Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. 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. The Tigers also return sophomore Barrett Carter, a former five-star recruit. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. 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. @WSUCougarFB Travion Brown #GoCougs | #CougarSportsAwards pic.twitter.com/ciEARYpBjb, Washington State Athletics (@WSUCougars) May 1, 2020. 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. Has NFL draft potential.. He was one of four Big Ten linebackers on the list, behind Penn States Abdul Carter at No. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. Take a conference-by-conference look at college football's best linebacker tandems. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. 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. 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. Here are the top 10 linebackers returning to college football next season. 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. Rice was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Georgia secured its second straight national championship on Monday night, overwhelming TCU in a 65-7 blowout. Web8. Sewell doesnt shy away from blasting into blockers and can certainly blow up ball-carriers in the hole, but also has the burst to shut down toss plays out wide and is like a bear as a tackler. 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. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. NA 204 258. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. Run it back! 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. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. The son of former All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the sophomore linebacker has lived up to his fathers name and then some. WebDee Winters Highlightsbest linebacker college football nfl draft His older brother, West, signed with Virginia as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class before transferring to LSU. So, when it was announced that Carter, a true freshman, would also wear that number, it raised some eyebrows. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/C6k1UTiS0y, Justin Wright (@JustinWright_30) December 7, 2022. 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. The Eleven Greatest College Linebackers, 1958-2008 11) D. D. Lewis: Mississippi State 1965-'67, Member of College Football Hall of Fame 10) Randy ???? Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. Displays good athleticism in multiple phases of the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the running back position. 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. There is big-time buzz about Ohio State's C.J. Leading the Hawkeyes is. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. 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. Alabama's Bryce Young took the college football world by storm in 2021, but what are his prospects for the NFL? 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. Their volume of tackles also reflects Georgia's defensive struggles on third down, though. Micah Bakersville ranks 19th after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. Finally, Seth Benson looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. Hausmann was ranked No. Please logout and login again. Moses has a pep to his step and is a very easy mover. Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. Oklahoma: Eric Striker and Dominique Alexander. Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season. Now a month into the 2022 college football season, I decided it was time to rank the five best players for each position at this very moment. His usually dependable tackling was a bit of an issue in open-field situations as well in 2019. WebNakobe Dean is the winner of the 2021 Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in college football. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. 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. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Does not quit on plays. 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. Headlining Oregons unit is Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, the top two linebacker recruits in the 2020 class. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). Georgia signed three of the top five linebackers in the class, including four-star recruit Raylen Wilson. Willing to fight through double teams. Played soccer growing up before concentrating on football in high school. 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. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. Who in the NFL, past or present, would you compare Noah Sewells game to? . The three best linebacker transfer classes. 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. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. Measured roughly 6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds spring before senior season. WebBest Linebacker in College Football - Isaiah Simmons . Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with a pro comp to a former top-three pick. MAC: Bowling Green (D.J. But UCF did a good job in the portal with this trio. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. His seven combined interceptions and forced incompletions were tied for the most among FBS linebackers as well. Put this clip on repeat.pic.twitter.com/9lVlRwAxMo, Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 22, 2022. 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. Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. 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. Washington States Francisco Mauigoa: The true sophomore is the top linebacker in the portal. 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. Hes also great at not giving away hints when hes blitzing and timing up the snap. However, hes more than willing to shoot through one half of the blockers and funnel the ball back inside on perimeter-oriented runs, or just hit a crease and create negative plays when the opportunity arises. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. Transfer LB Ernest Hausmann named to 2023 top-10 linebackers list, Discussing the latest recruiting rankings for Michigan commits, targets. https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. One school to keep an eye out for Mauigoa is Miami (FL). Neither is the most talented linebacker in the league, but as a duo, no returning SEC pair was more productive last year than this one. pic.twitter.com/dIoT3CCCzG, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) February 13, 2023. Hes No. Weeks picked LSU over a handful of schools that includes Georgia, Boston College, Duke, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. 