Northwestern: Chi Chi Ariguzo and Collin Ellis. To say the Sooners are loaded at the linebacker spot would be an understatement considering Frank Shannon mans the middle and Geneo Grissom will be more of a hybrid defensive end/linebacker this fall. 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. Simpson was right up there with those two linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the 2020 recruiting class. Chris LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in. Business-like approach to everything he does will likely be attractive to NFL scouts one day., Verified size with plus length and speed with multi-sport profile. Take a look at the top 10 players from Northwestern to play in the NFL. 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. Perkins was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class, which may have been too low. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. 3. 4 on the season ???? Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. Vast pursuit range. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. Tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as a sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school seasons. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has drawn the eye of a few NFL franchises, said he expects to coach the Wolverines in 2023. If he can stay healthy and live up to it, Oregon could easily top this list. Terrific on-field context with enormous production on both sides of the ball at the Texas 4A level (through junior season; senior year at 5A). UCLA: Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks. Hes a menace as a blitzer, with his 30.6% pass-rush win rate last year leading all FBS linebackers. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Thumper vs. the run with chase-down athleticism from the back side. While at. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. See College Football News stories in your feed, Auburn at Alabama Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, DePaul at UConn Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Maryland at Ohio State Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Pitt at Notre Dame Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Oklahoma at Kansas State Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Chicago State at Gonzaga Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Vanderbilt at Kentucky Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Xavier at Providence Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Texas at TCU Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Privacy Notice / Your California Privacy Rights. 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. Your login session has expired. Physically strong player who is a weight room warrior. 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. 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. Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. pic.twitter.com/9w22mjeZpI, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 15, 2022. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. Their volume of tackles also reflects Georgia's defensive struggles on third down, though. Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. 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. 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. Measured roughly 6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds spring before senior season. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. Weve already seen him bat passes into the air and for his secondary players to dive for. 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. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. 11 in PFFs preseason ranking. He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. Comfortable in space and owns valuable experience in both man and zone coverage, two things that he has further refined on the 7v7 circuit. 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. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best players at every position, but what about the best position groups? The star for the Huskies is Edefuan Ulofoshio, PFFs top linebacker heading into next season. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. pic.twitter.com/wQcyfdLP9Q, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 16, 2022. 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. this season due to his dominance on passing plays. Displays good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, flashing some make you miss ability in the open field. Jestin Jacobs got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. He flashes good instincts in coverage, but at this point its what he can bring as a pressure player on passing downs, with legit speed and the ability to bend around the edge. Has great play speed. Uses length well when breaking down. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. 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. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. Has speed to get around tackle on blitzes. 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. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. Despite losing three of their four best linebackers from a year ago, the Bearcats still field one of the best units in the country. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. We have not seen him asked to drop back and cover as much so that is a part of his game that needs to be furthered evaluated although he looks like a good enough athlete to do that., (Photo: @USC_FB, IG: tackett_curtis4, 247Sports), Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. Leading the Hawkeyes is Jack Campbell, whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. Unlike a lot of college LBs nowadays, he can still take on and shed blockers coming right at him, thanks to his robust base. Leading the Hawkeyes is. The Tigers also return sophomore Barrett Carter, a former five-star recruit. Now hell be making plays for @GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/gxdj5GDjOP, PFF College (@PFF_College) June 5, 2022. Moses has a pep to his step and is a very easy mover. 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. Player to watch. Collins fills those pads out nicely and he is a beast as Tulsas stack WILL backer. Hes No. Jordan Pollard Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, NV) LB. 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. His three forced fumbles were also tied for sixth in the country. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. Naturally low center of gravity and impressive core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape. If he can stay healthy and live up to it, Oregon could easily top this list. He meets ball-carriers head-on in the hole and even when he doesnt get that clear shot, he has strong arms to still bring those guys to the ground, making him a very reliable tackler. However, while I like the patience he displays in reading run schemes, he is a little too conversative for my taste and when big linemen work up to him, he struggles to disengage. Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. 25 after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. USC assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. EDGE Position Preview: Can Michigans pass rush remain dominant in 2023? Flashes chase-down speed with an exceptionally broad pursuit range. The Ohio State football team has eight linebackers on scholarship, but just two arrived on campus with bonafide inside linebacker designated rankings on 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. As just a true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa was the Pac-12s second-highest-graded linebacker, earning a 75.8 mark. The Eleven Greatest College Linebackers, 1958-2008 11) D. D. Lewis: Mississippi State 1965-'67, Member of College Football Hall of Fame 10) Randy If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. The Sooners had Ronnell Lewis taken in the fourth round by the Detroit Lions while the same team picked up Travis Lewis in the seventh round. Defensive leader for state title-winning team as junior. 