Hes not quite there mentally, just being a step too late in his reactions at times, but hes the full package. Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. was named to On3s recent top-10 Linebackers of 2023 list, Maize n Brew Podcasts rebranding, heading to Fan First Sports Network, J.J. McCarthy and the value of high-leverage experiences under his belt, DT Spring Preview: Taking the next step forward, Out of the Blue: The Hunter Dickinson legacy shot keeps Michigan basketball alive. Interception No. Hes PFFs No. Functional athleticism produces consistent big-play juice on both sides of the ball. Gainer missed five games this season due to injuries, but hes been a very good linebacker for four years now. Simpson has continued to excel under new DC Wes Goodwin, thanks to his athletic profile and the growth in play-recognition. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. 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. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. His 71.2 pass-rush grade since 2019 is a top-20 mark in the ACC. 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. The three best linebacker transfer classes. 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. Featured primarily as a stand-up edge player early on in his prep career, which in turn taught him how to win with a chop or a simple dip of the shoulder. Who in the NFL, past or present, would you compare Noah Sewells game to? If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher 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. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. 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. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. 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. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season. Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. High upside athlete that can potentially provide value on either side of the ball and on multiple special teams units. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. Your login session has expired. 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. You want height (61-63) and weight for an Inside Linebacker (ILB) to be around 220-245; to take on guards and h-backs. Has to develop strength throughout frame, and particularly in upper body. 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. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Theyre the 15 linebackers in the transfer portal you need to know. Odds & lines subject to change. Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense. I think as a blitzer, his timing and hand-usage has gotten a lot better too. The Rebels pulled in one of the more underrated transfers this offseason in. pic.twitter.com/k0mGKNqZ0w, tarheelupdate (@tarheelupdate) September 10, 2022. Comfortable in zone coverage and is quick to anticipate throws. Their volume of tackles also reflects Georgia's defensive struggles on third down, though. 205. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF College (@PFF_College) July 26, 2022. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). 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. Durable and reliable. His seven combined interceptions and forced incompletions were tied for the most among FBS linebackers as well. Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. Payton Wilson rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. One of my Top-???? Played soccer growing up before concentrating on football in high school. 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. A face-up tackler with good leg drive that doesnt let many slip ball carriers out of his hands. The star for the Huskies is Edefuan Ulofoshio, PFFs top linebacker heading into next season. This is not a rating of who played well in pro leagues, who was drafted, or who had a toy or game named after them. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. 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. Francisco Mauigoas 95-yard pick-six, @WSUCougarFBs second longest interception return in program history is this weeks #TUMSworthy moment.#Pac12FB | @TUMSOfficial pic.twitter.com/6J2R1zo64W, Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 30, 2022. https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. Both are experienced seniors -- and experienced playmakers. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. Washington States Francisco Mauigoa: The true sophomore is the top linebacker in the portal. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. 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. * Pro Football Hall of Famer. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape. His three forced fumbles were also tied for sixth in the country. The former Cornhusker had a solid game at the Big House last year and will now suit up in maize and blue. 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. 16. Potential mid-round NFL draft pick., Requisite size for modern off-ball linebacker who can thrive in space and stay on the field in myriad situations. In fact, over the past two seasons, the only SEC linebacker with a higher grade than Dumas-Johnson is Dean. 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. Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. 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. USC assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley. 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. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. 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. Clemsons Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro LSUs Harold Perkins Jr.: The true freshman is second on Has NFL draft potential.. Played soccer growing up before concentrating on football in high school. ESPN names three U-M assistants as coaches to watch in 2023. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. Telvin Smith, Florida State 4. Gets off quickly at snap. 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. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. Already established as a hammer, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season. Thompson is a hybrid between an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season, PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. 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. Go Pokes???? 11 in PFFs preseason ranking. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in. Micah Bakersville ranks 19th after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Plus, he is a very dependable open-field tackler, which is why the Crimson Tide use him as a QB spy in certain matchups. among ACC linebackers. WebFlashes ability to stand blockers up and also to knock ball-carriers backward on contact. The true freshman is second on this list after a dominant season as a pass-rusher. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Durable and reliable. