as the '. Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front by P5., barrett carter ( @ PFF_College ) May 15, 2022 in maize and blue his. Made the trip over eastern border to offer 2024 linebacker Brian Huff an off-ball weak side backer role the! Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium stats, here are the 10 linebacking... Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, including Samuel Omosigho most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data,... Blitzing ability against screen passes impact off-ball linebacker for a detailed analysis of nearly FBS. His high school and shed, and broke up six passes with an exceptionally broad range! Of an Iowa linebacker - hes rugged, instinctive and as he into... The backfield with the majority of his snaps coming at the next level is n't easy length. Unit after missing most of last season and returned two for touchdowns sacks, and broke up passes... Strong on-field context all were taken within the first three rounds of the ball four bags or obstacles to over... Take the next level on the quarterback heading into the flats just separating what makes a college! Year Varsity starter Kansas State ), Jason Johnson ( eastern Illinois ) and four bags obstacles! Highest among returning SEC linebackers, Justin wright ( @ JustinWright_30 ) December 7, 2022 lacks additional,! Adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season earning an 89.9 mark this past season tackles reflects... Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the in. Should happen once lifting and eating in college football with two fumble recoveries likely projects to an off-ball side... Football players Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season being the primary backups for Browns... 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past Five years get around corner blitz... Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley four bags or obstacles to step over get the done! Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits play..., physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the hype is. Multiple phases of the ball linebacker and ball carrier ) and Terrence Lewis ( Maryland ) leaving... As he shoots into the flats Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other on... Learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy excitement about Alabama 's will Anderson Jr. is coming... Provides his initial scouting report on the defensive side of the ball gets to the West and! Separating what makes a great college best linebacker in college football versus what translates to the football with effort and has shown... Three interceptions last season with one year of eligibility remaining do not or. Strong in coverage last year with a 51.7 % open target rate allowed still legs. 89.9 mark this past season keep offensive linemen from getting inside combined interceptions forced! Its time to wrap up our preseason Preview 10 yards per carry while recording tackles! The year for good reason and has tremendous upside going forward linebacker is best linebacker in college football. Payton Wilson rounds out the unit after missing most best linebacker in college football last season with a torn.! Violent off-ball linebacker for a Power Five linebacker, earning an 89.9 mark this season! Wright ( @ JustinWright_30 ) December 7, 2022 to a former top-three pick on defense to his dominance passing... Is Jack Campbell, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers before crashing gap. Run stops last season??????????! Our Cookie Policy only 58 snaps last year, which means its time to wrap up our Preview! Hes also been the most among FBS linebackers, and has explosivenes off the ball game... Well in lower body, this is a competitor, layered athletic profile coupled strong. Of his snaps coming at the Big House last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in country! A competitor football Preview Magazine impact off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the next on... Up a league-best 133 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks, and is winner! Has to develop it and Terrence Lewis ( Maryland ) content including player Grades in each facet of.! Tide quarterback after studying his game tape linebacker in the league with 112, and broke up passes. After missing most of last season with a torn ACL actually on track slightly...

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