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. 214. 70 tackles 9 tackles for loss 4 sacks 3 pass deflections 1 forced fumble pic.twitter.com/loJc8IMAVJ, GaBulldogsFB (@GABulldogsFB) January 19, 2023. , but what about the best position groups? , whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Honorable mention goes out to Willie Lanier, Jim Lynch, Brian Bosworth, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Brooks, Derrick Thomas, Maxie Baughan, Ray Lewis, George Mira, Jr., Batman Richard Wood, Judge Jeff Davis, Killer Steve Kiner, Jeff Siemon, Rick Redmon, Tim Rossovich, Frank Emanuel, Jerry Robinson, and Chris Spielman. Perkins was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class, which may have been too low. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. Closes well on ball carriers. this past season and is the most valuable returning linebacker according to PFFs, Dumas-Johnson is the next great Georgia linebacker, following past Bulldog greats such as. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best players at every position, but what about the best position groups? The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. Wrights 79.7 grade this past season was a top-30 mark among all linebackers in college football. Martial is listed as PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. As a result he was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and second-team the other two years. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. Now back with him in the lineup, they have really grown this season. Can re-direct and move along line of scrimmage. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. 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. Rarely do you see a college football linebacker become a day-two NFL draft pick and you feel like the guy who was lined up next to him (but decided to stay for another year) is significantly better. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. Payton Wilson rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. Stanford head coach David Shaw is stepping down after 12 seasons at the helm of the Cardinal program. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. 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. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. More than likely projects to an off-ball weak side backer role at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. Plus, if you scheme open a lane for him (as Texas does at times) to wrap around, hell arrive at the passer in a hurry and knock that guy down. 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. It was the third time in the past nine drafts that the Hawkeyes had two linebackers taken in the same year. 9 amongst his peers across the nation. Finally, somebody who may not be as comfortable stacking and shedding blockers in the traditional sense. Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. Despite losing three of their four best linebackers from a year ago, the Bearcats still field one of the best units in the country. Georgia: Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. 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. The No. 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. Trotter was second in that same group in both passer rating allowed (42.9) and open target rate allowed (47.6%). 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. Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. The Cornhuskers don't have the massive list of drafted linebackers, and Trev Alberts is the only Butkus Award winner. Starting alongside him is senior Ashanti Cistrunk, who looked solid as a reserve in 2021 with a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps. The Florida transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. . 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. The top 10 linebacker corps in college football ahead of the 2022 season 1. Displays good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, flashing some make you miss ability in the open field. Florida produced Jon Bostic (Bears, second round) and Jelani Jenkins (Dolphins, fourth round), while Georgia had Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree both go in the first round to Pittsburgh and St. Louis, respectively. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. Buy Sooners Tickets. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? 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. 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. The Rebels even used him inside towards the end of the season. The highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker? In his first year as a starter, he missed just three percent of his tackles and in 2019 he led the Bulldogs with 89 total tackles. 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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. * Pro Football Hall of Famer. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. 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. Ran for more than 1,000 yards on almost 10 yards per carry while recording 91 tackles as a junior. Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB. Simpson was right up there with those two Uses length well when breaking down. Jeremiah Trotter Jr with a pick6 off Spencer Rattler???? Curtis elected to go to the West Coast and sign with the Trojans. Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. 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. One of the biggest risers from this 2020 season has been this 64, 260 pound-listed linebacker that is the heart of a Hurricanes 21st-ranked scoring defense. More than likely projects to an off-ball weak side backer role at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. , who looked solid as a reserve in 2021 with a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps. 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. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. This joker for the Notre Dame defense plays the ROVER spot primarily, where he can cover slot receivers one-on-one and shows no discomfort playing in space, plus he looks like a cannonball when coming on blitzes off the edge. Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can emerge as a trusted contributor for a Top 25 program and eventually an impact player.
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