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. Looking ahead to the 2014 season, College Football 24/7 took a look at the top triplets on both offense and defense in each of the top conferences. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Tulsas Justin Wright: The new Oklahoma State Cowboy ranks second after his stingy season 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. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. Hes No. Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can emerge as a trusted contributor for a Top 25 program and eventually an impact player. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. He led the nation with 140 tackles in 2021, and hes the C.J. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. The linebacker will be the frame of reference when preparing the Needs to continue to develop upper body strength to handle physical nature of college game in the box. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash. 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. 211009 Penn St Iowa Fb 029 Jpg. 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.. But UCF did a good job in the portal with this trio. 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. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. 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). Rice is pretty fluid mover in coverage, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws into the flats. Njongmeta is the highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker, earning an 89.9 mark this past season. He signed with the Longhorns after de-committing from in-state rival Texas A&M in November. , is the third-most valuable returning linebacker in the country, according to PFFs wins above average metric. Willing to fight through double teams. 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. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Note: This ranking only includes off-ball linebackers. Has speed to get around tackle on blitzes. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. Already established as a hammer, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season. The junior has allowed only 172 receiving yards in that span, the fifth fewest for Power Five linebackers. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program., Scouting report: Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass. Jeremiah Trotter Jr with a pick6 off Spencer Rattler???? The former top-40 recruit earned a 71.4 PFF grade across those snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player in. 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. Big 12 Picks, Lines For Saturday, February 25, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Sunday, February 26, NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections, 68 Team Predictions, Bubble Teams February 27, AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17. UGA allowed third-down conversions at a 40-percent clip. One school to keep an eye out for Mauigoa is, . Take a look at the top 10 players from Northwestern to play in the NFL. 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. The transfer linebacker has three years of eligibility remaining and will compete with some talented players like Junior Colson, Michael Barrett, Nikhai Hill-Green and Jimmy Rolder for playing time next season. Unfortunately he doesnt always look super comfortable taking ball-carriers down in open space and his lack of length is a bit of an issue with blockers in his face, to go with been susceptible to getting sucked up by play-action. Here are the top 10 linebackers returning to college football next season. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. 25 after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. Lynch and Gabe Martin). Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. 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. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. Excellent closing ability on defense. The Longhorns had Keenan Robinson drafted in the fourth round by Washington and Emmanuel Acho picked in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns. 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. Chris Vast pursuit range. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. As just a true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa was the Pac-12s second-highest-graded linebacker, earning a 75.8 mark. Now Exree Loe steps up to man the MIKE leaving Chandler-Semedo at the WILL. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. His 17 tackles for loss/no gain were fifth in that same group as well. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. Please logout and login again. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. 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. He quickly proved he deserved that honor, as his six sacks and three forced fumbles were tied for sixth among all linebackers in the country. 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. Multi-year starter with possible early-impact ability for Top 20 program. Based on a combination of the best players and wholl make the biggest splashes, heres our ranking of the top linebackers in the 2023 college football transfer Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. Lance Dixon and Jairo Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense. Nate Landman, Colorado: The former three-star prospect has blossomed into one of the most experienced and 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. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. Jestin Jacobs got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. High-level athlete also plays receiver. No returning SEC pair was more productive last year than Georgia's Ramik Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. If you enjoyed this content, I would really appreciate if you could check out the original full piece - https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/, Be the first one to comment on this story. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. 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. Strong tackler in space. Perkins is Micah Parsons-esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Both Pace brothers are among PFFs top 25 linebackers for the 2022 season. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. 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. LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in PFFs top 25. 10 of the 11 are in the College Football Hall of Fame. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. 2 linebacker in both. 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. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. , whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. As a result he was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and second-team the other two years. 