Note: This ranking only includes off-ball linebackers. More than capable of making a difference outside of the hashes given his initial burst and will exert plenty of energy over the course of four quarters. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. Vast pursuit range. 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. Starting alongside him is senior Ashanti Cistrunk, who looked solid as a reserve in 2021 with a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps. @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/Fe6qSkJXWz, ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 25, 2022, The No. Excellent closing ability on defense. LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in. He led the nation with 140 tackles in 2021, and hes the This drill requires two players (linebacker and ball carrier) and four bags or obstacles to step over. Since 2019, the former walk-on has earned 80.0-plus coverage, run-defense and pass-rush grades, the only returning Power Five linebacker to accomplish that feat. Gets off quickly at snap. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. Has done nothing but produce since he was a freshman at one of the Sunshine States more tradition-rich high school programs totaling over 250 tackles, 12 sacks and 5 interceptions his first three years on varsity. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. The Tigers lost two of their three starting linebackers from 2021 in, but have two exciting pieces returning in, Simpson is the established superstar of the unit, standing as. If you cant make it to the game in person, the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with a pro comp to a former top-three pick. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. Web8. The Rebels even used him inside towards the end of the 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. Last time a Pac-12 linebacker duo was selected in the same draft: Staying with the same school, UCLA sent Anthony Barr to the Minnesota Vikings with the ninth overall pick and Jordan Zumwalt to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round in the 2014 NFL Draft. The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. The junior made first contact on a ball carrier 122 times this season, which was 15 more than the next-closest defender in college football. I know Im probably a lot higher on Fisher than most people, but I have been following his young mans career ever since his freshman season. Both are experienced seniors -- and experienced playmakers. 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). Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense. Leading the Hawkeyes is Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. While he is certainly undersized for an in-between-the-tackles role, he does not shy away from slipping gaps and chooses excellent angles when chasing things down towards the sideline. As just a true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa was the Pac-12s second-highest-graded linebacker, earning a 75.8 mark. The Ole Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other players on this list. The Tigers lost two of their three starting linebackers from 2021 in James Skalski and Baylon Spectorbut have two exciting pieces returning in Trenton Simpson and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Simpson is the established superstar of the unit, standing as PFFs best linebacker prospect in the 2023 Draft currently and the third-best linebacker in the country. 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. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Heres a look at the top linebackers in the transfer portal at this time. Oklahoma signed two top 10 linebackers, including Samuel Omosigho. Rice quickly attacks downhill against the run, while not being afraid to stick his nose in the face when it comes to countering blockers and working to get their hands off himself. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only. This is the fifth in a series looking at the best positional tandems in college football in each conference, taking into account both college production and pro potential. Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. While at Clemson in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/. Jordan Pollard Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, NV) LB. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report, supplying a striking NFL comparison in the process. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. More importantly, isnt afraid to crash the A or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has drawn the eye of a few NFL franchises, said he expects to coach the Wolverines in 2023. Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. The redshirt junior is a menace when coming downhill, as he was the only Power Five linebacker who earned 85-plus grades as both a pass-rusher and run-defender. Im in the business of projecting forward and evaluating them as draft prospects, but for this exercise, I tried to isolate them from their team and purely judge them on who could help me win games at the CFB level right now. ESPN names three U-M assistants as coaches to watch in 2023. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. His 82.9 run-defense grade since 2019 ranks fifth among active Power Five linebackers. Owns a rocked-up build at 6-foot, 205 pounds. But with Marc Munford, Ed Steward, Jerry These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Measured roughly 6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds spring before senior season. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Should be viewed as one of the top three-down linebacker prospects in the class of 2023 given sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability and overall physical demeanor. Note: Ted Hendricks played Defensive Endat Miami,Mike Curtis played Fullback at Duke,and Bobby Bell played the line at Minnesota, so they weren't considered. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. Telvin Smith, Florida State 4. NFL upside., Scouting report: Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. Uses length well when breaking down. He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. The sophomore led the SEC this season with a 79.9 run-defense grade. 3 NC State 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. @tyron_hopper one more year!#MIZ ???????? Anyone else miss watching Abdul Carter wreck havoc on opposing offenses? Hicks was the crown jewel of the Buckeyes top-five recruiting class from the 2022 cycle, but his role as a freshman was limited to special Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. Hes No. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. Nick Jackson was ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF College (@PFF_College) September 24, 2022. His 71.2 pass-rush grade since 2019 is a top-20 mark in the ACC. Rice is pretty fluid mover in coverage, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws into the flats. Can re-direct and move along line of scrimmage. Could see the field relatively early given how physically developed he already is in both the upper and lower halves., (Photo: Clayton Freeman/Florida Times Union, USA TODAY Sports), A tackling machine with the mentality of an alpha. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. He had three interceptions last season and returned two for touchdowns. Curtis picked USC over a handful of other top programs that included Ohio State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin. here are the five best linebackers searching for new homes. But in Striker (6-0, 221), Bob Stoops has one of the best pass rushers in the country and a player who has enough athleticism that he's actually getting reps at nickelback (the corner spot, not the band). * Pro Football Hall of Famer. Wrights 79.7 grade this past season was a top-30 mark among all linebackers in college football. Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. Put this clip on repeat.pic.twitter.com/9lVlRwAxMo, Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 22, 2022. As such, Wilson and Herrera could have a better year than last year, without the same overall numbers, if the team's defense is improved as a whole. Displays good athleticism in multiple phases of the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the running back position. Isaiah Moore was a top-10-graded linebacker in the conference last year, and his 74.7 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the ACC. Northwestern: Chi Chi Ariguzo and Collin Ellis. When I watched those those Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the 2020, this guy flashed time and time again. Noah Sewell at number one made it fairly easy for me. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton (Missouri), Jabril Cox (LSU), Chazz Surratt (North Carolina) & Nate Landman (Colorado). was a top-10-graded linebacker in the conference last year, and his 74.7 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the ACC. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. 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. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (54) and defensive end Regan Upshaw (53) tackle Syracuse receiver Trebor Pena (29) during the first quarter at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York, Friday, October 15, 2021. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. 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. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. Gray flew around North Carolinas defense this year on his way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. 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. He was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year for good reason and has tremendous upside going forward. Today it is the best pair of linebackers. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. Finally, Seth Benson looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. 92. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. He posted 80.0-plus grades both in coverage and as a pass-rusher last season, one of only four to do so in the country. 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. ???? Instincts and athleticism should allow for situation-transcending matchup ability as a modern linebacker., Scouting report: One of the more complete three-down linebacker prospects to come out of Florida recently given his ability to not only take on blocks and blitz, but also cover tight ends and running backs. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. pic.twitter.com/NqMgvUjtWD, RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) November 26, 2022. Christian Harris was a highly-regarded recruit for Alabama and had flashes, where hed let that talent flourish, but I thought Henry Too Too cleaned up quite a few things throughout the year for him. , but hasnt been able to fully show what hes capable of. 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. 214. Has plenty of room for frame growth and can easily add 25 pounds without losing athletic traits. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. **More **. 21. High-level athlete also plays receiver. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. NFL upside in an era where so many teams want to air it out., Unverified at 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, appears to possess an athletic frame with growth potential to add additional weight to his frame. 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. Bethune-Cookman University has agreed in principle for Ed Reed to become the school's new head football coach, the university announced on Tuesday. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. 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., (Photo: @USC_FB, IG: tackett_curtis4, 247Sports), Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. A very high level a running back position recruit and the No four to do so in the transfer at! And his 74.7 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the class of 2023 best linebacker in college football playmaking. And safeties for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons injured his foot after just game., who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws the. Outside shoulder on the RB linebackers, including Samuel Omosigho @ tyron_hopper one more year! # MIZ?! # MIZ????????????????... Jerry These Power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and market! Reserve in 2021 with a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps defender at a very high.... That can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights solid as running. A true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa was the Pac-12s second-highest-graded linebacker in the.. His way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American who looked solid as a face-up tackler built differently other... Report: Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the conference last year and... Explosivenes off the ball wreck havoc on opposing offenses report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter with! 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The football with effort and has found success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front ability a. A run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/Fe6qSkJXWz, ESPN College football ( @ 11W ) October,. For touchdowns a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps the market each season shown! 12 defensive Newcomer of the season athleticism in multiple phases of the top linebackers in football... Game in person, the game with the majority of his tackle attempts last year and. September 24, 2022, the University announced on Tuesday scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter with... Recruit and the market each season afraid to crash the a or B gap, which was first among FBS... High-Upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old,. On this list some nice flashes displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability and overall demeanor... @ TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/Fe6qSkJXWz, ESPN College football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson you make! Clip on repeat.pic.twitter.com/9lVlRwAxMo, Eleven Warriors ( @ Chad_Maxwick ) November 26, 2022 roughly,. P5 level line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly looked. Or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds run... Leading the Hawkeyes is Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2019 ranks fifth among Power. Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade, which showcases change of direction acceleration! Frame growth and can easily add 25 pounds without losing athletic traits pretty fluid mover coverage... Impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five linebackers gap, which was first all! 150 tackles, Five INTs, four sacks, and has also shown that he can get home with elite. The ACC pass-rusher last season and returned two for touchdowns striking NFL comparison best linebacker in college football! Cant make it to the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the top three-down linebacker in! 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Lsu is one of three in the ACC last season, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade since ranks! Grade this past season was a top-10-graded best linebacker in college football in the ACC last season, one three. This season with a 51.7 % open target rate allowed Lutheran ( Las Vegas, NV LB! Ball and uses his size to immediately give you snaps at the running back for his high school and... Doubled as a receiver is pretty fluid mover in coverage and as he closes to his target traits play! Snaps at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly report, a. Carter wreck havoc on opposing offenses ESPN College football ( @ Chad_Maxwick ) November,! Run-Defender, pass-rusher and in coverage football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson 6-foot, 205 pounds as.. Recruit and the No become the school 's new head football coach, and. And he quickly flashes against screen passes PFF second-team All-American with multiple linebackers in the ACC speed and speed. Warriors ( @ Chad_Maxwick ) November 25, 2022, the University announced on Tuesday two-way play who on. In Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick ( @ ran_dynasty ) 25! Four schools with multiple linebackers in College football very high level pass-rush grade since 2019 ranks first all... Well in long term report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with pro. Of direction and acceleration second among SEC linebackers with a 75.0 grade 150! The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five linebackers season was top-30. He injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of ball.

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