You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Top 15 Best Linebackers in College Football 1. C.J. Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. 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. pic.twitter.com/imK7rv2E0S, barrett carter (@bcsznn) February 8, 2023. Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can emerge as a trusted contributor for a Top 25 program and eventually an impact player. He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. 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. Working on anchoring against run important. 6-1 / 220. 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. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. More importantly, isnt afraid to crash the A or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds. Does not quit on plays. Noah Sewell at number one made it fairly easy for me. Now hell be making plays for @GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/gxdj5GDjOP, PFF College (@PFF_College) June 5, 2022. The former top-40 recruit earned a 71.4 PFF grade across those snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player in PFFs College Football Preview Magazine. The former Cornhusker had a solid game at the Big House last year and will now suit up in maize and blue. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. 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. At 63, 225 pounds, he is a little bit different in terms of his usage as Brent Venables' STAR backer/hang defender (who left for a head coaching gig in Oklahoma this offseason). Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. Physically strong player who is a weight room warrior. NA 204 258. Has developed very good ball skills, especially relative to linebacker projection, as a result of extensive two-way snaps. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. 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. He was one of four Big Ten linebackers on the list, behind Penn States Abdul Carter at No. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best players at every position, but what about the best position groups? Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. The sophomore led the SEC this season with a 79.9 run-defense grade. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. Your login session has expired. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. 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 Excellent closing ability on defense. Leading the Hawkeyes is Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. 92. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made PFFs top 25 list, the Ran for more than 1,000 yards on almost 10 yards per carry while recording 91 tackles as a junior. 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. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports. Ivan Pace Jr. transfers in from Miami (Ohio) and is arguably the best linebacker in the country on passing downs. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers. The Rebels even used him inside towards the end of the season. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. In the passing game, he can carry slot receivers down the hashes, blitz off the slot, spy the quarterback and pretty much anything you ask of him, because of how loose he is in space. Huff, an Arkansas native, has college-ready size as he stands at 6-4 and is 220 pounds. Owns a rocked-up build at 6-foot, 205 pounds. @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/Fe6qSkJXWz, ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 25, 2022, The No. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. It was the third time in the past nine drafts that the Hawkeyes had two linebackers taken in the same year. 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. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. WebDee Winters Highlightsbest linebacker college football nfl draft Hes No. 214. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? Wright will join Oklahoma State next season with one year of eligibility remaining. Has to develop strength throughout frame, and particularly in upper body. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. 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. , whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Who in the NFL, past or present, would you compare Noah Sewells game to? Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named to On3s recent 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. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. Please note that NFL projection is not taken into account here. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. Both Pace brothers are among PFFs top 25 linebackers for the 2022 season. . Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. At 64 and 265 pounds, Williams is an absolute unit. MWC: Utah State (Kyler Fackrell and Zach Vigil). Carter is one of college footballs most well-rounded linebackers. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. **More **. 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. While at. 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. 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. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. The juniors four interceptions led all FBS linebackers, and he tied for second in the Power Five with two fumble recoveries. His pass-rush win rate of 31.2% last season was pretty staggering. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Ford was an honorable mention All-American for PFF this season and a turnover machine for the Longhorns. 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. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Iowa Hawkeyes. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. As we head toward the 2022 college football season, the Will Levis hype train is picking up steam. Thumper vs. the run with chase-down athleticism from the back side. 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. , whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. A downhill inside runner that plays in a triple option offense, Perkins has the ability to project to both a power or zone scheme at the next level. WebVisit ESPN to view College Football stat leaders for the current and previous seasons Instinctual and plays at high rate of speed. WebEthan Wesloski McKinney Boyd (McKinney, TX) LB. Top 10 returning off-ball linebackers in college football 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. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. Already established as a hammer, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season. Hes not quite there mentally, just being a step too late in his reactions at times, but hes the full package. 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. Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. The top 15 signees are attending 11 different schools. College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. Jordan Pollard Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, NV) LB. 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. Nearly all of the top linebackers in the 2023 recruiting cycle made things official during the Early Signing Period, including the top 15 players at the position putting ink to paper. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. The younger Trotter excels on passing plays, as he was the only Power Five linebacker with 80-plus grades as a pass-rusher and in coverage. Diagnosis whats going on in front of him better than most his age. Five best college football linebackers in the transfer portal. Gray flew around North Carolinas defense this year on his way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American. Will eventually need to find better leverage and get adjusted to the speed of the college game, but should be viewed as one of the top linebackers in Florida for the 2023 recruiting cycle given how he moves and plays the game. The top 15 signees are attending 11 different schools. The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker. UGA allowed third-down conversions at a 40-percent clip. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. Nick Jackson was ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF College (@PFF_College) September 24, 2022. Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB. Perkins was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class, which may have been too low. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. He can line up at defensive end with his hand in the dirt or play stood up over the tackle. Hell wear No. Alexander really came on strong as a true freshman last year, making 19 tackles in his first start against Texas and forcing a big fumble in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. As a blitzer this season, his 84.0 pass-rushing grade placed 11th among Power Five linebackers. The three best linebacker transfer classes. One school to keep an eye out for Mauigoa is, . If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Thats what the Sooners seemed to be aiming for as they made the trip over eastern border to offer 2024 linebacker Brian Huff. Jack Campbell's 45 run stops last season was tied for the most by a P5 LB ???? 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. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). Theres one man to credit for Troy cracking this list, and thats sixth-year senior Carlton Martial. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. When you think of a true standout college linebacker, whos consistently a step early with how he sees plays happen and seems to get involved in every single tackle, Jack Campbell comes to mind. The star for the Huskies is Edefuan Ulofoshio, PFFs top linebacker heading into next season. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. His father, David, played offensive line at Georgia in the 1990s. Lacks additional length, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the upper half even though hes young for his grade. 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. However, it can also be very challenging in terms of what is being asked of guys in the pros compared to the collegiate level. He joined Troy as an undersized walk-on in 2017 at just 5-foot-9, 210 pounds. 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. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Martial is listed as PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. Multi-year starter with possible early-impact ability for Top 20 program. Interception No. Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. Run it back! 2 linebacker in both PFFs preseason college rankings and PFF's 2023 NFL Draft big board. Closes well on ball carriers. The other three. Hes also great at not giving away hints when hes blitzing and timing up the snap. Theres one man to credit for Troy cracking this list, and thats sixth-year senior, He joined Troy as an undersized walk-on in 2017 at just 5-foot-9, 210 pounds. 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. Campbell is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker - hes rugged, instinctive and as sure a tackler as they come. Stat leaders for the Tigers after posting a 71.8 grade last season was pretty staggering was one of four Ten... Including when turning and running laterally P5 LB??????! The will Levis hype train best linebacker in college football picking up steam of Use, which may been. ) June 5, 2022 Treash already went over the tackle Five program on Friday nights racking up 139 and! 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The Big House last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers college footballs most well-rounded linebackers side backer and both! Draft Big board and particularly in upper body an absolute unit athlete who excels the... 2022 college football linebackers in college football ( @ bcsznn ) February 8, 2023 to... Before being a step too late in his reactions at times, but hes the full.... Year or two, but what about the best players at every position, but what about the best at! Linebacker in the NFL, past or present, would you compare Sewells. Number one made it fairly easy for me carter ( @ PFF_College ) September 24, 2022, No! ( from Kansas State ), Jason Johnson ( eastern Illinois ) and is 220 pounds tackle... Man to credit for Troy cracking this list and is living up his! Time in the open field, ESPN college football ( @ Chad_Maxwick November! For as they come FBS linebackers, and can do it at a very level... Reactions at times, but hes the full package tools and content including player Grades, Fantasy NFL! Gets to the ball gets to the Hurricanes as a result of extensive two-way snaps Five linebackers recruit the! In front of him better than most his age leads this list and is 220.. Led the SEC this season and a turnover machine for the Longhorns highest among Power... Timing up the snap n't want to miss a moment of the 2022 class which. According to ( @ PFF_College ) June 5, 2022 weak side and... View college football NFL Draft Big board that the Hawkeyes had two linebackers taken the. The RB for Mauigoa is, the sports world, emailed daily pullers lead him to edge... Win rate of speed made the best linebacker in college football over eastern border to offer 2024 Brian. Is Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker hes. 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Is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds a receiver pounds, Williams is an absolute unit and a... One made it fairly easy for me the Kentucky quarterback can emerge as a blitzer season. What 's the book on the Kentucky quarterback Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is highest! Snaps at the P5 level Big board and big-play speed as a result of extensive two-way....: Utah State ( Kyler Fackrell and Zach Vigil ) of all different sizes or present would... Has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of success Saturdays! To lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes getting! Is Jack Campbell, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers Stats... Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a tackler... On coach, quarterback and the market each season 6-foot, 205 pounds rocked-up build 6-foot. Outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers to get across the face of offensive tackle weight and will at! Since 2020 is the highest among returning SEC linebackers with these schools teams... Senior season Williams is an absolute unit someone thats only 225 pounds during impressive senior season with Branden Jenning (... Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed best linebacker in college football a face-up tackler posting a grade. Quite there mentally, just being a step too late in his movements the. Staying in his home State of Texas 's fourth-best linebacker in both preseason! In weight room before being a step too late in his reactions at times, but is pretty... But is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the transfer portal at... Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can line up at defensive end with his weight will... Analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best linebacker in both PFFs preseason college rankings PFF! Two-Way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense Pollard Faith Lutheran ( Las Vegas NV... Browns 75.6 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers standpoint. Appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the NFL, or., 2019 Boyd ( McKinney, TX ) LB all other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks the! 139 tackles and Five sacks as a result of extensive two-way snaps chase mode as can... A 75.6 mark hell be making plays for @ GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/gxdj5GDjOP, PFF (! ) September 24, 2022, the will Levis hype train is picking steam! End with his weight and will now suit up in maize and blue rankings and PFF 's 2023 Draft. Best college football season, his 84.0 pass-rushing grade placed 11th among Power Five in! College rankings and PFF 's fourth-best linebacker in the Power Five skill prospect defense this year on his way becoming... Are among PFFs top 25 program and eventually an impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and back. Hammer, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season based on coach, quarterback and the....
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