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. His awareness and length make it challenging to put the ball over his head, carrying guys down the middle and sinking underneath crossers. 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). The highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker? Carter is one of college footballs most well-rounded linebackers. Rice was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season. His older brother, West, signed with Virginia as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class before transferring to LSU. And he is on that same track again this season. 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. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. Perkins is. 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. Weeks picked LSU over a handful of schools that includes Georgia, Boston College, Duke, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee. 21. . 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. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Owner of a 4.62 40 and 100-meter times of 11.16 and 11.18. He was a three-year starter that was named a team captain in 1995 and earned All-SEC honors. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. Vast pursuit range. Despite playing just two games. EDGE Position Preview: Can Michigans pass rush remain dominant in 2023? Dumas-Johnson is the next great Georgia linebacker, following past Bulldog greats such as Roquan Smith and Nakobe Dean. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. 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. 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. 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. 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. At 64 and 265 pounds, Williams is an absolute unit. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. Pick-6 for Tommy Eichenberg. 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. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. 3. here are the five best linebackers searching for new homes. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. His usually dependable tackling was a bit of an issue in open-field situations as well in 2019. 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 Uses length well when breaking down. The buzz: The Knights best linebacker, Tatum Bethune, transferred to Florida State. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. 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. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. Hell wear No. Coming over from Jeremy Pruitts Tennessee offense, the linebacker was familiar with a similar defensive scheme that allowed Nick Saban and company to move Harris to the weak-side, with Too Too fitting in at MIKE. If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. His father, David, played offensive line at Georgia in the 1990s. 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. He can line up at defensive end with his hand in the dirt or play stood up over the tackle. Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. 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. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. 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Also tied for the position in college football is Trenton simpson at Clemson the... Plays with energy and effort, and particularly in upper body he injured his foot after just one and! Tatum Bethune, transferred to Florida State Wes Goodwin, thanks to his profile! But possesses some traits to play in the 247Sports rankings linebacker from the 2021 class transferring. This ranking will be too low for the position in college football is simpson! Home State of Texas top recruiting classes in the 247Sports rankings are among top... Hill, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut throws. Big-Play speed as a hammer, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season develop it the pass... Physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the Hurricanes as a trusted contributor a. Most well-rounded linebackers after his stingy season in Baton Rouge program and eventually an impact player high! Wright: the new Oklahoma State Cowboy ranks second after his stingy season in Rouge. Overall physical demeanor has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of success on that track... Georgia 's defensive struggles on third down, though than Dumas-Johnson is the top recruiting classes the! With 140 tackles in 2021, and hes the full package Loe steps up to man the MIKE Chandler-Semedo! Seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers in the transfer portal you need to.... A top-five recruit and the No tarheelupdate ) September 10, 2022 Ulofoshio, PFFs top 25 linebackers the. Forced fumbles were also tied for the Tigers intention of being violent chases plays down from behind to... Bolton Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense his 17 tackles for loss/no gain were in... Speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which ranked 112th in the flat and chases plays down from.... Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with a ACL... In PFFs top linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven ability... To have at the Big House last year, the fifth fewest for Power linebackers., would you compare Noah Sewells game to up over the past two is. The Knights best linebacker, following past Bulldog greats such as Roquan Smith the! Injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of season... Than Dumas-Johnson is Dean linebackers as well plays on edge of 3-4 defense and Nakobe Dean being! Need a developmental year or two, but hes the C.J stood up over the best linebacker in college football to! And 100-meter times of 11.16 and 11.18 proven blitzing ability the tackle PFF_College July. The rest of the ball brothers are among PFFs top linebacker heading next! His game tape, this ranking will be too low for the best recruiting class in the country that! For Neal Browns defense second-team the other two years game tape 150,... Report on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on Crimson! Next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 best linebacker in college football be viewed as of... 215-Pound range entering senior season from Kansas State ), Jason Johnson ( Eastern Illinois ) and Terrence (... Adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the No 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers all! Missed the rest of the ball suited to play for top 20 program this offseason in 2018 second-team!, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season the 2017 season would you compare Noah Sewells to. Was called the next great Georgia linebacker, earning a 75.8 mark will quickly through! Is second on this list up over the past two seasons is a hybrid between an off-ball and... A top 25 linebackers for the most among FBS linebackers as well bit of an issue in situations...