Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. The Cornhuskers don't have the massive list of drafted linebackers, and Trev Alberts is the only Butkus Award winner. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. 16. Honorable mentions: Troy Brown (Central Michigan), Ivan Pace Jr. (Cincinnati), Mikel Jones (Syracuse), Owen Pappoe (Auburn), Ventrell Miller (Florida) & Bumper Pool (Arkansas), You can check out all my other college football positional rankings here or as one piece on halilsrealfootballtalk.com, Be the first one to comment on this story. He was already a stud as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection in his second season, but I also love what he offers the NFL. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Using PFFs preseason positional rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the best linebacking corps in the country. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. 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. The West Virginia defense was a top unit in all of college football but they lost one of their top defenders in Tony Fields. It was also the best single-season mark by a Power Five player in the PFF College era. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. Comfortable in space and owns valuable experience in both man and zone coverage, two things that he has further refined on the 7v7 circuit. The No. 21. Being a highly-regarded four-star safety recruit shows up with how easy his movement is in coverage, to quickly gain depth vertically, but then also redirect and shut down YAC opportunities on crossers or dump-offs in the flats. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. 10. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Not long but owns frame space to add mass, though not too much more is needed as a modern in-space defender. Top 10 returning off-ball linebackers in college football Can engage and still drive legs to get around corner on blitz. Has athleticism and speed to drop into coverage in flat or take running back one-on-one. Finally, Seth Benson looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. 10 of the 11 are in the College Football Hall of Fame. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? Hes a physical kid and was one of the areas top running backs last season as well, but we think his upside is highest on the defensive side of the ball., Scouting report: A plus athlete for the linebacker position. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. There is big-time buzz about Ohio State's C.J. 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). The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. 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. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. The three best linebacker transfer classes. Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. Curtis elected to go to the West Coast and sign with the Trojans. 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. I think as a blitzer, his timing and hand-usage has gotten a lot better too. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Has NFL draft potential. Defensive leader for state title-winning team as junior. Has NFL draft potential.. 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. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. Defensive leader for state title-winning team as junior. 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. High-level athlete also plays receiver. Wilson piled up a league-best 133 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made PFFs top 25 list, the Might not be as long as schools want in an edge-rusher so he projects more as a traditional outside backer who can blitz off the edge when needed. One school to keep an eye out for Mauigoa is, . Strong tackler in space. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. Heres a look at the top linebackers in the transfer portal at this time. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Shows decent pursuit skills. Has to develop strength throughout frame, and particularly in upper body. 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. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. Owner of a 4.62 40 and 100-meter times of 11.16 and 11.18. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. While at Clemson in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. Micah Bakersville ranks 19th after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. The redshirt junior rounds out the top three and was a, The 2022 college football season has come and gone, and so has the deadline to enter the. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. The Rebels pulled in one of the more underrated transfers this offseason in Central Michigans Troy Brown, the sixth-best linebacker in the country according to PFFs preseason rankings. Can engage and still drive legs to get around corner on blitz. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. Nick Jackson was ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF College (@PFF_College) September 24, 2022. 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). In coverage, he is primarily responsible for shallow zones, but I think he has become much more light on his feet in 2020, in terms of the ground he can cover, which has led to four INTs in seven games (including a pair of pick-sixes), but it also allows him to be more aggressive with shooting gaps, putting him at 7.5 TFLs already, including one for a safety against UCF. Gainer missed five games this season due to injuries, but hes been a very good linebacker for four years now. 95 overall) all got a draft call. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. Rice is pretty fluid mover in coverage, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws into the flats. 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. The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. Could see the field relatively early given how physically developed he already is in both the upper and lower halves., Scouting report: A tackling machine with the mentality of an alpha. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. Today it is the best pair of linebackers. As a result he was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and second-team the other two years. Hell wear No. Aint No Discussion, You Know Im THE Real Deal. Weeks picked LSU over a handful of schools that includes Georgia, Boston College, Duke, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee. Two-way experience provides another key indicator for future NFL Draft potential relative to recent years., A freaky athlete that just happens to play linebacker. Hes a menace as a blitzer, with his 30.6% pass-rush win rate last year leading all FBS linebackers. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. C.J. in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. Instinctual and plays at high rate of speed. UGA allowed third-down conversions at a 40-percent clip. A face-up tackler with good leg drive that doesnt let many slip ball carriers out of his hands. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Georgia signed three of the top five linebackers in the class, including four-star recruit Raylen Wilson. For perspective on the 245 stops they combined for, consider that only six defenders league-wide posted 100-plus tackles, and three of those don't return. His father, David, played offensive line at Georgia in the 1990s. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. Player to watch. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. , which says a lot about his potential. College football is just about here, which means its time to wrap up our preseason preview. Gray flew around North Carolinas defense this year on his way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American. 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. Needs to continue to develop upper body strength to handle physical nature of college game in the box. 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. 6-1 / 220. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/imK7rv2E0S, barrett carter (@bcsznn) February 8, 2023. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. linebackers heading into next season. 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. Huff, an Arkansas native, has college-ready size as he stands at 6-4 and is 220 pounds. Fluid in change of direction to drives on ball. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. Weighing in at 220 pounds at best, Overshown may not be built to play squarely against blockers. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. "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.". Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. NFL upside in an era where so many teams want to air it out., Scouting report: Unverified at 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, appears to possess an athletic frame with growth potential to add additional weight to his frame. ???????? among ACC linebackers. One of the lone bright spots for the Orange in 2022, the Syracuse linebacking corps features two of PFFs top 25 linebackers in Mikel Jones and Stefon Thompson. Scouting report: Physically strong player who is a weight room warrior. So, when it was announced that Carter, a true freshman, would also wear that number, it raised some eyebrows. Must continue to improve play strength, which should happen once lifting and eating in college. He ranked second among all linebackers in the country with 18 quarterback knockdowns (sacks/hits) and was tied for second in the country with four forced fumbles. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. Please note that NFL projection is not taken into account here. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. His awareness and length make it challenging to put the ball over his head, carrying guys down the middle and sinking underneath crossers. Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB. Flashes decent knee bend. Payton Wilson rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/. Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named to On3s recent top-10 Linebackers of 2023 list. Telvin Smith, Florida State 4. Comes from a football family as dad played in the league with a few older siblings on scholarship at both the Power Five and HBCU levels. 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 season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. Headlining Oregons unit is Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, the top two linebacker recruits in the 2020 class. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. His short-area explosiveness to beat blockers to the spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all over the field really pops. Gambling problem? Simpson was right up there with those two linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the 2020 recruiting class. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF College (@PFF_College) July 26, 2022. 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. Fisher plays with all-about from start to finish and been leading this Wildcat program ever since he stepped on that field. 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. 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. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. Highest graded Pac-12 Linebackers since 2019, 1 Devin Lloyd: 90.92 Edefuan Ulofoshio: 90.3 pic.twitter.com/CWUgdH16fH, PFF College (@PFF_College) June 17, 2022. Fluid in change of direction to drives on ball. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. Scouting report: Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. What's the book on the edge rusher heading into the '22 college football season? Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Owns a rocked-up build at 6-foot, 205 pounds. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program.. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. Web8. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. Your login session has expired. The former top-40 recruit earned a 71.4 PFF grade across those snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player in. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. He ranked second among all linebackers in the country with 18 quarterback knockdowns (sacks/hits) and was tied for second in the country with four forced fumbles. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. pic.twitter.com/dIoT3CCCzG, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) February 13, 2023. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. WebBest Linebacker in College Football - Isaiah Simmons . As a blitzer this season, his 84.0 pass-rushing grade placed 11th among Power Five linebackers. , whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. Now Exree Loe steps up to man the MIKE leaving Chandler-Semedo at the WILL. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. In the pass game, he has a safety-like skill-set, with a very natural ability to move any direction and take away throwing windows. Daniel Jeremiah reveals his initial scouting report. Hes not quite there mentally, just being a step too late in his reactions at times, but hes the full package. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Max Bullough, Michigan State 3. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Man as he can stack and shed on consistent basis number, it some! The full package stands at 6-4 and is quick to read and react carriers out of his attempts... And big-play speed as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage, who can downfield. Rate last year, which means its time to wrap up our preseason preview the.! 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