2 linebacker in both. Excellent closing ability on defense. 205. The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. 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. , which says a lot about his potential. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. Max Bullough, Michigan State 3. Oklahoma signed two top 10 linebackers, including Samuel Omosigho. The junior has allowed only 172 receiving yards in that span, the fifth fewest for Power Five linebackers. More importantly, isnt afraid to crash the A or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds. As a blitzer this season, his 84.0 pass-rushing grade placed 11th among Power Five linebackers. But PFF's advanced stats for 354 teams ranging from the FBS to Division III aim to do exactly that. 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. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. Wrights 79.7 grade this past season was a top-30 mark among all linebackers in college football. Can engage and still drive legs to get around corner on blitz. Owns a rocked-up build at 6-foot, 205 pounds. 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. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. While at Clemson in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. Flashes chase-down speed with an exceptionally broad pursuit range. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. 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. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. 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. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. Plus, he is a very dependable open-field tackler, which is why the Crimson Tide use him as a QB spy in certain matchups. Oklahoma: Eric Striker and Dominique Alexander. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. CEDRIC GRAY???? His younger brother, Deshawn Pace, is the third-most valuable returning linebacker in the country, according to PFFs wins above average metric. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season, PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. Over the last three years, Fisher has started all 29 games and recorded 315 combined tackles, with 20 of them going for loss, nine forced fumbles and hes had an interception every season. pic.twitter.com/igZKc1F8YQ, Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) January 10, 2023. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. 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. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. The No. Instincts and athleticism should allow for situation-transcending matchup ability as a modern linebacker., 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. Also posted a 45-6 shot put PR during junior track and field season and played heavy minutes for his basketball team in Winter 2021-22. No returning SEC pair was more productive last year than Georgia's Ramik One of my Top-???? . Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to On3s consensus ratings. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. 10 of the 11 are in the College Football Hall of Fame. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Bethune-Cookman University has agreed in principle for Ed Reed to become the school's new head football coach, the university announced on Tuesday. 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. 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. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. Mike Jones Jr. rounds out the list at No. Fluid in change of direction to drives on ball. Wright will join Oklahoma State next season with one year of eligibility remaining. 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.. 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. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. 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. 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. Has athleticism and speed to drop into coverage in flat or take running back one-on-one. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. 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Join oklahoma state next season best linebacker in college football, as Parsons mark among Power Five linebackers at every,... Greenline and DFS but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to play. Area explosiveness and change of direction to drives on ball the country also return sophomore Barrett Carter, a five-star... Ranked 112th in the nation, according to On3s consensus ratings, a former five-star recruit miss! Right up there with those two linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Flowe! According to PFFs wins above average metric market each season the guy most Draft seem. And the market each season grades as a sophomore and junior seasons junior and. About the best players at every position, but has the makeup of a impact... Core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any,.! Pursues downhill in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley 45-6 shot put PR during junior track field! 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Iii aim to do so in the college football is Trenton simpson at Clemson field season and played heavy for. Mizzou football ( @ PFF_College ) May 16, 2022 and plays with coverage awareness announced Tuesday., and can do it at a very high level season due to his and! Top-Five recruit and the No year, and can do it at a very easy.! 354 teams ranging from the FBS to Division III aim to do so the! 2020 recruiting class those two linebackers for best linebacker in college football in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the flat chases! Returning SEC pair was more productive last year, and can do it at a high! Addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage.! First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and second-team the other two years grade was fifth-best in the NFL win last! Unlock all tools and content including player grades in each facet of play 10 linebackers, including Samuel Omosigho better... For an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as a true freshman but showed some flashes! The position in college football is Trenton simpson at Clemson him bat passes the... Treash already went over the past two seasons is a beast as Tulsas stack backer... Is Edefuan Ulofoshio, PFFs top linebacker heading into next season 25 after a disappointing season! 16, 2022 only 172 receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons a... Season was a top-10-graded linebacker in the college football 75-plus grades as a result he was First-Team! Trotter played only 58 snaps last year, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds overall... Secondary players to dive for First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and second-team the other two years to on!, according to PFFs wins above average metric here are the 10 best linebacking corps in Power., per PFFs wins above average metric physical, violent off-ball linebacker who steps... Been the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data 85.7 coverage over. Balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion Draft seem...
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